Football falls to 0-3, Thakkar “looking for growth”

First year Davidson Football Head Coach Saj Thakkar said that he was “looking for growth” going into a difficult road matchup vs. Tennessee Tech University. The Wildcats (0-3, 0-0) fell 72-14 to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) No. 15 Golden Eagles (3-0, 0-0) on Saturday. The loss was Davidson’s largest since 2015 and its most points allowed in a game since 1921.

Davidson opened the season losing 51-14 at home against Georgetown University followed by a 55-7 defeat at Elon University.

Through three games, Davidson has allowed 178 points—the most over any three-game stretch in program history, dating to 1897. The Wildcats rank last in the FCS in points against per game, and 667th of 669 NCAA football programs. Davidson’s 35 points scored through three games are the fewest to begin a season since 2015.

Thakkar attributes the concerning results to his team’s inexperience. “We’re a very young team, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. I think Week 1 was just a lot of guys playing college football for the first time. The speed of the game was fast. Guys were having issues with communicating efficiently, quickly getting the calls, and making the adjustments on the field as fast as they had to.”

Despite the recent loss to Tennessee Tech, Quarterback Coulter Cleland ’26 had arguably his best performance of the season, posting highs in passing yards (132) and passing touchdowns (2) on 12-of-26 attempts. Cleland was sacked twice and threw one interception, which was returned for a touchdown.

Thakkar raved about his quarterback’s flexibility and leadership. 

“I’ve been really impressed with Coulter and how he’s handled, not only a coaching change, but a change in philosophy and having to learn a new system, which isn’t easy when you’ve done one thing for three years,” Thakkar said. “He’s a football guy, and he understands the game. He’s a great leader, great person, and everyone respects him.”

Running back Mari Adams ’26 rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries, highlighted by a 37-yard run on 3rd and 14 to set up the first of two Davidson touchdowns. 

Returning from injury, Adams was eased into a lighter workload, but flashed the form that made him a First Team All-PFL selection in 2024, when he ran for 1,231 yards—the third most by a Wildcat since the College started recording individual stats in 1946.

Thakkar believes improvement will come in time for his young squad as they grow through the season. “The next piece that we’re looking for is the fundamental football piece,” Thakkar said. 

“Can we block better? Can we strain longer? Can we get off of blocks? Can we tackle? They’ve seen the speed at which we need to play and operate, and now we need to see those fundamentals that we work on every day.”

Playing the Hoyas (2-1, 0-1), the Phoenix (2-1, 0-0) and the Golden Eagles was part of Thakkar’s plan to bolster his team’s out-of-conference schedule in Year 1. 

“We wanted to go out and play some really good teams,” Thakkar said. “We’ve got Georgetown—their staff’s been together for over 10 years—and Elon, playing in arguably the best FCS conference, in the CAA. Now we’re going to play Tennessee Tech who, by the end of the season, is probably going to be a top-10, maybe top-eight, team in the country. We want that challenge.”

Davidson takes on Division III opponent Greensboro College Sept. 20, its only contest with a non-Division I team in 2025. 

“We told our staff when we got here that we were not going to take the approach of playing multiple teams that were sub-FCS in our non-conference,” Thakkar said.

The Wildcat’s game vs. the Pride (1-1, 0-0) takes them into a bye week. Davidson kicks off their conference slate with a road test at Stetson University on Oct. 4 before returning home to take on the University of St. Thomas on Oct. 11.

Saturday’s game doubles as an opportunity for Thakkar’s first win as a Wildcat and a showcase before a large crowd at the annual Red and Black Tailgate, Davidson’s homecoming-style event for alumni, families, and fans. “We have that environment. That’s what college football is all about.”

Athletic Director Chris Clunie announced nine months ago that Thakkar would be Davidson’s next head coach. In his announcement, Clunie cited Thakkar’s understanding of the “high academic and athletic balance” required of Davidson athletes.

“There’s a strong commitment here to the student-athlete experience. Not only are our guys Division I players, but a lot of people are very involved, whether that’s in clubs, organizations, or fraternities. They do a little bit of everything on campus,” Thakkar said.

The 33-year-old replaced Scott Abell, who had been head coach since 2018 before Rice University hired him last November. Abell is one of six 2024 FCS head coaches to make 2025 FBS head coaching debuts, part of a growing trend of coaches and players moving up the college athletic ladder when given the opportunity. 

Thakkar said he is committed to Davidson. “I’ve never really been someone to chase jobs.”

“The best advice I ever got was do as good of a job [as possible] where you’re at, and maybe that’s the last job you’ll ever have, or maybe the next job will find you. People get other opportunities, that’s part of the game. But, I’m here, right? I’ve got a family here; our roots are put down here. We plan on being here for the long haul.”