This thread is already so chock full of clichés it’s hilarious.
1) Why do we play UNI? We nothing to gain and everything to lose.
The UNI game is a huge draw and far better at gauging our team than playing against any other FCS school.
2) Maybe they played conservatively and didn’t show the whole playbook.
I can’t imagine a situation where this is remotely true. At worst, this is reflective of a team that’s taken a step backward and will not win as many games as we hoped this season, at best, this is a wake up call for the coaches and players to get their **** together and improve.
3) Maybe this is a sign that UNI is actually really good and that they’ll have a great season
Maybe so, maybe not. It doesn’t really matter how good/bad they are, because what it all boils down to is that everyone is so unproven at this point in the season that these games really should not have any bearing on how the rest of the season goes.
ISU started 2-3 last season going into the WVU upset. I don’t have the exact records in mind, but there are years where UNI beat or lost a close game to ISU and proceeded to stumble their way through the rest of the year.
So much of this conversation is built on prognostication that it doesn’t really matter, as long as the team sticks to Campbell’s MO about “The Process” and uses each and every game (win or lose) as a learning experience.
Are they a worse team than last year? I have no idea. That’s up to the guys on the team. If they let this loss get to them, they very well might be. If they don’t, then it could get better. It’s only been one game. Still 11+ left to be played.