I likely have the most complete, real life perspective on this subject as anyone who is likely post.
To be clear, I'm 61 years old and live in Nebraska. Prior to 1962 when Bob Devaney became the head football coach, the Husker program sucked..(Kinda like it does now). When Devaney had his first press conference and the press asked him how many games he wanted to win, he said, "I don't want to win so many that we go on probation, but I'd like to win enough to warrant an investigation." By 1970, Nebraska had won its first national championship.
When Tom Osborne took over in 1972 NU was plagued with playing the mighty Oklahoma Sooners and coach Barry Switzer. These were the original THUGS. NU played great football week in and week out, but was not able to beat OU until 1978, the fans of Nebraska wanted Osborne's hide. He couldn't win the "big one". That despite never winning less than 9 games for 25 straight years. Oklahoma was made up of David Overstreet (arrested on campus for wielding an UZI), Kerry Jackson (sent to prison during career for cocaine distribution), and a boat load of ultra-talent, ultra thuggish athletes. A known cheater, and head coach at several Division I Universities, Jackie Sherrill said, "how can I compete with Barry Switzer? I show up in my pickup truck and Switzers giving out Chevis Regal from the back of a Lear Jet." Money was never an object, nor was character when Switzer was there. The people in Texas always said, "The University of Oklahoma is the best Texans money can buy." They weren't wrong.
After NU's butt whippings from OU, us fans were then treated to several Orange Bowl appearance against the Miami Hurricanes. Most of the people on this board are well aware of their thug mentality. Sapp, Irwin, Lewis, etc. Impossible to beat.
NU then got a taste of Florida State for a couple times in the Orange Bowl and had trouble with Bowden's Free Shoes University. This was after NU was beaten in the Orange Bowl by that filthy cheater Danny Ford at Clemson. Man, as an NU fan, I was sooooooo sick of getting whipped by these type programs.
About 1992 Coach Osborne, apparently figured if you beat 'em, join 'em. Welcome to the party Lawrence Phillips, Abdul Mohammed, Christian Peter and that crew of thugs. Nobody could touch that group as they went about 62-3 over a 4 year period. The wins were great, decisive, and we (as fans) were able to extract a little satisfaction when we were on top. However, in those days, everyday you opened up the sports page or tuned into the local sports, you kinda held your breath until it was an uneventful day from someone in the football program.
Osborne retired and NU returned to normalcy. However, we haven't exactly ignored the thug types with our recent NU grads. Richie Incognito, Dominic Raiola and of course Detroit's Mr. Suh.
What I'm trying to say is its really hard, maybe impossible to win a national title if you don't have these thug types. How many did USC turn out during their run with Reggie Bush and that bunch? I've seen the "types" of players that is typically takes to win it all, and it ain't pretty.
This year Nebraska's most high-profile player is a really good running back. Ameer Abdullah. Great kid, never been close to trouble, comes from a great family in Alabama. Ameer is the YOUNGEST kid in a family of 9 children..
ALL 9 KIDS IN HIS FAMILY ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES. I don't care what anybody says, that's impressive in this day and age!! Quality kids like this that produce a lot of yards is a welcome relief. Ameer is graduating soon and in 4 years at Nebraska, the team lost 4 games every single year.
I guess you get both perspectives when you start with nothing, win everything, decide the price to win is too high, and then resort to normalcy.
Some of the high profile trainers in the horse business have tasted the good life and most of them are not going back anytime soon.
Thanks, and sorry for the length of the message.