Yep, Tom Herman was arguably the most can't-miss coaching prospect in recent memory. Inserted into the most advantageously resourced program in the country.
This stuff isn't easy. If you can't hire Urban Meyer or Nick Saban, there are no other sure shots. Dabo got his job in the most serendipitous way possible, and wasn't remotely qualified. And was looked at as an absolute joke for years.
The idea that there's just some certain way to do it that guarantees success is just laughable. All you can do is take your best shot.
It's one thing if people preferred some other candidate over Taggart, but most people screaming about his record don't have a reasonable alternative. It's fine if someone preferes Mullen, but he's a lousy recruiter. You might prefer Norvell, but the guy is just picking up on another guy's success. There's simply no slam dunk, better in every way hire than Taggart, and just because you might wish there were, doesn't mean there was.
Probably Frost, but hiring Frost with Nebraska open is pretty much the same as saying hire Kirby Smart from UGA or Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma. That wasn't on the table.