I don't know if it's fair to make an direct comparison with the CU situation but it's remarkable that these two programs were once national powerhouses and have both fallen to the level of laughingstock.
I think to put CU in the category of laughingstock is pretty harsh. As said above, we are 4-4, not 0-8. There might be some similarities and we might have headed in that direction without Hawkins. I think we hired the right guy and UW didn't.
Your point is well taken but come on man. This program has taken some brutal almost unreal whippings in the last few years including 70-3 and 58-0 as well as 3 straight losses to kansas (hereby officially known as 'freaking kansas!). Then there are the inexplicable losses to baylor and iowa state, with a number of national TV losses to FSU, Miami, Clemson, Georgia, and Alabama thrown in for good measure. Oh yes, lest I forget the juggernaut that is montana state also beat us. Huzzah. I've said this before but what is football about if not winning (or at least legitimate progress towards that end)? I'm sure I'll get more neg reps from anonymous cowards calling me a 'fairweather fan'. F*ck that. I've been a fan since childhood, got my education here, donated and spent far more time and effort supporting the program than a thirtysomething family man should and I expect better from the team than the garbage we've been fed. Disagree with me if you like but a fairweather fan I am not.