An aunt of mine (One of my Mom's sisters) stalled her station wagon on the Mt Vernon railroad crossing, in Springfield Oregon, 60 years ago... She got safely out of the car, along with her 4 or 5 kids, and realized, with a train fast approaching, that she had left her pack of cigarettes on the front seat.
She ran back, to reach through the open window of the car in an feeble attempt to retrieve the offending items, and the rest is (tragic) history.
That is the result of one massively bad choice.
What Oregon State has done, is reap the long term benefits of continually crappy short term decision making.
The angst, pain, and regret for their fans will continue for years.