I would say (as of today, anyway) that the process worked, and not just because Hoke is off to a solid start. Think about it. Over the course of the process, Brandon threw a bone to every faction in the fanbase: the pro-RR. pro-Harbaugh, pro-Miles and pro-Hoke camps.
-RR was given one final chance to show what he could do, in a game in which he had a month and 15 practices to prepare for, and a healthy QB. Many coaches don't get that final chance - their ADs often fire them in December. If we'd won, RR might well still be our coach. But after losing by 38 points, he was not going to be retained. His base of support crumbled.
-Harbaugh was given a chance to take the job - at least, it appears that way. No one can argue that we didn't accommodate his schedule. If we'd hired Hoke in December, the Harbaugh faction would probably still be disappointed today. They can't now, because Harbaugh turned us down.
-Les Miles seems to have received some consideration, or at least Brandon made it look that way by talking to him. No one can say that Brandon didn't at least hear him out, unlike Martin in 2007.
-Finally, Hoke was offered the job. Yes, he'd have taken it in December, but if so, the other three factions in the fanbase would have been upset. Instead, we are reasonably unified right now. Most fans I talk to are at least cautiously optimistic. The few who aren't (most of the fans/Alumni that i know) are sticking out like a sore thumb.
