Hawaii coach should stop speaking in public
Just an FYI: When you are at a press conference, everything you say is fair game, even if you ask the reporters not to write about what you said. It is, after all, a PRESS CONFERENCE.
Well, Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin apparently had brainlock at Western Athletic Conference media days, and it might cost him his job.
McMackin, speaking at the WAC’s annual football media preview on Thursday morning, referenced the pregame of last year’s Hawaii Bowl between his club and Notre Dame. He said the teams gathered the night before the game for a banquet when Irish coach Charlie Weis introduced the players and a ritual they do.
“I know most of the coaches in the country are rooting for us to beat Notre Dame,” McMackin said. “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.”
It gets better. McMackin probably realized what he said wasn’t too politically correct, not to mention that WAC commissioner Karl Benson also was sitting there. So he then said:
“Don’t write that ‘faggot’ down. I was misquoted,” he said. “Just please … cover for me. Go ahead, say ‘faggot dance.’ No. Please cover for me on that, too — right Karl? I’ll deny it. Anything else?”
I was misquoted? That’s awesome. How can you misquote yourself?
The coach did apologize for the quote.
“I have nothing against Notre Dame,” he said. “I apologize for my inappropriate words. I don’t talk like that. I’m ticked off and I’m angry at myself. I was trying to be funny, and what I said wasn’t funny.”
Hawaii spokesman Neal Iwamoto said that no decision on whether or not to discipline McMackin would be forthcoming until athletic director Jim Donovan had a chance to meet with his coach.
“We’re very disappointed regarding the comments coach Greg McMackin made at the WAC media preview in Salt Lake City,” Donovan said. “Obviously we don’t condone his remarks, particularly since we take such great pride in the diversity of our state and university. I’ve conveyed my disappointment to him and he has expressed deep regret for showing such poor judgment.”
Maybe McMackin should not attend media days (actually, it’s mandatory for coaches).
Last year, he got in a bit of hot water during WAC meetings when he mentioned a recruit by name, which is an NCAA violation. And just like this year, McMackin tried to persuade the media to keep his mistake out of print.
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