When Coach McMackin’s comments during a media briefing Thursday at the Western Athletic Conference football preview were made public, there was a strange but noticeable sound that could be heard throughout the islands. If you weren’t quite able to place
When Coach McMackin’s comments during a media briefing Thursday at the Western Athletic Conference football preview were made public, there was a strange but noticeable sound that could be heard throughout the islands.
If you weren’t quite able to place it at the time, I’ll clue you in: That’s what it sounds like when thousands of palms slap against their respective foreheads at the same moment.
While Coach Mac has only been the UH head coach for about 19 months, his ties here are much deeper than that and he has created a great following through community outreach. Just last month, he was here on Kaua‘i providing a free clinic, creating goodwill among the young athletes who dream of someday donning Warrior uniforms.
This was my first up close and personal encounter with Coach Mac. My immediate impression of the man was how mild-mannered he seemed. I couldn’t imagine him raising his voice, except maybe to be heard over the nearby planes taking off from the airport.
He took time to walk over to individual kids, give them a pat on the back and ask how they were doing. He spoke to parents and coaches who came to watch the action. He spoke to me of his love of Kaua‘i and how the mix of lush greens and beautiful beaches felt like an amazing combination of his home state of Oregon and his current home in the Pacific.
He wasn’t overbearing or intimidating in the same way other football coaches can be, but seemed to be the type of coach you’d be more afraid of disappointing than receiving a scolding from. It was easy to see why he’s become so well-liked, so quickly.
So when he commented on the dance the Notre Dame players performed prior to the Hawai‘i Bowl by using an unmistakeable offensive slur, it didn’t only offend our sensibilities, it completely blindsided us. For that moment, he became somebody we hadn’t seen coming.
My first impressions of Coach Mac were those of sensitivity and social awareness. So hearing him slip up — with media members in the room, no less — left me more dumbfounded than anything.
He repeated the derogatory term twice while trying to explain himself, made a stumbling apology and then asked reporters not to write about what he had said.
Yikes.
It really could have only become more awkward if he had then admitted to the monk seal slayings, said he hated Julia Roberts and doused himself in hot gravy before sprinting out of the room.
Here’s what I believe most likely led to the statement: At some point, he and his team were trying to psyche themselves up by tearing down Notre Dame and their traditional dance. Plenty of derogatory terms were used in a much more private environment.
Coach Mac then found himself in a similar “ra-ra” session with WAC coaches and media, went back to the common enemy of Notre Dame and let some of the previous conversation seep in.
His word choice and lack of awareness were staggering. For a man who has been around Division I and NFL football for almost two decades to make such a comment without thinking before he speaks is unbelievable, but not unforgivable.
I think that those who were supremely offended and will never look at the man the same way have a completely understandable point of view.
I also think that those who decide to chalk this up to a brief lapse in judgment and not a more sweeping statement about Coach Mac’s character have just as good a case.
Personally, I don’t like to label people, even when they have labeled others. I can only go on what I have seen with my own eyes and in this case, I have seen a nice guy make a hurtful mistake and realize it immediately.
