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Since we still have SUU coming up I thought this article was interesting.
T'Birds have semi-pro look
By Michael Mirer/Enterprise staff writer
http://www.davisenterprise.com/artic...ts/072spt1.txt
Early on in the game-planning phase for the football game against Southern Utah, one of the Stephen F. Austin assistants looked down at the two-deep depth chart. He noted the ages of the Thunderbird players.
"Damn," he told SFA head coach Mike Santiago. "We're playing a semi-pro team."
The Southern Utah team that UC Davis plays this week boasts nine players born before 1980. The Aggies do not have a player who falls into that category.
Four of those graybeards play in the T'Birds defensive front seven, a physical and fast unit that has SUU ranked 14th in Division I-AA in defense. That group is one of the major reasons that a 2-4 team screams danger for the Aggies, who are looking to improve to 3-0 in Great West Football Conference play.
"They're a much better team than their 2-4 record would indicate," UCD coach Bob Biggs said. "They're very formidable."
Led by 25-year-old linebacker Nick DiPadova, an All-American last year, the T'Birds held North Dakota State, which averaged 267 yards on the ground, to just 53 rushing yards. They have allowed 30 points just once this year.
In addition to DiPadova, the front seven includes Marques Harris, a transfer from Colorado who has four sacks this year, and Mike Overly, who has recovered a pair of fumbles this year.
"They hit, they hustle all over the field," Southern Utah coach Wes Meier said of his front seven. "They're all doing a great job, but the defense is set up for (DiPadova) to make a lot of plays.
The T'Birds allow less than 300 yards per game and are holding teams to just 183 passing yards. That should make for an interesting match-up against a UCD offense that moves nearly 315 yards a game in the air.
The advanced age of the Southern Utah team has more to do with the number of players on the roster that are members are the Church of Latter Day Saints. Just as with the Weber State team the Aggies faced in Week 2, a number of players served two-year church missions either before or during their college careers.
The perspective that comes with age, Meier said, has helped keep a Southern Utah from losing its way during a season filled with frustration.
Each of the T'Birds four defeats has come by a touchdown or less. Even more frustrating has been an early-season schedule that has had the Southern Utah team on the road nearly constantly. Five of the T'Birds' first six games have been on the road, meaning the two-game homestand they begin Saturday might feel slightly strange.
Despite the troubles, the coach said he has seen no letdown in the performance or preparation of his team during this difficult stretch. That's something, perhaps, attributable to age.
"I think any time you can bring the maturity level up it helps in different ways," Meier said. "From a perspective of staying (positive) and focused it helps."
Still ranked: UCD remained in national rankings despite its 22-19 loss to Stephen F. Austin. The Aggies are ranked 25th in both the Sports Network and ESPN/USA polls. UCD is also ranked 15th by the Football Gazette.
Biggs has said that one measure of the season would be if his team finished in the top-16, which would suggest a playoff berth were the Aggies eligible. Cal Poly, UCD's next opponent, is No. 6 in the Sports Network poll.
Inside voices: Tuesday's rains forced the Aggies indoors to both Upper Hickey and Freeborn Hall for abbreviated practices. UCD will have its usual session on the practice field today, weather-permitting.
- Reach Michael Mirer at mmirer@davisenterprise.net
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
T'Birds have semi-pro look
By Michael Mirer/Enterprise staff writer
http://www.davisenterprise.com/artic...ts/072spt1.txt
Early on in the game-planning phase for the football game against Southern Utah, one of the Stephen F. Austin assistants looked down at the two-deep depth chart. He noted the ages of the Thunderbird players.
"Damn," he told SFA head coach Mike Santiago. "We're playing a semi-pro team."
The Southern Utah team that UC Davis plays this week boasts nine players born before 1980. The Aggies do not have a player who falls into that category.
Four of those graybeards play in the T'Birds defensive front seven, a physical and fast unit that has SUU ranked 14th in Division I-AA in defense. That group is one of the major reasons that a 2-4 team screams danger for the Aggies, who are looking to improve to 3-0 in Great West Football Conference play.
"They're a much better team than their 2-4 record would indicate," UCD coach Bob Biggs said. "They're very formidable."
Led by 25-year-old linebacker Nick DiPadova, an All-American last year, the T'Birds held North Dakota State, which averaged 267 yards on the ground, to just 53 rushing yards. They have allowed 30 points just once this year.
In addition to DiPadova, the front seven includes Marques Harris, a transfer from Colorado who has four sacks this year, and Mike Overly, who has recovered a pair of fumbles this year.
"They hit, they hustle all over the field," Southern Utah coach Wes Meier said of his front seven. "They're all doing a great job, but the defense is set up for (DiPadova) to make a lot of plays.
The T'Birds allow less than 300 yards per game and are holding teams to just 183 passing yards. That should make for an interesting match-up against a UCD offense that moves nearly 315 yards a game in the air.
The advanced age of the Southern Utah team has more to do with the number of players on the roster that are members are the Church of Latter Day Saints. Just as with the Weber State team the Aggies faced in Week 2, a number of players served two-year church missions either before or during their college careers.
The perspective that comes with age, Meier said, has helped keep a Southern Utah from losing its way during a season filled with frustration.
Each of the T'Birds four defeats has come by a touchdown or less. Even more frustrating has been an early-season schedule that has had the Southern Utah team on the road nearly constantly. Five of the T'Birds' first six games have been on the road, meaning the two-game homestand they begin Saturday might feel slightly strange.
Despite the troubles, the coach said he has seen no letdown in the performance or preparation of his team during this difficult stretch. That's something, perhaps, attributable to age.
"I think any time you can bring the maturity level up it helps in different ways," Meier said. "From a perspective of staying (positive) and focused it helps."
Still ranked: UCD remained in national rankings despite its 22-19 loss to Stephen F. Austin. The Aggies are ranked 25th in both the Sports Network and ESPN/USA polls. UCD is also ranked 15th by the Football Gazette.
Biggs has said that one measure of the season would be if his team finished in the top-16, which would suggest a playoff berth were the Aggies eligible. Cal Poly, UCD's next opponent, is No. 6 in the Sports Network poll.
Inside voices: Tuesday's rains forced the Aggies indoors to both Upper Hickey and Freeborn Hall for abbreviated practices. UCD will have its usual session on the practice field today, weather-permitting.
- Reach Michael Mirer at mmirer@davisenterprise.net
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
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