The first NFL game I remember was seeing Marino getting sodomized by the Jags in the divisional round in '99. Since then, being a Dolphins fan has been nothing but pain. The thing is, for some reason I'm totally okay with the Dolphins underperforming. Even this season, which is late playoff run or bust, I'm completely understanding of all our failures. As long as the Fins even smell like they're on the right track, I'm ecstatic.
Within the same general time frame, one of the first college games I remember is the University of Miami destroying Nebraska in the National Championship. The Canes were dominant. Everybody was going to the NFL. These days I have no patience for the Canes. My standards are so much higher. It doesn't make sense to view these two teams through such a different lens.
Is it just me, or do you guys also benchmark against your early memories? Trying to figure out why I didn't love the Dolphins any less during their one win season, but a 5 loss Canes gives me heartburn.
I never realized this, but I think I agree with you.
I get the memes and they're obviously well founded when everyone says the Cowboys haven't won anything since 95' but to me... I wasn't alive then, every other year I've been alive the Cowboys make it to the post season, and that's a lot more than someone can reasonably EXPECT.
Maybe the reason is that I grew up with it. I'm only 22 years old, so my earliest memories are of Romo, who I think was great but obviously never won the big games.
But that might be why I'm satisfied with this team, from my point of view, we're doing fine. In all my years of watching football, my team has only had 2 QB's both of whom have been pretty decent. In that time they've won their division like 6 times or so, and been to the playoff like 8 or so. Do they win the SB? No, but seeing how other fans suffer insanely long periods of having horrible QB, horrible coaching, horrible owners, not going to the playoffs in years and years... I just don't find it in me to complain.