It was bulldog Greg McMackin, the University of Hawai'i head football coach, more vulnerable and exposed than we had ever glimpsed him before.

Eyes swollen red and voice quivering with emotion, McMackin was tearful and unquestionably remorseful yesterday in pledging to accept his punishment and be the leader his team and school can be proud of after a regrettable episode in which he used — and repeated an offensive term — about gays.

It was UH as we have rarely seen it before, too under such circumstances: Swift and decisive.

This was no "let's just move on, OK" waltz for the benefit of the cameras; no coach mouthing empty phrases of redemption to keep his job.

By his obvious anguish and deep forthrightness yesterday, you could tell McMackin got the necessary message. By its actions, it was clear UH did, too.

Whatever the penalties levied, that was what needed to come out of this whole sad situation and what emerged in the 34 hours since McMackin made his controversial comments at the Western Athletic Conference Football Media Review in Salt Lake City.

Could UH have imposed a heftier punishment? Sure. But even if the hammer had been heavier, a 60-day suspension instead of the 30 days handed down, or a 15 percent rollback in salary compared to the seven percent "voluntary" cut he will take, it is doubtful it could have made anymore of an impact on McMackin.

Clearly this man was his own harshest judge and most demanding jury. What his pride had suffered began way before he sat down with Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and athletic director Jim Donovan yesterday.

Since McMackin had already publicly vowed to accept a salary cut, the real hit was to be the 30-day suspension without pay that amounts to roughly $91,000. But as McMackin's anguish and brief comments underlined, this wasn't about money.

It was about being better and doing better for a man who has usually demanded — and gotten — more of himself.

"I'm very disappointed in myself. I hope to make up for some of the pain I caused others," McMackin said.

When he talked about making the episode a "teachable moment for me and hopefully others" you felt his sincerity.

His players did. "We all feel his pain," said Ray Hisatake, a senior offensive lineman and one of more than 30 Warriors who turned out in support of their coach. "We all say stupid things and I think Coach Mac really regrets it."

Of that there was no doubt yesterday.