Huggins is a great man, a dear friend, and you're all taking him out of context

[CuseFaninVT]

People say stupid stuff all the time. If you're interested in the person, it may be reason to take a closer look at what they do. If you're close to the person, it's a reason to advise them to stop. It's not proof nor a significant indicator of who they are.

That feels like a rationalization more than an answer for what I was asking.

 

[DoctahLexus]

People say stupid stuff all the time. If you're interested in the person, it may be reason to take a closer look at what they do. If you're close to the person, it's a reason to advise them to stop. It's not proof nor a significant indicator of who they are.

I would say we have a "significant indicator" that Huggins is a homophobic piece of garbage.

 

[SWC75]

And if they fire him, goodbye to Autry, we have our guy

Bottoms up, Bob

JB was 6-1 against him.

Bob Huggins is a great, big man.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Just my opinion, but forcing bigots to apologize doesn’t lead to any meaningful change. They aren’t remorseful. They’ll put out a press statement so they don’t lose their job, and then they usually just try harder to keep those thoughts out of the public arena.

People feel what they feel. It’s rare that being called out leads to a genuine epiphany.

Because passively condoning idiots does lead to meaningful change?

 

[kuethstheman]

I would say we have a "significant indicator" that Huggins is a homophobic piece of garbage.

I disagree. If you want to insult someone, you use mean words. Your choice of words probably says more about who you grew up with than what you are.

 

[kuethstheman]

That feels like a rationalization more than an answer for what I was asking.

If I remember the question, the answer would be that we should all be allowed to say stupid stuff without that stuff dominating the news cycle.

 

[orangefog]

I bought him tequila. And the bridge troll swinger looking hag he was with

Best ten bucks you ever spent, I bet.

 

[pfister1]

And if they fire him, goodbye to Autry, we have our guy

Bottoms up, Bob

Is he old enough for the job? He's only 70...

 

[orangefog]

Just playing devil's advocate here, because this is little more than a distraction in the broader picture of a dysfunctional society, but the use of Catholic is very much an essential part of Huggins' poor attempt at humor. Just saying, "fogs" without the descriptor "Catholic", would not elicit a humorous reaction.
I know these things, because I like to inject inappropriate comments into conversations amongst drinking buddies because the shock value can leverage something nominally funny into a spit-out-your drink funny moment (it can also backfire). But, these are things I would use only amongst confidants and not pronounced in public or on the record.

Hold up, he clearly said “fags” right? Not “fogs”? Because that would be even MORE offensive.

 

[pfister1]

I long for the day when people could say something offensive and it’s not a news story.

If people aren't going to say something offensive on these shows or in an interview what's the point in watching?

 

[Fly Rodder]

If I remember the question, the answer would be that we should all be allowed to say stupid stuff without that stuff dominating the news cycle.

People have the absolute right to free speech, including stupid and hateful stuff ... just not a right to be free from criticism.
Especially when it's West Virginia's highest paid public employee. I'm sure all of the people who have spent decades trying to reform(*) West Viriginia's reputation as a backwater state full of rednecks are thrilled.


* this office is probably underpaid and poorly staffed anyway.

 

[donniesyracuse]

Ha, I get it now. I was under the impression that he literally said the word "fog."

 

[Cheriehoop]

I was really surprised to hear Huggins comments. It was so incredibly stupid. I worked with a guy who played high school ball with him while both were coached by Bob Huggins father. He was younger than Bob. He said he actually felt sorry for him in high school. He said he was a really great guy, extremely smart who was totally brow beaten by his dad, their coach. He said nothing he did was ever good enough and his dad was on his case constantly. He said Bob was a phenomenal student who worked his tail off both athletically and academically. He said he had no idea why his father was so tough on him, never missing a chance to be on his case. He said if it was because teammates thought he benefitted because of nepotism, teammates actually thought the exact opposite. Everyone really liked Bob, felt badly for him, but feared his dad. My coworker played both high school and college ball too but at a much lower D1level in Ohio after HS.

