For sure...and its probably not actually getting in the way of the team executing solid football elements on Saturdays...but when you market it as much as Allen and IU have, it sure leaves you open for criticism when your team doesn't play well. Its an easy thing to focus negative thoughts on, because they've made it so central to the identity of their program. LEO is IU, IU is LEO, and IU sucked last year...thus LEO sucked last year. When IU is good (2018-2020)...LEO is good.
If we have another really poor year, in any way similar to last year...but LEO does still afford a solid recruiting class, general good vibes in the locker room, etc... Then we probably all would need to come to the realization that Allen, and his staff, are just bad at coaching actual football stuff. Back to the OP...if that happens, many people will use last year to help with that "argument".
In short...play well and win games, last year will be flushed by most. Lose to Illinois and Cincinnati, there will be many threads referring to last year.