I agree with many comments on this thread. I guess my take is kind of two fold in some ways. The loyalty that T.O. showed his former staff, including Solich, didn't do this program any favors. However, in saying that, I don't blame him for putting Solich in place to take over.
The Pelini hire was decided before T.O. was even put in place as interim AD. Donors and boosters are great things to have in a program, but, I think right now they have way too much influence on the program and its damaging its reputation.
Whose to say if T.O doesn't annoint Solich as the next HC, things would have been way different including the future years like right now. Stoops started in OU in 99'. Who knows if we could have had Big game Bob here. Saban was on the radar at that point as well. Urban Meyer was on the scene then too.
I guess in the short end of looking at things, this is the only move I question T.O on. What if's are ok to discuss, but really, there are a lot of what if's scenarios out there. If Spurrier never leaves Florida, Zook never goes there, and thus, Urban never gets those shots with Tebow. On and on but you see .
I guess if we were able to predict the future, things would be different, but instead we have to go thru growing pains. Lets hope we learn from previous mistakes and move on with a brighter future. Fans included.