it has changed so much. Back then, you had to have a fantastic season just to get to a bowl game. Now you just need to go 6-6 (or sometimes 5-7) and then you get a shot.
It's also not fair to compare LaVell and Sitaki because of what they walked into regarding the talent on the roster. LaVell got a team and talent that was winning 2-3 games many years and had literally never been to a bowl in its entire history. Kalani got a team where 8-5 was a down year and that had gone to a bowl 11 years in a row. Comparing when those 2 coaches got a bowl win is completely meaningless.