West Virginia sports does not have fearless, courageous journalists who ask tough, hard-hitting questions and demand honest answers. Rather, they do and say what they have to in order to hang onto their jobs with white-knuckled grips. Questioning a legend like Bob Huggins would potentially make waves and making waves in the West Virginia media is a death sentence.
This, of course, is why all of Bob Huggins’ post game conferences are exactly the same. Although journalists are not censored in any way, they refuse to ask anything remotely challenging. Instead, members of the media set Huggins up and he spikes it home by grumbling about “hitting shots” and “getting in the gym.” Nothing of any relevance is discussed and we move on to the next game without any real answers.
Although I am completely uninterested in being a part of this nonsense, I spoke with Mike Fragale, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Communications, and Little Mikey Montoro, Director of Football Communications, about gaining media credentials in order to ask the questions that no one else has the cojones to ask.
Fragale and Montoro, who have never picked up a ball or played a sport in their lives, made a bunch of ridiculous excuses to keep me out of press conferences. The real reason that I was denied access is that they see me as dangerous because I will ask real questions and not softballs like the rest of the West Virginia sports media members toss at Huggins and Neal Brown.
My lack of media credentials has been used against me by my critics and competition, but I wear it like a badge of honor and the reality is that I don’t have any desire at all to be among the lackluster bunch who cover West Virginia sports. I do, however, want real answers and will continue to fight for them.
With that said, the following questions will never be asked but absolutely should be. Although Bob Huggins is one of the most successful coaches ever, he is not above being questioned. The following questions would likely result in real answers and real solutions rather than the typical responses about players “getting in the gym”, etc.
- What adjustments have you made to your offensive sets?
- What is the logic behind pulling players immediately after they make a mistake? Have you found that to be a particularly effective strategy?
- Have you considered going back to “Press Virginia?” If not, why?
- Why did you decide to make the particular substitution that you made during the game? What was your rationale for that lineup during the game?
These are very fair, reasonable questions and the type of inquiries that journalists all over the country and world ask of coaches of teams. They are not negative or unfair or anti-WVU or anti-Huggins. Instead, they are constructive, purposeful and worthwhile.
Somewhere along the way, West Virginia fans, you became very hyper-protective of our coaches, which is actually very endearing and sweet, but it is the very duty of journalists to ask real questions and demand real answers. No one wants Bob Huggins to be fired, we all love the players and appreciate their efforts, but demanding simple answers to obvious questions is not too much to ask.
