Winning helps....no other way to put it. Will certain kids look past a poor performance? Sure...but some will take notice and try and determine if they want to be a part of some unknown. The 5* guys are not knocking down the door of 4-8 and 48-7. But, there is plenty of talent available and the goal is to stock the program with consistent talent and hard workers.
I think of Wisky and what they have gotten done the last 10 years or so with recruiting rankings averaging about 35-40 year in and year out. They consistently finish seasons ranked well ahead of their recruiting classes would indicate. That is a system at work and working...something I think SF can generate given enough time.
Nebraska should be better than they are....no other way to put it. But I don't put too much stock on who's to blame....to me SF is the answer. If he can't make it work in Lincoln with his experience and pedigree, I'm not sure anyone can. It may be that Nebraska just settles into an also ran program as sad as that is for me to say.
It may take a decade to get it right....is Husker nation willing to wait it out? With anyone else, no...with SF....probably. I honestly think were 1- 2 years from a West run. Heck, we could do it this year but to date our performance says probably not.