Clearly, from his point of view, it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
People who reach his level of achievement rarely spend much time considering failure. Derek is the type of man who sets a path to success, then goes about the business of getting there. A lifetime of learning at the best level surely helped cement the necessity of this process.
This is laudable, and exactly the kind of work ethic UT football will need in the years to come. So from his eyes, he does have it made. The question is what happens when roadblocks hit. Then, public perception of his performance will have everything to do with whether he 'has it made'.
Good conversation though...