What are the yearly expectations of YOUR team?
 

Everybody has a team, I know. I'm a big college football fan, and Auburn is my team (duh). The question has to do with the regular, realistic, yearly expectations by you and other fans like you for YOUR team. No matter what sport, and no matter what level.

For example, although the Alabama Crimson Tide is going through some horrific times with their football program, the expectations of their fan base remains very high; they won't be satisfied with a struggling program. Other programs like Vanderbilt and Mississippi State have much, much lower expectations from their fan base, and their fans are more tolerant and patient.

The dilemma is that if your fan base has high expecations (Alabama, Florida, Tennessee), then tough times are almost impossible to navigate properly. Yet, if your fan base has low expectations (Ole Miss, Kentucky), then the program never seems to break into any consistent success.

How does your program rank? What are the expectations for YOUR team (it doesn't have to be college football)?

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My team is the Auburn Tigers football team (as I said), and Auburn fans have medium expectations. We've never had dominating runs like Alabama and Tennessee, but we've never struggled at the bottom of the heap, either. It seems that Auburn fans have patience up until something big is expected, and then the fan base shifts into delirium. Auburn fans felt very, very fortunate to finish 9-4 last season. However, since there are big media expectations for Auburn to do well this season, those same fans will go nuts without some sort of championship.

i follow all texas (the college) sports every year and they do very well. they're a powerhouse in most sports and have a good shot at natl championship.

I'm a Florida State fan in football and expect nothing less than a perfect ACC record the ACC title and the Nat'l Championship. Goes the same for Duke in Basketball.

In MLB well I expect the Red Sox to make the playoffs nuff said
In NHL I expect the Red Wings to skate the cup
In NFL I expect the Dolphins to make the playoffs

In the NFL I expect the Cleveland Browns to make a run at the playoffs each year. Ownership, facilities, and fan base are too good for any excuses.

In the NBA I expect Cavs players to make multiple blooper reels per season. LeBron James is years away from stardom.

In MLB I expect the Indians to keep getting better. They are young, have one of the top three farm systems in baseball according to major publications, and have some great young arms. Three seasons away from playoff run.

College sports, I expect Ohio State football to win Big Ten Championship, beating Michigan every year.
I expect Ohio University to win the MAC Championship in basketball every year, getting an NCAA bid. I expect them to field teams in every other sport, even if they end up with more guys on the injured reserve than number of wins.

Well I am a Tennessee fan, and I just hope we do better than we did last year. And I think we will, we should have a good offense and a decent defense, but with college football you never know.

But the down side is we have to go to Florida, Alabama, and Miami

And as far as Auburn goes they should be really good, I think they will probably meet Tennessee in the championship game. Thats my early prediction.

We'll meet a lot earlier than that, since Tennessee's coming to Auburn on October 4. If you're planning on attending the game, let me know and we'll show you the sights.

The only linebacking corps in the nation that might be better than Auburn's this year would be Tennessee's. BOTH games between us this year ought to be good.:D

Damn that is right we do play Auburn.


But the down side is we have to go to Florida, Alabama, Miami and Auburn. "Good Grief what a schedule"

Clippers are doomed, especially this year when they are dumping off potential all stars Elton Brand, Andre Miller and Michael Olowokandi. They are expected to draft 'Baby Shaq' but that wont help them. They are doomed to hell every year.

Lakers... I expect them to acquire the Mail Man and be champions once again!

Kentucky Basketball - NCCA Title every year (And if they don't win it's always the coaches fault)
San Antonio Spurs - NBA Title (If they pick up Kidd this is almost a lock)

The Clippers do that same crap every year where they draft babies under the cheap rookie cap and then dump them in three years before they have to actually PAY them. They'll never amount to anything competitive because I think the owners are more interested in having a profitable business than a winning team.

And I think that is the description of the realisitic expectations of the Clippers. Make money, but don't have to win.

NC State - to absolutely crush and obliterate UNC in every way possible, and maybe win a few championships along the way :)

Georgia tech - to absolutely crush and obliterate UGA in every way possible, and maybe win a few championships along the way :)

Minnesota Vikings - playoffs and a decent shot at the superbowl

Atlanta Braves - World Series

Detroit Red Wings Fan here, so obviously every year since the early nineties, the expectations of all the fans is Stanley Cup or bust. However, i see them entering a rebuilding phase after next year, maybe even beginning this year, so the expectations will have to change as the team gets younger and less experienced. It doesnt help that their no. 1 prospect just recently came out of intensive care after almost dying in a car accident. Not good at all.

