By Bill Vilona
GoArgos.com Senior Writer

The players had regathered Monday following the first practice, after the first loss for UWF football in 11 games across a two-year span. 

UWF coach Pete Shinnick reminded his team how everyone felt exiting Blue Wahoos Stadium, as West Georgia celebrated its 30-24 upset win Oct. 16 amid a record crowd (7,052) for homecoming. 

"Let's not feel that way again," he said.

That is a quest the Argos carry into their remaining schedule, beginning with Saturday's game against the Shorter Hawks. 

It's a chance to bounce back in the only back-to-back home games on the 2021 schedule. A chance to feel right again. An opportunity to start the next unbeaten streak and chase a second NCAA Division II national title. 

"We always talk about: Win… you need to enjoy it, you need to learn and you need to move on," Shinnick said. "Lose… you need to hurt, you need to learn and you learn to move on. So the difference between winning and losing is enjoy and hurt. 

"And so remember what it feels like when you are going to be making all the decisions that are going to lead up  to how well we're going to prepare and what we are going to do."

The Argos' 11-game win streak was tied for longest in NCAA Division II. The other is Bentley University in Massachusetts, ranked 13th in the AFCA poll at 7-0.

The loss dropped UWF to No. 6 in the current American Football Coaches Association poll. 

But there are only five unbeaten teams left in the rankings. One of those teams, fellow Gulf South Conference member Valdosta State, remains on UWF's schedule as the season-finale Nov. 13 in Pensacola. 

"Typically, there are 10-12 (unbeaten teams) at this time," Shinnick said. "I think it's a wide open race. I really, really like our team. I am confident we can bounce back. 

"Right now it's one game, it's one moment. We have a lot of football in front of us."

Despite how the game ended, UWF experienced another momentous day a week ago. There was a festive tailgating scene on the grass areas of Community Maritime Park leading to the stadium. The crowd filled all sections and the concourse areas. 

It reminded of how UWF has gone from a start up program five years ago into a renown one. 

"It was nice to be able to run out for the first-ever game at UWF (in September 2016) and then to run out (of stadium tunnel), after we haven't played here in almost two years. That was awesome," said Argos receiver Ka'Ron Ashley, one of the remaining charter members of the inaugural season.

"It was a blessing. I'm mad we didn't get the W, but we still came out here….it was a historic day… and we at least put on a show for our fans."

The Argos have learned their improbable 2017 run to the title game, followed in 2019 by completion of a never-before feat as youngest startup program to win an NCAA football title, has brought new challenges. 

"We talk about this all the time: it's how we play, not who we play," said Argos quarterback Austin Reed. "Every team does a great job against us of game-planning, because it's everybody's Super Bowl. 

"You could see by how (West Georgia) reacted. It's the biggest game of the year for everybody and obviously it's going to take a quarter or two of us to kind of adjust and say, 'Okay how are these guys prepping for us?'

"And usually that's where you see us explode in the second, third and fourth quarters."

The loss had Shinnick spending time rewatching game replays and agonizing over missed opportunities. But in its short history, UWF has twice made the post-season with multiple losses and rolled through playoff games. 

"I didn't stop thinking about it," said Shinnick on how he spent the rest of the week. 'I got up early that (Sunday) morning, watched the film, went through it, then you get irritated. 

"Then you come in as a staff and watch it on Sunday. You get irritated again, because of how close you are. We had our opportunities. Credit West Georgia, they took better advantage of their opportunities. I want to learn from that and want our guys to learn from that. 

"From our standpoint, I felt like we had an opportunity to do something we have never done (unbeaten season). Just keep this streak alive. But from the big picture, we will take a deep breath and move on." 

In his role as starting quarterback, leader, spokesman, Reed was resolute in discussing the team's streak-snapping loss. He was mad at himself. 

But he also wanted to assure supporters that UWF knows its new mission.

"We are very thankful to have that many people come out (a week ago) and support us," Reed said. "I want to apologize to those people, because obviously you came to see the number one team in the country play well and we didn't. 

"We didn't live up to that. I ask them to please come back. Because this team is not done. We have a lot more left to do. Don't give up us yet. So please come back, we are going to be just fine."