Aggie Pride Podcast

Guest: RT Young, writer for Inside Texas, author of Longhorn Alphabet, and creator of the Substack "Dance with Who Brung Ya"

Brock sits down with his longtime friend RT Young, one of the most thoughtful voices in Texas Longhorns coverage, for a wide-ranging conversation about football fandom from two very different perches. From a small house in Austin with 15 people and an offensive lineman too big for Christmas, to the philosophical stakes of the NIL and transfer portal era, this one covers it all. Plus, Brock pitches his Football Heaven Weekend dream of watching UC Davis play SMU in Dallas before driving down to Austin for Ohio State vs. Texas that same night.

How They MetBrock and RT (known to Brock as Taylor) crossed paths in Austin when Brock visited his now-wife Katelyn's home turf. The setting: a house with 15 people, stadium seating couches, and a UT offensive lineman who was, in RT's words, "too big for everything."

The Transfer Portal and NIL EraA centerpiece of the conversation. RT and Brock dig into what has changed in college football and why it matters beyond the surface level. They discuss player identity, school loyalty, and the long-term cost to both programs and players when connections are cut short. RT shares the story of Quintravian Weissner at Texas as a case study of a player who had every reason to stay and finish his career in burnt orange but transferred to Florida State for his final year instead. Brock brings up Teddye Buchanan, who spent four years at UC Davis, earned his degree, then made the jump to Cal before being drafted in the third round by the Ravens.

FCS Football in the Modern EraWhat it means to be a program like UC Davis when portal pressure is pulling your best players to the FBS level. Brock points out that the Aggies lose only about three to five players a year to FBS, which given the talent level at the program is genuinely impressive. The academic value of a UC Davis degree keeps guys around in ways NIL money at mid-major programs cannot always replicate.

The College Football Playoff ExpansionAre first-round FCS-style upsets coming to the expanded CFP? Both hosts are skeptical. The Appalachian State at Michigan moment was a product of timing, early season rust, and a home crowd. Deep in December with top programs fully locked in, that magic is a lot harder to manufacture.

Football Heaven WeekendBrock pitches his dream September 12th itinerary: fly into Dallas Friday, watch UC Davis play SMU at what he hopes is an 11 a.m. kickoff, then drive down I-35 to Austin in time for Ohio State vs. Texas that night. RT breaks down the logistics, the Baylor traffic risk, and the real question of whether Brock is better off checking flights from Love Field to Columbia instead.

SMU PreviewWhat to expect from UC Davis's opponent on Football Heaven Weekend. RT breaks down SMU's transfer portal philosophy of reclaiming Dallas-area kids who flamed out at bigger programs, and why that strategy is hard to evaluate heading into a new season. He also confirms the Mustangs are everyone's second-favorite team, including their own fans, which might mean a few UC Davis fans outnumber the home crowd.

West Coast Football and the Reality GapBrock gets honest about the size difference between the college football worlds he and RT inhabit. High school football participation in Northern California is a fraction of what it is in Texas. UC Davis recruits Hawaii for size because the NorCal player pool simply does not produce many offensive linemen. And yet UC Davis has gone 5-6 against FBS opponents over 22 years, a number that holds up respectably by any measure.

Website: insidetexas.comSubstack: Dance with Who brung ya (free, covers Spurs, sports columns, parenting and youth sports)Book: longhornalphabet.com

Follow the podcast and stay connected with the UC Davis football community wherever you listen to podcasts.

Go Ags.

Brock sits down with Samuel Akem, one of the most prominent voices in FCS college football media and a former Montana Grizzlies wide receiver. Sam covers the entire Big Sky and FCS landscape for Skyline Sports and co-hosts the Deep Ball podcast with Keenan alongside growing his own YouTube channel. It's a wide-ranging conversation about football, faith, mental health, and the grind of building something meaningful outside of a nine to five.

The guys open up about what life looks like when you're juggling marriage, media, and big ambitions. Sam shares what he and his wife have been navigating since her serious ankle surgery earlier this year, and both Brock and Sam get candid about therapy, anxiety, depression, and what it really means to take mental health seriously, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month.

