The previous season ends until the first loss of the next year. It doesn't matter who we have or don't have. It doesn't matter how we performed the previous year, or what we're expected to do next year. The dreams persist. Those dreams are a part of what makes being a fan fun.

I would wager that a sizable chunk of Cougarboard is like this too.

So yes, this idea floated into my universe long before this morning.