Posted
by Joel Mathis
April 5, 2007 at 4:08 p.m.
Bob Huggins is a jerk
Bob Huggins is a jerk.![][1]Assuming that all the media reports are correct, Huggie is leaving K-State - after one season - to go home to West Virginia.As someone who remembers fondly the KU-K-State Elite Eight showdown in 1988 (Mitch Ritchmond versus Danny Manning), I feel devastated for Wildcat Basketball.K-State brought Huggins in to establish itself as an elite basketball program. Instead, it got one year - and the coach flew the coop at literally the first opportunity. You ain't elite when you can't get an elite coach to stay a full calendar year. Coming for one season, then leaving, may have done more to devastate the basketball program than all the previous years of mediocre coaching and mediocre recruiting combined.You can say that K-State knew it was getting damaged good when it hired Huggins - what with the DUI and shaky reputation left behind in Cincinatti. But Wildcat officials must've thought they'd get to use Huggins in roughly equal proportions to getting used.No dice.That's really too bad. There are no Huggins-level coaches out there to be hired at this point. K-State, which showed so much promise this season, stands to slide straight back into basketball oblivion.That means KU will continue to dominate the series. But that isn't very interesting.Finally: It's not as though the real soullessness of big-time college athletics wasn't already apparent to nearly everyone with eyes to see. But there was this:"And despite the first season-ticket sellout ever in Bramlage Coliseum, which opened in 1987, Huggins found himself having to call out Kansas State's student fans for not showing up at games."Right. Shorter Huggins: "I deserve your support and loyalty - and, incidentally, the dollars you spend on game tickets. I am not obligated to reciprocate any of the above."Good riddance. [1]: http://kstate.nmn.speedera.net/pics27/0/CF/CFMLISWBWLJWPGD.20060323144203.jpg
Comments
Lawrence.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below - responsibility lies with the relevant user alone. Read our full policy.
Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
You guys really, really don't want sports blogging from me, do you?
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
Its a little biased and revealing, no?
I'm actually blushing.
(matahari yawns)
ladylaw (Terry Bush) says…
In the 50's my father graduated (2) from K-state and he was so happy to see a possible shot at another sports dynasty. Huggy's defection put dad in a depression.
emawkc (anonymous) says…
I don't want to say much on you're blog, since I respect you and don't want to use the langueage I would have to use.
But I will link to my thoughts:
http://3oclockam.blogspot.com/2007/04...
bloozman (anonymous) says…
Face it, Joel. You're a fully assimilated Lawrencian, but you haven't completely bought into the Jayhawks-as-a-way-of-life KU mindset. Too much Tabor Blue Jay blood in ya or something. I find it refreshing. Oh, and you're right. Bob Huggins is a jerk.
Doug (anonymous) says…
Joel,
There's no doubt Bob Huggins is a jerk. But, it's not as if K-State is entirely blameless in the whole situation. Realistically, both sides in this contract were using one and other. K-State wanted a basketball program, and Bob Huggins wanted to get back to the Big East or the Big 10. At best, this relationship was probably going to be no more than five years long. It just so happens Huggins managed to reach his goal after one year.
I do think the dillusion has taken full hold in Manhattan. One need only look at the almost instantaneous promotion of Frank Miller and Dalonte Hill to head coach and assistant head coach, respectively, to see that K-State wants little more than to keep it's recruiting class in-tact, if only for one year.
I can see, in the not-to-distant-future, the Frank Miller experiment failing, and at that point, K-State having to hire a basketball coach, athletic director, and possibly a school president.
But, hey, at least they'll get one year of Michael Beasley.
Kookamooka (MJ Browne) says…
Here's what I think would be REALLY interesting. If Danny Manning would apply for the K-State Job! I know....you are all gasping in horror but he's been assisting for a while now and even though he embodies the spirit of KU...he has a family and would still be doing the people of the state of Kansas a service. What say you to that!
mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…
Kook, Danny made an outlandish amount of money during his 15 years in the NBA. Have you ever seen his house in Lawrence? He ain't goin' nowhere!
He has a cush job "in his field," with a seat on the bench and unparalleled access to the KU basketball program.
(Also, Frank Martin was hired by the Purples yesterday...)