Helena Frye
Bob Huggins, the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball coach, made controversial remarks about Xavier University and its fans during a radio appearance on WLW-AM (700). Huggins, who has a history of rivalry with Xavier dating back to his time as Cincinnati coach, used an anti-LGBTQ slur to describe Xavier fans and made insensitive comments about a rubber penis-throwing incident during a game. Huggins has since apologized for his remarks and faced backlash for his use of homophobic language.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of comments | Homophobic slurs |
| Comments directed at | Xavier University fans |
| Comments made on | Radio show |
| Radio show name | WLW-AM (700) |
| Radio show host | Bill Cunningham |
| Comments made during | Crosstown Shootout game between the University of Cincinnati and Xavier |
| Comments | "Catholics don't do that" |
| Comments | "They threw rubber penises at us. Not just the nuns, I mean the whole arena. The whole arena. That's the truth, now." |
| Comments | "It was all those f--s and those Catholic f--s I think threw them." |
| Comments | "I don't have much affinity for nuns. I'm Baptist anyways. Enough about Xavier." |
| Comments | "I don't have any good thoughts of Xavier whatsoever. None. Absolutely none." |
| Comments | "I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati, and West Virginia University." |
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What You'll Learn
Bob Huggins' homophobic slur
Bob Huggins, the head coach of West Virginia's men's basketball team, has come under fire for using a homophobic slur to describe Xavier fans during a radio interview. Huggins, a former longtime coach at Cincinnati, was discussing the transfer portal and his chances of landing a player from Xavier, a Jesuit school and Cincinnati's crosstown rival. He made controversial remarks about Xavier fans, stating that they would "throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn't do it." Huggins then proceeded to use a homophobic slur, referring to "all those fs, those Catholic fs."
Huggins issued a public apology for his comments, saying that he "deeply apologize [d] to the individuals [he had] offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati, and West Virginia University." He acknowledged that his remarks were insensitive, offensive, and do not represent [the] University values, and that there was no excuse for his language. Huggins also stated that he would fully accept any consequences for his actions.
The University of West Virginia also released a statement condemning Huggins' remarks and affirming that they do not condone the use of such language. They announced that the situation was under review and would be addressed by the University and its athletics department. Huggins did not attend a scheduled university fundraising event, and it was later announced that he would be suspended for three games and receive a pay cut of $1 million. The university stated that Huggins would be immediately fired if he made any similar offensive comments in the future.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism and discussions about the casual use of inflammatory language and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Huggins' comments have also brought attention to the intense rivalry between Cincinnati and Xavier, with Huggins' remarks reflecting negatively on his time as Cincinnati's coach.
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Xavier fans' behaviour
Bob Huggins, the West Virginia men's basketball head coach, has a significant legacy in Cincinnati. Huggins has had a long-standing rivalry with Xavier University, which escalated during a radio appearance on WLW-AM (700) with host Bill Cunningham. Huggins made offensive and insensitive remarks about Xavier fans, using an anti-LGBTQ slur to describe them.
During the radio show, Huggins referred to an incident during a Crosstown Shootout game between the University of Cincinnati and Xavier, where fans threw ""rubber penises" on the court. He then made a homophobic remark, saying, "It was all those fs and those Catholic fs I think threw them." Huggins' comments were met with widespread criticism and sparked controversy, with many deeming them homophobic and inappropriate.
Huggins has since apologized for his remarks, releasing a statement expressing his regret and embarrassment for his words. He acknowledged the impact of his language and accepted responsibility for his actions. Huggins' apology was well-received, and he was commended for taking accountability and pledging to do better.
However, the damage to Huggins' reputation had already been done. The basketball coach, who is no stranger to controversy, found himself under intense scrutiny from the public and the media. Many called for disciplinary action to be taken against Huggins, with some suggesting he should be removed from his coaching position altogether. The University also issued a statement, condemning Huggins' remarks and affirming that they do not align with the institution's values.
The incident has brought to light Huggins' complicated history with Xavier University. Huggins has had a well-known rivalry with the institution, particularly during his time as the Cincinnati coach. He has made unfiltered comments about Xavier in the past, expressing his dislike for the school and its fans. This specific incident, however, crossed a line with the use of offensive and hurtful language. As a result, Huggins' future as the West Virginia men's basketball head coach remains uncertain, with the University reviewing the situation and considering appropriate consequences.
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Huggins' apology
Bob Huggins, the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball coach, has issued an apology following the use of a homophobic slur to describe Xavier fans during a radio appearance. Huggins, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, was discussing his time as the Cincinnati coach and its rivalry with Xavier. When asked if Xavier players were transferring to West Virginia, he responded with a comment about Catholics and then referred to an incident where Xavier fans threw "rubber penises" on the floor during a game, claiming that they would deny having done so. He then used a homophobic slur to describe the fans, which has caused outrage and led to his apology.
In his statement, Huggins expressed deep regret for his offensive language, apologizing to those he offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati, and West Virginia University. He acknowledged that his words were insensitive and abhorrent, with no excuse, and accepted responsibility for his actions. Huggins also shared his embarrassment and heartbreak for the hurt he caused, vowing to do better.
