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Well written letter by Nick Lachey to Cincinnati Enquirer

By Nick Lachey
Enquirer contributor

Welcome to the Ohio Valley Conference.

So sorry, Dr. Zimpher. I know you expected an invitation to the Ivy League, but I have sad news for you: it’s not going to happen. Welcome to the Ohio Valley Conference University of Cincinnati! That’s exactly what we’ve positioned ourselves for now.

If commissioner Mike Tranghese kicks us straight out of the Big East, I would completely understand.

If Conference USA doesn’t take us back, I couldn’t blame them. What? The Ivy League won’t accept us? But we’re a great American academic institution!

OK, I guess we’ll join the OVC. After all, shouldn’t the Ohio Valley Conference be represented by someone in the Ohio Valley?

American sports information is hard to come by in Stockholm, Sweden. I’m here recording tracks for my new album. Thank God for ESPN.com, my faithful homepage. Just when I think the insanity in Cincinnati is reserved for the Red’s front office, Dr. Zimpher goes and proves me wrong.

I ask again, what is happening at the University of Cincinnati? Is the city so paralyzed that they think they can get away with this?

This is one of the most successful coaches in all of NCAA college basketball, right there in our own little town. He has led our Bearcat program back from the dead, to the tune of 14 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He was just voted Conference USA Coach of the Decade. He just led our entire athletic department to a major national athletic conference.

Do we reward him, extend his contract, give him a bonus for a job well done? No. We kindly, or not so kindly, ask him to leave all he’s accomplished as well as those he’s accomplished it with, and accept our generous parting gift. A buyout with a healthy dose of Cobra health insurance. Are you kidding me? This is an outrage.

The speculation that this could happen was enough to give me ulcers, but this is ridiculous. I counted on the sensibility and rationale of people in power to avoid this end, but I guess I was foolish in my faith. Apparently, Dr. Zimpher has distributed the Kool-Aid to others.

What are the grounds for his dismissal? I’ve seen the University try and blame everything on Huggins’dissatisfaction for his contract situation. Well, of course he was dissatisfied. Have you ever tried to recruit a high school All-American with two years left on your contract?

Who in their right mind would come play for you for four years if they weren’t assured that you were going to be their coach for their junior and senior years?

In addition, what bearing does the basketball program have on the rest of the university’s academics? Does Bob Huggins prevent the physics department from winning the Nobel Prize, or someone in the English Department from winning the Pulitzer? No! He does his job and everyone else at the university should do theirs.

What else can we pin on him? A DUI? This happened over a year ago and has been met by Huggins with shame and humility. If you were going to fire him for this, why not do it a year ago, before he led your university to yet another NCAA Tournament? Why wait for over a year? If it’s about the DUI, I suggest we offer George W. Bush a buyout as well! The Roy Bright thing? Give me a break. Ask any coach if they would recruit a four-year player out of Oak Hill Acadamy and the answer would be yes.

The bottom line is, this is ludicrious! We should be ashamed of ourselves as fans of the Bearcats and the university as a whole if we lay down and let this slide.

Bob Goin, shame on you! How could you sign your name to this letter? Bob Huggins made your job a dream. He helped to lead your entire athletic department to national noterioty.
Andy Kennedy, shame on you if you take the interim job, same for Keith LeGree. Where is your loyalty to the man who gave you your opportunity and insight into this great game of college basketball? Would you proudly take over the job made available by the unjust firing of your mentor?

Lastly, shame on the alumni of the University of Cincinnati, of which most of my family are included. To go on and act as if nothing has happened here is to support the decision made by Dr. Zimpher. We all empower her to make the decisions we see here.

I challenge you all to oppose this with the most influential means possible - your wallets. As a die-hard Bearcat fan this pains me to say, but we have to make our voices and influence known. This is not for the good of the UC Bearcat basketball program, or for the good of the University of Cincinnati for that matter. This is about egos, and that is unacceptable.

