Nov. 5, 2008

UC Davis Game Notes in PDF Format
Sacramento State Game Notes in PDF Format
Great West Weekly Notes in PDF Format

OPENING KICKOFF
• News, notes and headline items to get things started... Many will be expanded later on in these notes.

• UC Davis and Sacramento State square off for the 55th time during the regular season but the 56th time overall which includes a matchup in the 1988 NCAA Division II Playoffs... The Aggies lead 39-16 overall, 39-15 in Causeway Classic.

• The Aggies have won the last eight games in the series, the second-longest streak in the Causeway Classic behind an 18-game run for UC Davis between 1970-87... The Hornets' longest streak was five games from 1988-91 which featured the playoff win.

• Bob Biggs is 13-2 in the series as UC Davis head coach... As a player and coach, he is 28-7 against Sacramento State (11-5 as an asst. coach, and 4-0 as a player which includes a game the Aggies later won by forfeit).

• Saturday's game is the first Causeway Classic at Aggie Stadium... UC Davis is 18-7 vs. the Hornets on campus.

• The Aggies have outscored Sacramento State an average of 35.2-16.3 during the recent eight-game winning streak.

• UC Davis has won six straight games at home going back to last season (5-0 so far in 2008)... A win on Saturday would deliver the Aggies their first undefeated regular season at home since 2002 when they went 5-0.

• The Aggies are 2-1 against Big Sky Conference teams so far: wins vs. Portland State and Northern Colorado, loss at Montana.

• The game brings to a close a five-game UC Davis homestand, its longest since playing five in a row at Toomey Field in 1999 (3 regular season, 2 playoffs).

• Both teams bring strong rushing defenses into the game on Saturday... UC Davis is allowing just 73.0 ypg and is ranked fourth among NCAA FCS teams... Sacramento State is giving up only 80.0 ypg and is ranked ninth.

• The Hornets allowed just minus-31 yards last Saturday at Eastern Washington while the Aggies have allowed only 115 combined rushing yards their last three games.

• The Aggies continue to dominate in time of possession, leading all FCS teams with an average of 34:52 per game... Averaging 23.6 first downs per game, fourth-best nationally, helps in that total.

• UC Davis has scored on its opening possession in six of its nine games so far... It has also scored at least 34 points in each of its five wins.

• The Aggies are above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2006 season when they finished 6-5... Additionally, the four-game winning streak is their longest since winning five in a row to start the 2004 season.

• The last four home games have been productive ones for QB Greg Denham who has completed 71.7 percent of his passes for 1,209 yards and 15 TD's... Included are 300-yard outings the past two (326 vs. Iona, 320 vs. North Dakota).

• Denham needs 595 passing yards to have the eighth 3,000-yard season in school history and the first since J.T. O'SULLIVAN in 2001 (3,826)... He'd be the fifth different Aggie signal-caller to do it... O'Sullivan (1999-2001) did it three times while Kevin Daft (1997-98) did it twice.

• Denham, averaging 300.6 passing ypg., has helped UC Davis average 292.8, seventh-best nationally.

• The Aggies' DT John Faletoese and the Hornets' LB CYRUS MULITALO are both on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List for the top defense player in the FCS.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. THE HORNETS
• UC Davis leads the all-time series between the programs, 39-16, a total that includes a 1998 NCAA Playoff win by the Hornets.

• The Aggies are 18-7 at home against Sacramento State and 16-6 in the month of October.

• UC Davis has not scored less than 30 points in the last seven meetings, has not been shut out by the Hornets since 1964 (27-0), and hasn't given up more than 27 points in the series since last losing 48-27 in 1999.

HEAD COACHES
• Bob Biggs (UC Davis '73) is in his 16th season at the helm of the Aggies and his 31st with the program overall.

• He owns a 124-58-1 (.680) overall record and is 67-20-1 (.767) at home... Biggs is also 38-15 (.717) in the month of November.

• Biggs is the second-winningest coach in the history of the UC Davis program, trailing only Jim Sochor whose 156-41-5 record between 1970-88 led to his enshrinement into the College Football Hall of Fame.

