I’ve been around for a few coaches and I’m definitely getting that feeling. McDermott, McCarney, Rhoads, Prohm. Not going to include guys like Morgan, Fred, or Chizik as those were different/very short term situations. Obviously Larry was a unique situation as well.
I’ve had this feeling before and while we’re not totally rotted out (there’s a chance CMC could bounce back a la Kirk Ferentz), I think the “rot” has definitely started to sneak in, if only just a little bit, especially with the gambling issue and it’s direct contradiction to the “5-Star Culture” mantra.
Possibly. Like some others it's too early to tell.
There are a lot of things you could say about Nick Saban. He's an *******. He hasn't displayed a lot of character or loyalty in his coaching moves (the way he left multiple schools and the Dolphins). He's a fantastic coach and a phenomenal recruiter. One of the less talked about positive traits is how well he adapts, at least in the college game. He's not afraid to be above self reproach or change philosophies or coordinators. That, along with his coaching acumen and unlimited resources has allowed him to be very successful, and for a very long time.
Many a coach's undoing has been an inability to look at their program, see their own faults, and be willing to both accept and change them. With Campbell he came into a really dire situation and saw a lot of things with the previous regime he wanted to fix. The talent wasn't there. A positive culture was missing. There were zero expectations to win. He changed all of that. Definitely a good hire for the program.
Now we are getting to the stage where other coaches know what he wants to do. His message is no longer "fresh" but stale and he's created some of his own issues within the program. Does Campbell have the ability to both see and be willing to change those defects? Special teams was a constant issue and thus far (this season) the units look much improved. The offensive design has been a constant issue and the early results, especially from the Iowa game, leave a lot to be desired. Campbells game management is still a major issue. Recruiting and developing viable offensive linemen remain an issue.
Outside of general success, and possibly rampant program issues (Briles) the propensity to repeat the same mistakes over and over again seems to be next "on the list" of souring fans, schools, and even players on the staff. The walls aren't crumblin down yet but the cracks are starting to become visible.