Coach regrets directing gay slur at Notre Dame

[GotGibson?]

Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin used a homosexual slur in describing a dance performed by Notre Dame players at a banquet prior to the teams' meeting in the 2008 Hawaii Bowl.

McMackin, speaking Thursday at the Western Athletic Conference media day in Salt Lake City, said each team came together for a cheer, and the Fighting Irish did a "little ****** dance" for Hawaii. The Warriors then performed a shaka, which is a traditional Hawaiian greeting gesture.

After using the slur, McMackin asked media in attendance not to report on it, then made a fumbling attempt at an apology. After departing the interview room, he later returned to apologize to reporters.

"I want to officially, officially apologize," the coach said, according to reports. "Please don't write that statement I said as far as Notre Dame. The reason is, I don't care about Notre Dame. But I'm not a ... I don't want to come out and have every homosexual ticked off at me. You know what I mean. Because I don't have any problem with homosexuals. But I apologize for saying that and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't run that word.

"If you said dance, that's OK. But don't use the bad term that I chose, please. Thank you."

At the urging of conference officials, McMackin then made a more formal apology.

Notre Dame spokesman Brian Hardin told ESPN.com the university would have no comment on the matter.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson told ESPN.com's Graham Watson that the conference would wait to determine whether punishment was necessary until a university review was completed. At that time, Benson, who was in the room during McMackin's news conference, said he would issue an appropriate response from the league.

"It was an unfortunate decision where a coach used some very derogatory language," Benson said by phone from Salt Lake City.

The WAC was recording all coaches news conferences for its Web site, but Benson said it had no plans to post McMackin's original remarks or his apology. Audio of McMackin's interview was posted on the Idaho Statesman's Web site.

"More than likely we will not stream his interview," Benson said. "His remarks were offensive and it would serve no purpose for the WAC to distribute those remarks via video on our Web site."

 

[Pee632]

I wonder what the word was...

 

[GotGibson?]

Hawaii coach suspended 30 days for gay slur

Hawaii coach Greg McMackin was suspended for 30 days without pay and has volunteered to take an additional 7 percent pay cut from his $1.1 million salary for making a derogatory comment while describing Notre Dame's chant before last year's Hawaii Bowl.

In a room full of players, assistant coaches and boosters, a tearful McMackin addressed reporters late Friday after meeting with school officials for several hours.

"I just want to say I made a big mistake. I want to apologize to everyone and anyone that I offended with my remarks," he said. "I'm committed to do whatever I can to use this as a life lesson to learn from my mistake. When we make mistakes, we have to learn from it and make better people of ourselves."

In total, McMackin will lose roughly $169,000 from his salary this year. But the real damage seems to be to his reputation and to the university.

Athletic director Jim Donovan said McMackin will remain with the team on a voluntary basis during the suspension. He said the coach violated university policies. McMackin met with Donovan and Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.

"We all recognize that Coach McMackin made a serious mistake that has hurt many people and brought negative attention to our state and university," Hinshaw said. "He is clearly remorseful -- as well as he should be."

The second-year Warriors coach has repeatedly apologized for the comments made during a media briefing Thursday at the Western Athletic Conference football preview in Salt Lake City. He used a slur usually targeted at gays to describe Notre Dame's chant performed at a banquet before last year's Hawaii Bowl.

"I'm very disappointed in myself. I hope to make up for some for the pain I caused others," he said. "I made a mistake. Now I have to show the leadership in dealing with the football program and building respect for all people in our community."

Wiping away tears from his swollen-red eyes, McMackin said he's offended the gay and lesbian community and now he wants to work with them to use the incident as a "teachable moment for me and hopefully others."

"I should've never brought Notre Dame's program up in my interview," McMackin said. "I'm sorry that I said something so hurtful and I'm very remorseful."

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on Friday said the Fighting Irish program was offended by the comments but has accepted his apology and will move on.

"Coach McMackin demonstrated poor judgment when, while making comments critical of our football program, he used a derogatory word," Weis said in a statement. "Speaking only for our football program, we were offended by the remarks."

Weis said it was in the best interests of the Notre Dame program to address the issue promptly, put it to rest and focus on the upcoming season.

The Fighting Irish routed the Warriors 49-21 in the Hawaii Bowl for their first postseason victory in 15 years. McMackin called it the worst loss in his 40 years of coaching.

McMackin's comments have stunned this state, where the story has created a stir online and has led the front pages of both Honolulu newspapers. The headline in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin read, "Mack Under Attack."

His comments have been sharply rebuked by everyone from Gov. Linda Lingle to gay and lesbian groups.

Before joining the Warriors, McMackin spent three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers as associate head coach and linebackers coach under Dennis Erickson. He has also served as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and several college programs, including Texas Tech, Miami, Navy, Utah and Idaho.

 

[GotGibson?]

WAC reprimands Hawaii coach over gay slur

The Western Athletic Conference is reprimanding Hawaii coach Greg McMackin for his derogatory comment while describing Notre Dame's chant before last year's Hawaii Bowl.

The university has already suspended McMackin for 30 days without pay. He's volunteered to take an additional 7 percent pay cut from his $1.1 million salary.

The coach has also apologized for using a gay slur during a media briefing last month at the WAC football preview in Salt Lake City.

The WAC said Monday it reprimanded McMackin for violating the conference's sportsmanship code. The league says any further violations will result in a minimum one-game suspension.

 

[Indiansfanatic13]

lol

 

[Pee632]

I knew there was gonna be consequences....