So you want to cherry pick variables that support your "argument for arguments sake" agenda.....YOU'RE the one who brought up the argument that it mattered which conference these players were coming from.
Mountain West and the MAC are equal.
Now you're adding in other variables to your argument that you didn't originally bring up. Such as # of wins at their previous schools and who they beat.
The former you cant truly compare because Colandrea didnt play 20+ games at UNLV like Rourke did. Rourke had 5 years at Ohio (playing 4) and won 21, not 30.
What was Rouke's best win before he went to Indiana? 7-6 Iowa St. Colandrea beat a #18 Pitt.
I'm not saying Colandrea is better than Rourke, but they are a similar comparison in the fact that they both came from G5 schools (which seemed to matter to you when you brought up Mendoza/Colandrea comparison), found success there and are now moving up to a P5 school.
If an MLB hitter has 3 miserable seasons in the BIGs, then gets demoted to AAA, and tears the cover off the ball for 1 season.....Does that make his skills suddenly translate up to the show, where hes previously struggled?
Vs a AAA hitter that tears up that league for 3 years, then moves up to the show?
Of course it matters how many games and seasons these QBs played! It matters that Colandreas play elevated at a lower level of ball and had previously floundered at the higher level of ball......
But you would rather narrow the scope soley to: their most previous seasons were both in lower conferences, so its apples to apples......because that is the most optimistic outlook and it fits your narrative.