No real excuses for saying such stupid things though. Xavier and Cincinnati have had an intense, extremely heated rivalry. Huggins was involved in some of those controversial episodes during his coaching time there too. I imagine for Huggins that rivalry started in high school since he played HS ball in the CincinnatI area, that had divided local college loyalties. He’s imitated some of his father’s crazed intensity. He may have meant it as a crazy (only he would get it) type joke, but for a very smart guy, he sure said some very dumb things. Was he drinking? What’s even more hypocritical on his part is that Walsh College, a small Catholic NAIA college, actually gave Huggins his first head coaching job at only 27 years of age being named coach of the year 2 years out of his 3 there.

 

[donniesyracuse]

If a leader of men does not understand that this language is inappropriate, then there is a big problem.

 

[gmoney44]

Because I grew up learning to ignore people when they say inappropriate or offensive stuff. Sticks and stones…

I learned this after my first few days of basic training when my Drill Sgt told me I was the scum of the earth about 60 different ways. I really could care less what people say but I recognize what they shouldn’t say if they want to keep there job.

 

[Finwad32]

I was really surprised to hear Huggins comments. It was so incredibly stupid. I worked with a guy who played high school ball with him while both were coached by Bob Huggins father. He was younger than Bob. He said he actually felt sorry for him in high school. He said he was a really great guy, extremely smart who was totally brow beaten by his dad, their coach. He said nothing he did was ever good enough and his dad was on his case constantly. He said Bob was a phenomenal student who worked his tail off both athletically and academically. He said he had no idea why his father was so tough on him, never missing a chance to be on his case. He said if it was because teammates thought he benefitted because of nepotism, teammates actually thought the exact opposite. Everyone really liked Bob, felt badly for him, but feared his dad. My coworker played both high school and college ball too but at a much lower D1level in Ohio after HS.

No real excuses for saying such stupid things though. Xavier and Cincinnati have had an intense, extremely heated rivalry. Huggins was involved in some of those controversial episodes during his coaching time there too. I imagine for Huggins that rivalry started in high school since he played HS ball in the CincinnatI area, that had divided local college loyalties. He’s imitated some of his father’s crazed intensity. He may have meant it as a crazy (only he would get it) type joke, but for a very smart guy, he sure said some very dumb things. Was he drinking? What’s even more hypocritical on his part is that Walsh College, a small Catholic NAIA college, actually gave Huggins his first head coaching job at only 27 years of age being named coach of the year 2 years out of his 3 there.

As the son of a coach, I understand and empathize with your 1st paragraph. So often people want to cry nepotism, when the reality is that in most cases it’s very much harder for the coaches son… at least in my experience.

Doesn’t change my feelings on what just happened. Just brought up some memories.

 

[orangefog]

Ha, I get it now. I was under the impression that he literally said the word "fog."

Hey Bobby, keep my name out yo mutherfin mouf.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

I can't think of two people I want to hear from less on this.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I can't think of two people I want to hear from less on this.

Not sure either said anything that most of us don’t actually agree with here,

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

Would he survive at any ACC school? Maybe 20% chance at NC State or Louisville everywhere else 100% immediate firing.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

I’d like to see the official list of banned words, and their corresponding penalties.

Is the -word less of an offense than the N-, or the K-, or the R-, or the C-?

The words should be indexed with a multiplicity factor, as well. One half-slip of the tongue vs repeating it multiple times—how much weight does that carry?

Penalties to range from:
—smile or popcorn emoji
—shrug, cringe, frown/no blood no foul
—tweet an apology
—press conference apology
—pay a fine
—3-game suspension
—6-game suspension
—termination
—deportation/exile

 

[Orangefan1]

If this catches fire he will lose his job and Edwards will have a real problem

 

[JonB]

I’ll remember Huggins more for comforting Butler on the court in 2010, and less for whatever is going on this week. Not saying it was right, but actions are powerful.

 

[JonB]

It is worse. He said it twice and knew he was live. But he won't lose his job. He said it while working in the "right" place.

I mean yeah, if there is a place you are going to say “that” word, and not get fired, it’s definitely WV!

JB said a lot of things, things that cost him money in a slander lawsuit, things that probably got him reprimanded at times. But nothing like that.

Anyways, in the words of Oliver Luck, “funk WEST Virgina.”

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

And how do we know what is in his heart other than going by his own words?

His deeds.