Sept. 2, 2007
Sacramento, CA -
By Jim Jenkins - Bee Staff Writer
UC Davis football coach Bob Biggs and his Aggies can be grateful for one thing: The formal dedication of new Aggie Stadium won't take place until Oct. 13.
In the worst possible scenario for a program finally eligible for a higher tier of NCAA playoffs, the Aggies have seemingly already jeopardized their chances after losing their season-opener 28-21 Saturday to the Division II Western Washington Vikings.
"It definitely makes it harder, no question. Now, we'll have to win some big games (to stay in contention)," said Biggs after the error-plagued upset, disappointing an announced crowd of 9,690, many flocking into the sun-baked facility for the first time. "Too many mistakes."
Unfortunately, there is precious little wiggle room for the Aggies. The competition will get stiffer, beginning next Saturday at Portland State, piloted by innovative former NFL coach Jerry Glanville. UCD also plays in the Great West Football Conference, which does not have an automatic playoff berth in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) and must rely on at-large evaluation process.
There wasn't anything particularly tricky or complicated about the Vikings in their first-ever win in eight tries against the Aggies. It spoiled the debut of alternating quarterbacks Tim Plough and Matt Engle and wasted a 189-yard rushing effort by freshman Joe Trombetta, who scored once on a 90-yard run in the third quarter but also fumbled twice.
Western Washington appeared to be perfect prey for UCD, too, coming off a 5-6 season under second-year coach Robin Ross and accustomed to practicing in 70-degree weather.
Nevertheless, the Vikings, crediting rigid offseason conditioning, swarmed into Aggie Stadium, managed to withstand stifiling triple-digit temperatures on heat-retaining artificial turf and outplayed UCD in every way that mattered.
"I'll bet they had this game circled on their schedule," said Aggies defensive lineman James Amos. "They really came to play."
Converting 12 of 21 third downs behind Adam Perry, a junior quarterback making just his second start, the Vikings led 16-14 at intermission and seized upon nearly every break the Aggies gave them. UCD made three turnovers, had penalties at the most inopportune times and had several dropped passes by wide-open receivers.
Perry, elusive and able to make acrobatic throws against an aggressive but gradually tiring pass rush and a secondary he felt "played soft" coverage, completed 31 of 46 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. His first scoring pass went for 85 yards in the second quarter. His last touchdown toss, putting the Vikings in front for good with 8:33 left in the game, was a 23-yarder to Zach Hekker.
Two field goals, from 18 and 32 yards, by Josh Lider -- one set up by a turnover -- pushed Western Washington ahead 28-21 with 6:28 to go.
The Aggies appeared to be on their way to a comeback victory, reaching the Vikings' 4 after Trombetta broke off a 25-yard run and Plough hit Kale Turner for a 23-yard gain.
Trombetta, however, had to leave the field when his shoe became untied on second down. Two runs by DeMario Warren, who had a training-camp knee injury, resulted in losses back to the 5-yard line and Plough's fourth-down pass to the end zone fell incomplete with 2:53 remaining.
The Vikings then drained most of the clock with the aid of a critical pass by Perry to convert a third-and-five from his 11 and, after a punt, Plough couldn't connect with a last-gasp throw to the end zone.
Aggie Stadium opening spoiled by heat, defeat
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
There is no question that the $31 million Aggie Stadium aesthetically is everything it is supposed to be. The sight lines are exceptional, the bathrooms numerous, the concession stands accessible. Parking even appears balanced between those traveling by bicycle -- the preferred mode of transportation in the area -- and by automobile.
But global warming is cranking up the heat here, too.
After years of meticulous planning -- not to mention two white-knuckle student referendums and the usual construction/cost delays seemingly inherent in every stadium-building process -- the Aggies ran onto their brand-new football field and, like so many of the spectators here Saturday, discovered that you can't fully prepare for these conditions by studying scouting reports, analyzing test tubes or checking the weather. This type of misery has to be experienced to be believed. Or to be avoided.
"I feel like we did everything possible to avoid a catastrophic situation," UC Davis head athletic trainer Jeff Hogan said after the Aggies had limped through a demoralizing 28-21 loss to Western Washington before an announced crowd of 9,690. "This was probably the worst conditions I've ever encountered in my 24 years. Nothing at this level, at this intensity, has ever been this bad. If we knew enough in advance, I would be lobbying big time for something different."
An earlier kickoff time certainly would merit consideration. One more night under the lights at Toomey Field would be worth discussing. Or maybe, if confronted with similar circumstances in the future, the schools simply cancel the game and cut their losses ($$$)?
To be fair, the weather gods struck quickly. As UCD athletic director Greg Warzecka noted before the game, the forecast earlier in the week called for temperatures to reach the mid-90s, not the sweltering, suck-the-fluids-out-of-you numbers that neared 100 degrees in the stands and reached 110-115 degrees on the field. Accustomed to heat-related incidents at graduations and other events held during the summer months, university officials had come prepared with fan assistance centers, and the past few days, had publicized a need for spectators to wear protective clothing and drink plenty of fluids.
Yet as the temperature soared, spectators began squeezing against the sides of buildings, searching for shade. Crowds in the berms behind the end zones thinned, with many of the fans huddling under the overhead scoreboard. Stadium attendants began driving around in golf carts, dispensing cups of water and surgical gloves filled with ice. The public address announcer repeatedly informed fans of the locations of first aid stations. And just before intermission, as a cluster of emergency vehicles arrived near the west entrance, a room normally reserved for the more generous donors was transformed into an emergency medical center; individuals were seen being wheeled into the emergency vehicles, intravenous tubes hanging at their sides.
Of the 85 individuals treated for heat-related problems, according to UCD assistant fire chief Wes Arvin, eight were transported to area hospitals -- none in serious condition.
"We tried to be as prepared as we could," said Warzecka, increasingly frustrated as the afternoon progressed, "but this is what I was afraid of. Some people just didn't wear the proper clothing or drink enough water. We'll meet this week and talk about what we can do differently. We probably needed more tents. But the good news is, that the weather should be better by our next (home) game, and we'll have the lights up late November or early December."
Of course, losing the game to a lesser (Division II) opponent only exacerbated the Aggies' condition. Bob Biggs, who has never experienced a losing season in 14 years as head coach -- and who was a vocal proponent for a new facility -- appeared emotionally and physically exhausted. His players dropped passes, missed assignments, were assessed personal fouls uncharacteristic of a Biggs squad, withered under the heat with several players cramping and requiring IV fluids in the locker room. Furthermore, they were left without star running back Joe Trombetta during the critical, closing minutes of the game. Trombetta's problem? One of his shoelaces wrapped around his cleats, forcing him to leave the game.
Surely, there won't be a next time.
