Do Expectations To Win Lessen The Thrill of Victory?

The excitement of college football is expressed many different ways.  Donning your teams colors, painting your face, and rushing the field after a rousing upset are what fans around the country live for come late August.

Teams such as USC, LSU and Ohio State often experience winning more often, so does that tarnish the thrill of victory?

It's tough to think that a win is ever expected, but with teams of this caliber it's often the case.

The anticipation of celebrating a win starts with early morning tailgating, continues with half time performance assessments, and hopefully ends with a bigger number under your teams name when the clock reads 00:00.

Supporters of teams which consistently win often expect their team to win; while the underdogs of the world relish in the fact that an upset could propel their team into the often absent spotlight.

The mindset of successful programs versus not so successful programs creates a sense of superiority that, I believe, lessens the "thrill of the chase".

When a team is favored to win, anything less is unacceptable.  It's a dead end street and a lose lose situation.  If they win, ho-hum it was expected. If they lose they become the laughing stock of college football for a week, month, or forever.

This was most evident in the case of Michigan's loss to Appalachian State last season.

To make my case I'll stick with what I know best, the Pac-10.

When looking at USC's schedule this season there are four games that may be deemed as potential upsets, while all the others are near guaranteed wins in the eyes of the college football world.

Oregon, Ohio State, Arizona State, and California seem to be the only road blocks for the Pac-10 favorites.  Of course no game is a sure win, but USC seems to thrive on beating up weaker opponents.

When you look at a lower tier Pac-10 team's schedule and assess wins and losses, nearly every game is big when attempting to march to the top of your conference and gain national respect.

Trick plays may be brought into the playbook when they otherwise may not have been needed.  The overall preparation for the game ahead is approached with a higher sense of urgency on the underdog's behalf.

Not to say that the USC's of the world don't practice hard, however there isn't as much motivation as there is for a team with a giant "L" already stamped on their forehead.

Oregon State vs. Penn State, Washington vs. Oklahoma, and UCLA vs. Tennessee are games which, if won by the underdog, creates national exposure and excitement around the program.

There is an overwhelming feeling of eagerness for a "big game" and I think the fans benefit from this.  Unfortunately top tier teams experience this much less often than others.

I'm glad to be a fan of not just Oregon State, but of college football all together.  I enjoy the possibility of an upset and never having the comfort of an assumed victory.

It's parody that makes college football so gripping.

Call it settling for mediocrity, enjoying the role of underdog, or simply call it a passion to get better slowly. 

For what it's worth, it's refreshing not knowing what to expect entering a season and learning more about your team as the season wares on.

It just makes victory taste that much better.