Ok... This doesn't have much to do with this particular subject but I want to address a lot of the stuff/mis-judgements thrown on this board after an emotional loss...
(1) So we lost 35-17... could have easily been 35-24/27 had we converted two opportunities inside the 5... and we did all of this utilizing a rFR 3rd-string quarterback against the top team in the country. I honestly have a hard time believing that this game wouldn't have been different had Hess played the whole game (he was only "healthy" for one drive in which we scored a TD). So why is everyone freaking out?! Not a good game, but a lot went wrong... both things we could control and things we could not.
(2) Saw someone say that based on the play of the second and third quarterbacks, our chances next season aren't looking so good. OK... so Nania plays a quarter and half, throws for 67 yards and runs for 25. A redshirt freshman (emphasis on the freshman) throws his first td in his first game against the #1 team in the country. And despite all that, throwing a guy in in the middle of the game is no real judge of talent. Neither QB is like Hess in their style of play and they were running an offense built entirely on Hess' style of play. Not to mention that each has had little to no playing time considering they are playing behind a four-year starter. Honestly, I was surprised by Nania's ability to make a play and Tanner has a big arm but some learning to do. Every season is a different season... I remember a not to be named YSU QB throwing 4 Tds in a spring game and everyone was calling him the next conference player of the year... ends up being a total bust! Very hard to predict how a guy will perform from a quarter and a half of relief work. Give the guys a break...
(3) Im all about keeping your head as a head coach... I have been involved with every kind of league from youth to college and I always lean toward controlling your emotions. But I have also been involved in officiating, both as the guy in the striped shirt and the guy reviewing the guys in the striped shirts... and today's game was terribly officiated. Has nothing to do with outcome or bad calls. It has everything to do with the fact that they did not have control of this game... and that is the main goal of officiating! Several points during the game, they looked confused and not on the same page. Marking off the wrong yardage and having to change it, conferencing every chance they could get and seeming to be very hesitant in many key calls. In fact, when #6 was wrestling for the ball well after the play, you saw every official on the field take notice and look at one another like "don't look at me, I'm not going to touch that call..." What this all speaks to me is that they were more nervous to call this game than the players were to play it. And that's not good enough... and it hurts both teams playing. Wolford had every right to be irate.
(4) Our fan base absolutely sucks when it comes to intensity. But I want to praise the 10% of them that actually make a difference at the games. Sadly, Youngstown is not what it use to be... maybe too much disillusionment from failed minor league teams and so-close-but-so-far seasons with YSU. Today was a realization for me; the YSU fan base is like your average MAC dark horse team... has a player or two that that could play with the best of the Big Ten or SEC teams but has no depth to carry them the rest of the way. We have some fans that could be the best in the FCS... then we have our free-loaders. I'll tell you one thing... I really envy NDSU from this respect.
(5) Just a note for NDSU fans... just so you don't feel left out
I actually enjoyed seeing you all on our side of the stadium today. I actually think it helped some of our fans pull their heads out of their butts and get competitive. I'm sure there will be a few of you who weren't at the game today who will say "man, i told you this was going to be a blowout... I predicted 35-17." Be nice and remember there were more than a few things that affected that score tremendously. Hopefully we'll see you in the playoffs again with a healthy 4-year starter at QB ready to see what a YSU-NDSU matchup would really look like. Congrats though... you all have a good team.