Porter was 3-21 in his two years as Memphis coach, including 1-14 in Conference USA play. Hops defense was part of the problem but far from the biggest issues with Porters team. He was a horrid leader living off of Les Miles success and that, coupled with his legacy at Memphis, got him the gig he was clearly not qualified for.
I don't blame Hop for declining a lesser position just to stay. If any of us worked for a leader that was a failure and clearly had no clue for their role and responsibilities and it appears they were using you to as an early scapegoat for the larger issues inside the program, I would politely thank them for the opportunity and find the nearest exit on the Titanic. Hop found his spot as the head man in the SWAC and I'm sure his experiences at Memphis taught him what not to do more than anything.......Porter would eventually find his calling as a career position coach and recruiting coordinator.
"There was a great deal of character on that field today. They are for real, no doubt about it. This was no fluke." - Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant