Coaches rightfully focus on a season one game at a time and then deal with what the end of the season brings as it comes about.
Fans, on the other hand, are largely looking at the bigger picture of the season all along the way. Fans can be happy that we beat Kent, but are also looking at whether this is a team that can overachieve and have a "special" season. Special for most being defined as playing for a conf championship, being in contention for the access slot, finishing in top 25 etc. Face it, if you are used to a certain level of success, your program and supporters have higher expectations. When you go into a season where many are looking at 6-6 or 7-5 as a success than you aren't going to generate much buzz. People aren't stupid. They know how good the competition is and they can see flaws that would likely prevent a team from overachieving or having a special season. Coaches can complain, but it is the lure of national relevance etc that makes fans/supporters ok with paying a CUSA coach 700k or an OC over 200k but that also comes with a level of expectation about what the program should achieve. When your offense is ranked in the bottom 25% or so in most statistical categories, most fans are going to see that as a problem.
If you just want people to go to the games and cheer for their team, tailgate with friends and not care too much about the products value...than charge $15 a game, pay coaches much less, and don't consistently ask for donations. I won't be going to Cincy game because I find our offense to be, most of the time, unwatchable and the aggravation isn't worth the money/time to me. Does that make me a bad fan?? Probably to some, but I stopped going to BB games when White, Jirsa, and eventually TH were coach for the same reasons. I'm generally excited to go see BB games now because its fun and I feel like the DD is getting the most of his talent. Winning 9 games in a crappy FB conference doesn't do for me when the quality of the play is still subpar....especially on offensive side.