This is the never-ending problem with reading thoughts on a sports message board. People will blame players in an effort to exonerate a coach. And if they're not trying to do that, then they are foolish to blame the players as they are a direct reflection of a coache's ability to assemble a winning team.
Coaches are paid millions to find talent and then tailor the playcalling to their abilities. The HC also is responsible for in-game strategizing in response to his opponent's chess moves on the gridiron.
If a player can't hack it, and the coach won't/can't replace him, the HC is to blame for the loss. Weak people employ the excuse "they have advantages over us". If Indiana wins it all, it won't be because they have built in advantages over USC; Ohio State; Florida; Penn State; Oregon; Texas; Oklahoma; Alabama; Georgia; etc etc etc.
It will be because of superior coaching. Just like K-State got a shot in the arm with Snyder. Wisconsin got a shot in the arm with Alvarez. Penn State succeeded because of Pedoterno. We succeeded because Tom was better than his rivals. Coaching is the X factor.
"It was Mark Cuban!" Nope, you place Jirk Ferentz at Indiana with Cuban's money and he maybe wins 8 games this year. That would be his ceiling. But it's not Cignetti's ceiling, because he is a better coach.