SALT LAKE CITY — In a comment heard 'round the sports world, University of Hawai'i football coach Greg McMackin yesterday made an admittedly "offensive" slur that not only created widespread stir but rebuke from one local gay and lesbian support group.

Hours later, his eyes reddened from emotion and self-anger, McMackin shook his head and whispered: "I'm so disappointed in myself. So disappointed."

McMackin was about to board a shuttle to the Salt Lake City airport, where he would take a long, six-hour flight to Honolulu.

Up in the air last night was the repercussion from the gay slur he uttered three times to describe a chant by Notre Dame football players at a banquet preceding last year's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

McMackin used the slur during a speech to reporters yesterday at the Western Athletic Conference Football Preview, where each of the nine WAC coaches was allotted 30 minutes to talk about his football team.

In recalling a battle of chants between Notre Dame and UH players, McMackin used the derogatory phrase in describing the performance by the Fighting Irish.

"They get up and do this little cheer ... this little f----- dance," McMackin told reporters, who chuckled as he demonstrated the dance.

But the mood turned stone-cold sober as McMackin uttered the slur two more times while clumsily trying to apologize.

Before the next coach's session, McMackin returned to the conference room and offered another apology.

A half-hour later, WAC officials called a news conference, and McMackin issued a more formal apology.

"I would sincerely like to apologize for the inappropriate verbiage of words that I used," said McMackin, his voice cracking. "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 mad that I said that. I'm disappointed in myself."

He faces disciplinary action from UH and the WAC, of which UH is a member. WAC commissioner Karl Benson said the slur might violate the league's sportsmanship policy with sanctions ranging from a private reprimand to suspension.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan called Notre Dame officials to apologize.

IT'S 'UNACCEPTABLE'

McMackin's comments were reported nationally. ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" used it as a debate topic on yesterday's show. Host Michael Wilbon said McMackin's comments were "just stupid."

The O'ahu chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays issued a statement calling on the university to require more than an apology from McMackin.

"PFLAG O'ahu is appalled that the head coach at UH-M would be so unprofessional, so homophobic and so prejudicial that he would voice a gay slur even in jest. Behind closed doors is bad, but to voice the 'F' at a press conference at the Western Athletic Conference Football Preview is unacceptable," the organization said.

McMackin made his comments in response to a question about the aftermath of the Warriors' 49-21 loss to Notre Dame in the 2008 bowl.

He said he might have inadvertently fired up the Fighting Irish by allowing his team to get into the battle of chants at the banquet.

McMackin described the loss to Notre Dame as the worst in his 40-year career.

"It ticks me off that I said (the slur) because Notre Dame played a great ball game," McMackin said. "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," he added. "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."

DONOVAN WEIGHS IN

Middle linebacker Brashton Satele, who also attended the meet-the-media event, said it was out of character for McMackin to use the phrase.

"He loves everybody," Satele said. "He never says anything bad about anybody."

Donovan said: "I am disappointed in what he said. I know he's disappointed in himself, and he made a sincere apology. Greg is a good man. He's never said anything disparaging about anybody in all of the time I've known him."

McMackin and Donovan met last night. Donovan declined to comment on any possible sanction.

"I cannot comment on personnel matters," Donovan said. "We'll go through the normal university procedures."

The coaches' segments are recorded on video, and then posted on the WAC's Web site. Because the speech was made to print reporters, there is no other available video of the segment.

Benson said the WAC will not post McMackin's segment.