I"m petty sure we know how this is going to play out. But that is cool. Denial is a strong word.
Surviving the fourth season is rare, but it happens...at Nebraska, too. Bill Jennings was fired after five straight losing seasons preceding the hiring of Bob Devaney.
Lovie Smith is going into his 5th season at Illinois despite having a losing season in the previous four years.
Derek Mason is currently entering his seventh season at Vanderbilt following six consecutive losing seasons. Vanderbilt has three other coaches who had at least five straight as well.
John Jardine had four straight at Wisconsin before going 7-4 in year five.
Bob Cummings at Iowa had five consecutive losing seasons.
Jim Wacker had five straight at Minnesota.
Greg Schiano at Rutgers (the first time they hired him) had four straight before going 7-5 in year four. Terry Shea also had five seasons at Rutgers with a losing record.
Northwestern's got four coaches who reached at least a fifth season after having a losing record in their first four years, including Dennis Green....yes, that Dennis Green.
Kevin Wilson, Cam Cameron, Lee Corso, and Bernie Crimmins each had at least five straight at Indiana.
Jim Colletto had five straight at Purdue.
Dan McCarney had five consecutive losing seasons at Iowa State before going 9-3 in year six.
Marvin Bass had four straight at South Carolina before going .500 in his fifth year.
Phil Cutchin at Oklahoma State had six straight.
Jack Curtice at Stanford had four straight and then broke even in year five.
It's not a distinguished list and there are likely more names on it, but it's happened...unlike the amount of money it would take to buyout Frost and Co. in two years being used in a buyout. If that were to happen it would be a list with only one name on it.
It's actually a long list, Chuck. It consists of coaches doing the thing you didn't know of at 9 of the 14 current B1G institutions. Educate yourself and then consider your thought next time. Don't make me list 24 coaches that you've never heard of - one that coached at our school, three who are active, two such cases involving a coach currently in our conference, and one that even coaches in our division - just to prove a point. I don't know you, but you're better than that. You have to be.