The Ashland University Football team is 3 minutes away from finding out their playoff fate.

And the room is 90 percent empty.

Lee Owens stands in the back of the room, looking at the rows of empty chairs and making polite conversation with a booster. You can tell the 12th year head coach’s mind is elsewhere.

Most of the AU football players saunter into the room under 60 seconds before the selection show starts.

The Eagles are used to taking things down to the wire this season. Tight end Adam Shaheen caught the game winning touchdown pass over Northern Michigan with 7 ticks left on the clock. He waits until the final 15 seconds of the countdown to enter the Trustees Room in the Upper Convocation center. 

As the selection show begins, players are still taking their seats.

The Eagles seem bored by the process, unconcerned by their next opponent. They have faced ten opponents and dispatched them all.

Super Region 1 is introduced to light boos. The Eagles have places to be, and the NCAA is holding up their schedule.

“Just tell us who we are going to play bro,” the player next to me says towards the projection screen.

Finally super region 4 is unveiled. Having watched selection shows before I am expecting a huge reaction and celebration from AU when they find out their place in the playoffs. 

On the number three line, the word Ashland appears.

The number three team in the country according to the latest polls is the third best team in their region.

The Eagles will host Grand Valley State.

The Eagles aren’t upset. They are ready to play. 

Finally one player yells, “Round two, let’s go.” 

For a moment the players glance at their head coach. Owens nods and the players file out.

AU has no time for celebration; they are already on to Grand Valley State.

“Grab footage from Tiffin and Saginaw,” one assistant says to another.

Owens stands up with a slight smile, and looks at the rows of chairs, empty once again.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us.”