86: 5-3 (Beat #2 Michigan)
87: 3-5
88: 0-6-2
89: 4-4
90: 5-3 (Beat Rose Bowl bound Iowa)
91: 1-7
I think the biggest thing is overall records. The Gutey era didn't have a Mason-type non-conference schedule.
86: 6-6 -- Oklahoma (Ended up #3 in AP, only loss at Miami)
87: 6-5 -- Cal & Central Michigan (closest to a Mason schedule)
88: 2-7 --Washington State (Dennis Erickson's last year before going to Miami, ended up #16 AP)
89: 6-5 -- Nebraska & Iowa State
90: 6-5 -- Nebraska, Utah & Iowa State
91: 2-9 -- Colorado & Pitt
I do think a legit argument can be made about inheriting Holtz's players, just as things were starting to get going for Lou. 87, 89 & 90 would have been bowl teams in today's college football world. With an easier type of schedule, I think you could add a win in 89 & 90. That would have been 4 bowls in 6 years. Not worthy of a parade, but definitely not as bad as people remember.