At least those programs are taking a step back from something! And a bad season or two? Other than a few years, that's all we've known. This isn't a program taking a step back from winning national or even conference championships, it's a program that's gone from mediocre to terrible. Rhoads' "good" seasons would be enough to put most coaches on the hot seat...most people were content with Rhoads because the last five years were sold as stepping stones, not the top of the mountain.
To whom should we compare ourselves? You can't hold the same expectations here as Texas or Oklahoma. If you do, you are kidding yourself.
In this era of modern college football, find me a program with similar obstacles who has built and sustained the level of success you want/expect...
Maybe UCONN? Edsall got them to a 9-3 season in 2003, beating Indiana, Army, Buffalo, Lehigh, Kent St, Akron, Western Michigan, Rutgers, and Wake. Not exactly murderer's row. Looking at their schedules in their good years, it ain't the B12.
Maybe Minnesota? Their state doesn't produce a lot of local talent. Probably a fair comparison. When you look at it, Glen Mason's record there looks similar (not the same) to Rhoads. And what happened? They ran him off because he couldn't take them to the next level and have struggled to get back to where he was.
Purdue? Probably another good comparison. Tiller had them rolling but, again, couldn't take the next step. They ran him after a 4-8 season. How'd that work out?