From there the conversation shifts to the 2026 FCS season preview, including:

Sam's top five Big Sky contenders: Montana State, Montana, UC Davis, Idaho State, and NAU

New Montana head coach Bobby Kennedy, his one year contract, his player's coach energy, and whether the shift away from Bobby Hauck's hard-nosed style is a strength or a risk

The UC Davis storyline heading into year three under Coach Plough, back to back quarterfinal appearances, a new starting quarterback again, and whether this is finally the year the Aggies break into the semis

The UC Davis vs. Montana game shaping up as one of the marquee matchups on the schedule

Sac State's departure from the FCS and what that means for the Big Sky

Plus Sam and Brock trade notes on growing in media, the importance of reaching a hand back to people coming up behind you, what it's like having institutional buy-in from UC Davis athletics, and why niche audiences might actually be the biggest opportunity in sports media right now.

Follow Sam on YouTube and at the Deep Ball podcast with Keenan for weekly FCS coverage throughout the season.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAx30nrtgXLFUdmqQhxD0GA/videos

Brock and Dwight are joined by UC Davis wide receivers PJ Laviel Pickett and LaDanian Streets for a conversation that goes way beyond football. From Pop Warner centers to college pass catchers, these two share how they found their way to the game, what brought them to Davis, and what they are locked in on heading into fall camp.

PJ opens up about growing up in Redlands, his baseball roots, and how Coach Hawk made the Davis pitch impossible to turn down. LaDanian traces his journey from hooper to receiver, through COVID, through Central High School in Fresno, and into one of the deeper receiver rooms in the Big Sky Conference.

The guys also break down where the team stands coming out of spring ball, including a young quarterback room with a ton of upside, a veteran receiver group stepping into a mentorship role, and some real excitement about what fall could look like.

Topics covered:Mom's influence on getting into football, the UC Davis recruiting pitch, spring ball and the young QB room, receiver room depth and identity, shoulder injury and coming back stronger, leadership and the captain conversation, and the short vs. tall receiver legacy debate.

UC Davis Football | Big Sky Conference | Aggie Pride Podcast

We caught up with two Hawaiians on the UC Davis football coaching staff at the golf tournament as spring ball wrapped up — the veteran Coach Trey, who's been building with the Aggies for a few years now, and Coach Vavae, the newest addition finding his footing in Davis life. These guys brought energy, humility, and a whole lot of Aloha spirit.

In this episode we cover:

• How Coach Vavae has been settling into Davis (and who's been doing the real heavy lifting in the move — hint: it's not the coaches)
• Coach Trey hosting the Hawaiians on the Blackstone — smash burgers, Hawaiian BBQ, all of the above
• What's clicking in the running back room under Coach Vi's leadership
• The depth building in the receiver room — Sam, PJ, Tyler Hennessy, LaDania Streets, Scott Nix, Colin Parnell, and more
• What Coach Plough and Coach Schelt do differently — and why "how you do it" matters more than the play call
• The Hawaii football legacy, OC16 tape days, and how these two ended up coaching together at Davis
• Why Aloha Fridays are now officially a thing in the football facility
• Coach Trey's honest take: if he could sign a lifetime contract at Davis tomorrow, he would

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Go Ags. 🔵🟡

Guest: Todd Sloat — UC Davis Football Alumnus (1984–1987), Aggie Football Fund

Todd played quarterback at UC Davis after transferring from Shasta College. A self-described "fringe player" for much of his career, he earned a starting role his senior year — a story he's proud of as a testament to the Davis culture of sticking it out.

What We Cover:

The Aggie Golf Classic — Todd's been attending for 15 years (formerly at El Mocero). It's one of his favorite days of the year, calling it a moment when "Aggie pride comes swelling back."

Memories of Coach Socher — Todd shares one of his go-to life lessons from the program: "No detail is too small." He credits Soaker's film room sessions and his habit of connecting players to the professional success of past Aggies as a lasting source of inspiration.

