To start with I loved Johnny Majors and as frustrated as he made sometimes, I also saw the steady and methodical progress from the abyss of the 70s to several great teams that were just a few plays away. I didn't like how it happened and considering the circumstances I didn't think it needful...but Phil did what he did, and the Admin did what they did and the rest is history.
When he lost to Tiger High with THAT team was when I really started to doubt him, and then the steady fall into mediocrity was infuriating to me.
Anyways...I was never a Phil fan to start with unlike so many others, so maybe you understand me better now.