"Our goal wasn't to win six games," Golden said. "Our goal is bigger than that."
The Owls also have beaten 0-8 Eastern Michigan and 1-8 Ball State, whose only win was over Eastern Michigan. Yet the last 2 weeks they went on the road and beat Toledo, which had defeated Colorado by 16, in the Glass Bowl, and Navy, which had won five in a row itself. And they had to rally from a touchdown down in the fourth quarter.
It was their most defining on-field step under Golden. There might not be a close second. There figure to be more, maybe even sooner than later.
"It feels good, but you just have to get ready for the next game," said senior running back Lamar McPherson, who is playing behind true freshman sensation Bernard Pierce. Yesterday, Pierce was selected as MAC East Division offensive player of the week after gaining 267 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries in the Owls' 27-24 win at Navy.
"We've been through a lot. But the staff has been the same way. They knew what was coming. We still didn't get to where we want to go."
Instilled by Golden, it's their unwavering mantra.
"We're just doing what we have to do, working hard," echoed senior defensive tackle Andre Neblett. "It's a great feeling, a different feeling in the locker room, something we haven't felt in a long time.
"All this spring and training camp, we talked about leadership, a lot of guys doing the right things. We believed in the coaches, trusted them. This was going to be the year, especially for the seniors.
"There was no turning point. Just grinding. We put [Villanova] behind us . . . just stay humble."
