Editor's note: In this third installment of a four-part series on UC Davis football, the focus is on the many components that came together to help the Aggies enjoy its breakout season, one that set the foundation for the program's future success.
It's been well-documented ... the nationwide searches for a new athletic director and football coach, the rise from seven straight losing seasons to one of college football's greatest single-season turnarounds in 2018.
UC Davis went from 5-6 to 10-3 and its lofty national ranking, driven by a 12-cylinder engine that included administrators like Director of Athletics Kevin Blue, the return of Dan Hawkins, benefactors, assistant coaches and able-bodied, right-minded players like All-American receiver Keelan Doss and Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year Jake Maier. Support from Mrak Hall was tantamount in this resurrection.
That 10-3 season saw the Aggies share the conference crown, almost beat Eastern Washington in the playoffs and — as an added bonus — unveil plans for a new $40 million sports medicine, training, classroom, office and practice facility. The project was made possible through private contribution and the university's partnership with UC Davis Health.
So where to start in handing out huzzahs?
How 'bout head coach Dan Hawkins? In chatting with the former UCD fullback, The Hawk was quick to pass around credit.
First and foremost, Hawkins tipped his cap toward Blue, the AD who managed to ink Hawkins one week after letting four-year football coach Ron Gould go.
"I'll be honest with you, when Kevin was able to go and hire a football coach in seven days? That shocked me," said the Aggie alum.
At the time, Hawkins was headed to Florida International as Butch Davis' offensive coordinator. However, quick work from Blue, Acting Chancellor Ralph Hexter and campus benefactor Bruce Edwards ensured that Hawkins canceled his ticket to Miami.
Media members asked Hawkins all season long about reasons for the turnaround — a plus-five in the win column. Each time, the former Boise State and Colorado coach points to players and staff:
"Every team has its quote-unquote stars. But every great team has a thousand invisible moments that happen from contributions by staff and (players): switching positions, playing a scout team, helping with film, running down markers.
"They do whatever it takes to help the team, help each other. When you don't have a selfish team, when you have a giving team, that's a unique and uncommon thing. It's part of what people talk about when they talk about Aggie Pride."
Hawkins checked off a long list of former Aggies who will go down in history: Ken O'Brien, Casey Merrill, Mike Moroski, Bo Eason, Mike Wise, Rolf Benirschke, J.T. O'Sullivan...
"So many players over the years," Hawkins points out. "We've always had our bright lights. But we had a whole lot of other people, (important) people who were doing great work, supporting the Aggies and (not necessarily getting) any of the spotlight."
One such person is strength and conditioning coach Jeff Bourque. Brought in from Abilene Christian in May 2017, Bourque had stints at Washington, Boise State, Nevada and Arkansas.
Right away, the injuries that plagued Gould's era seemed to abate. As the Aggies got healthier, they could rely on their depth as fourth-quarter play improved.
"He's been tremendous in revamping equipment," says Hawkins. "He's had so many new training ideas on things like nutrition and rest."
Then there's folks like Associate AD Josh Flushman, the man in charge of sports medicine, conditioning, nutrition and sports psychology programs for the more than 600 student-athletes at UC Davis.
"He's a grinder. Working all the time to help you," reports Hawkins.
There also is marketing expert Rocko DeLuca, who with Blue, has enhanced the game-day experience for fans, found commercial and private financial support that is necessary to keep Aggie athletics on sure footing.
Provost Hexter, now-Chancellor Gary S. May, offensive coordinator Tim Plough (another former Aggie), defensive mentor Robert Tucker and Edwards joined Doss, Maier, DeLuca, Blue and Bourque on Hawkins' list of people who are moving his program forward.
"Gosh. It's maybe not fair, mentioning (these people)," adds the head coach. "There are so many people making Aggie football what it is."
Once again formidable, the program's first step forward on the field began with Hawkins ... at least that's what Blue believes.
"When Hawk started as head coach and put together what we thought was a pretty successful plan for moving forward, we were highly confident in the progress we would make," Blue recently told me, adding that Hawkins' new coaching staff, approach to recruiting, equipment changes, and improvements in support staff all made perfect sense.
"A big part of (Hawkins' arrival) was an increased commitment from a number of supporters to enhance their contributions to the football program ... which has helped significantly."
To wit, the 38,000-square-foot training center is now on the books and slated for groundbreaking this year.
The dawning of the Hawkins Era, recruiting the best and the brightest and providing the finest coaches, combined with a world-class education, better facilities, enhanced game-day festivities and generous benefactors were all part of a planet alignment that resulted in a 10-3 season, and launched UC Davis one step closer to a national championship.
Now, to keep that ball rolling...
Next week: In the final installment of this series on the resurrection of Aggie football, we'll visit with Hawkins, Edwards and Blue to discuss the future of the program.
— Former Davis Enterprise sports editor Bruce Gallaudet writes "Inside Aggie Nation" each week on ucdavisaggies.com and "Aggie Corner" Fridays in The Davis Enterprise at davisenterprise.com
