Station management at WLW-AM (700) is determining their next steps after listeners heard West Virginia University basketball coach Bob Huggins call Xavier University fans "Catholic f---s" during the Bill Cunningham show Monday afternoon, a station employee confirmed to The Enquirer.
Huggins issued a statement, saying, "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 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."
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Huggins, who coached at the University of Cincinnati from 1989-2005, can be heard saying the homophobic slur in recordings of the segment posted on Twitter. It came during a segment called the "Stooge Report."
Cunningham is heard asking: "You have the best portal transfers. Have you poached any Xavier guys to come to play for West Virginia?"
Huggins: "Catholics don't do that."
Huggins then makes a reference to an incident in which "rubber penises" were thrown on the court during a Crosstown Shootout game between UC and Xavier.
Cunningham joked about the game being "transgender night." Huggins then said: "It was all those f--s and those Catholic f--s I think threw them."
The Enquirer has reached out to Cunningham and station management for comment. Huggins could not be reached for comment but posted a statement on West Virginia's Twitter account.
Bob Huggins' interview comments 'insensitive, offensive': West Virginia University reviewing situation
West Virginia University Athletics issued this statement:
"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."
Former Councilman Chris Seelbach, Cincinnati's first openly gay councilman, who led many of the reforms to help Cincinnati become one of the most welcoming LGBTQ cities in America, was upset when he heard the conversation between Huggins and Cunningham.
Seelbach tweeted:
"40% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously consider suicide because of this backward nonsense. I'm a Xavier graduate. I'm Catholic. I'm gay. Hey @CoachHuggs, how about a meeting between you, me, and some other "Catholic f--s"? Do you have the courage?"
And then Seelbach posted his phone number.
Bob Huggins invited Thom Brennaman to speak his players after Brennaman's controversy
The incident is reminiscent of when Cincinnati Reds' Broadcaster Thom Brennaman in 2020 uttered a homophobic slur during a live Reds television broadcast. Brennaman lost his job as play-by-play announcer for the Reds and his job on Fox's NFL broadcasts.
Two months later, Brennaman spoke to Huggins' players in Morgantown, according to a 2020 tweet from the coach.
"His message isn't one of excuses but one of accountability," Huggins tweeted. "It takes courage to confront mistakes head on and I believe our guys learned that from his time with us."
The Enquirer will update this story.
