Hawaii coach suspended for gay slur against Notre Dame; Weis reacts
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Updated: 12:28 AM Aug 1, 2009
Hawaii coach suspended for gay slur against Notre Dame; Weis reacts
Earlier this week, Hawaii's football coach referred to a Notre Dame dance at the Hawaii Bowl Banquet as a "little faggot dance." Friday, he was suspended and Irish head coach Charlie Weis gave his reaction.
Posted: 6:57 PM Jul 31, 2009
Reporter: Angelo Di Carlo
Email Address: angelo.dicarlo@wndu.com
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Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin has been suspended 30 days without pay for a gay slur against Notre Dame about a dance routine they did before December's Hawaii Bowl.

McMackin is also taking an additional 7% pay cut and will coach without pay during the suspension.

Notre Dame, of course, romped Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. Two days before the game, the two programs participated in a Bowl Banquet together.

At the dinner, a friendly dance off ensued.

This week at the WAC conference media day, McMackin referred to Notre Dame's routine as a "Little faggot dance."

Not wanting the story to linger until next week's media day, Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis issued a statement on Friday reacting to the comments made by McMackin.

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

"[Friday] afternoon I received a phone call from Coach McMackin and he apologized to me and asked I pass that along to my players and coaches. We accept his apology and we will move on."

"As a parent of a daughter with global developmental delays, I am especially sensitive to offensive characterizations like the one at issue here. But in no way do I believe Coach McMackin¹s comments were intended to be offensive. In our phone conversation today, I expressed those sentiments."

"It is now time to put this incident behind us and return focus to the 2009 season."

The Irish hold their annual Media Day next Friday with the first day of practice next Saturday.



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