Monday morning quarterback

This may subject me to some nasty e-mails from the Chamber of Commerce, but there is nothing to do in Youngstown, Ohio. But don't just take my word for it. Ask the Aggie Band-uh, which planned to do some sight-seeing, but then spent most of Saturday afternoon in a sports bar watching football after it (like me) realized there were no sights to see. UCD officials had planned a pregame reception at this very bar, but travel problems mostly scuttled that. The band, in its own special way stepped up. At around 3:45, it marched and played an impromptu six-song show for the 30-odd UCD parents, relatives and alums in the bar, as well as some dazed Ohio State fans.

--At some point, close losses to top-flight I-AA programs stop being encouraging. And judging from the sentiments Saturday night, perhaps the Aggies have reached that point. That's probably a sign of a maturing program. On the other hand, it's hard to walk away from Stambaugh believing Youngstown was clearly better than UCD. The Penguins made fewer mistakes and deserved to win the game, but they certainly did not outclass the Aggies.

--The three second-half interceptions were clearly difference. The first was a forced pass on a play call that Biggs said he later regretted. QB Jon Grant was crushed as he released the second interception, which accounted for the errant throw. When that happens on an out route, it's usually coming all the way back, which it did. On the third one, Grant and receiver Chris Carter each looked at the same deep safety and read something different. Carter broke off his pattern while Grant expected him to keep running.

--On my Sports Network ballot, I dropped the Aggies from 11th to 15th. Here's the full ballot:

1. New Hampshire; 2. Appalachian St.; 3. Cal Poly; 4. Illinois St; 5. Montana; 6. Youngstown; 7. UMass; 8. Richmond; 9. Furman; 10. NDSU; 11. Northern Iowa; 12. Hampton; 13. Eastern Ill.; 14. Portland St.; 15. UCD; 16. McNeese St.; 17. Delaware; 18. James Madison; 19. Southern Ill.; 20. Harvard; 21. Towson; 22. W. Illinois; 23. Northern Ariz.; 24. Albany; 25. Alabama A&M.