• Four of his QB's have gone on to play professional football, including current San Francisco 49ers QB J.T. O'SULLIVAN (1998-2001) and current San Jose SaberCats (AFL) starter MARK GRIEB (1994-96)... Others include KHARI JONES (1991-93) who had a standout career in the Canadian Football League and Kevin Daft (1995-98) who was a reserve on the Tennessee Titans when they went to the Super Bowl XXXIV.

• MARSHALL SPERBECK (Nevada '84) IS 7-13 and in his second year with the Hornets.

• Including 16 seasons as head coach at Foothill College, Sperbeck has compiled an overall ledger of 116-65.

BRIEF SACRAMENTO STATE SCOUTING REPORT
• Sacramento State picked up its first road win of the year with its victory at Eastern Washington on Saturday.

• The Hornets were tough against the rush, holding the Eagles to minus-31 yards on 15 carries.

• They also picked off two passes and recovered a fumble while only having one turnover themselves.

• RB JAKE CROXDALE rushed for 91 yards while BRYAN HILLIARD had 64 yards including a two-yard touchdown.

• QB JASON SMITH completed 18 of 27 passes for 211 yards... His 12-yard TD pass to WR TONY WASHINGTON midway through the third quarter gave the Hornets the lead for good.

• Washington had a big day, catching 10 passes for 114 yards... Hilliard has gained 545 yards on the ground this season and has seven touchdowns.

• Smith has thrown for 1,249 yards and 9 TD's... He has also been accurate with his passes having only been intercepted three times in 177 attempts.

• Washington has been has been the main target for the quarterback corps, posting 68 catches for 1,022 yards and seven scores... He ranks third nationally in receiving yards (113.6 ypg) and fourth in catches (7.6 pg).

• Sacramento State enters the game with a defense that is No. 8 against the rush (80.7 ypg) and No. 68 overall (362.6 ypg).

• Standout LB CYRUS MULITALO has a team-high 72 tackles while DB PETER BUCK (61) and LB MIKE BRANNON (60) are close behind.

• Brannon has been tough on opposing quarterbacks, tallying 9.0 sacks for 52 yards in losses and 12.5 tackles-for-losses overall... He ranks tied for eighth in sacks.

• DB DEIONTE GORDON has intercepted a team-best three passes while DB ROBERT VIRGIL has a pair.

• The Hornets' victory on Saturday moved their Big Sky record to 2-4.

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE UND GAME
• UC Davis held the Fighting Sioux to just 68 rushing yards, the third consecutive opponent and the sixth this season to be held to fewer than 70.

• PK Sean Kelley made two field goals for the second consecutive game and was 4 for 4 on extra points, helping him earn GWC Special Teams Player of the Week honors... He's had a field goal within the last seven seconds of the first half the past two games.

• RB Corbin Cutshaw, making his second start of the season, had 128 all-purpose yards (47 rush, 81 rec.).

• The Aggies converted all three of their fourth-down attempts, making them 16 of 22 (.727) for the year, third-best nationally... Their 16 conversions are the most.

• Similarily, UC Davis was 7 of 14 on third down, upping its season average to .452 (61 of 135) and ranking the Aggies 14th in the country.

• North Dakota's 245 total yards are fewest by an opponent with San Jose State (273) next on the list... The Aggies only allowed 76 yards in the second half.

• UC Davis was 6 of 6 in the red-zone, turning those chances into 34 points... It was the Aggies' best performance inside the 20 this year in terms of opportunities (5-5 vs. So. Utah) and their second-highest point total (35 vs. So. Utah)... For the year, they are 33 of 38 (.868) for 199 points, including 25 touchdowns.

• UC Davis ran 78 total plays to North Dakota's 58, a total fueled by a 33:56-26:04 advantage in time of possession.

• The Aggies' four sacks were tied for the second-most this season and gave them nine over the past two games... They have 23 sacks for 150 yards in losses on the season and rank tied for 21st among FCS teams at 2.56 pg.

• Cutshaw and WR CHRIS CARTER each had eight receptions with WR Brandon Rice posting five.... Cutshaw's 81 yards led the team while Carter (72) and Rice (74) also had strong totals.

