Mac apologized for using an "offensive phrase" at the WAC Football Preview

RGJ = Reno Gazette-Journal

HA Note: "UH head coach Greg McMackin apologized for using an "offensive phrase" during his speech to reporters at today's WAC Football Preview in Salt Lake City. McMackin used the phrase — which is a derogatory term for gays — while telling a story about the chant competition between the Notre Dame and UH football teams at the Hawai‘i Bowl banquet in December. He used the term to describe Notre Dame's chant."

Apologizing for the phrase he used, Mac said:
"In trying to make a joke, I regret using an offensive phrase. It wasn't meant to cause any harm. I apologize." (HA)

“I would sincerely like to apologize for the inappropriate verbage of words that I used. I have nothing against the University of Notre Dame. I don’t talk like that. I’m really ticked off at myself for saying that. I don’t have any prejudices. It really makes me mat that I said that. I’m disappointed in myself.” (HA)

"I want to officially, officially apologize. 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." (RGJ)

HA Note: "McMackin used a variation of the phrase two more times in trying to apologize during his speech. Each of the nine WAC coaches is allotted 30 minutes to give a preview of his football team. Later, McMackin issued another apology to the reporters."

About how the loss to Notre Dame was the worst loss of his 40-year career, Mac said:
“It ticks me off that I said that because Notre Dame played a great ball game. What I was trying to do was be funny, and I wasn’t funny, and it’s not funny. Even more, it isn’t funny to me. I was trying to make a joke. It was a bad choice of words. I really, really feel that. I wanted to apologize. I’m going to apologize to my team. I’m going to apologize to the people of Hawai‘i. ... All I can do is apologize, and I feel bad that I used those words. It was really stupid. I just feel really bad. I apologize.” (HA)

About how it was unusual for Mac to use that phrase, Brashton Satele said:
“He loves everybody. He never says anything bad about anybody.” (HA)

HA Note: "WAC commissioner Karl Benson said the issue will now be handled by the university. Benson said there is a sportsmanship clause in the WAC bylaws, and that McMackin might face sanctions ranging from a reprimand to suspension."

The Reno Gazette-Journal included these parts of Mac's statements:
"I know most of the coaches in the country are rooting for us to beat Notre Dame. Charlie gives this talk, 'We do something special at Notre Dame,' and (the players) get up and they do this little cheer ... this little faggot dance." (RGJ)

"Don't write that 'faggot' down. I was misquoted. Just please … cover for me," McMackin said Thursday. "Go ahead, say ‘faggot dance.’ No. Please cover for me on that, too — right Karl? I’ll deny it. Anything else?" (RGJ)

Transcript of part of Mac's speech:
"I think I screwed up, because the night before the game — getting back to Notre Dame — they'd been in a slump, and I think we were favored in the game for a while. I don't know why. They had 48 Parade All-Americans, and we have none. But what happened is we had a banquet the night before, so Charlie (Weis) gets up with the, you, we're up with the presidents and all that, and my team is over here and his team is over here. And I know most of the coaches in the country were rooting for us to beat Notre Dame. Charlie gave this talk, and then he goes — any Notre Dame fans in here? Anybody like Notre Dame? OK, good, good. See, that's the bad thing. Not many people do unless you're a true Notre Dame guy. And I knew, the whole country's watching and they want us to win. It made me sick after that game. It made me sick. But I screwed up, and I'll never do this again. He had his guys. 'We do something special at Notre Dame,' he said, and they get up and they do this little cheer, like this (clap), you know, this little faggot dance. And you remember, Jason and Stephen, so my guys were looking at me. They're all looking at me trying not to laugh. So I gave them the shaka. Don't write that 'faggot' down. I was misquoted. Anyway, I gave them the shaka. So our guys get up, and it was the best (ha‘a) I've ever seen. I mean, they're on their chair. They have beads on, they're ripping their beads off. I mean, it was a little scary. I think Notre Dame watched that and said: 'We better have ourselves ready,' because they really played a good game. I can't take away. Their quarterback was on fire. I even challenged the last play of the half because there's no way that guy could have caught it. We had two guys on him. He caught it out of bounds with his toes in, and it wasa. It was just great execution. So, anyway, just please. Last year, you covered for me as far as (inavertently mentioning a) recruit. Cover for me. Go ahead. Say 'faggot dance.' No, please cover for me on that, too. Right, Karl? I'll deny it. Anything else?" (HA)

http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com/2009/07/30/bump-and-go-coverage