Bronco has been heavily influenced by business consultants and popular business books such as "Good to Great." The idea is if you get the right people on the bus, create a shared vision, and execute -- a mystical thing called a flywheel will begin to spin making success almost effortless. The allure of having a program that is successful on its own momentum is extremely tempting. And so you follow the recipe: you hire people who share your vision, put them in place, recruit players who buy into the same vision and ... well, the flywheel is supposed to kick in. This is why Bronco insists that the "system is phenomenal."

The problem with that idea is that while it sounds good it is flawed. The 11 businesses Collins wrote about in "Good to Great" have under-performed against the S&P 500 since the time the book was published.

I'm no expert on coaching football but I do know that successful companies have more than a shared vision--they have a passion and an indomitable will to win. They work harder than their competitors. They are not content solely with repeating inspiring slogans. They seek out, cultivate, and reward rare talent (even when it may grate against the accepted culture). And they are constantly looking for a competitive edge--and they're not afraid to implement it even when it contradicts comfort zones. They are hungry and obsessed and never satisfied.

Bronco would do well to put down his management books, drastically limit his reliance on "consultants" and instead swallow his pride and immerse himself in learning from and emulating those few head coaches who have figured out the real key to success in college football.