West Virginia HC Bob Huggins Apologizes For Homophobic Comments
PITTSBURGH -- West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins came under fire for his use of a homophobic slur during an appearance on WLW radio in Cincinnati this week. On the Bill Cunningham Show, the former Cincinnati coach called fans of his old rival, Xavier, "Catholic [explative]s."
Huggins later released a statement apologizing for his comments.
"Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier Univerisity," Huggins said. "I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for, and I won't try to make one here. I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as the Xavier community, the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University. As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions and I will fully accept any coming my way. I am ashamed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better and I will."
Huggins was scheduled to make an appearance at one of West Virginia athletics' "Coaches Caravan", where the athletic department's coaches interact with fans and donors. Attending media were later told he would not make an appearance.
The incident began when the show's host, Bill Cunningham, initiated the conversation by asking if Huggins had "poached" any players from Xavier to play for West Virginia, which brought in an excellent class of transfers this offseason. Huggins then proceeded to take some shots at his old, bitter rival.
“Any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn’t do it, by God they can get away with anything,” he said.
"It was transgender night, wasn't it?" Cunningham said.
"It was a Crosstown Shootout, yeah," Huggins said, referring to the series between the Bearcats and Musketeers. "No, what it was, was all those [explicit], those Catholic [explicit] I think.”
The Panthers and Mountaineers are scheduled to play the 190th edition of the Backyard Brawl on hardwood on December 6.
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