You're missing the entire point of modern college football. A splashy coordinator hire IS the magic bullet because the portal means you don't have to just develop what you. Look at what Willie Fritz is doing at Houston right now. He brought in a new QB and offensive system, and it's an instant jolt. That "desperate gamble" with the portal is the new foundation. Programs that wait around to "develop" get left behind. The real chaos is sticking with a coach who can't recruit the portal or hire exciting assistants. A great hire's first job is to generate buzz to attract instant-impact transfers. That's how you win now. Your defensive identity theory is outdated. In today's game, you need to score points to keep up, plain and simple. A great offensive hire changes everything overnight.