Aggie Pride: A UC Davis Football Podcast

Aggie Pride
  • 5.0 (26)
  • Football
  • Updated Weekly

Become a Paid Subscriber: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/ucdavisfootball/subscribe Welcome to 'Aggie Pride,' your ultimate UC Davis Football podcast! Hosted by former players Brock Galvin and Dwight Smith, this series dives deep into the world of Aggie football. From nostalgic trips down memory lane to in-depth analysis of current games, rosters, and coaching changes, we leave no stone unturned. Whether you're a die-hard fan, a former player, or new to UC Davis football, 'Aggie Pride' offers unique insights, heartfelt stories, and engaging discussions that celebrate the heart and soul of Aggie Nation. Tune in for special guest appearances, game previews and recaps, and more

  1. Jul 16

    Mike Cody: The Recruiting Story He Didn't Know, Coach Mo Tales & the 2026 O-Line

    💛 Help fund the pod: We just hired a producer to level up the show. Sponsor inquiries and support → DM us on Instagram or email aggiepridepodcast@gmail.com The band is back together. Brock, Dwight, Danny, and Nick reunite for a live-studio offseason catch-up — Danny's front-page World Cup moment, QB camp stories with Coach Biggs and Coach Trey, babies on the way, and the big questions heading into 2026: the Mountain West move, special teams, and whether back-to-back quarterfinal runs are the program's new floor. Then, long-awaited guest and former teammate Mike Cody joins the pod. The Aggies' offensive line coach takes us from Colfax High and the JC route to the recruiting story he only learned years later as a GA, coaching alongside Coach Moroski at College of Idaho (including an all-time overtime story), why UC Davis still builds its roster from high school recruits in the portal era, and what makes this O-line room — and this staff under Coach Plough — special. Plus: his linemen roast him via anonymous Instagram DMs. Come for the football, stay for the schmediums.

    Mike Cody: The Recruiting Story He Didn't Know, Coach Mo Tales & the 2026 O-Line

  2. Jun 16

    Gabe Manzanares + Dalton Turay: Two Ballers, One Backfield

    Dwight and Brock sit down at the UC Davis football golf tournament with two former Aggie running backs, Gabe Manzanares and Dalton Turay, to talk about their playing days, their roads to Davis, and why they keep coming back. The two were teammates in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, and the conversation moves from City College of San Francisco roots to family life, sales careers, and what has them excited heading into year three under the current staff. It is a warm, funny catch up between guys who clearly still consider each other family, with a few self deprecating stories about who actually threw the key blocks back in the day. Topics covered in this episode: How Gabe transferred into Davis in 2013 from City College of San Francisco, a JuCo program that sent 16 players to the D1 level the year he left, and competing for a national championship thereGabe's winding path: one season at Wesleyan University, a D3 program in Middletown, Connecticut, then a year at City College before landing at DavisGrowing up and playing football in San Francisco, the SI experience, and the Bruce Mahoney game, billed as the oldest high school rivalry west of the MississippiThe San Francisco connection to current Baltimore Raven Teddye Buchanan, and how few players from the city break through at the highest levelLife after football: Dalton in sales in San Francisco raising two boys, Hank "the Tank" (3) and Aiden (8 months), and Gabe newly married to wife Rebecca as of JanuaryThe annual tradition of coming back to the golf tournament with the crew (Taylor Sloat, Corey Galindo, and the rest) and treating the commitment like showing up for practiceOptimism about the running back room, the program's trajectory, and continuing to raise the barA debate over the best play of Gabe's career, and Dalton's honest admission about how many blocks he actually missed on itGuests: Gabe Manzanares and Dalton Turay (former UC Davis running backs)Recorded at the UC Davis football golf tournament.

    Gabe Manzanares + Dalton Turay: Two Ballers, One Backfield

  3. Jun 4

    A Longhorn Walks Into an Aggie Podcast | RT Young, Inside Texas

    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.

    A Longhorn Walks Into an Aggie Podcast | RT Young, Inside Texas

  4. May 21

    Samuel Akem: FCS Landscape, Montana's New Era, and the Weight Behind the Work

    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

    Samuel Akem: FCS Landscape, Montana's New Era, and the Weight Behind the Work

  5. May 6

    Stacking the Receiver Room: PJ Pickett and Ladanian Streets on Spring Ball, Leadership, and Life at Davis

    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

    Stacking the Receiver Room: PJ Pickett and Ladanian Streets on Spring Ball, Leadership, and Life at Davis

  6. May 1

    Smash Burgers, Spring Ball & Aloha Fridays: Getting to Know Coaches Trey & Vavae

    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 aboveWhat's clicking in the running back room under Coach Vi's leadershipThe depth building in the receiver room — Sam, PJ, Tyler Hennessy, LaDania Streets, Scott Nix, Colin Parnell, and moreWhat Coach Plough and Coach Schelt do differently — and why "how you do it" matters more than the play callThe Hawaii football legacy, OC16 tape days, and how these two ended up coaching together at DavisWhy Aloha Fridays are now officially a thing in the football facilityCoach Trey's honest take: if he could sign a lifetime contract at Davis tomorrow, he would🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe and leave us a review — it helps more Aggie fans find the show! 🌐 Visit us at aggiepridepodcast.com for episodes, updates, and more. 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @ucdavisfootballpodcast ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: @aggiepridepod Go Ags. 🔵🟡

    Smash Burgers, Spring Ball & Aloha Fridays: Getting to Know Coaches Trey & Vavae

  7. May 1

    No Detail Is Too Small | Todd Sloat on Aggie Football Fund & the Future of Aggie Pride

    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 outRevenue sharing has changed the NIL landscape; the Fund is evolving its missionThe QB room has real depth and athleticism heading into fallThe Davis culture of "fringe players" earning their shot is alive and wellLinks: 🏈 Aggie Football Fund: aggiefootballfund.com🎙️ Podcast: aggiepridepodcast.com

    No Detail Is Too Small | Todd Sloat on Aggie Football Fund & the Future of Aggie Pride

  8. Apr 21

    Trent Carrade & Sam "Got to" Gbatu Recap Spring Ball

    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 becomeDefensive scheme tweaks under the new staff and what it means for the front sevenTrent'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 seasonThe alumni experience — Jake Maier, Miles Hastings, and what it means to hear from guys who came beforeGames they're looking forward to — San Diego, Idaho, Montana, and the road-heavy start to the seasonThe team's mission: break through the quarterfinal ceiling and make a real runAlso: uncrustables, burritos, the Kibbe Dome, and the muscle milk situation in the weight room. Go Ags. 🐴

    Trent Carrade & Sam "Got to" Gbatu Recap Spring Ball
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Become a Paid Subscriber: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/ucdavisfootball/subscribe Welcome to 'Aggie Pride,' your ultimate UC Davis Football podcast! Hosted by former players Brock Galvin and Dwight Smith, this series dives deep into the world of Aggie football. From nostalgic trips down memory lane to in-depth analysis of current games, rosters, and coaching changes, we leave no stone unturned. Whether you're a die-hard fan, a former player, or new to UC Davis football, 'Aggie Pride' offers unique insights, heartfelt stories, and engaging discussions that celebrate the heart and soul of Aggie Nation. Tune in for special guest appearances, game previews and recaps, and more

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