You're right, Warrrr, because the Clippers are the most profitable team in the league. Amazing.. but true.

UCLA football - go to a decent bowl game, expect a Rose Bowl every few years. A national championship is a pipe dream.

Angels - It used to be that you would expect them to tease you throughout the year with sometimes brilliant play, then choke in the end. Even with the World Series win, it's weird that people still kind of expect bad things to happen.

Lakers - A title, everything else is a failure

Well MY team will go one better and win the treble next season we won the double this year. (soccer in college league)

As for teams I support.
Barcelona to qualify for CL at leat next season and to be back up challenging for the title. 2nd place will suit me.

Liverpool depending on who they bring in a respectable league finish is quite attainable. 2nd with a good run in FA Cup and UEFA Cup, possibly win both. Will probably make the semis at least of the worthless cup.

Lakers, fourth title in 5 seasons tbh.

Shamrock Rovers to win Eircom Premier Division to celebrate completion of the stadium. Hopefully. Coming 2nd atm not bad.

I'm in Montreal so...

NHL canadiens; Make the playoff next year. Build the team around the young defence. Cup contention in 4 years.

MLB Expos; Wild card this season would be great. If not, the final year in Montreal in 2004 without Vazquez and maybe Vlad...Oh boy what a Nightmare.

CFL Alouettes; The Grey Cup this year, and the next, and the next.

For me....
College Football
OSU to beat Mich, everything else is gravy
Syracuse to beat Miami
U Toledo to win the MAC

NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Superbowl

NHL
Detroit Red Wings to no less than win the cup, but there's always next year... For you long time fans, you know what this means

MLB
Yankees to win it all
IL
Mud Hens to win period. Being the farm team for the Tigers doesn't help much, but we have a great stadium

I feel the car swerving a little off to the side.

Try not to post your wish list, but instead the realistic expectations of those in your fan base. For the more rabid fans among you, that can be almost impossible because you're worried you might jinx everything if you commit to anything less than perfection.

Come on, be courageous.

Tarheels -

Beat Dook, and Moo U in Raleigh...

Compete in Football and go to a bowl.

Final 8/4 in basketball. (Its been a VERY tough couple of years, but we should be significantly better now.)

National Champs in women's soccer.

Cubs -

Raise my hopes and then disappoint.

Braves -

NL East Champs (At least ahead of the Metz every year)

Bears -

Nothing. I expect nothing. I am rarely disappointed. Grrr.

Durham Bulls-

Serve cold beer in a great atmosphere every single game!

You might want to prepare for some disappointment. :p :D

College Football:
LSU expectations are high, great recruiting class, but still 1 or 2 years away from being a real National Championship contender. Decent year upcoming, probably 3 losses with a fighting chance for a SEC crown.
MLB--Live and Die with my Astros...the cubs will fade, and the stros will probably win the division (maybe Cards will take it, though), but it wouldn't matter cuz Houston can't seem to pull it out in the playoffs.
NFL--Washington Redskins: No QB, means no real good season this year. I think Ramsey is the future but not this year. Either 8-8 or 9-7, with a possible wild card.

Essendon: to at least get into the grand final

Canterbury: see above

Chelsea: to tease me by being up there midway, then lose to a couple of low teams and fall 4 games short of Man U

Redskins--I think 9-7 and a wild card team. They'll lose in the first or second round of the playoffs.

Ramsey needs a full year of experience. He'll take some knocks this year but will be the Skins QB of the future. I wouldn't be surprised if he pans out better than Harrington in Detroit.

Each year the Red Sox start out strong. The problems that plagued the team last year seem to be patched up this year. April, May always seem like good months, on pace with the Yankees sometime ahead. Interleague play always a let down. 500 or maybe bellow. small slump (start player gets hurt) after All star break then slowly the wheels start to come off every so slowly. Bit by bit cracks develop in what was suppose to be "The Team". By September, they are making a last minute push to get close only to drop in the end. This is the life cycle of a Red Sox fan. Year in year out. As regular as a change of seasons. And Each and Every April...no matter what happened the year before we think...this is really going to be the year....You know what?... I still believe it!!! This could really be the year!!!.... I am either sick, grossly over optimistic witha bitter heart....or Just another Red Sox fan.

I am a fan of the New York
mets
rangers
Jets
knicks.

Only the Jets look promising out of those four teams.