Isn't if funny how important expectations are to our daily lives? We put them on so many things, sometimes without even realizing it. Big things, little things, important things, things that don't really matter … we place expectations on almost all of them.

 

Sometimes our expectations are met, in the best cases they are exceeded. But other times, our expectations are not met. What happens then? Disappointment. Anger. Unmet expectations can alter our mood in a heartbeat.

 

Here's the real kicker when it comes to expectations though … are they realistic? Because when you get right down to it, being realistic is the most important factor when determining if someone's expectations are met or not.

 

Here's an example that most of us have experienced. You see a preview for a new movie on tv and it looks great. It has actors in it that you know and like. You hear "everyone" talking about how good it is. A few of your friends have seen it and have told you how much they liked it.

 

You walk into the theater EXPECTING the movie to be really good. You are EXPECTING to be highly entertained. And what happens …you don't enjoy the movie as much as you thought you would. You thought it was a good movie, but you find yourselves telling your friends, "I thought it would be better." Welcome to the world of high (and often unrealistic) expectations. 

 

Conversely, I would bet there has been a time or two when you've been talked into going to a movie that you really weren't crazy about or had heard very little about prior to going. And lo and behold, you walk out saying, "that was a really good movie." If you've experienced that scenario, you understand low expectations.

 

Many times the difference between the two experiences comes down to expectations. You think one thing is going to happen and then something else does. Sometimes it's for the good, sometimes for the bad.

 

Expectations are a big part of sports. Industries have been built on preseason polls and building hype around how good a team is SUPPOSED to be. The people in sports selling the tickets and soliciting donations want the high expectations. High expectations drive revenue. High expectations get the fans excited and the money flowing. High expectations foster hope.

 

I think expectations have played and will play an important role in the evaluation of this year's West Virginia football team. Here's what I mean:

 

I came into this season with a ton of questions about this team. Based on what I had seen last year and the strength of this season's schedule, I believed West Virginia would win five games. I could have given you a scenario where it would win six, but some things would really have to go WVU's way. I thought seven was highly unlikely.

 

As we sit here with only two games to play, WVU has exceeded my expectations of five wins. They have met my next milestone by getting six wins. And there is a high probability that this team will win seven games and certainly has a chance for eight. I'm not even factoring in the bowl game yet, so you could add one more win to the total.

 

If this team has no more wins this season, I would consider the season a success based on MY expectations from this summer. I thought five wins was realistic, six was possible and seven were unlikely. I received some criticism from fans when I made my prediction. I heard from quite a few that thought WVU would win eight, nine games this year. I wonder if those fans are disappointed right now? Was it realistic to think this Mountaineer team would win eight or nine games?

 

Now, here's the tricky thing about expectations and sports. Many times they change during the course of the season. I believe WVU's season is a prime example of this. Again, as many people as I heard from that thought eight or nine wins was possible, I heard from more that thought four to six wins was more realistic. Most of those people have been pleasantly surprised with the season so far. They have had their expectations exceeded and still have a chance for them to be blown out of the water.

 

WVU's great start changed expectations. I'm not just talking about playing Alabama close in the season opener (although, I do believe that game changed expectations immediately). I'm talking about WVU starting the year 6-2, including a win over a top 5 Baylor team.

 

Once we hit that point in the season, nearly every Mountaineer fan altered their expectations. It was no longer, "I hope this team is better than last year's team." Now, a shot a Big 12 title was realistic. Then the Mountaineers jumped out to the early lead on Top 10 TCU and expectations changed again. Yes, even during the course of a single game expectations can change.

 

That's why the TCU loss was so hard for so many people to take. Another top 10 win was in the grasp. 7-2 with a game against a sub-500 Texas team was next. Kansas State at home. A hapless Iowa State team to wrap up the season. A shot at a Big 12 Championship that seemed so far away one year ago, was now firmly in the sights of so many.

 

And then, boom. It vanishes. A last second field goal, an underachieving, poor effort at Texas and now some fans are disappointed about where this team is. What's wrong, they say. Heck, we've taken multiple phone calls on our radio show this week saying a coaching change is needed. Sentiment can change that quickly.

 

Expectations for this Mountaineer football team changed. If you had told most fans last summer that they would see seven wins, a win over top 5 Baylor and a bowl game for the 2014 season, I can't imagine most wouldn't have taken that deal in a heartbeat. That type of season would have been a clear improvement from the debacle that was the 2013 season.

 

But, now seven wins, a win over Top 5 Baylor and a bowl game somehow have a different feel. Just as in life, managing expectations in sports can be tricky.

 

What do you think? Have the Mountaineers exceeded your expectations so far this season? Did your expectations for this team change from where they were this summer?

 

Leave a comment below or send me a tweet: @bradhowe07 and let me know what you think. 

 

Editor's Note: Expect to see more of Dreamius Smith running the ball in WVU's next game, while Dana Holgorsen, second photo, is hoping to build expectations. In the bottom photo, a big reason for WVU's six-win season has been the pass rush provided by Shaq Riddick. All photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.