Amid all these other shake-your-head feats, the University of West Florida football program just outdid itself.

The Argos went from birth to playoff berth in two seasons. No team in NCAA Division II history has ever reached the postseason this fast.

Think about that for a minute. It is mind boggling.

"When I took the job it was the dream to get in in two, but I mean ... it was a dream," said UWF coach Pete Shinnick, who took North Carolina-Pembroke to the playoffs in three years and set the record then for fastest team to go from start up to playoff.

"But then I realized ... 'Oh my gosh, the Gulf South Conference is really hard.' And then, after way we ended (the first) season, I thought 'OK, I just want to improve on some things in 2017.'"

From a once pipe dream — and a first season that ended with a 69-0 home loss to West Georgia — the Argos are now a playoff team.

They will travel to the Charlotte area to face Wingate, a team Shinnick played each season at UNC-Pembroke.

More:UWF football makes NCAA history with playoff bid in second season

The Argos got the opportunity after Saturday's stunning upset at No. 24 West Georgia. Hours later, receiver Rodney Coates was featured on ESPN Sports Center Plays of the Day for his one-handed, acrobatic, incredible touchdown grab in that game.

Sunday afternoon, the Argos were inside the Outreach Center at Olive Baptist Church, stopping dinner to watch the NCAA Division II football selection pairings on screens set up in the gymnasium.

There was a brief groan when West Georgia was shown as the No. 7 seed and it seemed the Argos would get left out of the 28-team, four region field. But then UWF popped in at No. 6 and the church hall was up for grabs in joyous roar.

"It was so wonderful," said Olive Baptist pastor Ted Traylor, who was there and has been a strong supporter of area sports.

With a 7-3 record, the committee took into account UWF losing a home game due to a hurricane threat and saw how the Argos finished the season so strong.

"When I saw West Georgia, I knew we were in," Shinnick said. "I had seen it many times. We beat them. The (NCAA selection committee) doesn't (snub a team that won head-to-head matchup) in football."

This is really an achievement that is so mind-boggling on so many ways. It made the celebration greater. Shinnick's first text message within a second was from UWF president Martha Saunders.

"We have tremendous support from our athletic director Dave Scott and Doctor. Saunders," Shinnick said. "She was following this where she was. And we have a great university. I am just very blessed and honored to be here."

This entire football odyssey has built such a bond in the community and in elevating UWF as a university. It will lead to even greater things in fund-raising.

When he set up the season schedule, Shinnick purposely placed the team's postseason banquet the day after the final game.

"I knew this is when the selection show was on and I thought, 'Hey that will be pretty cool.' And it worked out pretty well," he said, smiling.

When you think about how overmatched UWF looked in its last three games a year ago against West Alabama, North Alabama and West Georgia to how this season ended with wins against two of those teams, it's more incredible.

But this is only the beginning. In this state, in this location, playing in Blue Wahoos Stadium ... UWF football has the highest ceiling at this level.

"Just a tremendous credit to our coaches, turning this thing to the direction it is headed run now," Shinnick said.

Bill Vilona can be reached at bvilona@pnj.com and 850-435-8532.