DAVIS, Calif. -- When UC Davis quarterback Jake Maier eclipsed the 10,000-yard barrier in career passing yards, he didn't realize it until after the game. Of course, this makes perfect sense: in that moment, the primary number in the sights of the senior communication major was an 87 – the jersey number of tight end Wes Preece – and Maier's only priority was to deliver a perfect spiral to the back shoulder of his fellow co-captain. He might not even have known the score or the game clock, as the Eccles Coliseum scoreboard was out due to technical difficulties.

Like any laser-focused athlete, Maier does not get caught up in his stats. In fact, he has other people handle that stuff. 

"My brothers are big statheads," said the three-time Walter Payton Award candidate. "They are always comparing my numbers to everybody else's. I don't really care, but it was cool after the game: they were telling me I broke this or I'm on pace for that. And I'm saying, 'okay, but I'm just trying to stay healthy!'

Maier also has at least one more person watching his climb through the Aggie record book: associate head coach and offensive coordinator Tim Plough. The 2008 alumnus carefully monitors Maier's progress with an updated set of UC Davis season and career lists after each game. (This information is found on page 19 of the official game notes.)

For the record, Maier enters Saturday's UC Davis-Weber State showdown as the school record-holder in career passing attempts (1,342) and completions (894), while he ranks second all-time in career yards (10,114) and touchdowns (81). He needs 632 yards to take over the benchmark set by NFL veteran J.T. O'Sullivan. Maier has a chance to catch O'Sullivan's 96 touchdowns, although it would require a big finish or – better yet – another run in the FCS playoffs.

However, there is one number of which both Plough and Maier are keenly aware: the No. 15 on the jersey.

This is the same number worn by two former UC Davis greats who went on to successful NFL careers: Mike Moroski (1975-78) and Ken O'Brien (1980-82). That Maier now dons that jersey is no coincidence: Plough assigned, or more accurately, bestowed the No. 15 upon the arrival of the Long Beach City College transfer three years ago.

Plough considers himself a historian of Aggie football. He was a close friend and disciple of the legendary Jim Sochor, and returned to his alma mater in part to reconnect the current UC Davis program with its rich tradition. "When I talked to Coach Hawk, who is also a Davis guy, he and I were on the same page about how important it is to recognize the history of UC Davis but also to build a new future. I wanted Jake to understand that he's the guy who will link both things together. So I wanted him to know he's wearing this number for a reason. This is a number that great quarterbacks wear here."

"The first time I met him, I knew that day that he would wear No. 15, he was going to be the guy," added Plough. "And it's been even better than we imagined."

Maier admits he was not initially a UC Davis football history buff, but that Plough has since turned him into one. And for that matter, Plough acknowledges that his own interest in the school record book is much greater than that of his star pupil.

"Jake doesn't care about stats but he does care about the legacy he leaves at UC Davis," said Plough. "That means a lot to me and it means a lot to him. I'm really excited that people are aware of how special he is. He deserves everything he gets but I love how humble he is about it. The numbers are not what drives him, but he does want to be mentioned with those guys. He wants to be a part of the legacy of quarterbacks."

Besides the aforementioned Moroski and O'Brien, the jersey has also gone to the likes of Jeff Bridewell, a former team captain, Harlon Hill Trophy candidate and 12th-round selection in the 1991 NFL Draft. Ryan Flanigan wore No. 15 in 2002, when he set the school's No. 2 season for passer rating (164.03). Flanigan was also the last Aggie QB to start an NCAA postseason game until Maier propelled UC Davis to a playoffs last fall.

Plough's issue of No. 15 to Maier was a deliberate choice, but it is not the first time a jersey number has served as an appointed harbinger for success at UC Davis. Beloved assistant coach Fred Arp used to purposefully assign No. 88 to a defensive end, as Sports 1140 commentator Doug Kelly explored in this 2015 feature.

Still, the intention is similar: part of having a steeped tradition is establishing a standard to which future players will aspire. Reaching or surpassing that standard thus honors those who previously achieved it. 

"The great thing about Jake is that once you tell him something like that, he's all in. It's another challenge, and if there's a challenge in front of Jake Maier, he's going to succeed. That's just how he's wired," said Plough.

"It breaks my heart that Coach Sochor isn't here to be around for all of this, but it also brings me joy to see Jake become a part of that group. He deserves it. He'll go down as one of the best, for sure."

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 among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis 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.

AGGIE EVO: Established in 2017-18, 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.

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