So, for OU it is a reason? For CU it is an excuse?
Big difference, OU has already won a lot of games with Stoops, they have been to BCS bowls, they have been in a bowl virtually every year, they have results to look at.
CU has one bottom rung bowl in four years and is going backwards. CU has lost to Montana State, Toledo, CSU (multiple times), ISU twice, etc. etc. Hawk can't go back and compare this year to his good years because he hasn't had any.
CU can't argue about losing a Heisman trophy winning QB because Hawk hasn't recruited and developed one, cant' talk about losing an All-American TE because Hawk hasn't recruited and developed one. I could go on.
As a person I like Hawk, I would like to have him as a neighbor. I respect the good he has done in Boulder, and he has done a lot.
He has improved the level of talent in our recruiting compared to the last years of Barnett. He has completely changed the image of the program from the so-called scandal and kept the team and players out of the media related to negative actions. His players go to class and show class on and off the field.
That all said he has lost 2/3 of his games including some very embarassing loses to teams that clearly had less talent but were much better prepared and coached. This season he has won a grand total of three games with a team that is almost entirely his players. The worst thing is that they continue to make the kinds of mistakes that are inexcusable in a coaches fourth year.
I wish Hawk all the best. I would not be surprised to see him restart his coaching career elsewhere at a lower level and earn another shot at the BCS level. If he is willing to honestly look at his mistakes he could even win at the BCS level. The problem is that he is not getting it done here and now and shows no signs of making the changes necessary to do so.
This is not fair to the program and his players who are willing to work their butts off to win and are denied the opportunity because of his failings.