• LB Dozie Amajoyi and LB Tyler Pringle each had seven total tackles with Amajoyi picking up an eight-yard sack... Amajoyi was named the GWC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.

• DE Steven Wulff had two sacks for 20 yards, improving his per game average to 0.78 sacks and tying him for 17th among FCS players.

DENHAM ENJOYING STRONG YEAR UNDER CENTER
• QB Greg Denham has made the most of his eight starts this season and is on pace to become the fifth Aggie quarterback to surpass 3,000 passing yards in a season.

• Denham can move into the No. 10 position for passing yards in season with 468 more yards.

• He currently has 2,405 yards and 20 TD's... Denham also has 11 interceptions but only three in his last 148 attempts.

• Denham has also posted three 300-yard passing games:

- 26-41-2, 361 yds, 1 TD vs. Portland State (9/13)

- 20-30-1, 326 yds, 5 TD's vs. Iona (10/18)

- 31-41-1, 320 yds, 2 TD's vs. North Dakota (10/25)

• His 20 TD's ties him for 10th in a season with Ryan Flanigan (2002) and KHARI JONES (1992).

• Denham's 221 completions moved him to No. 9 in an Aggie season with the school-record of 281 (Kevin Daft. 1997) within sights.

• If the season ended today, his 145.94 rating would rank eighth for a UC Davis season.

• Through eight starts, he is ranked nationally in:

- Passing completions (3rd, 27.6 pg)

- Passing yards (7th, 300.6)

- Total passing yards (8th, 2405)

- Total offense (8th, 287.8)

- Points responsible for: (16th, 15.8 pg)

- Passing efficiency (20th, 145.94)

• Prior to this season, Denham had played in just one game and thrown seven passes (four completions) for 25 yards.

RUNNING BACK BACKUPS MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS
• With injuries to starting RB Joe Trombetta (has missed last 4 games) and backup RB Brandon Tucker (2 games), the Aggies have turned to redshirt freshmen Corbin Cutshaw and JOSH REECE to help fill the void.

• Both have contributed mightily... In the two games they have filled in exclusively, Cutshaw (28-156, TD) and Reese (24-130, TD) have combined to rush for 286 yards.

• On the receiving end, Cutshaw has 14 catches for 148 yards and Reese has five for 74 with a TD... Reese, who also has 134 kick return yards, has averaged 169.0 all-purpose yards during the two games.

• Tucker had 358 yards and Trombetta 354 before they became injured, combining for nine of the Aggies' 14 rushing touchdowns.

TIME MARCHES ON FOR UC DAVIS OFFENSE
• UC Davis is ranked No. 1 among NCAA FCS teams in time of possession, holding the ball an average of 34:52 minutes per game.

• The Aggies have held the ball longer than every opponent this season except Central Arkansas but still had it for 29:16 of that game.

• The high-water mark was 39:18 vs. Southern Utah, an 18:36 advantage over the Thunderbirds.

• The time of possession has helped UC Davis run an average of 15.3 more plays per game (75.7-60.4) than its opponents.

FAST STARTS EQUAL QUICK POINTS
• UC Davis has gotten off to quick starts in a majority of its games so far, scoring touchdowns on its first possession in six of them:

- SJSU: 54 pass from Daniel Alfaro to Bakari Grant (10:35)

- PSU: Joe Trombetta 18 run (12:00)

- NU: Brandon Tucker 15 run (12:04)

- UNC: Joe Trombetta 2 run (10:08)

- IONA: Corbin Cutshaw 56 run (14:14)

- UND: 4 pass from Greg Denham to Grant (9:16)

• The only games the Aggies have not done so were against Central Arkansas, Montana and Southern Utah... Against SUU, though, the Aggies did get on the board first by blocking a punt and returning it for a short touchdown.

• Jumping out of the gate fast has helped the Aggies hold a 111-54 scoring edge in the first quarter.

