I think you guys are missing the point of the cause for 2 reasons.
1. You underestimate the mental capacity of those incharge of the Missouri athletics programs
2. You overestimate the mental capacity of those who root for Missouri athletics programs
Now let me explain.
You underestimate the mental capacity of those incharge of the Missouri athletics programs by assuming that even a partialy Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!) feller would not find it painfully obvious that Missouri was good despite Gary Pinkel. They benifited from a couple years when K-State was down, Colorado was breathing in that clean crisp moutain air and ignoring all responsibilities, and Nebraska; well they continued their Amelia Earhardt descent. Nothing but blue skys above and blue ocean below for those boys, no land in site and they're out of fuel.
The problem for the MU administration is that Gary did win, and despite the reasons that they did win, a majority of their fanbase is not smart enough to see why. In 2004 or 2005 Alden was this close to being able to fire Gary, but no dice, they were gifted a couple Big 12 division titles. They won one of those north titles by beating Kansas. This is like crack for their fan base. They were hooked.
So now the conundrum. Even tho Gary's inability to coach worth a damn is the cause for why they want to fire him, they need a justification to sell their addict fanbase. Now they have possibly been gifted something they can hang their hats on. Most of their tuck fanbase will be distraught and think Gary's a terrible person.
Ask yourself this. If Gary got in the car after a few jumbo's this year do you think he would be fired? They are grasping at straws, and they think they might have found one.