I don't think it's appropriate to classify Hawkins as a "mistake." Mistake implies bad judgment, ignorance, inattention, etc. I don't think there was anything wrong with the hiring. His record at the time was spectacular. It appeared to be a logical step on the path of a coach who was moving up the college football ranks. He was 180 degrees different from Gary Barnett, both on the field and off. For a school like Colorado to hire a coach like Dan Hawkins was certainly not unusual or out-of-the-ordinary.
To me, it is just easier, and more appropriate to say, for whatever reason, Dan Hawkins didn't work out. He didn't succeed. Regardless of the reason, what he had at Boise State has not translated to the University of Colorado. I know Hawkins has worked hard at CU and has tried to make his coaching tenure successful - it just didn't work. Time for everyone to just say "thank you" for your time and efforts at CU, and move on down the road.