Train,
I respect your opinion, and right to disagree. But, the simple fact is the game which cost YSU a playoff spot was NOT on the road. It was NOT in North or South Dakota. It was at home against SIU. 1 punt blocked by SIU and recovered for a TD... another botched snap by YSU recovered in the end zone by SIU for a TD... A 105 yard INT return for a TD.... That is 21 points, in a 38-21 loss at HOME!!!... YSU led 21-10 after scoring a TD with just over 2 minutes left in the 2nd quarter at halftime, then was outscored 28-0 the rest of the game... SIU had very good special teams, but not much else. That is why they finished 6-5/5-3.
It really is not all that hard. A win in a $$$ game most years is not likely, so go 3-1 in OOC games. Then go 5-3 in the MVFC, and that results in 8-3. Win all 4 home games, plus 1 game on the road(Or 3-1 at home and 2-2 on the road... YSU did blow a 28-7 lead at ISU(r) this year on the road... Traveling from the Dakota's to Youngstown sure is not a piece of cake, yet SDSU has not had any problem winning at YSU(2-0 at YSU). And, NDSU did it in 2010. I'd be willing to say traveling to YSU is not easy for most of the MVFC schools. Winning on the road is hard in ANY conference. That is why winning at home is so important.
The YSU team that played PITT and Indy State IS deserving of being in the playoffs. But, not the team that lost 4 games in a row in the middle of the season, and then squeaked by with wins over partial scholarship Albany(did not even win their conference) or South Dakota(1-10/0-8) at home.