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Spring football today is a far piece from the old-school days of Bear Bryant's "Junction Boys" in 1954.

Gone, too, are the "bull-in-the-ring" drills of former Arizona State taskmaster Frank Kush 20 years later.

In fact, at UC Davis, not only are drink-is-a-reward practices ancient history, spring football itself appears to be a thing of the past.

With the arrival of national coach of the year Dan Hawkins four seasons ago, early workouts have moved farther down the calendar — now commencing this week, just six weeks after Christmas.

But there's a method to Hawkins' strategy...

"Our first day (of camp) here has always amazed me," the former UC Davis fullback explained after Wednesday morning workouts at unseasonably comfortable 65-degree temperatures at UC Davis Health Stadium.

"It's a lot more advanced than a lot of places. I think our strength-and-conditioning coach Jeff Bourque is one of the best guys in the country and he does a tremendous job training these guys. We also have Davis guys, so they're going to do a lot of stuff on their own, study and be ready to go on Day 1."

Even if that means spring football becomes winter football?

"There's a lot of benefit in that," Hawkins promises.

The NCAA allows 15 contacts for early, full-team workouts. While most colleges still are planning their sessions, UC Davis players will dive deep into their spring quarter responsibilities months before other programs take the field.

Hawkins says that having the spring quarter "open" meets the needs of student-athletes — guys who pride themselves on academics and a plan for the future.

Hawkins and UC Davis Athletic Director Kevin Blue love that early football training means players receive unbroken attention in the classroom come April and May.

Aggies also plan and focus on internships, experiences that frequently pay dividends soon after graduation.

Hawkins says having winter football allows for a longer window of healing should a player be injured. He says there is more than enough time to work with Borque and hit the weight room if "bigger, stronger, faster" is an individual's mantra.

"There becomes a 10-week block for Jeff to "really get these guys big and physical and strong ... it serves another good purpose," Hawkins told me.

And often, some of these student-athletes have a chance to travel as part of their studies since an open spring quarter allows them to enjoy these experiences.

The early start also let's the coaching staff not only spend long hours in the gridiron laboratory, it gives them a lengthier lead in to summer camp and the regular season. I'm sure that for Hawkins and offensive coordinator Tim Plough, the longer they get to fit the Blue-and-Gold pieces together, the more opportunities Aggie fans will get to exclaim, "Wow, what was that!!??" during September and October.

And speaking of putting those pieces together, there already has been sparkling quarterback play during the first workout...

Five — count 'em, five — QBs were tossing the ball around this week.

Rocklin High graduate Hunter Rodrigues (a junior), Mission Viejo native and senior Brock Johnson, redshirt freshmen Trent Tompkins (Central High in Fresno) and San Marcos High grad Miles Hastings were in camp with sophomore Gunnor Faulk (Christian Brothers of Sacramento).

And don't you know, two more signal-callers are on their way to campus this summer: Rio Americano standout Mitchell Dixon and Grant Harper of East Bay Campolindo High.

Word must have gotten out that after record-setting quarterback Jake Maier graduated in December, there's a job opening.

So, coach, what's the deal? Seven QBs?

"You know this place: Quarterback U," Hawkins told me. "Plough is one of the best in the country at what he does (coach QBs); we have great culture there."

Hawkins says the quintet of hurlers aren't competing against each other, adding he wants them "to compete against themselves. They're not Jake, they're not Kenny (O'Brien), they're not J.T. (O'Sullivan). We just want them to be the best versions of them and we can kind of ebb and flow with how that goes."

There's a long, long way between these 15 workouts and the season-opener at Nevada on Aug. 29.

Plough knows that choosing a Maier replacement won't be easy, but he's confident, then joked about the number of quarterbacks in camp:

"The odds are in our favor. Somebody's going to be good."

After Day 1, they all looked good.

(Practices are open to the public and are conducted this week through Friday from 9-11 a.m. Through March 5, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday practices are all 9-11 a.m. with Friday scrimmages at 6 p.m. on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. The final Friday workout on March 6 goes back to 9-11 a.m.)

 
One of the most well-known and respected sports writers in the industry, former Davis Enterprise sports and managing editor Bruce Gallaudet joined the UC Davis Athletics staff as its feature writer in the summer of 2018. Since then, visitors to UCDavisAggies.com have enjoyed his unique perspective on campus student-athletes, coaches, teams, individuals, programs, events and projects that represent the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.