Full disclosure, I did not watch the second half because I was so upset after the first and my daughter had friends over that I think I was starting to scare.
I do think one needs to be cautious in making snap emotional decisions, but what I saw (at least in the first half) was a team that was not prepared and was not motivated and certainly did not have a "championship attitude". That is on the coaches to at least create an environment that inspires the players to conduct themselves in that manner. Three turnovers, four if you count that first drive, is going to make it extremely difficult to win a game, regardless of the opponent and how many players are out.
Despite all that, I am willing to give Mullen the benefit because I want to see how the rest of the season plays out and how the team responds from this crap show effort. I do think he deserves credit for bringing some sense of stability and positive culture to the program that really was adrift. I do think that recruiting has improved, even though not to the level that is needed, but it has gotten better. I also believe, although Im sure some may correct me, that this is the first game that we have shown up looking so lost with no effort. In other words, we have won the games that were supposed to. However, I want to see some recognition, after the season is over, of the shortcomings of his staff. Ideally getting rid of Grantham, but some type of movement that says, "Hey we messed up and there are consequences for not performing". I want to see a team that is organized and focused against Bama (even if they will get trounced) and the bowl game. I want to see the recruiting class close strong. I am not going to strongly defend Mullen, and I wont object if people feel differently than me because I see that side clearly. I just giving my opinion on the matter.