I may have missed it, but I don't think anyone has ever said recruiting doesn't matter. If so, point it out and I'll enjoy some crow.
What HAS been said (and implied) is that GP built this program on 2-3*'s. Rebuilding a program takes more than 6 years when you're doing so from the dregs where we were. Also, during the next three seasons, including when we won the Rose Bowl, we were still using mostly 2* & 3*'s. GP thrived on those kids that had a chip on their shoulder, that weren't viewed as "blueblood" material. Speaking of the Rose Bowl, Tank Carder, one of the best linebackers to play during the GP era and a TCU legend, was a 2*. To only pick the first 6 years of a program is disingenuous at best.