Amid mounting excitement for the home football game this weekend — with free tickets for staff and faculty, the Running of the First-Years and the running of Pint (when he retrieves the kicking tee), and an Aggie team that is 4-0 and ranked eighth in the nation — do not forget the new COVID-19 policy for entry to UC Davis Health Stadium. Also, you might want to get there early to go through the verification process.

AGGIE FOOTBALL

• WHAT: UC Davis vs. Idaho
• WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 2)
• WHERE: UC Davis Health Stadium

•••

Staff and Faculty Day: 2 free tickets for UC Davis staff and faculty; use Promo Code STAFFAGGIES.

More game day information below.

Everyone 13 and older seeking admission to the stadium must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of the game. Students, staff and faculty may show their “approved” Daily Symptom Survey (which is linked to their vaccination data in Health-e-Messaging). See below for what you need to have with you, including photo ID.

The proof-of-vaccination-or-negative-test policy comes with a lifting of the attendance cap, which was set at 9,999 for the first home game, Sept. 18.

The following face covering rules also will be in effect:

• Required for anyone who is unvaccinated, unless actively eating or drinking
• Encouraged for everyone when social distancing is not possible
• Required for everyone indoors (that means the restrooms)

Verification checkpoints

“UC Davis Athletics is committed to a safe and efficient process for verifying vaccination or negative COVID test results,” officials said in a Sept. 27 announcement about the new entry policy.

COVID-19 checkpoint tents will open at 4 p.m. outside Gates 1 and 4 for staff and faculty and other spectators (not including students). This is where you must show your proof of vaccination or negative test (or “approved” Daily Symptom Survey, if you are staff or faculty) to receive a verification wristband, which will allow you to enter the stadium. (Team Aggie donors will have an exclusive line at Gate 4 next to the Team Aggie pregame hospitality tent.)

The checkpoint tents will close at the end of the first quarter. After that, you may show your proof of vaccination or negative test at Gates 1 or 4.

Current students can skip the checkpoint tents; instead, students entering through Gate 2 must simply show their mobile ticket and “approved” Daily Symptom Survey.

See Football 2021 Safety Guidelines.

WHAT YOU MUST SHOW

For proof of vaccination, any of the three options below, plus a photo ID that matches the name on your vaccination document:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (hard copy, photocopy or digital image)
• State of California Digital Vaccine Record
• “Approved” Daily Symptom Survey (current faculty, staff and students only)

Proof of negative test:

• Test results can be hard copy, photocopy or digital image, and must include full name, date of birth, date of test and the result. You also will be asked to provide photo ID that matches the name on your test result.

 

Aggies 8th in nation

The Aggies, 3-0 in the preseason, scored a late touchdown for a 17-14 victory over Weber State in Ogden, Utah, in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams last Saturday (Sept. 25) and subsequently moved into the Top 10 in rankings by the American Football Coaches Association and Stats Perform, each assessing UC Davis as the eighth-best team in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision.

 

Down 14-10 in the fourth quarter at Weber State, the Aggies saw their starting quarterback, Hunter Rodrigues, exit the game after being shaken up, to be replaced by Miles Hastings who connected on a fourth-and-6 pass to Carson Crawford for a first down inside the Weber State red zone.

A pass interference call on Hastings’ toss to C.J. Hutton put the ball on the WSU 2-yard line. Trent Tompkins followed with back-to-back one-yard runs, scoring the TD that gave UC Davis the lead with 27 seconds left.

On Weber State’s last-ditch effort for the win, Chris Veneable tipped a Wildcat pass and Erron Duncan hauled it in for an interception with just 14 seconds left, giving the Aggies the win.

Rodrigues left the game after compiling 145 yards in total offense: 99 passing (11-for-26) and 46 rushing (10 carries), while Hastings finished the game with 50 yards passing (7-for-9). Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. racked up 83 yards, including 14-for-62 on the ground. Linebacker Calvin Mouisset, making his first start as an Aggie, led the team in tackles, with seven.

Tickets, parking, concessions

• Tickets (general public) — Available online or by phone, 530-752-2471.
• Tickets (staff and faculty) — Your two free tickets are available online; use Promo Code STAFFAGGIES. You may purchase additional tickets for adults ($15) and youths ($10).
• Parking — Available in Lots 30, 41 and 47 and the west entry garage off Hutchison Drive (see map), with payment through ParkMobile (use the app or create an account online). Note to staff and faculty with monthly permits: You must still purchase a parking pass for game day.
• Food and beverages — Concession stands will be open, three food trucks will be on site. All food and drinks must be consumed outdoors.

See all game day information.

Mark Honbo, assistant director of Athletics communications, contributed to this report.