Because I am bored at work today, I did some research on how noted coaches fared in their fourth season turning around down programs (not inheriting winning programs):
George MacIntyre, 1982 Vanderbilt - 7-4, Hall of Fame bowl (won 7 games in first three seasons)
Paul Bryant, 1961 Alabama - 11-0, Sugar Bowl (gold standard, won 20 games in first three seasons)
Kirk Ferentz, 2002 Iowa - 11-2, Orange Bowl ((won 11 games in first three seasons)
Gary Barnett, 1995 Northwestern - 10-2, Rose Bowl (won 8 games in first three seasons)
Barry Alvarez, 1993 Wisconsin - 10-1-1, Rose Bowl (won 11 games in first three seasons)
Bill McCartney, 1985 Colorado - 7-5, Freedom Bowl (won 7 games in first three seasons)
Emory Bellard, 1975 Texas A&M - 10-2, Liberty Bowl (won 16 games in first three seasons)
Ken Hatfield, 1982 Air Force - 8-4, Hall of Fame Bowl (won 9 games in first three seasons)
Mike Price, 1997 Wazzu, 9-3 - Rose Bowl, (won 13 games in first three seasons)
Point: Folks preaching patience for MacIntyre have a solid argument, as it takes time to turn around down programs. But the clock starts ticking now. But before folks declare this a bowl or bust season, it is a good time to point out that it took David Cutcliffe five seasons to get Duke to a bowl game, Frank Beamer seven seasons to take Va Tech to a bowl game and Rich Brooks twelve seasons (!!) to take Oregon to a bowl game. (Obviously Phil Knight was not involved in the program then.)
George MacIntyre, 1982 Vanderbilt - 7-4, Hall of Fame bowl (won 7 games in first three seasons)
Paul Bryant, 1961 Alabama - 11-0, Sugar Bowl (gold standard, won 20 games in first three seasons)
Kirk Ferentz, 2002 Iowa - 11-2, Orange Bowl ((won 11 games in first three seasons)
Gary Barnett, 1995 Northwestern - 10-2, Rose Bowl (won 8 games in first three seasons)
Barry Alvarez, 1993 Wisconsin - 10-1-1, Rose Bowl (won 11 games in first three seasons)
Bill McCartney, 1985 Colorado - 7-5, Freedom Bowl (won 7 games in first three seasons)
Emory Bellard, 1975 Texas A&M - 10-2, Liberty Bowl (won 16 games in first three seasons)
Ken Hatfield, 1982 Air Force - 8-4, Hall of Fame Bowl (won 9 games in first three seasons)
Mike Price, 1997 Wazzu, 9-3 - Rose Bowl, (won 13 games in first three seasons)
Point: Folks preaching patience for MacIntyre have a solid argument, as it takes time to turn around down programs. But the clock starts ticking now. But before folks declare this a bowl or bust season, it is a good time to point out that it took David Cutcliffe five seasons to get Duke to a bowl game, Frank Beamer seven seasons to take Va Tech to a bowl game and Rich Brooks twelve seasons (!!) to take Oregon to a bowl game. (Obviously Phil Knight was not involved in the program then.)
