Feeling sorry for Coach Mack
November 3rd, 2009 by CatDuring yesterday's weekly press conference with UH football coach Greg McMackin, he said the team took in Michael Jackson's "This Is It."
What stood out, he said, was the some "Man in the Mirror."
"You listen to that song and it’s exactly like our football team. You’ve got to look in the mirror at yourself and say its time to change, and do what you’re talking about," he said at the press conference. "And we talked about that. Whether you’re young or not, you need to take responsibility for your actions. We played six or seven freshman on Saturday. But they are not freshmen anymore. They have got to stand up. Everybody has to stand up. That’s what really made sense to me. And I think the players got the message too."
The message is the team can't lose another — and seventh consecutive — game this season, after falling to Nevada, 21-31, on Saturday.
The team can't afford another loss. And, as Lee Cataluna pointed out in her column, "It's tough being Coach Mack," in today's paper, neither can Hawai'i fans.
I completely agree with Cataluna. Coach Mack is under a lot of pressure. Not only did he follow one of the most beloved and revered — at least in recent years — head coaches in UH history, but he's got the added challenge of today's slumping economy.
Cataluna does a better job articulating this:
To make matters worse, Coach Mack is responsible for the one entity that can lift up the hearts of the entire state no matter how badly people are suffering. Jobs have been lost, companies have folded, people are taking pay cuts and losing benefits and are terrified about their children's future but if the Warriors had a winning season, it would be a miracle salve on all those wounds. It would be the greatest escape from our troubles, a beacon on which to focus hopes. UH football has that moon landing effect on the collective conscience of these islands. Hoo boy, pressure.
And fans are feeling it.
In a non-scientific online poll conducted by The Advertiser yesterday, 41.3 percent of the roughly 9,600 people who participated said they were depressed about the UH football season so far. Another 39.5 percent said they didn't care. Only 15 percent said they were cautiously optimistic and the rest — 4.3 percent — still believed UH could make the Hawai'i Bowl.
How are you feeling about the season? And do you think Coach Mack is dealing with an unfair amount of pressure?
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Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@thecatdish.com.
Tags: coach, Coach Mack, football, Greg McMackin, hawaii, June Jones, Lee Cataluna, toth, UH football, University of Hawaii
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:13 am
"An unfair amount of pressure?" I admit there's a lot of anticipation with each game. Unfair? Coach Mack should be grateful that this town values college football as much as it does.
The key of course, is putting the team on a winning track. It's not only an individual responsibility -- it's a commitment to one another to play *smarter*, to put in the unexpected plays that they trained during practice. It's not so much of "trick" plays as it is using the full resourcefulness and full resources of the moment, which was created and planned ahead of time. When that's practiced, then individuals can step up and raise the team to where it wants to go.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 am
great moments remain in our memories, while bad moments quickly disappear. it's the natural way that people treat the past. it's true in life, and especially true when it comes to fandom. the glowing memories of the Sugar Bowl season are still fresh in everyone's minds, while the dog days of the VonAppen era have been repressed a long time ago. This is unfortunate because if people could go back and relive those days, perhaps they wouldn't feel so negative about what's going on today.
what the "average joe" fan refuses to acknowledge is that "winning and losing" is only part of the equation when it comes to having a successful college program. Things need to be done to ensure the longevity of the program, and I feel like McMackin and crew are aware of this. The 2006 and 2007 seasons were great, but there was some "mortgaging of the future" going on to help us reach those levels, and those are some of the things responsible for our lack of success on the field this season. It's going to take time, but those things (uneven recruiting, etc) are being addressed right now. And rightly so, because if these things don't get fixed "now", more losing seasons are on the horizon, no matter who is coaching the team.
blaming the coach is such an easy thing for less-informed fans to do, and a comforting thing as well. in life, people need reasons for things. reasons for why the sky is blue, for why we are here, etc. reasons help us to understand things and feel better about the world we live in, even if the reasons are wrong. "not knowing" only makes people afraid. football is like this. fans want to feel like they are engaged and that they know what is going on. they harp on things like clock management and personal foul penalties, mostly because those are things that can be criticized without having a deep knowledge of the game. Anyone who can do math and tell time can second-guess a coach's clock management skills. there are other aspects of the game that are not so easily digested by the average joe fan. some are x's and o's - the chess match that's going on down on the field. some things are behind the scenes that we don't get to see like recruiting and managing the players as people and as students. these take more experience and expertise to really have an informed opinion on. much more than most fans (myself included) have. but since people want to feel engaged in the discussion, they point at the most obvious source when things aren't going well - the head coach. this is not unique to Hawaii, as it happens everywhere. it just sounds louder here because UH is the only game in town.