RECEIVERS SHINE IN HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE
• UC Davis' three starting wide receivers - Bakari Grant, CHRIS CARTER, and Brandon Rice - are each having standout seasons, combining for 144 catches, 1,722 yards and 17 TD's.

• Each has posted a 100-yard receiving day (Grant: 108 vs. SJSU, Carter: 189 vs. UCA; Rice: 137 vs. UNC), and each has also caught two touchdowns in a game with Rice posting two in two of the last three games.

• Rice currently has 122 career receptions with Carter close behind with 114... Grant is also closing in on the century mark with his 96 career grabs, all but one of them over the last two seasons.

• Together, the trio has combined for catches, 4,252 yards and 39 TD's.

• Rice needs three catches to move into a tie for 10th on the career receptions list (Wes Terrell, 125, 1995-98)... He also has 1,682 yards and needs just 156 to move into a tie for 10th on that Aggie list (Francis Montes, 1,838, 1995-97).

UC DAVIS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS - TOP 20
• As a team, the Aggies are ranked among the top 20 NCAA FCS teams in the following categories:

- Rushing defense: 4th (73.0 ypg)

- Passing offense: 7th (292.8 ypg)

- 4th down conversion: 13th (72.7%)

- 3rd down conversion: 14th (45.2%)

- Total offense: 15th (423.1 ypg)

- Scoring defense: 17th (18.9 ppg)

- Time of possession: 1 (34:52 min/game)

• Individually, Aggies rank in the following categories:

- QB Greg Denham (passing yds, 7th, 300.6 ypg; total offense: 8th, 287.9 ypg.).

- DE Steven Wulff (sacks, T-17th, 0.78 pg)

AGGIES IN THE GREAT WEST STAT RANKINGS
• The Aggie lead or are tied for the lead in two stat categories in the Great West Conference:

- Passing offense: 292.8 ypg.

- Rushing defense: 73.0

- Total defense: 323.0 ypg

- Field goal pct.: 72.7%

- First downs: 212 total

- 3rd down defense: 32.2%

- PAT kicking: 1.000 (35 of 35)

- Time of possession: 34:52

• Individually:

- QB Greg Denham (passing: 300.6 ypg; total offense: 287.9 ypg).

- PK Sean Kelley (PAT kicks: 100%, tied; FG's: 6)

- DE STEVEN WULLF (sacks: 7 - tied)

- LB Mike Healey (interceptions: 3 - tied)

GREAT WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
• UC Davis has had seven winners of league Player of the Week awards... An Aggie has been honored after six of the team's first nine games.

- Aug. 31 - DE Steven Wulff (2 sacks, int, fumble recovery vs. San Jose State)

- Sep. 7 - WR CHRIS CARTER (189 yds rec., 3 TD's vs. Cen. Arkansas)

- Sept. 14 - DB Patrick Shelton (TD-saving play on kickoff vs. Portland State which resulted in touchback after a forced fumble.)

- Sept. 21 - DT John Faletoese (2 blocked kicks vs. Montana)

- Oct. 5 - WR Bakari Grant (Game-winning TD catch vs. Northern Colorado).

- Oct. 25 - LB Dozie Amajoyi (7 tackles, sack); PK Sean Kelley (2-2 FG, 4-4 XP).

AGGIE PRESEASON HONORS
• UC Davis has been represented on two preseason All-America teams as well as preseason all-conference squads.

• DT John Faletoese is a first-team All-America pick by both The Sports Network and Phil Steele's College Football Preview while OG Jonathan Compas is a third- and second-team pick, respectively... Faletoese is also on the College Sporting News All-America second team).

• Additionally, Faletoese is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year by both Phil Steele's and in a vote of the GWC head coaches.

• Faletoese and Compas were named to Phil Steele's preseason All-GWC first team along with WR Brandon Rice, TE Luke McDonough, OT Mark Tos, DL Patrick Michelier and LB Mike Morales.

• Picked to the second team were WR Bakari Grant, OG Mario Gonzalez, RB Brandon Tucker and DB Kymm Snowden.