Todd's Career — Started in wildlife and fisheries biology (yes, he can ID every bird on the golf course), then transitioned into stream restoration design-build — fixing broken streams at high elevations, often off the grid. About seven years ago he pivoted again into developing wood manufacturing facilities: bioenergy plants and community-scale sawmills. "The School of Hard Knocks has been a great learning experience."

Aggie Networking in the Wild — Todd's son Taylor completed two PT clinicals with former Aggies (Steve Thompson and Mike Cassis), which is exactly the kind of connection Aggie Football Fund wants to systematize.

Aggie Football Fund — What's New — With revenue sharing now opted in at Davis, the Fund is shifting away from NIL collective work and repositioning as a needs-based entity: filling gaps wherever Aggie Football needs support. The immediate priority is rebuilding and cleaning up the alumni database. They've identified "cohort leads" for four-to-five year eras who are reaching out to alumni to update contact info and gauge engagement.

Spring Practice Watch — Todd was at practice the week prior and came away impressed with the QB competition. With Axel out due to injury, both remaining QBs showed out. Brock highlights Jackson's spring game highlight — trucking a defender into the end zone — as evidence the Aggies have live, athletic quarterbacks regardless of who wins the job.

Season Prediction — "Win every game." Todd sees the size, athleticism, experience, and depth as a genuinely special combination. Championship expectations are warranted.

Key Takeaways:

• Aggie Football Fund is rebuilding its alumni network — if you're a football alum who's lost touch, reach out
• Revenue sharing has changed the NIL landscape; the Fund is evolving its mission
• The QB room has real depth and athleticism heading into fall
• The Davis culture of "fringe players" earning their shot is alive and well

Links:

• 🏈 Aggie Football Fund: aggiefootballfund.com
• 🎙️ Podcast: aggiepridepodcast.com

Spring ball is winding down and Brock caught up with two of UC Davis football's best — veteran defensive lineman Trent Carrade and wide receiver Sam Gbatu— straight from Coach Plough's office after practice.

Jacob Psyk dropped 9.5 sacks last season and has moved on. So who's next on the Aggie D-line? Trent has an answer — and he's putting Jaden Few's name in the same breath as Zach Kennedy. High praise from a guy who's seen both up close.

In this episode:

• Trent on the D-line's youth movement — Jaden Few, Julian Fernandez, Tyler Parker, Devin Hugal, and what this group can become
• Defensive scheme tweaks under the new staff and what it means for the front seven
• Trent's relationship with Coach Brady — "He'll be at my wedding one day"
• Sam on developing chemistry with new QBs Jackson and Trane heading into the season
• The alumni experience — Jake Maier, Miles Hastings, and what it means to hear from guys who came before
• Games they're looking forward to — San Diego, Idaho, Montana, and the road-heavy start to the season
• The team's mission: break through the quarterfinal ceiling and make a real run

Also: uncrustables, burritos, the Kibbe Dome, and the muscle milk situation in the weight room.

Go Ags. 🐴

Brock sits down with UC Davis Head Football Coach Tim Plough right in the thick of spring ball — in Coach Plough's office with a live view of the practice field. It's a wide-ranging conversation covering the big news of the week, what's happening on the field, new coaching additions, Coach Plough's personal health journey, and an honest breakdown of what it will take financially to win a national championship.

The Connors Twins Are BackThe biggest news of the episode: Miles and Jake — wait, we're talking Rex and Porter Connor — have had their eligibility reinstated by the NCAA. Coach Plough breaks down the full story: the months-long battle, the involvement of Chancellor May, outside legal counsel hired by the university, the work of compliance officers Lydia Sandlin and Kyle Condor, and the emotional phone call when he delivered the news. "The joy that they felt on the phone when I told them a couple of weeks ago — if I could bottle that up..."

Coach Plough, Little League DadBefore football, we open with the other Coach Plough — the one coaching 10-year-olds in Davis Little League while his 7- and 5-year-olds are also on the field. He talks about why he finally said yes to coaching, what the Davis community did to make it possible, and the lessons that cross over between a college sideline and a youth baseball diamond. "You really don't lose. You either win or you learn." (Sound familiar? He used it in both locker rooms.)

