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West Virginia University head basketball coach Bob Huggins is in trouble after making homophobic slurs toward Xavier University fans during a recent radio appearance.
Huggins appeared on 700WLW’s "Bill Cunningham Show," a Cincinnati-based radio show, on Monday morning, and he was heard calling Xavier fans "all those f--s, those Catholic f--s" who would "throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn’t do it."
The full audio clip is below with the comment coming around the 1:15 mark, per Awful Announcing (WARNING: Clip contains homophobic remarks):
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West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins points out a call to his team in the first half of a Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and Kansas Jayhawks on Mar 10, 2022, at T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The conversation started with the radio show hosts asking if Huggins had any Xavier University players transfer to West Virginia, to which the veteran head coach replied, "Catholics don’t do that."
WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR WHO INTERRUPTED SESSION REMOVED
For context, Xavier is located in Cincinnati and is a Jesuit Catholic university.
Huggins decided to take that comment a step further, going back to his days as coach of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. The "Crosstown Shootout" is an annual game played between Cincinnati and Xavier, and Huggins referred to a specific incident that occurred.
West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins in the first half of a Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and Kansas Jayhawks on March 10, 2022, at T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"I’ll tell you what, 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," Huggins said.
"It was the Crosstown Shootout. What it was was all those f--s, those Catholic f--s. They were envious they didn’t have one."
Huggins released a statement on the matter.
"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 University. During the conversation, 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 that I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University 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 embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better, and I will."
West Virginia University added: "Coach Huggins’ remarks today on a Cincinnati radio show were insensitive, offensive and do not represent our university values. Coach Huggins has since apologized. West Virginia University does not condone the use of such language, and takes such actions very seriously. The situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and its athletics department."
Huggins coached at Cincinnati from 1989 to 2005 before moving on to Kansas State for only the 2006-2007 season. He ended up in West Virginia to lead the Mountaineers on the court from 2007 until present day.
Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers looks on during the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic college basketball game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at TD Arena on November 19, 2021, in Charleston, South Carolina. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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However, after these comments, Huggins’ future at the school, and in college basketball as a whole, is certainly in question.