I'm on board with everything in the article except for the part about the program being stuck in the same place is was in 2007, Sperbeck's first season. We've clearly bumped up a notch in the FCS landscape (we're not the UNC or ISU of the BSC anymore), but also there's an obvious plateau.
For fun, let's look at some of the most heartbreaking losses on the Sperbeck era that led to us "spinning our wheels" and stopping ourselves from reaching the next level... Also, please bear in mind I'm leaving out the blowouts and no-shows (see '13 CC game) to spare ourselves additional hurt. But why not get all this out in the open!!!
9/6/08: Up 20-17 with one minute left in the 4th quarter against FBS foe Colorado State, the Hornets D can't stop CSU from marching for a game tying field goal. Evander Wilkins fumbled the subsequent kickoff and CSU kicked another FG to win the game as time expired.
11/22/08: In perhaps the first true sneak preview of heartache to come, the Hornets rolled into Pocatello, Idaho for a chance to wrap up it's first winning season (7-5) in nearly 10 years. Coming off three straight victories over BSC opponents (including EWU), and a Causeway Classic victory, the Hornets were topped by 0-10 ISU by a score of 36-33.
9/25/10: Up by a score midway through the 4th quarter, the Hornets defense fails (and the Griz get a little BSC referee home cookin'), SAC wastes a bruising effort and 124 yards by Bryan Hilliard and loses 28-25.
10/2/10: Just a week later, SAC decided it would be fun to try to win a game down 37-10 at the half. On a blisteringly hot day the Hornets managed to take the lead at 61-54 with just a 3 minutes left in the game. In true Hornet fashion, Denarius McGhee marched the Bobcats down the field in two minutes to tie the game. The Hornets missed their FG attempt in OT, MSU made theirs, 64-61 MSU
10/25/10: Up 24-21 late in the 4th quarter to the eventual national champion EWU Eagles, Bo Levi Mitchell and the Eagles passed their way into the endzone with ease (Kyle Monson was just overmatched) and scored the winning touchdown with 33 seconds ledt in the game. Eagles win 28-24.
11/20/10: Notice a theme...? A botched PAT in the first quarted came back to haunt the Hornets on this day. Late in the 4th quarter the Hornets allow Randy Writght and UCD to drive the length of the field and Sean Kelly hits a short FG to put UC Dungpile up 17-16 for the Causeway victory over the Hornets.
10/22/11: Up 28-13 going into the fourth quarter against the national champion EWU Eagles AT HOME, the Hornets defense allows 22 points in the final 11 minutes of regulation. EWU marches in for a TD in overtime, the Hornets do not. Game over, 42-35 EWU
10/29/11: At home against NAU in a game they should win the Hornets valiantly come back to score a TD late in the 4th and make the game 27-26 NAU with only the PAT standing between OT and defeat. Guess what, Jason Diniz shanks his SECOND PAT of the day and the Hornets lose 27-26.
11/19/11: The Hornets blow a halftime lead against UC Dungpile to close out the season in true Hornets fashion. Colton Silvera steamroles our D on his way to 170 yards and a 23-19 come from behind victory.
10/20/12: The first heartbreaker for the Sperbeck era's best team (IMO) came in Cheney, Washington against the #1 ranked EWU eagles. The Hornets rolled into town with an FBS win, a 5-2 record but the Hornets couldn't hold on to a 3rd quarter lead and nearly scored on the game's last play, but lost 31-28 to move to 5-3.
11/3/12: After a heartbreaking loss to EWU and a spirited victory over Top 10 Cal Poly at home the Hornets hosted another top team, Montana State. The Hornets led this one until 8:13 left in the 4th quarter and could not muster a score of their own. The Hornets failed to win this game which would've given them 7 D1 wins for the first time in school history and garnered them serious playoff consideration.
11/17/12: After a tough loss and bye week to rest up, the Hornets sat at 6-4 with a shot at the playoffs (though dim with a 20 team field) in the balance as they traveled to Davis for another season ending Causeway Classic. I'll just leave this description of the game from HornetSports.com... Long story short, probably one of if not THEE worst loss in the Sperbeck era. Hornets lose 34-27 (headline is wrong). http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/201304082ctn6c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
2013--- I don't have the energy to recap... See our terrible losses to SUU (24-21, OT), NAU (39-38), UM (51-48, OT), and UCD
