Sub-Goals Have Been Deteriorated
Cole Cubelic
Some of the sub-goals — be it ten-win season, going to a bowl game, going to a New Year's Six bowl game, which is not even real anymore — the other goals that we have, like Illinois, they had a historic season last year, yet outside of Champaign not a lot of people will ever discuss that that way. We've been desensitized to so many of these other goals or sub-goals in college football. And honestly, what's really sad is it's not even making the playoffs anymore. Like A&M fans aren't super excited about that season — disappointing as far as not advancing, I get it, but you were in the playoffs. That should be celebrated for eternity because it's a very difficult thing to do.
Context
Cole's diagnostic for why fan-base expectations have warped. The intermediate accomplishments that used to give a season meaning — division titles, conference titles, NY6 bowls, even making the playoff — have all been hollowed out. Without sub-goals, every season becomes "national title or bust," which is unsustainable.
Tied directly to the Alabama "98% of fan bases would sign up for that" point about Kalen DeBoer's nine-win playoff-win season being treated as a hot-seat year.