CEDAR FALLS -- In early October, the Northern Iowa football team decided to leave the 'Fool' at home.
When the fool got left behind, the Panthers soared.
After a 2-3 start, UNI head coach Mark Farley says he is extremely proud of how his new staff and team found a way to salvage its 2017 season, reach the FCS playoffs and become just the 15th team in program history to win a playoff game.
"Really the message at that time was eliminate our mistakes, which we called, 'leave the fool at home," Farley said. "What we were saying is don't be the fool.