EXPERIENCE ON THE LINE
• The Aggies return four starters on the offense line in LT Mark Tos (6-6, 285, So.), LG Mario Gonzalez (6-1, 285, Sr.), C Tommy Hernandez (6-2, 283, Sr.) and RG Jonathan Compas (6-3, 298, Sr.), who each started all 11 games in 2007.

• Compas has started the last 37 games he has played... He started the first six games in 2006 and then all 11 each of the last two years.

• Gonzalez has a streak of 36 consecutive starts... Tos and Hernandez are each at 20 straight.

CALIFORNIA, HERE WE STAY
• UC Davis has always had a predominantly in-state roster and 2007 is no different with 94 of the 95 players on its roster listing a California city as their hometown.

• The only out-of-state Aggie is QB Sean Maraz who hails from Phoenix, Ariz.

AGGIE STADIUM TURNS A YEAR OLD
• UC Davis will play its second season at Aggie Stadium, which opened in 2007, starting Sept. 13.

• The biggest change in 2008 is the addition of lights which were installed in May... The lights will be broken in with five night games.

• Aggie Stadium is a $31 million facility whose primary funding (approx. $19 million) is coming from undergraduate students who approved the Facilities And Campus Enhancement (F.A.C.E) Inititiative in 1999.

• The stadium, also the home for Aggie women's lacrosse, saw its first action in April 2007 when UC Davis hosted Saint Mary's in lacrosse action.

• Aggie Stadium features nearly 9,000 permanent seats and almost 2,000 grass berm seats for a total capacity of 10,849, a slight total increase from last year.

• Also featured is a Daktronics scoreboard with 19'2" by 24' video display.

• The field is a Sportexe Synthetic Field... Wall-to-wall 104,000 square feet.

• The team building features three locker rooms and 160 total lockers, a team meeting room and large equipment/training room.

• Thirty-two points of sale for concession and the Aggie Pride Outlet for souvenir merchandise are also available.

• The pressbox features two radio booths, a TV booth and seating for nearly 20 writers, in addition to coaches booths and two more booths for operations.

• 5,000 parking spaces within a 10-minute walk highlight transportation accomodations.

A LITTLE BIT OF TOOMEY AT AGGIE
• The Tavernetti Bell didn't want to be lonely at Toomey Field so it has made its way to Aggie Stadium.

• The bell, named in memory of former Assistant Dean Thomas Frederick Tavernetti (1889-1834), gets rung by the Aggie Band-uh! once for every point UC Davis scores in a home victory.

• The bell sat inconspicuously outside of Toomey Field but now sits prominently in the main plaza outside the main gates at Aggie Stadium.

• And, yes, look for the bell to make noise again after every Aggie win.

37-YEAR WINNING STREAK ENDS
• One of the longest active streaks of consecutive winning seasons came to an end in 2007 when UC Davis went 5-6.

• The Aggies entered the season with 37 consecutive winning seasons which was believed to be the longest active streak of any non-Division III school in the country.

• UC Davis had not had a losing record since a 3-7 mark in 1969.

• The streak had been in jeopardy heading into the final game of the season six times... 2006 was the second consecutive year (and second time ever) UC Davis entered the last game with a .500 record and needed a win to finish with a winning season.

• The streak was officially snapped in last year's loss to South Dakota State.

• Former coach JIM SOCHOR (1970-88) started the streak, it was continued by BOB FOSTER (1989-92) and was finally extended by Bob Biggs (1993-2006).

• UC Davis was 300-100-7 (.748) during the streak.

OTHER STREAKS OF NOTE
• UC Davis has scored in 209 consecutive games... The last shutout was a 19-0 defeat to Cal Poly in 1990.

• The Aggies are believe to have not had less than 200 yards in total offense since a 30-12 loss to Nevada in 1969, a span that now stands at 429 games... UC Davis had 130 in that game.

TEAM CAPTAINS
• UC Davis returned to having four permanent captains after having just two in 2007... The Aggies rotated different players in the other two spots each week last year.

• OG Mario Gonzalez is a captain for the second straight season while OG Jonathan Compas is the other captain from the offensive side of the ball.

• DL John Faletoese and LB Tyler Pringle are defensive captains.

