Thet loss to NAU killed us. Played Montana tough, when they were at their worst, horrible time to not finally beat EWU...who has proven to be very mediocre to bad this season. Didn't blow Cal Poly out...
If we had beaten any of EWU, Montana, or NAU we're in. Can't blame injuries as all teams deal with them, but you would have to think if Larison stays healthy the whole season we have at least 1 more win.
That being said, tough to justify being a playoff team if our effectiveness is entirely dependent on 1 player.
I am not surprised but I will say this, after what we saw last year and now this, the committee has no respect for the Aggies. If either of the Montana's were in a similar position as we were today, they'd be in.
I was having this conversation this morning with a family member. I'm not saying that the Aggies do deserve to be in this year, but I think there are certain programs that get preferential treatment based on name alone.
When Larison went down earlier in the season the offense completely stalled...the second half of the EWU game, the NAU game, the Poly game -- the committee had to notice how anemic the offense was without #3. Hastings showed he's not a game winner, so many turnovers, and turnovers returned for TDs as well. It was turnovers vs. Montana that essetentially lost the game. Absolutely terrible offensive effort in Flagstaff in terms of protectiing the football.
The bashing Hastings on interceptions is overdone, He had 7 interceptions in conference play, only the two Montana schools had fewer than 6. He had three in one game, the last of which was after the game was decided.
I never understood the predictable use of downhill RB Chukwudobe as a blocker only and with a team with few playmakers, not playing Babbs.
Yesterday we faked a handoff to JC, which they didn't buy, bc we never give him the ball! Perez doesn't seem to break plays. Babbs broke a 64 yard reception, and then didn't play. Chaz Davis is a lengthy WR who had 8 catches one game, and then was featured less or couldn't get open?
I feel like I could construct an argument that it's no big deal that Davis relies on an individual's talent that much. We can't go shopping in the portal like other schools in the field can. Occasionally some skill players of insane talent who also have the grades like LL, Doss, Gilliam, Manzanares back in the day, etc take an interest in what our program has to offer and pretty much by necessity the ball ends up going to them most plays.
Yesterday was a fantastic finish to an average season.
Committee was never going to leave out a team ranked in the top-15 for the entire season (Sac), and Davis wasn't good enough to warrant letting 5 teams in from the Big Sky.