In a press conference yesterday Hawaii Head Football Coach Greg McMackin used a derogatory word for homosexuals to describe the Notre Dame football team. I refuse to use the word on the blog, but you can read the AP's account here.

Realizing his mistake, McMackin used the word two more times in an awkward attempt at an apology. He then went on to ask reporters to "cover for him" by not printing the account of his apparent slip.

The university promptly issued a formal apology. "I sincerely apologize for the inappropriate words that I used," McMackin said in the statement. "My comments were out of character and I have no prejudices against anyone. I'm really upset with myself and I'm truly sorry for my remarks."

Homophobia is a major issue in college sports and McMackin's insensitive and homophobic remarks are likely to reignite the debate on what should be done.

At last year's NCAA Convention, I had the opportunity to ask Billie Jean King her thoughts on how the NCAA and our member institutions can promote a respectful and inclusive environment for gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered student-athletes. Most importantly, King stressed the need for a safe environment. She also encouraged straight team leaders to stand up in support of gay athletes.

As former Division II Bloomsburg defensive tackle Brian Sims can attest, when student-leaders embrace differences, it can have a positive impact on an entire team. Sims was outed by a former boyfriend who told the team's quarterback about his romantic relationship with Sims.

One evening the quarterback asked Sims about the allegation. "I knew it was going to happen, I just didn't know how or when," Sims told OutSports.com. "I feared it would change the dynamic in the locker room. You're spending four or five hours a day with your friends, and that's what I played for. I cared that my team would still be comfortable around me. I was concerned that in the locker room guys would be uncomfortable around me."

Much to Sims' relief, the quarterback was supportive, as was the entire team when word spread about his orientation.

"It became a funny sense of pride for a lot of my teammates and close friends," Sims said. "Pennsylvania is not an extremely liberal state, especially central Pennsylvania. Football players are not what I would consider particularly exposed people, especially college football players. But I think it became a sense of pride for all of them. 'Not only is this guy an All-Conference player, and not only is he a starter, and not only is he a good friend of mine, but I'm all right with the fact that he's gay.' And I started seeing a lot of that."

Unfortunately, not all gay student-athletes have a positive experience when their orientation is discovered and remarks like those made by McMackin give the perception that homosexuality is unwelcome in college sports, especially football.

Still, stories like those shared by Sims give me hope that perhaps the current generation of student-athletes is more accepting and more open to different sexual orientations. Perhaps it will be student-athletes that eventually lead us past homophobic attitudes toward a more inclusive future.

How do you think we can solve homophobia in college athletics?