The Quarterback RoomA deep look at the competition between newcomer Jackson (transfer) and incumbent Treynor, plus Axel Eason's development. Coach Plough breaks down what he's seen from each guy, a rough Wednesday practice that turned into a great Saturday scrimmage, and the evolution of his own role — from hands-on QB coach to more of a "Yoda in the background." Also: what the walkie-talkie/headset setup is actually about.

The Offensive LinePossibly the most underrated story of the episode. Coach Plough says the O-line is the group he feels best about on the entire roster. Zaire, David Main, AJ Hassan, David Portisano, Jaden Montanez, Jezniah Thurston, and freshman Robert Beverly are all mentioned with genuine enthusiasm. "As physical and athletic as we've ever had."

Players Who Have Popped This SpringCoach Plough goes around the roster with standouts on both sides of the ball:

• Offense: Mateo Perez (new leadership energy), Cohen Parnell (early enrollee WR flashing), Fisher (looking even better than last year)
• Defense: Drew Cofield ("if there's a better corner in the country, I'll be shocked"), Jaden Few (DE wrecking practices), Julian Fernandez (6'6" DT out of Bakersfield, keep your eye on this guy), Jackson Sievers (LB stepping up), Trent Carrad and Rain Mayo anchoring the defense
• Special Teams: Tyler Hughes (punter/kicker having a great camp), new kicker from Missouri

Coach Plough's Health JourneyAn honest and personal conversation about mental health, weight, and what it's taken to get to a healthier place. He traces the arc from post-playing days at Davis, through a difficult stretch at Boise State, to finding balance through Peloton rides with Coach Wilcox at Cal — and now boxing in the weight room with Coach Burke and Cody Von Oppen. He also shares the powerful "coach jumps in the hole" story that has shaped how he approaches player wellbeing.

Give Day & The Road to $1 MillionThe financial reality of competing for an FCS national championship. Coach Plough lays it all out: the program went from raising ~$400K/year when he arrived to $600K+ last year, and he believes the number needed to win it all is $1 million annually. Right now they're tracking toward ~$800K. He shares the Give Day goals (350 donations unlocks major matching gifts from donors including Nathaniel Hackett and Joe Evero), the success of the recent wine fundraiser (180 people, nearly $150K in one night), and where every dollar actually goes — player nutrition, housing, and NIL.

Lan Larison returns to the Aggie Pride Podcast to talk about life in the NFL, lessons from his rookie season with the New England Patriots, and what comes next in his career.

Lan reflects on the transition from UC Davis football to the professional level, the challenge of learning an NFL offense, and the mindset required to compete for a roster spot. He shares what it was like walking into an NFL locker room, learning from veteran teammates, and experiencing the speed and expectations of the league.

The conversation also dives into Lan’s humility and perspective as his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL became reality. From standing in an NFL huddle realizing “we’re here boys,” to connecting with young fans who now look up to him, Lan discusses the responsibility that comes with being a professional athlete.

Along the way, the guys talk about UC Davis football, Lan’s favorite movies, NFL locker room culture, and the mindset that has carried him from a small town in Idaho to the biggest stage in football.

It’s a fun, honest conversation with one of Aggie football’s most exciting players as he continues his journey in the NFL.

• Lan Larison’s transition from UC Davis to the NFL
• Learning an NFL offense and earning a role on the team
• What he learned from Coach Mike Vrabel and Patriots veterans
• The difference between college football and the NFL business
• Watching teammates prepare and understanding what it takes to win
• The surreal moment realizing he was playing in the NFL
• Being a role model for young athletes and giving back
• Memories from the UC Davis running back room
• Rapid-fire questions on movies, teammates, and NFL moments
• Lan’s thoughts on the future of UC Davis football
• Advice for young athletes chasing big dreams

“Believe in yourself. Nobody knows your journey but you. Put one foot in front of the other every single day.”

In this episode of Aggie Pride, Brock Galvin and Dwight Smith sit down with former UC Davis standout and current Baltimore Ravens linebacker Teddye Buchanan. The conversation traces his football journey from the Bay Area to UC Davis, his breakout season at Cal, and his rookie year in the NFL — along with the mindset, relationships, and habits that shaped him along the way.

