Not making any comparisons here but just a random fact. Coach Osborne actually lost 7 bowl games in a row. From '88 to '94. Probably the worst streak of his amazing coaching career. After that he won 4 in a row and I think you know the rest of the story. Crazy stat.
Necessity being the mother of invention, it is what caused him to change the defense and recruit more speed. He finally got tired of fighting it so he did it one better.