As Hawaii fans watch the Greg McMackin era unfold, be cautious before you judge.
Many experts on architecture, as well as its fans, consider Frank Lloyd Wright the world's greatest modern architect.
Yet he struggled in his early years as a 'head coach' and was told he couldn't get it done.
The figure of myth Icarus was brilliant, too.
He could fashion wings, glue them with wax, and fly to the heavens. Like Wright, Icarus lacked humility. Thinking he could fly among the gods, he flew too near the sun, and perished when the sun melted his wings.
General George Patton was brilliant, too, as he was too fond of reminding anyone who suggested there might be another way to win World War II.
Like Icarus, like Wright, the University of Hawaii has great dreams of being a Division I power, but it will take a unique leader with great humility and understanding to get them there.
Greg McMackin is that man. Humble, passionate, caring, disciplined and focused.
And so history tells us that there are people like Coach Mack who didn't win their first few times out of the gate.
But I stood on the sidelines with the mighty Warriors as they faced Florida, and I saw something nobody saw.
Hawaii won. I'll tell you why in a minute.
Everywhere I looked, I saw success, but the problem was if only.
If only the quarterback play had been a little better.
If only this guy would listen better.
If only this guy could control his temper.
If only we hadn't given up big returns.
The reason that Greg McMackin is the future of Hawaii football is because Coach Mack is a bold and successful boss, and he will forge a uniquely successful team eventually because he is a master of confronting if only.
He will knock down every if only one at a time.
Coach Mack has made a career of hiring, developing and building stars. His track record speaks for itself. But Coach Mack knows the words if only will kill your organization.
There is no more if only. This is Coach Mack's team. He will do it his way, and it will take time, and every Warrior faithful must suffer through the lumps of rebuilding.
We will all enjoy the fruits of his labor when his vision for this football program is done.
But I can promise you this: Coach Mack is a personal and trusted friend. He has assembled one of the hardest-working staffs in all of football. Against Florida, against Oregon State, regardless of the score, the plan and the discipline never changed.
Everybody should sit up and take notice: Winning at Hawaii isn't like winning at Oregon State or Florida or Boise State. There are no private planes picking up recruits or a recruiting budget of $300,000.
It takes a real Warrior to take this job and run this team.
Stick around. Greg McMackin and his die-hard staff are destined for great things, and we just get to be along for the ride.
Let's all learn from the losses together. These losses are no different than when your wife turns to you and says, "Does this dress make me look fat?"
We all know the answer to that one.
Coach Mack is going to get rid of if only, slim us down and prove to the world that Hawaii looks great in that dress.
Hawaii beat Florida, and they beat Oregon State.
Why?
Against all odds, they never quit.
