Huggins-WVU story sensational? Not from this viewpoint

Some people would call the Bob Huggins showdown story with WVU as “sensational.”

That’s a word meaning “causing great public interest.”

But sensational can also mean “very good indeed.”

And this story, my friends, is clearly not that.

It’s not good for my alma mater, West Virginia University.

It’s not good for the Mountaineer athletic department.

It’s certainly not good for interim basketball coach Josh Eilert and his staff.

It’s not good for the legacy of Bob Huggins, who, despite two incidents, was headed toward acknowledgement of his WVU achievements at some point down the road.

It’s not good for Mountaineer fans, who just want some peace and, maybe, just maybe, some upbeat transfer portal news.

I assume it can’t be good for Huggins’ family except, perhaps, extra money in the end.

The only one I can think this might be sensational for is a Cleveland attorney, David A. Campbell, who apparently is now representing the coach.

I, of course, am not a lawyer. But after reading Campbell’s letter that Huggins didn’t technically submit a letter of resignation and WVU’s response that there was an agreement his wife’s email would suffice for the school, I have a hard time believing the coach has much of a claim.

I’ve talked to some in the legal profession. I’ve talked to some at WVU. And it seems there was no chance Huggins was going to be reinstated before the letter from the Cleveland attorney. And it sounds like there is even less than zero of a chance now.

You can weigh the evidence yourselves. Was he given 30 minutes to decide whether to resign or be fired? Did he decide on the former? Did he tell the team that was it? Did he clear out his office? Did WVU agree to accept the wife’s email?

I personally wish none of this would have happened. The slurs on the Cincinnati radio show. The incident in Pittsburgh. I wish Huggins could have gone out like football’s Don Nehlen and remained an elder statesman for basketball. Close, but not too close.

That’s one thing for which I give Gale Catlett credit. I didn’t get along with him, although I tried. But when he left WVU – also embroiled in controversy – he did so quietly. He did not stir the proverbial pot after leaving.

In this case, I keep thinking of the phrase, “No good deed goes unpunished.” I believe WVU president Gordon Gee and athletic director Wren Baker were trying to be nice by allowing Huggins to resign rather than be fired.

But now…

I know, I know. Yes, this play probably is to try for more money. It’s the only thing that makes sense.

But what amount pays for this ending to a Hall of Fame career? I mean, it’s very ugly now. It’s been going toe-to-toe with the Pat Fitzgerald-Northwestern story. I’ve had people in athletics from around the country call and ask about the situation. “What the heck is going on up there?” Every ESPN radio show, I understand, spent segments mostly bashing Huggins. Fun has been poked on social media at Huggins and WVU. (Doug Gottlieb: Tomorrow Bob Huggins will announce that he is still the head football coach at Northwestern.)

And I have no answers. I think WVU is in the right on this one. Yet I hope the best for Huggins and his family. I hope there’s some resolution and some way to turn all this around.

Right now, though, it’s too sensational to be anything close to sensational.

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Mitch Vingle covered sports in West Virginia for 38 years. Follow Mitch on Twitter at @MitchVingle and be sure to check out the rest of Wheelhouse Creative’s website for your marketing and advertising needs. If interested, call us at 304-905-6005.