Everyone has their opinion. I do not think Gundy would have succeeded here. But I am amused by your "X" theory.
Really good question. I ask this all the time. But these "professional" staffs you speak of do this over and over again, and get fleeced over and over again. Grantham was a bust at UF and UGA. If you can't put good defenses on the field at those two schools, you can't put a good defense out there period. It is incomprehensible.
It's not as if failed coaches font get opportunity after opportunity. College and the NFL are littered with examples of failed coaches with losing records getting job after job opportunity.
I agree. Football coaches get over paid opportunity after over paid opportunity. Failure is irrelevant. It seems endless.
Perception, particularly when we transitioned from SOS. But Rex lost a few games for us when he had one of those non-infrequent 4 Interception games. Everyone blames the windy weather for his 4 Int loss against Auburn in 2001, but did anyone stop to blame Rex for those Chuck and Duck heaves, or Spurrier for calling those plays? Of course not...
Well tobbe fair, Rex threw for more yards and touchdowns along with those interceptions than Doug threw. I was pissed about that auburn game but that's the only other game earnest Graham missed with injury and the wind was howling that night which also played a factor. I wonder if we would have leaned on the run game if Graham wasn't out. That said, yes, Rex was good for a few untimely picks here and there but that sometimes happens with those type of ungodly numbers he put up. Spurrier was what he was and I remember plenty of frustration with some of his stubbornness like the notre dame game or chasing two point conversions against Tennessee and Bama in the later years. He also took responsibility for his poor performances and called himself out at times which is one of the things that endeared him to Florida fans.
Saban gave him a job as an analyst. He damn sure didn't give him the job as DC. So...you are right. Even Saban recognized he was worthless as a DC.
It's like "failing up" is now the new "winning." Lane Kiffin may be the leading example of the new paradigm.