How do you determine if a season was a success, a total failure or somewhere in between?

    In most cases, there are multiple talking points and ideas on how to do just this. As an outsider, it certainly makes any sort of judgement or decision mostly subjective. A team, however, can just look at the goals it set before the season began and see which ones it reached.

    I am not privy to the nitty-gritty details of the Idaho State football team, though I know more than most based on the amount of time I work with them. It’s how I am able to do what I do and write stories on the gridiron Bengals.

    That said, I will take a few approaches to determine if Idaho State’s 2013 football season was a success, why or why not and what it means for the future.

    After finishing with a 3-9 overall record — 1-7 in Big Sky play — there is little doubt the 2013 Bengals were a much better group than the 2012 version. The numbers alone support that:

                            2012        2013

Wins:                        1            3

Points scored per game:        20.7        22.6

Points allowed per game:    53.8        33.2

TDs allowed                    79            51

Rushing yards allowed/game    362.1        238.6

Rushing yards/game            46.5        94.2

Field goals made/attempted    6/13        18/24

Turnovers forced            11            17

20-plus-point losses            10            4

    The pattern that emerges is one of improvement. While I didn’t include every statistical category possible, the ones shown tell the story of how Idaho State will want its season to be viewed.

    Clearly, these statistics — and ISU’s season — have to be taken in context. Considering how the Bengals played last year, especially on defense, the numbers show Idaho State had a successful season.

    Let’s be honest. There was no way ISU would be in contention for Big Sky Conference championship this year. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but that wasn’t ever going to happen.

    But head coach Mike Kramer and Co. weren’t going to get in front of the media and say that. You prepare and play like you are going to win. That’s how sports work. However, there’s no doubt the coaches knew their chances of contending were slim to none. The Bengals were picked last by both the coaches and media.

    They didn’t finish the season last, however. Northern Colorado takes that honor, a team ISU beat 40-26.

    In regards to exceeding preseason expectations, Idaho State had a successful year to a degree.

    As you know, I have done a “Grading the Bengals” section for Tuesday papers all season. The idea is the same as a Monday Morning Quarterback, and I assign letter grades to four areas of the team’s performance: Offense, defense, special teams and coaching.

    Using a numbers system (six points for an “A” and one point for an “F”), I figured out the season average for all four categories.

    According to my weekly grading, Idaho State’s offense averaged a D, its defense was a C-, special teams were a B- and coaching was a C for the 2013 season.

    Here’s a week-by-week breakdown of each category:

    Offense: B, C+, D, D-, D-, A, B-, F, B+, B-, D, F = D

    Defense: B, A-, D-, C-, B, B, C-, D, F, C, C+, D- = C-

    Special teams: A, A+, C, B, C-, B-, B+, D+, C, B, C, A = B-

    Coaching: A, B-, C, C, C, A, B-, D-, B, B-, B-, D = C

    Without any background, those letter grades don’t look too appealing. They do tell a story, however.

    The Bengals’ offense wasn’t much better than it was last year. There are a lot of young players contributing, which leads to all sorts of issues. Hence the D average.

    The fact that ISU’s defense is a C- is incredible. Considering how it got torched in all but one of last year’s games, this grade shows significant improvement.

    Idaho State’s special teams was the most consistent area all season. Redshirt senior placekicker Brendon Garcia ended up the leading scorer with 79 points (18 field goals and 25 extra points).

    Coaching is a tricky subject. I do feel ISU’s coaching was average this year. A lot of that had to do with young coaches getting their feet wet in the profession plus a whole lot of youth on the field.

    For the season, Idaho State would get about a C- from me.

    Thoughts?

    It seems a lot of what will determine if ISU’s 2013 season is a success is based on improvement from one year ago. This is precisely the way to judge a program in the early stages of a rebuild.

    Numbers, letters and grades aside, Idaho State had a successful season in its own way. There is zero doubt Kramer will be back next year, and anyone who thinks or feels different doesn’t have a clue. If we fast forward three years and you see these same results, then you would have a case.

    The hardest thing for the Bengals will be moving forward and trying to take the next step. The 2014 season is still a long way away. Most football fans are already to longing for it.