at some point.

I'm not saying this is right, but I'm saying that many may feel that mediocre or average seasons won't punch our way into the P5, which felt like the ultimate goal of Independence (that may be a false assumption). This is less about 1 season or the first 4 games of this season, and more about the sum total of our time as Independent. Sure, the first few seasons went by and we didn't make noise in the rankings or bigger bowl games (or even been mentioned in a playoff discussion after October). But we're now into our 7th season, the novelty has worn off, and we are hit between the eyes 2 to 4 games in that this season isn't the special season we need. It means 0-7 in special seasons as an Independent, and feels like we're heading further from the goal of a special season that makes real noise on a national level. Hence the panic. It feels like a decade since our rival won the lottery and went P5, and before we get half way into September, we know we have to wait until next year to beat our rival or have any real interest beyond October 1st.