I hated losing those three games, especially the Egg Bowl. But again, in hindsight, it was a good year. It was a much better year than anyone (including our own fans) ever thought we would have. And I remember how great that season was, even with the shitty losses mixed in, because we were among the nation's best that year.
I don't believe we are a mid-level team or program, honestly. I believe that we are as good or better than just about every other team out there with the exception of elite teams in other conferences. But we play in a brutal division of a brutal conference so it always seems like it's worse than it actually is. I believe that we will get better and will be competing for great bowl games again soon. But as long as Bama is doing what they do with Saban, no one is going to dethrone them consistently.