COACHING STAFF ENJOYS CONTINUITY
• A key to any successful football program is a continuity in the coaching staff, an area the Aggies have long-enjoyed extensive experience.

• Four members of the staff enter the season with a combined 93 "coaching years" after having been together as a quintet the past 19 years.

• Bob Biggs (30 years total, 15 as head coach); defensive coordinator LOU BRONZAN (24 years); offensive coordinator Mike Moroski (20 years) and running backs/special teams coach Greg Chapla (19 years) are ending their second decade together as a unit.

• Those "coaching years" took a big hit in the offeseason with retirement of long-time assistant Fred Arp who had more than four decades of service... He now serves as an advisor to the program.

• For good measure, they're all graduates of UC Davis.

ARP DECIDES TO CLOSE CLUB FRED
• Assistant Head Coach Fred Arp called it a career at UC Davis after the 2007 season, ending more than 40 years with the program.

• Arp, who played for the Aggies, coached JV and then moved to the varsity, amassing 44 years between all three.

• He joined the varsity in 1968 and saw 307 wins, both ends of the streak of 37 straight winning seasons, 20 straight league titles (1971-80) and 17 playoff appearances.

• Arp coached with the varsity for 39 seasons (he was a grad asst. at Northern Colorado in 1972).

• His laid-back coaching style led his position players to label their group "Club Fred".

• Arp, who handled number distribution and locker assignments, still provide those duties in his retirement, while also helping with scheduling.

• Four of his players were been drafted into the NFL while five are in the Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame.

AGGIES IN THE PROS
• QB J.T. O'SULLIVAN (1998-2001), the all-time passing leader at UC Davis, is a backup signal-caller for the San Francisco 49ers after a highly-publicized training camp competition... He has played with several NFL teams as well as in the former NFL Europe after being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round in 2002... O'Sullivan is the last NFL draftee for UC Davis.

• Former MARK GRIEB (1994-96) is a two-time Arena Bowl MVP for the San Jose Sabercats.

• OT Cory Lekkerkerker (2003-04) was on the roster with the Dallas Cowboys before being waived in the preseason.

• TE Daniel Fells (2002-05) is currently on roster with the St. Louis Rams... He and Lekkerkerker were free agent signees out of UC Davis a year apart.

• OT Elliot Vallejo (2003-06) currently a backup lineman with the Arizona Cardinals, is another free-agent signee.

AGGIE COACHING TREE INCLUDES BIG NAMES
• Besides becoming the all-time winningest coach at UC Davis, former mentor JIM SOCHOR has several former players and assistants who have gone to college or pro coaching careers, including:

• MIKE BELLOTTI (Oregon, head coach), who played for Sochor in 1969-72 and was a subsequent assistant coach.

• DAN HAWKINS (Colorado, head coach) played for UC Davis in 1981-82, was later an assistant with the Aggies and subsequently was head coach at Boise State.

• PAUL HACKETT, who played from 1966-68, was an assistant at UC Davis as well a head coach at USC, Pittsburgh and an assistant with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• CHRIS PETERSEN (Boise State, head coach), who played for UC Davis in 1985-86 and was also an assistant... He led Boise State to an unbeaten season and a 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

DECIDING THE GWC CHAMPIONSHIP
• Not all GWC teams are playing each other in 2008, so to decide the league title, the following will be used:

"The 2008 Great West Football Conference champion shall be determined by a higher winning percentage. If two teams finish the conference schedule with one loss, but have different number of wins, than if the team with fewer wins defeated the team with more wins head to head, there shall be a tie for the title."

THE NAME GAME (no hyphens please)
• With a growing life in Division I comes more attention from national media and, as a result, more media outlets referring to UC Davis in a number of different manners... Simply, the university is either "UC Davis" or "University of California, Davis".

• Incorrect references we have seen in media outlets: California-Davis, Cal-Davis, U.C. Davis, Cal St. Davis, Davis State and U.C.-Davis.

• We've even seen "U-C Davis"... There was a "U-C David" used on a luggage tag once.

• The Aggies thank you for helping them make a new name for themselves on the field only.