How do you define "Success"?

sadlerdawg wrote: If our players, and coaches, give 100% EVERY game from start to finish, we don't lose any games we shouldn't lose, our players, or coaches, don't give up on games or plays, and we play up to the potential of our talent level, and we at least compete for titles, and our players, coaches and fans can be proud to be part of Bulldawg Nation again, that is a successful year to me any year, regardless of W/L record.

Spoiler alert---IMO, based on this criteria, we haven't had a successful season in over a dozen years.

What he said......

Minimum is to win the East, anything less is a FAIL. Goal is to get into the final 4 whether by winning the SECCG (which is preferred) or played in it in the manner sadler mentioned above and we get in the final 4.

Play in the SEC Title game and going in with swagger and knowledge that we are the better team and will stomp the s@#$ out of whoever is on the other side. The win loss record at that point doesn't mean much to me as long as we have beaten the gaterds. If we are there that gives us potential for a run in the playoffs. That's my version of success, but after such incredible disappointment in recent years I hope that isn't a ridiculous wish.

Win the SEC. Same as always,

I don't set hard terms on this. Success or fail for me is not judged on a specific number of wins.

I've seen 11 win teams that ultimately infuriated me and I judged as a fail.

My "goal" every year is to win the SEC. My definition of success is based on how we competed. Did we
never give up, did we always give it our all... Am I ashamed of the way one of the three facets of the
team performed...did we do something incredibly stupid that cost us a game..

With the talent we have, if we work hard, play hard for all 60 minutes, never give up then the success
will follow accordingly.

Don't get me wrong.... I'm not going to sit here and say a 5-7 steam is a success, but I have found that
I can't tie it only to a specific record or result.

The goal though... win the SEC.

For me, there are too many variables to define success simply as a ratio of wins to losses. Luck plays such a huge part in the season that all the preparation in the world can be undone by a moment. Look at Auburn last year. Their season turned on two instances of luck.
My goal, your goal, the goal of every football fan out there is to see their team win it all. However, falling short of that goal does not define an unsuccessful season. A successful season is seeing the team play its heart out every week. Its seeing players and coaches and fans step up when they are needed. It isn't defined by the fleeting platitudes of the talking heads whose attention deficit disorder allows them to fawn over the 'flavor of the day' team as though doing so makes them seers. Success is winning despite such things. Success is winning when you shouldn't. It's winning in the manner you're capable of winning--not struggling to get past an overmatched cupcake. Success is also losing in a dignified way, knowing that you left everything on the field and bowing to the truth that, on a given day, you were bested by a superior foe but also knowing that somewhere, deep in the mind of that foe, the desire to try you again is wrapped in doubt, fear and respect.