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Holy smokes, what a football season.

For those outside Aggie Nation looking in, UC Davis' 10-3 campaign — complete with a Big Sky Conference championship — seemed like an other-worldly turnaround, a surprise that few saw coming.

Those coach and media polls way back in July, both telling fans the Aggies were no better than ninth in league, were laughable to those who wore the Blue-and-Gold. Didn't anybody notice how close UC Davis was in coach Dan Hawkins' first year? The Ags were two plays short of a 7-4 mark and a probable postseason gig.

Those who spent any measurable time around Davis football between last season and this one understood the riches of opportunity that the Aggies enjoyed. With leadership from Hawkins, and confidence in veterans such as Jake Maier, Keelan Doss, Ramsey Hufford, Vincent White, Ryan Parenteau, Wesley Preece and Mason Moe, it didn't matter who you talked to, the confidence for 2018 was bubbling over. Coaches were guarded in talking about it early on, but the glint in the eye of each member of staff was telling.

We knew. Aggie Nation, from team members to faithful fans to benefactors to administrators, knew this year would be special.

(And this just in. For his efforts in what might further be known as The Turnaround, Hawkins earned the 2018 Eddie Robinson Award as Football Championship Subsection Coach of the Year. Guess the word is out.)

The 2018 journey was almost beyond our wildest dreams. When Maine knocked Weber State out of the playoffs last Friday, it felt like the heavens were watching out for UC Davis. With a win over Eastern Washington the next day, our hometown heroes would be back at Aggie Stadium this weekend. A proper goodbye for Doss, Isiah Olave, Terrell Cloud and the other 12 seniors who helped create the magic was at hand.

But Eastern Washington once again proved to be a stumbling block. From afar, turning a 5-6 Aggie record into a 10-3 run might be cause for celebration — and it will be as we visit with Hawkins, friends of the program, players and administrators during the next couple of weeks.

Nonetheless, Hawkins knows there remains some unfinished business on that devil-of-a-red field at Cheney, Wash.

And rejoice, Aggie fans. Know that 2018 was not a once-in-a-lifetime shot. Understand what Hawkins, Director of Athletics Kevin Blue and benefactors like Bruce West and Bruce Edwards — along with partners like UC Davis Health — have set in motion.

There is a culture shift. While embracing Aggie Pride, this UC Davis program has gone beyond history and set a course in uncharted territory. It feels like Captain Hawkins and his crew have already discovered the New World.

It must also be noted that while Aggie fans owe a great deal to 16 seniors for the tectonic shift in the football program, the 2018 edition was a young team.

Next season there will be no sneaking up on anyone. Quarterback Maier returns with a raft-load of able receivers (including TE Preece and WR Jared Harrell). I know, I know ... how do you replace All-American wideout Doss? You don't. But if you are receivers coach Cody Hawkins and offensive coordinator Tim Plough, the charge is to develop the next Keelan Doss.

UC Davis has redshirt freshman Ulonzo Gilliam and sophomore Tehran Thomas returning at running back. Returning, too, are four-fifths of a stout offensive line. Center Connor Pettek, tackles Kooper Richardson and Colton Lamson and tackle Jake Parks are all back. Each was either a freshman or sophomore this fall.

Considering that Thomas and Gilliam combined for more than 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns (and their bodyguards return), the ground game appears uber-capable for some time to come.

The defense takes some meaningful hits with the departure of linebackers Moe and Parenteau, secondary sentries Olave and White and down lineman Cloud. But defensive wizard Robert Tucker has plenty of first-rate Aggies in the fold, such as linebacker and captain Nas Anesi and freshman extraordinaire Montell Bland, not to mention 13 underclassmen who are pretty talented defensive backs.

And don't forget, Hawkins' third recruiting class will join the program soon. Any holes not filled by returners could be filled instantly by newcomers, as we've been shown this year.

Stay tuned the next couple of weeks as "Inside Aggie Nation" takes a closer look at just how the UC Davis family worked together to lay the foundation for what has been become one of the nation's emerging outstanding football programs.

— Former Davis Enterprise sports editor Bruce Gallaudet writes "Inside Aggie Nation" each week. You can also read his "Aggie Corner" column every Friday or Sunday in The Enterprise (davisenterprise.com). Reach Gallaudet at 530-320-4456 or bgallaudet41@gmail.com
 

AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation.
 
Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley.
 
The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.