Agree on complete rebuild, and asking anything more of Coach Phillips is unfair. Already up against it, new coaching staff and no spring ball is not good.
But bigger issue is the conference is stronger than ever, and was very evident last year. It is much more than top heavy, Southern Illinois beat us by 25, and they deserved a playoff berth; they have just about everyone back, they did graduate all american safety Jeremy Chinn. South Dakota scored 56 on us, they had a top 15 recruiting class, and although they graduated a good QB, they have many returning.