Nick Lachey, former member of 98 Degrees and co-star of “Newlyweds� with wife Jessica Simpson contacted the Enquirer through a representative Tuesday and wanted to have his voice heard

Hopefully all of the promised retribution described in the following article does not come to pass.

Some boosters threaten to withhold their support

By Kevin Kelly and Christy Arnold
Enquirer staff writers

The decision to oust men's basketball coach Bob Huggins could cost the University of Cincinnati more than just a couple recruits.

It could lead to the loss of longtime fans and thousands, if not millions, in financial support.

Followers and supporters of the basketball program, the athletic department and the institution in general reacted strongly to Tuesday's news that Huggins has until 2 p.m. today to decide how his run as the Bearcats' coach will end.

"I think Bob wants to stay and coach the kids at the University of Cincinnati," said Mike Dever, President of Performance Automotive Network and former president of the University of Cincinnati Athletic Team Scholarship Fund (UCATS). "I don't know anybody that doesn't want that to take place except the Board of Trustees. (University president) Dr. (Nancy) Zimpher and the board made their decision, and there's nothing anybody can do about it.

He continued: "I think it's a tremendous loss for the University of Cincinnati and the whole athletic department."

Bob Martin, a Cincinnati attorney and longtime Bearcats supporter, said he is a trustee for a foundation that has been raising funds with the intention of donating that money to the university.

The amount: $4 million.

"I've been working with (UC athletic director Bob Goin) trying to get a sum of money donated to the school," Martin said. "When he calls me back, I'm going to tell him that she (Zimpher) has made my job easy.

"We're not going to donate anything if I've got anything to say about it."

Keith Stichtenoth, associate executive director of the UC Alumni Association, said his office received some calls once the new broke Tuesday.

"I can't quantify them," Stichtenoth said. "I don't think there were more than a dozen or so calls and e-mails. I think it's just people reacting to apparent news. We've been down that road before on the same topic. They want to maybe express their concern or displeasure, and we got some of that. ... The people who would be offering a counter to that aren't likely to call or e-mail. We talk to them, enough to know there's a diversity of opinion."

Local restaurateur Jeff Ruby sounded as if he could be included in that group.

"Short term it's going to be tough for UC," Ruby said. "But I think over the long term it will be good for Bob and for UC.

"They'll be fine. He'll be OK. It's probably a win-win."

At an alumni dinner supporting Bearcats athletics Tuesday, and to gear up for the upcoming football season, the focus was on the news of the day.

"It's taking the glory away for all of these boys," said Cheech Mullikin, of Forest Park. "It's just a very low blow to all the students and families who support this university."

Four of Mullikin's family members graduated from UC, where they have season tickets for basketball. She's concerned about the high school players recruited to play for Huggins.

"(Zimpher) just screwed their whole future along with their families," Mullikin said.

Hamilton Township residents Bob and Elaine Tragesser are upset about the timing of Zimpher's decision, which they say came on the heels of collecting annual UCATS dues.

"Nancy waited until we gave our annual fund," Elaine Tragesser said. "We are UCATS and we feel the timing was very bad."

Since 1979, UCATS has been "the framework for supporting the efforts of Bearcat student-athletes."

The organization, according to its Web site, "provides a way for individuals to help talented young people receive a quality education while ensuring UC's tradition of both academic and athletic excellence."

Neil Van Uum, owner of Joseph-Beth Booksellers, said he is among the top 100 donors to UCATS and has not renewed yet for 2005-06.

Before he will, Van Uum said, "I want some answers. It might (affect future donations)."

Tom Gregory, president of Montgomery Inn Inc., which hosts Huggins' weekly radio show in its original Montgomery location, said the company will end that arrangement, plus any support of UC athletics if Huggins is fired or forced out.

Others who attended Tuesday's alumni dinner said Zimpher's decision wouldn't stop them from supporting the athletes.

"I was here before Nancy Zimpher and I'll be here after," said Frank Wood of Clifton.

Enquirer staff writer Cliff Peale and sports editor Michael Perry contributed to this report.