Are you sure you haven't been spending too much time in Colorado?
I don't believe Scott Frost was ever at the beavers, but he was at the Ducks.
What did the previous three coaches or Mike Riley prove that any of them were ready to take over at Nebraska? When the previous three exited, they all had winning records at UNL, with Solich and Pelini batting over .700 so to speak, so it shows that even an average coach, even if not really proven, can win at Nebraska.
You spoke of Osborne and how he was given a lot of time, but what did he really prove that merited him being named HC? And speaking of a lot of time, Osborne didn't win his first OUTRIGHT Big 8 title until 1981, 9 years after being named the HC. Riley won't get 9 years to get it right, that is the way it is these days, nor do I think he'd want to be around for 6 more years to give it a shot.
I hope Riley can turn the rest of the year around and get to 8 wins this year, and you never know, they just might. But to think that Scott Frost, who may NEVER coach at Nebraska, couldn't do as good as Riley or the previous three, is selling the guy short.