Finally, someone at the University of Hawaii stepped up and took responsibility for the June Jones contract fiasco. UH President David McClain displayed a little class. He acknowledged that UH didn’t step up and get the job done to keep Jones in Hawaii.
From what we can tell, McClain got involved in the last minute negotiations to put a competitive offer in front of Jones before he made a final decision to leave Hawaii for Dallas and another perennial loser, Southern Methodist University’s football program. Sound familiar?
In the end, McClain said it best:
“I want to apologize to our fans and all of Hawaii for matters getting to this stage in the first place (bureaucracy talk for ‘we screwed up’). Exceptional performance deserves exceptional recognition (we didn’t know Jones was serious about improving UH athletic facilities; after all, he was doing so well with the crappy facilities we gave him), and your University was slow to step up ( we would have done something if we’d known Jones would actually leave). That won’t happen again (uh huh).”
From what I can tell, June Jones is a man of his word and not prone to ultimatums. UH didn’t get an ultimatum. Instead, UH received a very expensive lesson. A nearly perfect season has gone perfectly bad.
Pay attention.
As predicted, UH athletic director Herman Frazier is out, though his checkbook is thicker by a few hundred thousand dollars. Frankly, it’s money well spent, and yet another expensive lesson in personnel management for the bureaucrats at UH.
Pay attention.
UH faces a number of highly public obstacles, post June Jones. Athletic facilities must be upgraded. A new football coach must be found. As to the former, it’s time for the bureaucracy to put up or shut up. As to the latter, end the search for a new coach before it begins. Hire defensive coordinator Greg McMackin.
Pay attention.
McMackin may be the gem that June Jones left behind in hopes that someone at UH would find it. While he’s still here, and before he packs his bags, UH needs to talk to Greg McMackin.
Pay attention.
HawaiiBlogger's Comment Policy: Keep your comment on topic, relevant, worthy, and funny. Or, pick any three. Be pleasant, helpful, and only use your real name. Comments are moderated and will not appear immediately (* required).