The 11-12 record over 2 seasons was a huge problem, along with 3 straight 31-point losses to U.S.C. Even Davie didn't dip to those depths.
Equally as big of an issue was the recruiting failures. The 2003 class was sparkling, which came along the coattails of that 10-win 2002 season. 2004 may have been the worst class in the history of N.D. 2005 was awful, too. The "give-him-5-years" idea would have put us in a depth hole that we may never have recovered from. No effort being made, no coherent roster plan, far too few linemen.