I saw a blue and gold team pick up a runner up trophy in Des Moines when Bob Kennedy won as a freshman. I wondered who the heck is Northern Arizona? They've been good for a long time. Sometimes they are great. What we don't notice or tend not to remember is the close calls. When someone couldn't come back from an injury or illness. When it was an exceptionally talented/deep field (not very year is as strong). Thebeffects of when it was 19 below zero windchill factor or Flippin too hot etc.... That one great recruit that got away and could have put you over the top even if it was by one point.....on and on and on.....
From a coaches perspective....take the hand that was dealt or what you built, improve it, get them to the starting line healthy and ready to do their best, then get the hell out of their way. No matter what, they own it. They are a team and the coach is only part of the team. Control what you can, get positive chemistry etc...and once success becomes sustainable, tradition keeps momentum going.
NAU is both good and lucky for a lot of reasons. Sometimes on the same day.