In a matter of days, Hawai'i experienced one of its greatest highs and most depressing lows — a Bowl Championship Series invitation and the subsequent departure of football coach June Jones.

But it leaves us with two important lessons. It shows how far we've come on relatively meager resources in comparison to other athletic programs, and it shows how far we still need to go — especially in areas such as facilities, revenue generation and compensation.

However difficult these past few weeks have been, the next few months are going to be critical. I understand the need to find answers and place blame, but it is time to move forward. To succeed, we must take this crisis and recognize the opportunities to contribute to what coach Jones started.

The University of Hawai'i is celebrating its centennial this year; it is now time to regroup. What we do today will define the university for decades.

People have asked me why so much attention has focused on athletics. I believe that people love to identify with and root for winners and this year's Warrior football team is a winner. Additionally, the UH athletics program is a source of pride and inspiration for our whole state, much as professional teams are for other cities and states.

There's nothing wrong with leveraging our successes on the football field, court or pool, to support the university and its academic facilities. Moving forward means that we need to re-double our efforts and we need to focus on three priorities.

First, we need to support every effort to improve facilities throughout the university's 10-campus system. Cooke Field needs new turf. Coaches' offices and locker rooms need an overhaul. But so do the libraries, science labs and dormitories.

As we celebrate UH's centennial, we should increase the $50 million requested by the governor's office for UH system repair to $100 million. Not only will this amount be an appropriate way to recognize UH's first 100 years, but this infusion of additional funds will allow the university administration to address much of the facility needs for academics and athletics.

Second, we must support the UH administration as it hires a new athletics director and football coach. The new football coach needs to understand what Jones started and needs to believe that we can once again aspire to BCS greatness.

Additionally, our next athletics director must have a vision that he or she needs to articulate to the coaches, student-athletes and fans. Most important, the new AD needs to have an already-established relationship with the business community and must be willing to focus much energy in building corporate support for the athletic programs and for the university.

Third, we need to provide mechanisms to improve the income-generating potential for UH athletics. For a few years now, I've been a strong advocate of transferring operations of Aloha Stadium to UH athletics. Playing in the Sugar Bowl needs to be matched with a commitment to compete at this level.

Income-generating opportunities such as corporate skyboxes or a share of concession revenues can remove some of the burden on the taxpayer to provide athletic funding. Like Pac-10 and SEC schools, we need to run our sports programs like a business if we want to ensure another Sugar Bowl-type experience.

One hundred years from now, what will they be saying about the University of Hawai'i? What will become of our university? Whatever it is, know that what we do today for and with the University of Hawai'i will make a difference.

This centennial celebration honoring the accomplishments of our alma mater is only as good as our combined commitment to ensure a brighter, more productive, more profound and far-reaching second century.

Rep. K. Mark Takai ('Aiea-Pearl City) received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Hawai'i- Manoa. During his tenure as a student, Takai was a WAC champion swimmer, ASUH president and Ka Leo editor-in-chief. He currently serves as a board member of the UH Letterwinners Club and is a life member of the UH Alumni Association. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.