In deference to a desire for beer and steak, for Tuesday lunch, Griff, Durango, Kekoa, and Robbie gathered at the Huygens Faculty Club. A few days after the unexpected win over Humboldt, there was an aura of relaxed fellowship. Durango ordered a pitcher of beer. Griff ordered prime rib and bacon roasted potatoes. A salad came with it, which he wasn't planning to eat. Durango ordered Enchiladas Poblanas. Kekoa ordered General Tsao's Chicken, Robbie considered the roast beef and Sky High Yorkshire pudding but ultimately ordered steak and chips. Not much talking initially occurred.

It was not an official meeting. A review of the Humboldt game had taken place in the student cafeteria during lunch on Monday and had included student coach Peggy Adams. Today, if Griff was mindful of what Caydance had said about the male culture of football, it did not interfere with his enjoyment of prime rib and beer. "The Sacramento Valley Harriers are known for the size and strength of their farm-bred players. Some are the sons of farm owners, some are the sons of migrant workers," he said. "However, their coach is also the basketball coach, and that is where his heart is. The Harriers are a formidable basketball opponent, but last year, they were in the football division3 standings cellar."

All enchiladas on his plate were eaten; Durango looked up, paused before starting on the rice and black beans "What Huygens and Sac Valley have in common," he commented, "is core dedication to a branch of learning, in their case, agriculture science." As a college president, Durango was interested in how Sac Valley, although nowhere near the research level of nearby UC Davis, had placed its campus in the midst of acres of school-owned farmland. "Their model," he explained, "was UC Davis back when it was the University Farm. What you need to know is that Sac Valley has been giving agriculture science scholarships to Sacramento Valley young men, who were high school football heroes."

If Huygens could beat Humboldt, they could beat Sacramento Valley, Griff thought. But he was a new coach of a new team, and anything could happen at away games.