The word “return” is defined as “an act of coming or going back to a place or activity.” When you return, you come back to your normal state. So, can Texas please stop saying “We’re Back”?
It’s not just the Longhorns who claim to be back every year. Miami, Notre Dame, the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Lakers; the notion of a team returning to glory is not unique and permeates every sport, whether collegiately or professionally.
Most recently, the trio of Texas, Miami and Notre Dame had massive shortcomings on the gridiron. Texas fell to Oklahoma in another classic chapter of the Red River Rivalry. Miami had quite possibly the worst college football loss in history, as a seemingly sure win turned into a shocking loss to Georgia Tech after a late turnover and a miraculous Yellow Jacket touchdown. And Notre Dame has two losses after a home defeat to Ohio State and a road shocker to Louisville.
So, what makes a team “back”? By my estimation, Texas, Miami and Notre Dame haven’t been “back” since 2005, 2001, and 1988, respectively. This is because, for those programs, the barometer of being “back” is a national title. This assumption is flawed, and it starts with the media and fans’ perceptions of the teams they cover and cheer for.
Pundits and fans must start pumping the brakes on when a team is “back” or if it all. It begins with holding programs like those listed to the same standard as others across the country. A dose of realism always helps in this pursuit. If Miami fans could take off their rose-colored glasses and look at their team objectively, they would realize that the Hurricanes did not have a realistic shot at a national title this year. The same goes for Notre Dame fans.
Years of tradition have created the delusion in sports enthusiasts that the only outcomes are championship or bust. It is not time for fans’ hopes to go away, as they are an essential piece of sports culture. It is time for the media to stop pushing the idea of teams being “back” or not.
The Atlanta Braves are a perfect example of this. After years of playoff disappointments headlined by a stretch of five NL pennants in the ’90s and only one World Series championship, the Braves broke the drought and won their first World Series since 1995 after a magical 2021 run. Indeed, a dynasty was bound to begin, right?
The Braves failed to consider the Phillies, who have now eliminated them from the playoffs two years in a row. So, are the Braves “back”? Sure, back to having championship aspirations and failing to deliver on them.
So, my call to sports journalists and fans is this: Stop saying teams are “back” or “not back.” It’s almost never true, whichever angle you take. Instead, enjoy the constant ups and downs of being a fan.
Sports Editor
