Even though the mass majority of fans are excited about Troy going to their third-straight bowl game, there are also fans that are disappointed in how the season turned out. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The Troy Trojans are heading to Mobile for the Dollar General Bowl for their third-straight appearance in a bowl game and I can’t help but think that some fans are a little disappointed.

The Trojans entered the season with more excitement and expectations than in season’s past –and for good reason.

The Trojans were coming off a Sun Belt championship and their second-straight 10-win season after finishing with their best overall record in their Division-1 history at 11-2.

The Sun Belt Conference hosted it’s first ever conference championship this season and expectations were that not only would the Trojans be in it, but they would host it as well.

The Trojans finished the season 9-3 and missed their opportunity to host the championship game after falling to Appalachian State in the regular season finale.

Once they knew the New Orleans Bowl was off the table, rumors turned into reality about Troy heading to an in-state bowl. On Sunday, it was announced that the Dollar General Bowl will be hosting the Trojans.

Many fans are thrilled with an opportunity to go to postseason play once again, but there are a few that are disappointed because the Trojans didn’t live up to the high expectations set by so many fans.

High expectations were something that the program didn’t have in the few years prior to Neal Brown arriving on scene.

Apathy set in during the last few years of the Larry Blakeney era. The Trojans won 17 games in Blakeney’s final four years and just 9 in his final two. Attendance began to take a hit and that excitement that was once prevalent during the early to mid-2000s vanished.

The excitement is now back at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Trojans have reached double-digit wins in two straight seasons, and they look to make it three in a row for the first time in program history with a win in the Dollar-General Bowl.

Brown announced in the Monday morning press conference before the Appalachian State game that the season had already been a success regardless of what happened on that Saturday. Even though he may be proven right, the fans wanted more.

The fact that fans are shooting for higher win totals and more prestigious bowls should be celebrated and not criticized.

The fans are reinvesting in the program and it has shown on Saturday afternoons. Fans are traveling to Troy road games and packing Veterans Memorial Stadium.

A fan base that cheers when things are good and questions when things seem off is a fan base that cares about their program.

A win in their third-straight bowl game and a healthy roster next season should bring plenty more excitement and expectations. Let’s welcome it.