To be honest...isn't that fair? We were bad for 17 years, and put together 1 good season, then lose the QB that made it happen. There have been so many historically bad programs, that suddenly flashed a 9,10,11, win season, only to crash back to reality the next year. If you're on the outside looking in, why would you think Syracuse isn't one of those programs. Win 8+ wins this year and it'll change the perception.
We see it differently because we follow this team closely, know the incoming players, know what last years backups are capable of, and have seen what Tommy can be.
Like Dino said..."They didn't know! It's not their fault!"