Fine, how about Nebraska firing Solich because Nebraska was falling behind Texas. 11 wins a year was not good enough. How did that work out? They went from a national powerhouse to a national joke in a generation. There are a lot more Frosts and Rileys out there than Dabos and Sarks.
And you and I define mediocrity much, much differently. 10 wins is mediocre? Really? Kirk Ferentz has been anything but mediocre in his time at Iowa. He has fallen short of making the playoffs, but beyond that, he has been a consistent winner. If Nattie's are your measuring stick, by a Roll Tide shirt.
How about Schembechler retiring?
I believe Kirk was better than .500 against Moeller, Carr, Rodriguez, and Hoke...cumulatively.
Same for Joe Pa's ouster. Kirk was .500 against PSU until this year.
Probably the only coaches with a big enough data set and a winning record against Kirk is Alvarez and effing Pat Fitzgerald.....and any OSU coach.
And don't get me started on "natties" being the measuring stick.
There's only 9 teams that have won more than one national title since 1970 AND have won one in the last 21 years.
Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Clemson, OSU, FSU, Florida, Texas, USC
If you go back more than 21 years you can add multiple winners of:
Miami (2001) Oklahoma (2000), Nebraska (1997), Notre Dame (Madonna was still hot?), PSU (1994)
I bet most of us would agree that AT LEAST 2 of these are not like the others.
8 teams have won one. Only Auburn has won one within 20 years..
Tennessee (1998), Michigan (1997), Washington (1991)
I'm tossing out Pitt, GA Tech, BYU, Colorado
So if "natties" and somewhat recent 'natties' paired with year-in year-out consistency is your measureing stick........
Roll Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Clemson, OSU, FSU, Florida, Texas, USC
And maybe: Miami, Oklahoma, Tennesse, and Michigan.
Honorable mentions: PSU
There's probably a few in there that could be argued off the list, but most have been pretty consistently involved in top 25 rankings.
That's it. 10-15 teams. Period. And a whole lot that wouldn't even make the non title winning, consistent winner bubble.