Over the years, there have been a host of UC Davis football teams near and dear to the hearts of Aggie faithful.

The pantheon of terrific Davis football includes the early 1960s teams that went from 0-8-1 to conference champs and the early 1970s teams that featured former Aggie head coach Bob Biggs at quarterback and started the school on some incredible streaks. Who will ever forget that come-from-behind thriller against Cal State Hayward (thanks to Biggs and Mike Bellotti)?

Oh, and the stunning victory at Stanford in 2005. Who'd have thought?

And then there was that 1982 squad — fueled by the All-American prowess of QB Ken O'Brien, who would take the Aggies to a 12-0 mark before injury forced him to miss the national championship tilt. The locals fell to Southwest Texas State (now known as Texas State), 34-9, in that season's Palm Bowl.

Almost 40 straight winning seasons, 18 consecutive conference crowns. A legacy of doing things right on and off the football field ...

But a couple of years ago — almost a decade after climbing into the world of Division I — some UC Davis fans wondered if all they might have left would be fond memories. With so much upheaval (five separate people at the helm of the university's athletic department in eight years), a raft-load of losing seasons and the school's status among Big Sky Conference brethren shrinking with each poll, Aggie Nation followed its once-proud heroes with a heavy heart.

That was then. This is now.

When UC Davis re-visits Eastern Washington on Saturday (kickoff slated for 1 p.m.), it finds itself as one of the final eight Football Championship Subdivision schools still standing.

After a 5-6 season last year under new coach Dan Hawkins (yep, the same Hawkins who blocked for O'Brien in that '82 national-title run), the Aggie alum was hedging his bets a little about what this season would hold.

"I'm excited about this team. We have some great returning talent, some good new players," Hawkins told me in July at the Big Sky kickoff meetings in Spokane, Wash.

"So, are you a contender for a conference title?" I asked Hawk.

"Weeelllllll ... Can we go off the record for a minute?" he replied.

(Before continuing, it must be remembered that UC Davis' 5-6 season during the former fullback's return to campus was thisclose to being 7-4 and a playoff berth last year: one play in the Eastern Washington game, one more in the loss to Sacramento State.)

Back to Spokane ...

For three minutes with the recorder off, I listened to Hawk's heartfelt synopsis of his 2018 players, staff, administrative support and the direction he felt his Aggies might be headed.

It was off the record because opponents didn't need further reason to look closer at UCD. After all, guys like QB Jake Maier and All-American receiver Keelan Doss were back and widely respected (feared?). The defense — about which Hawkins was effusive during the recorder-off 270 seconds — had returning studs up and down the lineup, not to mention those newcomers who have helped create an attack that has Davis among the nation's top schools in turnover ratio.

The Aggies also are allowing more than a touchdown less per game than they did in 2017.

Sitting across the table from Hawk as he assessed his team and campus support, it really hit home. These Aggies might be a surprise to everyone else, but not to Hawkins. Not to the players. In essence, that three minutes off the record were an epiphany. Shhhhhhh. These guys are serious.

Hawkins navigated those media meetings at the Big Sky meeting with aplomb — sounding like he was just happy to be there, throwing out kudos to other schools and their players. He cited how tough the league is.

While Hawkins kept to the Don't Give Them Anything script, his wheels were turning. Hawk's overriding inner thought?

"Let's get it on!"

And "get it on" Davis has ...

In marching to a 10-2 record, Davis earned a share of the Big Sky crown. The prize that came with it was a first-ever Division I-level postseason appearance and playoff victory. These Aggies have polished off the pride. While playing hard-nosed football, there is a measure of elegance with which UC Davis has gone about its business.

The student-athlete aspect of the program has always been at the fore. And Hawkins' guys are no different. Character, intelligence and work ethic have been neatly mixed with dynamic effort, some performance drama and, as always, humility. And, yeah, you're right, there's some football talent there, too.

This is an exciting team to watch.

Five months after Spokane, Hawkins weighed in — on the record — about where he figures his current Aggies might stand if one were to look back a decade or two from now:

"They're the gold standard. Back in the old days, we didn't play these kinds of teams or play at this level. And when I first came here (as head coach), I didn't want them to be shackled by Aggie Pride or the past. But I wanted them to be inspired by our history; they certainly have lived up to it and more."

Hawkins admits that many, himself included, looked at the 1982 team as that all-time standard. No more ...

"Every Aggie that played here will look at this team and see it as the new gold standard."

(One more thing about those three minutes off the record with coach: While coaches and the media both picked UC Davis to finish ninth in Big Sky play, keen observers will notice one member of the print-and-broadcast world picked the Aggies to win the conference. Three minutes in confidence with Hawkins will do that to you.)

— 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