Either way, I hope the administration doesn't give in to any knee-jerk reaction and decide to make any rash decisions. let's ride this thing out for another year and see what the current staff can do with another year. The worst thing that could happen is we lose more games. but heck, we've done that in the past and the world didn't end.
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:44 am
Let’s be real folks…Cataluna states the obvious. She brings nothing new to the table. Coach Mack is being set up for failure due to incendiary columns like this; whose only intention is to rile the public and cause dissention. It’s like talking smack about your drunk cousin while claiming to be sympathetic to his recovery. This is the same woman who wrote numerous commentaries berating June Jones and now she has the audacity to throw the current coach under the bus; of course, all under the guise of being unintentional.
Why not write about the positive ways we can support the team instead of dwelling on the negatives. It’s folks like her that give Hawai’i fans a bad name. Ms. Cataluna should take a good long look in the mirror and ask herself, “Is she part of the solution or part of the problem?” The Warriors don’t need fickle people like her who pretend to wear green while perpetuating the worst qualities of a casual fan.
So Lee, what happened to ‘ohana?
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:20 am
Hey Cat! I didn't see a title when I clicked on your blog. It just gave an arrow saying next post.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 am
no matter how you look at it, its still better than the von appen era, so far...
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:59 am
Wow, I think Cataluna is really overstating the importance of UH football. Amidst all the problems our state currently faces, it's a little idealistic to think a winning season could soothe our souls. Yes, many of us do rally around our team, cheer at games, and throw viewing parties for away-games, but all that is just momentary entertainment. It's like saying the arrival of Victoria's Secret was a miracle salve for our sad state of mind -- did you see how many people anxiously lined up for a chance to browse, exited with bags and bags of junk, and undoubtedly spent a ton of good money on the experience of having all that mainland-goodness at their fingertips? Fun, yes. Problem-solving, no. All these joys and hopes are so temporary. How about we, as a state, lift our hearts by focusing on things that really matter -- like our families, our friends, and the beautiful environment that surrounds us? If you're not feeling uplifted these days (which is quite understandable), don't blame Coach Mack. Do what you can do to find your own joy.
Personally, I'm disappointed in the team's performance this year, and I would like to hear the coaches taking more responsibility for the poor plays. I hope they, too, take a look in the mirror and reflect on how they can make improvements -- not just the players or the fans (we're tired of being chewed out, btw)! Let's not forget that Coach Mack makes over a million dollars a year in salary -- he's got to appear to be accountable, rather than one who simply passes the blame onto others. Nonetheless, I'm still heading to the remaining home games, rooting for my team, and, win or lose, happy to call Hawaii my home and my team.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:55 am
watching them @ the wsu game this year.....they looked solid. ever since then....it's been a free fall. simply stated.......this team has lost its passion. just look @ the D...the tackling is pathetic. zero excuses for that on this level.
the football program as a whole has to take accountability......from the coach mac down to the water boy. if they want to be taken seriously on a national level......and as a D-1 program.........going 0-5 in the WAC is not the way to go about it.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Coach Greg McMackin came in to the program bringing great credentials from the college and professional ranks. He was hired in unamity from the top UH administrators down to us lowly ordinary fans. We all felt he was a great choice, the right man to fill June Jones big shoes and provide continuity to a winning program. He kept his coaching staff more or less intact after some departures. We all had high expectations and expected UH to continue its winning ways from the June Jones era.
Last year was pretty good. It could have been better if we had Tyler Graunke as QB. No laugh, I serious. Instead, it was a game of who is going to play quarterback. Graunke was responsible for winning one game and Funaki another one before Greg Alexander took charge and took control. This year started off good. We should have won the UNLV game. It just went the other way, what you call the breaks. Then QB Greg Alexander got hurt and is out for the season.
At that point, the loss of Alexander, UH problems came big time. Never mind all the mistakes on the field like poor punting, poor blocking from the offensive line, mismatches like defensive back No. 4 getting beat every time at critical times, etc., the key to winning games is the quarterback position. Bryant Moniz is not the man to go the full game. One guy at Tsaiko blog noticed his right shoulder drops in the latter part of the game indicating he is tired. He has his lapses, sometimes in the red zone at critical times. I think the offensive coaches going overboard on this guy and not fully utiling the resources of the quarterback position. You need a guy who plays with a passion in that position who is going to give all the extra effort to win at great costs and risks, not a guy just going mechanically through the motions. I don't mean to offend Moniz. He is doing his best. He is a good quarterback, but good is not enough. You got to lead the team to win. That is the bottom line. Give the other quarterbacks chance to play and show their stuff if Moniz not doing the job to win. We have nothing to lose, absolutely nothing.
