re: Top 10 coaches record in their first year

May want to analyze that a bit further.

Dabo Swinney: Clemson was pretty irrelevant even before he he was promoted. Expectations weren't very high
Paul Chryst: Same. Low expectations.
James Franklin: Penn State was dealing with all of the sanctions from the Paterno regime. Can't really compare them.
Clay Helton: USC had been dealing with coaching changes for 4 years. Again, can't really compare.
Mike Gundy: Okie State wasn't all that good when Les was there. They were 7-5 the year before and it was a complete regime change.
Chris Peterson: Considering they went 9-6 the previous year under Sarkisian, 8-6 is not surprising with a complete regime change.
Jim Harbaugh: No shame in losing to Utah, they were pretty legit that year.

To try and compare any of these to the situation with LSU and Coach O is a stretch. He was already a part of the program and was the recruiting coordinator for the current team. He made ONE staff change from the previous year. In fact, according to Alleva, that is the entire reason he got the gig in the first place. To maintain continuity.

I get the point you're trying to make, but it just doesn't compare. The situation at LSU is unique compared to other coaching changes to say the least.