First off, the program was NOT in a downfall. They were one season removed from a Rose Bowl, and beat the defending national champs and God's Gift Tebow in the Cap One bowl the year Carr retired. Longest bowl streak in the country, had been to 3 Rose Bowls in 5 years, etc. I'm not sure how you define "downfall", but that doesn't qualify in my book.
Second, no one expects him to be at the top of the conference given the transition and attrition. People do expect us not to finish dead effing last in the conference, which is where we are headed in year 2. I could handle middle of the pack. It shows improvement from last year, and the team is young. However, you'll never convince me this is anywhere near the worst roster of talent in the B10.
RR may or not be a good coach, but his performance at UM in the last two year has been an abortion. He'll get one more year to prove himself. If I'm the new UM AD he gets one year to make a NYD bowl game and finish at or near the top of the B10. If not, GTFO.