The season is not over. Forget that this year is rebuilding year. It is not. This season counts, every game counts for us rabid fans.
If anything, win one or five for Coach Mac. Coach Mac? Yeh. Save his job. I like the guy. He is a lovable guy. I kind of figure the team loves him too. And it is that that counts .... plus winning. How about the coaching staff? I dunno. Neva mind. Go Warriors!
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
I think the Hawaii fans should look at the situation realistically. The UH football program will never be an elite program as long as they keep playing in the WAC (sorry) and against patsy non-WAC teams. You play to the level of teams that you play against. This was evident when the "undefeated" Warriors went on to the Sugar Bowl and was sufficiently blown out by Georgia. UH needs to stack their non-conference schedule against more top tier teams. Not just a USC here, and a Florida there five years later, etc. EVERY year they need to take it on the chin against USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, etc. That'll build a foundation of confidence to play against those teams that will pay off later.
Secondly, what talented high-schooler with pro prospects would want to come to a program who plays all of their home games AFTER the mainland is footballed out for a Saturday and turning in for bed? They want to be seen on SportsCenter and/or College Game Day Final. Playing past midnight Eastern time won't getcha on the program. UH needs to play their home games at 11am like a lot of college programs do.
...and finally, they need to pony up for a proper coach. Mack ain't it. What was funny was how the state was complaining about Jones' salary being too high... but compared to other mainland program coaches, it was "budget."
Everyone deserves to have a great team to root for--but changes need to be made to even allow for that to happen.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Good Morning Cat!
Being a head football coach is a tuff job at any school. I think it's even worst here with our fair weather fans. Most support the Warriors only if they win. It's difficult for the players knowing that if they lose they got no support from the fans, so much pressure, so much negativity from what they hear and read.
We need to support the players and the program win or lose, that's the true warrior fan.
Go Warriors!
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
I think Lee Cataluna wrote an excellent column and you highlighted a very important part of that piece. These things, Sports, tend to go through cycles and we build tremendous loyalties to our teams. Sports are a release and you can go out and root your heart out for the home team because they are our team. In addition, it gets personal because we know many of the players and may have even followed them in high school. It becomes an extended family sort of thing. Throw in the fact that there is often a sense of rooting for the underdog when you root for UH and things get even more passionate. Personally, at the risk of offending some I often felt that the USC players looked like they were semi pro. I would have dearly loved to have seen UH beat them. The same is true of the place where I know live, Ohio. There is tons of money behind the Ohio State program and in the past OSU has gotten in trouble when OSU alums were a little too free wheeling with that money. And, sometimes you root negatively. I mean I was thrilled to see Oregon clean USC's clock. But still loyalties are loyalties and I will always root for UH, OSU and a few other teams.
The problem is though that our loyalties sometimes blind us. It is one thing to root as hard as you can for your team, but it is another to take out your negative vibes on them when they don't do as well as they might. That said, I think James hit on some key points. Injuries have definitely been a factor and play in some aspects of the game could be better.
Lets Go Bows! Go Warriors! Hmmm, maybe they need more blessings!
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:51 am
he is getting paid 1.2million a year..no i dont feel bad for the guy
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
People need to get over it! You win some lose some! Seriously people build a dam bridge!
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Nothing wrong with Coach Mac or the UH Warriors.
Coach Mac like others in Sports must watch what they say. Fuzzy Zoller in Golf made a remark about a menu Tiger Woods was going to make. He was never the same winner after.
Rocker of Atlanta Braves made a racial comment and never pitched the same.
President Obama made a stupid comment and his popularity went down.
People who makes remarks end up fighting Ghosts the rest of their lives. Get rid of Ghosts and Coach Mac can win again. Not easy, as many have silently left the Sports Scene.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I liked Lee Cataluna's insightful article. I didn't see it as negative. Coach Mack is going through some tough times but I am still behind the coach. He is in a transitional situation and needs time to make things work. As someone in an earlier post said, we need to ride this out.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
UH sports is the closest thing Hawaii has to professional sports.
And the UH knows this and milks it as much as they can: expensive admission to the games, PPV to see the game live, holding out the rebroadcast until Sunday morning, nickel and dime the public as much as possible.
