Looks like there could be some major changes at Cinci. When I read Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News yesterday opining that Bob Huggins might get shoved out the door, I thought he might be a week early on the story. Now it seems he was only a day. Huggins didn’t get his contract extended, instead was offered a buyout.

University of Cincinnati president Nancy Zimpher did not offer basketball coach Bob Huggins a contract extension or rollover when the two met in her office Wednesday afternoon, leaving Huggins, for now, with the option of completing the final two years of his contract or accepting a buyout proposal, sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed Thursday.
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With two years left on his contract, Huggins would receive $1.4 million if he accepts the termination proposal.

Wednesday’s meeting took place in Zimpher’s office on campus and included Zimpher, Huggins, Goin, Board of Trustees chairman Phil Cox and Board vice chairman Jeff Wyler. Huggins had the rollover provision of his contract removed last summer in response to his arrest and conviction on a charge of driving under the influence. Before that, his contract rolled over on July 1 of each year so that he always had four years left.

This is a risky power play by Cinci President Zimpher. Huggins is very, very loved by the alumni of Cinci. Trust me. My wife isn’t a rabid fan, but even she holds “Huggy-bear” in high regard. If she boots Huggins, the guy who takes over better win right away or they will both be gone. It seems Greg Doyel at Sportsline is having the same line of thoughts that I am about this.

At least one Cinci columnist thinks Zimpher should back away from the ledge. That as Cinci is entering the Big East, this is not the time to make such a huge move.

Meanwhile, UConn is embroiled in a pseudo-ethics scandal.

Bill Clinton had Monicagate. Now the UConn athletic department, in particular athletic director Jeff Hathaway, must contend with Monacogate. In a series of articles that began on April 4, the Hartford Courant reported Hathaway and his wife were receiving gratis the use of vehicles from Glastonbury-based Monaco Ford. While that is not unusual — the football coach, basketball coach and athletic director at almost every big-time school you can name are driving around in comped cars — the terms of Hathaway’s arrangement has led to an investigation by the state’s ethics commission.

According to the Courant, Hathaway, along with head coaches Randy Edsall (football), Jim Calhoun (men’s basketball) and Geno Auriemma (women’s basketball), as well as women’s associate head basketball coach Chris Dailey, had deals in place to receive complimentary cars in exchange for tickets. However, according to the Courant, last summer Hathaway asked all athletic department staffers who receive complimentary tickets sign a form stating that they would not sell their tickets to a third party. Hathaway, according to the Courant, “exempted himself and the coaches from the no-selling rule because he viewed selling tickets for cars as different from other forms of selling.”

In other words, Hathaway forbade employees of the school’s athletic department from scalping tickets for cash; meanwhile, he allegedly allowed himself and the three highest-paid employees of the department to continue exchanging seats for wheels.

Second, according to the Courant, under the terms of Hathaway’s agreement with Monaco, he would perform endorsement services in exchange for use of the vehicles. Hathaway has never done an ad or in any way endorsed the dealership. The NCAA allows athletic department officials to supplement their income from “bona fide” outside employment in which the officials are “performing services. ” However, an official cannot accept the car as an outright gift.

Thus, the only manner in which Hathaway might receive use of the cars without violating NCAA rules is to exchange the university’s tickets for them. However, according to the Courant, when Hathaway notified the state ethics commission about his endorsement deal with Monaco, he never apprised them of the fact that what he was actually giving them was not his image — whatever it may be worth — but rather tickets. The Courant reported Hathaway later apologized to the commission and returned the vehicles, but at that time did not disclose that he had given Monaco tickets from his personal stash.

It’s the hypocrisy that has to be most galling. I don’t think or believe there is any real sleaze going on. But to see an AD preach high and mighty cosmetic ethics to the underlings while reserving the same perks for himself and the powerful coaches is disgusting.