After reading your editorial "Huggins must go for good of UC" I decided I must respond. Bob Huggins has been the lifeblood of this University's Athletic Department for the entire time he has been here. He took a school that had no national reputation for academics or athletics and put its name on the map so everyone remembers it. He has brought in millions of dollars through his teams' national TV appearances, NCAA tournament success, sponsor revenue, and apparel sales.

Nancy Zimpher has clearly lost the support of the University alumni and supporters. A recent Enquirer poll came back with 72% of the respondents in favor of extending Bob Huggins' contract, and only 17% in favor of buying him out or firing him. Her bumbling of this whole
situation has brought the University nothing but bad publicity both locally and nationally.

Bob Huggins has been one of the few loyal coaches in all of NCAA athletics today. In a world where coaches are constantly going to where the grass is greener and the paycheck is bigger, Bob Huggins has stayed at UC. He has been offered more money by NBA teams, by other
NCAA schools, and by his alma-mater, West Virginia University. Each time he has shown his loyalty to the University. Now Dr. Zimpher and the Board of Trustees are showing that loyalty does not mean much at the University of Cincinnati.

As Richard Katz has pointed out, Bob Huggins' basketball teams graduation rates are in the top half of the Big East conference. He continues to graduate players at a higher clip than the overall University average.

Now Ms. Zimpher has gone to the Enquirer Editorial Board trying to get somebody to support her viewpoint, yet she continues to hide out from the rest of the media.

Mrs. Zimpher, when will you answer the real questions?

What standards did Coach Huggins not meet? His graduation rates are higher than the overall University average.

What exactly are your academic aspirations? The last numbers I saw showed a decline in research dollars heading into the University since you took over. These same numbers also showed a decline in number of overall research grant applications. I'm confused as to where the University is heading under your direction.

Does this have something to do with Coach Huggins DUI last summer? If so, then you should have fired him then instead of waiting a year.

Does this have to do with Roy Bright's arrest last week? If so, how can you fault Coach Huggins when Mr. Bright had never been arrested in his past, and according to all reports he had a B average in school?

Does this have to do with the departure of Vincent Banks? He left to take care of an ailing father, something that should be applauded.

If we are going to talk about the "leadership and role models provided by the staff," maybe we should start by looking at the top. Ms. Zimpher was quoted in the Enquirer in early April that Coach Huggins contract would be discussed after the spring signing period was completed. If she knew she wasn't going to offer any kind of extension why did she not just come out and say it then? Instead Bob Huggins went out on the recruiting trail and signed 7 players to come in to UC next year. These guys cannot leave the school without sitting out a year now.

Does misleading the basketball coach, alumni, fans, and potential recruits show good leadership? Would a role model use a coach to bring in top level talent just to get them to sign on the dotted line then dump the coach?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

Mick Bergman
UC Alumnus