Your written words:  "Taggert must have knocked their socks off in that regard, because as far as we know they never even looked at PJ Fleck or any of the above "big time" guys, nor probably Gene Chizik either."

Helfrich is gone, Taggart is a good solid safe hire.  I'm not stubbornly clinging to anything other than my opinion which doesn't mean squat to anyone but me.  Also, I noticed the "precipitous decline" is now qualified with "uncommon".  There are more if one wants to take the time to look them-up.  Auburn was just the easiest and I thought kind of neat because of the similarities between the two programs.