The basketball coach's controversial comments have sparked widespread criticism, with many deeming them appalling and unacceptable. West Virginia University has also responded, stating that Huggins' remarks do not align with their values and that the situation is under review. The university does not condone such language and is taking the matter seriously.
Huggins has a well-known rivalry with Xavier, dating back to his tenure as the Cincinnati coach from 1989 to 2005. He has previously expressed his dislike for the university, stating that he doesn't have any good thoughts about Xavier. This recent incident has further intensified the tension between Huggins and Xavier, with many calling for disciplinary actions to address his inappropriate behaviour.
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$8.53
The Cincinnati-Xavier rivalry
The Bearcats enjoyed a highly successful run under Huggins, reaching the Final Four in the 1991-92 season and consistently ranking among the top teams in the country. However, they faced a formidable opponent in the Musketeers, who caused one of just two regular-season losses for UC during the 1999-2000 season. The rivalry between the two schools extended beyond the basketball court, with incidents such as Xavier fans throwing objects and chanting expletives during games. Huggins' comments about Xavier fans, which included the use of a homophobic slur during a radio appearance in May 2023, sparked controversy and led to an official apology from him and West Virginia University.
The geographical proximity of the two campuses, being among the closest of any two colleges in the country, further fuels the intense rivalry. The annual Crosstown Shootout has been a long-standing tradition, with the basketball game being played between the two schools for almost 80 years. The rivalry between Cincinnati and Xavier has been marked by both on-court competition and off-court tensions, contributing to the passionate and often contentious nature of their relationship.
Huggins' remarks about Xavier, made during a radio interview with Bill Cunningham on WLW-AM (700), were widely criticized and deemed insensitive and offensive. Huggins referenced an incident where Xavier fans threw "rubber penises" on the court during a game, and he used a homophobic slur to describe the fans. His comments sparked a review by West Virginia University, and he faced consequences such as a suspension, salary reduction, and sensitivity training. Huggins issued an apology, expressing shame and embarrassment for his words, which he acknowledged as insensitive and abhorrent.
Despite the controversy surrounding Huggins' remarks, he is a respected figure in college basketball with a significant legacy in Cincinnati. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, recognized for his successful coaching career at multiple universities, including Cincinnati and West Virginia. Huggins' impact on the Cincinnati-Xavier rivalry, both during his tenure at UC and his later comments, has undoubtedly added fuel to the fire of this longstanding athletic competition.
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Huggins' history with Xavier
Bob Huggins, the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball coach, has a history with Xavier University that dates back to his time as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats from 1989 to 2005. During this period, Huggins faced the Xavier Musketeers 16 times, cultivating a heated rivalry between the two schools. Huggins's record against Xavier stood at 8-8, with one additional loss in the NCAA Tournament in 2008, bringing his overall record against them to 8-9.
One notable incident in Huggins's history with Xavier occurred during the 1994 Crosstown Shootout, an annual basketball game between the University of Cincinnati and Xavier. After the Bearcats lost, Huggins refused to shake the hand of then-Xavier head coach Pete Gillen, claiming that Gillen and his assistants were shouting expletives at him during the game. Huggins later gained respect for Gillen, but the incident exemplified the intense rivalry between the two schools.
In December 2022, Huggins made headlines when he expressed his negative feelings towards Xavier, stating, "I don't have any good thoughts of Xavier whatsoever. None. Absolutely none." He referenced the longstanding rivalry and specific incidents, such as Xavier fans throwing objects and chanting expletives during games.
Most recently, in May 2023, Huggins sparked controversy when he used a homophobic slur to describe Xavier fans during a radio appearance on WLW-AM (700) with XU grad Bill Cunningham. Huggins made insensitive remarks about the Catholic institution and used a derogatory term multiple times. He faced widespread backlash for his comments, and issued an apology, acknowledging that his words were "'insensitive, offensive, and do not represent our University values.'" West Virginia University also released a statement condemning Huggins's remarks and affirming that the situation was under review.
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Frequently asked questions
Bob Huggins, the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball coach, made homophobic comments during a radio appearance. He used a slur to describe Xavier fans and made insensitive remarks about a "Crosstown Shootout" game between the University of Cincinnati and Xavier, where fans threw "rubber penises" on the court.
Yes, Huggins faced significant backlash for his comments. He issued a public apology, saying he "used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for." West Virginia University also released a statement condemning Huggins' remarks and stating that the situation was under review. Huggins did not attend scheduled events following the incident. It was reported that he would return to coaching the following season with a suspension, a salary reduction, and sensitivity training.
Yes, Bob Huggins has a history of controversial remarks and interactions with Xavier University. He has stated that he doesn't have any good thoughts about Xavier and has referred to his lack of affinity for the nuns, saying, "I don't have much affinity for nuns. I'm Baptist anyways. Enough about Xavier." Huggins also had a well-publicized rivalry with former Xavier head coach Pete Gillen, with whom he did not get along during his time as Cincinnati coach.