Teddye shares how his father introduced him to football at a young age and how playing multiple sports helped shape his instincts and versatility as a linebacker.

He reflects on the recruiting process and why Davis stood out — not just for football, but for its people, culture, and genuine investment in him as a person.

Teddye discusses arriving as a freshman during COVID, learning a complex defensive system, and eventually becoming a playmaker and team leader on defense.

He shares what it was like navigating the transfer portal, preparing for his former team in Week 1, and delivering standout performances — including a defining game at Auburn that elevated his NFL profile.

Teddye explains how he learned to stop trying to “act like an NFL player” and instead lean into the version of himself that got him there.

From draft-day emotions to playing alongside Roquan Smith and meeting legends like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, he reflects on the intensity and privilege of playing in Baltimore’s linebacker tradition.

Teddye talks about drawing as a creative outlet, how art helps him find flow and balance, and the importance of becoming a “total person.”

He shares insights into NFL-level preparation, including meditation, red-light therapy, and optimizing sleep to stay sharp during the long season.

• Staying grounded through rapid success

• The power of relationships and culture

• Growth through discomfort

• Balancing identity beyond football

• Gratitude and perspective at the highest level

• “I realized I just had to be me — that’s what got me here.”

• “The people I met at Davis are people I’ll know for life.”

• “You only get to be a rookie once.”

Follow, rate, and share the podcast to support UC Davis football and the Aggie community.

Brock Galvin and Dwight Smith sit down with UC Davis legend Mike Moroski, aka Coach Mo: former Aggie star quarterback, longtime UC Davis assistant coach, NFL quarterback (Falcons, Oilers, 49ers), and now the head coach at the College of Idaho.

Coach Moe takes listeners from his early days falling in love with football, to the electric 1977 UC Davis vs Nevada Reno game at The Tomb, to lessons learned inside the 49ers organization during the Bill Walsh era. The conversation also dives into his return to UC Davis as a coach, the leap to building a startup program at the College of Idaho, and why relationships, leadership, and fundamentals still beat shortcuts.

• The origin story: youth football, big dreams, and finding the right fit at UC Davis
• The 1977 Nevada Reno showdown at The Tomb and why it still stands out above everything
• What the NFL taught Coach Moe about leadership, standards, and preparation
• The 49ers influence: Ronnie Lott, Bill Walsh, and teaching quarterbacks with methodology
• Coaching at UC Davis: learning the trenches, developing players, and the beauty in the details
• Building College of Idaho football from scratch: culture, community, and belief
• The modern era: NIL, the portal, and what players risk losing when they keep moving
• Program identity: “Yote Steel,” treat people well, and empowering emerging leaders

Mike Moroski is a former UC Davis quarterback, NFL quarterback (including time with the Falcons, Oilers, and 49ers), longtime UC Davis assistant coach, and the head football coach at the College of Idaho. He helped build the College of Idaho football program from the ground up and continues to lead the Yotes with a focus on fundamentals, leadership, and culture.

• “The most exciting competitive situation I’ve ever been in” (1977 Nevada Reno game)
• On the 49ers: leadership from within the team and standards set daily
• On teaching: the West Coast offense as a method for teaching quarterbacks
• “No shortcuts, no complaining” (Yote Steel)
• “It’s their team. It’s not my team.”
• “The magic is the relationships”

• Jim Sochor (Coach Soak)
• Ronnie Lott
• Bill Walsh
• Steve Young
• Jeff Kemp
• Chris Petersen
• Coach Biggs (Bob)
• Ron Gould
• Dan Hawkins
• Tim Plough
• Tim Keene
• Mike Cody
• Ishman Anderson
• Lan Larison

• How elite organizations build leadership and clarity without overcomplicating things
• Why fundamentals and player ownership can flip a season
• How a coach builds a culture when there is no field, no facility, and no blueprint
• Why staying put can still be a competitive advantage in a world built on movement

If you love UC Davis football history and coaching stories, share this episode with an Aggie teammate, alum, or coach. And if you ever find yourself in Idaho, Coach Moe says you’ve got seats at the 50.