But he has beaten big time teams from every conference. Since you brought up the BigXII…yes they score points but also don't play any defense. if he gave that million for a Dc to Schiano, Muschemp, or wannstaedt you don't think he'd win with his recruits?
Well paying that money to a top DC doesn't necessarily translate but he's already paying top money to a top DC in Venables. Since he got there from OU their D has climbed from bad to top 5 top 10 the last few years.
I don't know that his ACC success would translate the same way. Strong's didn't and there's Tuberville at TT, Bielema from Wisconsin to Arkansas. So you never know for sure how things will translate from one destination to the next. That's why I've said many times except for a select few there's no such thing as "proven" it's just a term that gets thrown out there a lot. It doesn't mean much though.
It's funny when Strong got a raise to 3.5M or so at Louisville I said I thought he was being paid too soon and it was too high because he didn't do prove it long enough, specifically without Bridgewater. They had just beaten Florida at the time too in the Sugar Bowl I think and some said I was a little crazy for saying that. Now it's gone to the other end of the spectrum as if he's a bum coach lol. I don't think that of him. Said the same for Butch Jones at Tenn and his 3M+ pay day but many were enamored by his recruiting rankings. So far not seeing the 3M salary return for Tenn.
He may not get the time at Texas but I don't think he's a bad coach. I think he got paid too much back then and at Texas but that doesn't mean I see him as some loser coach now. I think he's got some flaws and needs help from a good OC(messed up OC hires both at Louisville/Texas) but I think he probably recruits well and given time could crank out a solid defense. It's either one end of the spectrum or the other with people. Same for Bielema. I said it was the right move for Wisconsin to let him go if he was asking too much but if he fails at Arkansas he suddenly doesn't turn into some bum on the sideline either.