RE: Support for Coach Huggins

[Adam Weigand]

Bearheel,
 
Nice to have you on the forum!  What transpired at Fountain Square today
was the culmination of weeks, if not months, of frustration by Bearcats
fans loyal to both the program and its coach.  What you saw were fans
frustrated with the process and looking for a way to vent this
frustration towards the administration.  NZ is at the center of this
obviously.  My main problem (not speaking for all) is that she has
failed to ever adequately address the situation to the public.  I don't
want to hear Goin talk about us "not know the whole story", quite
frankly we have asked and not been told.  Some may argue it is none of
our business, however we are the people that pay UCATS dues, that donate
to the university, that buy the tickets for the games.  I believe we
have a right to know.
 
We want closure, or direction, not a lame duck coach basically getting
it handed to him by someone that knows nothing about what this
university is all about, much less what this basketball program is all
about.  Our boos and attacks are out of frustration, and I do not think
that they would influence this administration to choose against Huggins.
I doubt the BOT or NZ would say, "well they are booing me?? there is no
way I'm extending him now..."  The fact is none of us believe that NZ
knew what she was getting herself into when she picked this fight for a
second time.  While I agree in some respects with her intentions (to
have a program we can be proud of and that doesn't bring embarrassment
to the university), I also believe we already have that.  Media bias is
a powerful tool, see graduation rates and successfully prosecuted
arrests.  UC is no different than any other big time program out there.
 
That is my take and that is why I booed.  She thinks Bob Huggins is
everything that is wrong about UC, quite frankly he is a big part of
what is right, just ask Jason Maxiell, the ONLY first round draft pick
with a college degree, or any of his former players.
 
And BTW, I'm sure watching UC rock Oregon at MSG was awesome, but
nothing compared to watching them blow out UNC in Chicago!!!  Not a slam
on UNC by any means, but after that I knew we had arrived and would be
around for a long time...
 
Adam
 
-----Original Message-----
From: address@hidden [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 7:12 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: [UC Basketball] Support for Coach Huggins



I've been a reader of Bearcatnews.com for quite a while and
particulalrly enjoy recruting news as well as analyses provided by
knowledgable fans of UC football and basketball games.
 
I am registering for the Forum becasue I want to offer some comments and
questions of my own after watching (on TV and on line) today's
"celebration" at Fountain Square and reading all the comments forum
members have made since the Huggins/Zimpher controversy erupted.
 
First, I commend the energy and efforts of everyone who has worn
t-shirts, displayed banners and pointed out all of Coach Huggins'
strengths and the reasons for extending his contract.  These efforts
should surely influence decision-makers and help keep him.
 
However, I do not understand what is accomplished by booing President
Zimpher at Fountain Square or by making what seem to be mean-spirited
comments and threats againt her, the Trustees, or the athletic director
in forums like this one.  Maybe I'm missing something, but the booing
and the vengeful comments seem likely to influence decision-makers in
the opposite direction - and make it less likely that Coach Huggins will
have his contract renewed.
 
Surely there must be a better way...
 
PS: since I'm newly registered to the forum, a bit of background that
can help readers judge whether my thoughts are worth anything:  (1) I've
lived most of my adult life in North Carolina and Ohio, with brief
interludes in Florida, California (where they think UC refers to another
university), and the New York area.  (2) For as long as I lived in North
Carolina I was a season ticket holder to UNC football and basketball
games.  (3) For as long as I've lived in Ohio, I've been a season ticket
holder to UC football and basketball games.  I don't get to too many
away games, but I've been to a few: watching Bobbitt destroy Oregon in
the Meadowlands was much more fun than watching us falter in the NCAAs
in Rupp Arena against Mississippi State.  (4) I was a
manager/statistician for my alma mater's Division II basketball team for
several years, but alas was too short and too slow to play...