I would also argue banner wins and offensive innovation are part of coaching. I refuse to believe Boise is succeeding as a program because of blue turf. We have at least as many advantages from ESPN as Boise.

So from your list of non-coaching factors that leaves academics, honor code, and luck. They are issues. And I agree on luck--we have been snake-bitten these last several years. But I just think a great coach would make us forget these issues. Stanford has certainly figured out how to nullify their academics "disadvantage."