The Auburn Tigers football program's underwhelming on-field results over the last two years have turned the once-hopeful AU fanbase impatient.
So much so that some even scoffed at the bowl-game expectations Hugh Freeze set for their 2025 season.
Taking that as a harsh reality check, Freeze has dialed down his promise and kept his new motto simple: "Win."
"I mean, it's Auburn. It's one of the best jobs in the country. Our roster looks better, and there's a lot of games that you point to last year that could have gone the other way, in our favor. That's a reasonable expectation that none of us should run from, is for some of those (to) start going our way," Freeze ventured during SEC's spring meetings.
The wariness in Freeze's voice was evident when he was asked to reiterate the benchmark for the Tigers' 2025 season.
He learned his lesson the first time.
"I don't get into that. You never know, injuries and the way the ball bounces and all of that. But there should be improvement made of us being able to be better in those critical situations that cost us some games last year," Freeze said.
"Heck, this league's hard, as you know. That's why you don't put a benchmark on yourself. You have no idea what's going to go on at every one of these programs, and even the health of your own team and stuff. So, I don't put benchmarks on it, but we should be in every game."
As careful as he was in walking back on his previous words, Tiger fans might still find a way to tear apart Freeze's words. But that just comes with the frustration of having back-to-back seven-loss seasons.
There is a solid chance that the fans might still not buy into Freeze's commitment and get their hopes up too soon.
With that said, Freeze's back is against the wall this season.
It is the deliver-or-pack-your-bags season for him, so he will likely improve, or at least try to improve, from their 7-loss score.
How successfully he can do that will dictate how long he will stay in The Plains.