I had pretty low expectations going in to 2008 after the “horrible” 2007 season, which In retrospect I would have killed for a season like that anytime post 2009, and obviously my low expectations were blown away that year. I just remember ‘08 being such a fun team to follow each week - even with the shitty hand we were dealt after the loss in Lubbock, that team made being a fan worthwhile.
Even 2009 wasn’t fun - it was stressful. Colt was willing us to victories and the line was letting him get thrown around like a rag doll and not doing anything about it. I was in the Rose Bowl and I have no doubt that if Colt doesn’t get hurt the outcome of the game is different, but it was a fitting end to an era in retrospect. A transcendent player had papered over some of the larger issues in a way that wouldn’t happen again. We just didn’t know it at the time.
Since then there’s been some fun games (sending Nebraska and Aggy out of the conference with losses, Case McCoy besting OU, the fool’s gold of the ND win, etc.), but the teams as a whole haven’t been fun to watch for a while.
This team is different. It is fun. Obviously September 1st wasn’t fun, but since then the ride has been great. I think it goes back to low expectations being exceeded. And there is something different about this team’s attitude. 3rd downs, while not automatic like they were with Colt under center aren’t feeling like they are insurmountable. We come out of the locker room in the second half and play lights out instead of sitting back (at least since SC). Our defense flies to the ball, and our team out works and out physicals whoever lines up across from them most plays. And outside of three series in the 4th Q we beat OU so badly on offense they just fired their DC.
They aren’t perfect, by far. They haven’t put together a complete game. They will probably drop a game we don’t expect them to drop - but they’ve already won several we didn’t expect them to win, so we are playing with house money. But whatever happens, Saturdays are fun again.