Brian Out Loud

There is no better example of that than the University of West Florida football team.

The Argonauts started the year No. 2 in the nation, riding the high of an appearance in the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2017 in just their second year of existence.

Expectations soared through the roof because of it. Many figured the Argos were a lock to repeat their amazing run of success and finish the job this time.

But what often happens in college football at this level, really in D-II athletics in general, is that reality doesn’t always meet head-on with the expectations.

The Argos were the hunters last year. The surprise team in the nation. The feel-good story of the year.

No one expected them to do much after a 5-6 showing in their inaugural campaign. They ended up exceeding expectations beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and nearly won a championship.

This season, UWF is the hunted. The team everyone wants to beat. The team with a shiny target painted on its back.

And when an opponent wins a game, it’s a huge deal. It’s why West Georgia celebrated at midfield as if it had won the Super Bowl three weeks ago. It’s why Florida Tech did the same two weeks ago.

I have a lot of experience covering a college team with a target on its back. While in Ohio, I covered the University of Findlay men’s basketball team.

The Oilers were always one of those teams everyone wanted to beat. And then they won the national title in 2009. They did it without losing a game.

I wrote a book about the special season, knowing full well that Findlay probably won’t ever accomplish something so amazing ever again.

Could the Oilers win a championship again one day? Of course.

Just like the Argos could return to the title game and win it all.

This just might not be the year that happens.

UWF finds itself with its back against the wall. The Argos aren’t in the initial regional poll, which determines the seven teams that make the playoffs out of each region, and their only way in now is to win out and then hope for the best.

The Argos are certainly capable of defying the odds now stacked against them after a loss to Florida Tech left them in a difficult spot.

This is a team talented enough to be great, and maybe it will accomplish what many believe is now impossible.

But if the Argos come up short, if they miss the postseason after a historic run a year ago, it’s not a knock against UWF.

D-II football is a very good brand of football. There are stars in the NFL who have played and still play at that level. And the GSC is the SEC of D-II. Every week is a battle. No games are automatic wins.

It’s not that UWF isn’t a good team. It’s just that everyone else is a little better this year.

The Argos will get their chance to shine again in the playoffs. With a little luck, maybe it will be this year. Or maybe they will have to wait until next year.

But their time will come again to at least contend for a title.

This just might not be the year. As I’ve said before, it’s tougher to stay at the top than it is to get there.