Agree. However the coach chooses, recruits, and signs the players. Within 3 years, a coach has either made the kind of progress that he can make recruits believe in... or recruits turn a cold shoulder and look for the next "new" thing.
I don't think a lot of people understand how narrow the window of opportunity is for any coach at any school. They need to be able to claim early success or the players they need to win... stop listening. For Heupel, that bar is lower than it was for Jones or even Pruitt. If he can get off the mat and win 8 or 9 games within 3 years then he can show recruits that he has the program moving in the right direction.
with sanctions, don't hold your breath on 8 or 9 wins...
as soon as sanctions come down, Heupel's contract goes out to 2028.. he will get 5 years to hit that 8 win mark IMO..