Welcome back, y’all. The 2024 season is upon us. This space has existed to build hope and community for Carolina Panthers fans since our former editor James Dator started writing the MMO in 2010’s 2-14 season. I took over the column in 2017 and, long story short, it has been all downhill for the Panthers ever since. That downward slump for the team has led to a crisis of faith in the very idea of optimism and has led to me flirting with—and even promising—the death of this column.
It’s not that I think all hope is lost.