Offseason Expectations Cycle

Just watched the LSU game in the Ole Miss season in 60 on SECN. So it is the Ole Miss highlights from the game. There was one play which cause me to take a huge step back in my expectations for this season. It is just one play, but it is a way to common mistake for such a huge football program, talented football team, and well compensated coaching staff to make.

It caused me to question my expectations for this season, There is a cycle for expectations that seems to repeat itself every year.

This is how it seems to go pretty much every year.

1. End of Season: End disappointing season. November loss to Bama, and embarrassing ones (Ole Miss, Arkansas, maybe a bowl loss). Overall fed up with Les Miles's inability to develop QB, provide effective play calling, and field a focused and prepared team. Some optimism for next season due to returning players and rising underclassmen. Sometimes optimism from convincing bowl win.

2. Spring: Solid recruiting lots of class among top in country, (this year juniors returning) buzz coming from spring practice, coaching changes/adjustments to give optimism

3. Late summer/fall: Hearing great things from practice. Stacked squad. Freshmen and new contributors are ready to make big impact. Arguably some of the best units in conference at position groups, fixes to previous year problems. Expectations very high.

4. Season: Team doesn't start off like I expected. Similar issues coming up as previous season - Passing attack and making stupid mistakes. But LSU wins, and at times looks capable of brilliance with the talent. Late in season, (into 1. End of Season) I am wondering how Les still has a job because this is the most poorly coached group of elite athletes ever


This seems to be almost every year for me. The key is that as the season approaches and expectations are sky-high, I forget the experiences and feelings from late in the previous season, most of which have to do with very questionable (to put it light) coaching.

It is the same this year. I am so psyched. Team is stacked in every way. Highest expectations I have ever had. I would think 1-RB, 1-DB, top in country, DL, WR, OL are possibly top 10 units in country; Juniors returning, freshmen ready to contribute, Valentine bonus. Aranda, Craig, returning coach O, Cam on the field, coaching adjustments hopefully will fix issues. Stacked. National media expectations are skyrocketing now.

BUT - I just saw some of the Old Miss game and I remembered. I read some of my texts from that game. At that point last season, I said there was no way Miles was coming back. It was such an embarrassing performance. I really like Les, but it baffled me how a man could be paid so much to coach such a poorly coached team.


This is the play that sparked this novel (sorry, I went crazy, hopefully someone reads it) In a key play deep in the red zone, LSU took a timeout because they couldn't get the play in. After the timeout, they ran a busted play.

The whole game was like this. Overall, the offense and QB just look lost way too much. This is late in the season too. With the same OC for years. There have been way to many examples of plays and games like this throughout his 10 years.

So while I am pumped to watch arguably the most talented and experienced LSU squad in history, after watching that Ole Miss game from last year, I would absolutely hate for what I see as historically talented team with a once in a generation talent to be ruined by similar plays.

Pulitzer please