Under sanctions announced yesterday, University of Hawai'i football coach Greg McMackin has been warned by the Western Athletic Conference that any "further violations" of its sportsmanship code "will result in an automatic one-game suspension, at the minimum."

The WAC yesterday said it publicly reprimanded McMackin for his comments at the conference's annual football media preview Thursday in which "his comments included a gay slur that he used while discussing the University of Notre Dame football team."

It was the second least severe of three options commissioner Karl Benson had available for a violation of the WAC's sportsmanship code. They included a private reprimand and game suspension.

But, in announcing the action, the WAC said it was also "issuing a warning" about future conduct. Benson declined to specify what conduct could be deemed in violation and referred reporters to the WAC Code, which classifies prohibited behavior as:

"Acts in violation of conference sportsmanship policy shall include, but not be limited to, striking or attempting to strike or otherwise physically abusing an official, coach, spectator or student-athlete; intentionally inciting participants or spectators to violent action; using obscene gestures, inappropriate chants, yells or unduly provocative language or action toward an official, student-athlete, coach or spectator; publicly criticizing an official, conference personnel, another member institution or a student-athlete or personnel of another member institution and other actions which create a hostile environment."

The WAC Code says violators "shall remain subject to subsequently offense penalties for a full calendar year from the date of the first offense."

UH athletic director Jim Donovan said, "I really appreciate Karl Benson's quick response."

A WAC spokesman said procedure dictates that the school be given the first opportunity to address disciplinary action against an employee unless immediate action is required.

Benson said, "I greatly appreciate the quick and decisive actions by UH Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and Athletics Director Jim Donovan (Friday) as it has made my job in processing this very unfortunate situation much easier. Coach McMackin's comments were clearly offensive, violated the WAC Code, and are not condoned by either Hawai'i or the WAC."

Friday, UH announced McMackin had accepted a 7 percent salary cut, a 30-day suspension without pay and agreed to participate in public service announcements work with a campus organization that represents gays.

Donovan said, "Coach McMackin will follow through with the things he volunteered to do with the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community on campus and doing the public service announcement. The athletic department staff and student athletes will undergo awareness training, which we have done on a regular basis in the past."