People are paying some big coin to watch the Warriors - and expect a certain level of return for their money - like maybe a break even season. But when their return is less than even, of course they're going to get bitter. Why shouldn't they? They paid for that right.
If the program wants to charge fees like the pros, they'd better be prepared to deal with the criticism like the pros.
When the team is doing good, it's "Let's charged the fans more. Let's move the rebroadcast to the next day so the fans will have to purchase PPV".
But when the team is doing badly, it's "Hey, don't be so tough on our boys. Cut the coach some slack".
IMHO, the pressure put on Coach Mac and the Warriors to win is proportional to the fees that the UH charges.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
... and when the guy is getting paid an obscene salary (I know, not his fault - right), fans feel they deserve SOME wins... so they can enjoy their Heinekens...
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Lose 3 starting wideouts and your quarterback in a spread passing system and any team is going to struggle some. It's pretty amazing we made the Hawaii Bowl last year. If the team still stinks two years from now, it'll be a different story, but for now, he gets some slack from me.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
If you're good, you're good; if not, you're not. Just be honest. Don't get people excited and then fail miserably. Too much hype gave people too much false expectations. And please don't talk about a bowl game this year...it sounds silly.
Go Bows!
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Rodney Lee, when is the last time you looked at ticket prices for mainland schools, like 1967? every game i've gone to on the mainland charged similar prices for their individual game tickets to what UH charges.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Agreed Aaron,
Actually based on what I've seen and heard even BCS conference ticket prices are all mostly higher than UH. Including their season ticket premium fees.
Pros not even close to UH prices!!!
UH football individual tickets- $38 sidelines, $32 South end zone, $25 North end zone
Examples: Arizona State at home vs. USC- most single game tickets are either $62 or $52.
Arizona Cardinals at home vs. Seattle Seahawks- $50, $70, $80, $85, $95, $107.50, $120, $175, $295, $475
Washington St. at Washington- $70, $35 (end bleachers)
Seattle Seahawks at home vs. Detroit Lions- $49, $79, $89, $94, $95, $105, $210, $252, $341, $394
BTW, paid for mediocre off-site parking 2 years ago for Seahawks game=$20. This is the norm for NFL- $10-$30 range for parking.
Reality is Hawaii can't pack the stadium with BCS-school level ticket prices. Fans want a BCS-conference competitive team, but I doubt we have enough fans willing and able to pay for it! Reality is checking what the big-time schools charge for tickets and seat premiums. Prices for NFL are like major musical act performance prices!
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Cataluna is overstating the assumption that as an entity, the people of Hawaii are dependent on the U of H to lift our spirits. I doubt that a breadwinner that has lost his/her job will look the the local football team to lift their spirit and make everything right in their world. Yes, coach Mack is being criticized and ripped but by non-football observers. I would like to think the real fans and people who understand the game realizes that coach, staff and players are working and playing as hard as they can to best represent the University of Hawaii. I know UH athletics are marketed to all of Hawaii but they are foremost playing for the UH system of schools and they are not our "pro" team. Where are all the students? Check the volleyball, basketball programs. The seats are filled only by the paying boosters, aunties and grandpas. Dorm residents can easily take a five minute walk to the on campus arena and take a 2 1/2 hour break from their studies and adorn wigs and face paint and have a great time.
Lets all be more supportive of coach and the program. I wouldn't want my job on the line everytime one loses a sale, receits don't balance or the weatherman calls for rain and it turns out sunny.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:19 am
This season is the result of 2 back-to-back poor recruiting years. We are paying for that now. When I looked at the defense at the beginning of the year, I was surprised at how few playmakers they had upfront. It's hard to be competitive like that. I do blame the fact that June Jones was able to draw some good high school recruits that are now shying away from UH since he is no longer there.
I don't think it is the case of the talent being too young, I think the talent is simply not there.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Aloha ~
Sports are great ... great fun and great entertainment. Yet when we can't keep our schools open full time; have to cut teacher and state worker pay by 8%; 16+% of Hawai'i's private sector workers cannot find enough work or are out of jobs, we should be mature enough to realize Coach Mack is not the center of the universe.
When we have our troops fighting in two wars, when we are this distressed at home, we should be more focused on our families than whether Coach Mack is under pressure. As the highest paid state worker, he ought to be thankful he even has a job.
People, our friends and family members, are hurting badly. Families are frustrated and scared, as some are losing their homes or falling into bankruptcy.
When times are good, play ball ... yet in difficult conditions such as these, I wish we could do a better job of focusing on what really matters.
A*L*O*H*A