By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Here is a sign that Bob Huggins is feeling better. The University of Cincinnati coach, who suffered a heart attack Saturday, called the basketball office at least twice Monday from The Medical Center in Beaver, Pa.
He talked to administrative coordinator Renie Heroux and senior guard Leonard Stokes. He was also trying to reach associate head coach Dan Peters.
"Probably to see how much B.J. (Grove) weighed or how workouts were going or to make sure that we're taking care of the recruits that we're recruiting," Peters said.
Huggins' condition was upgraded from serious-but-stable to stable Monday. Doctors are saying he will remain at the Pittsburgh-area hospital for four to six days.
UC athletic director Bob Goin said he is in touch with athletic trainer Jayd Grossman, who is in Pittsburgh.
"Bobby was sitting up today, I heard, and visiting, but he's still in that critical care unit," Goin said. "It looks to me like he's getting a little better every day.
"I would guess that he was on his feet today. I'm encouraged. I'm anxious to get him back to the city. I'm hoping by this week or early next week we'll have him home."
Huggins' wife, June, is in Pittsburgh; daughter Jenna, a UC sophomore, has returned to Cincinnati.
Former Xavier coach Skip Prosser, in Pittsburgh recruiting for Wake Forest, visited with Huggins on Monday.
"I'm no medical expert, but he was looking good," Prosser said. "He was cracking jokes. If you didn't know (he had a heart attack), you wouldn't know."
What was it like on UC's campus Monday, the first school day after Huggins' heart attack?
Heroux said she received at least 200 e-mails, faxes and phone calls, starting at 7:30 a.m. Fans. Former players. Old friends. Members of the business community.
. Among those who called or sent notes: Philadelphia Eagles special teams coach John Harbaugh, a former UC football assistant; former DePaul coach Joey Meyer; and coaches Thad Matta (Xavier), Mike Jarvis (St.John's), Larry Eustachy (Iowa State), Bill Herrion (East Carolina), Charlie Spoonhour (UNLV) and Larry Shyatt (Clemson).
"The phone hasn't stopped," Heroux said.
Another 100 calls came to the front desk of the basketball office.
Peters said he has received 85 to 90 calls since Saturday, including from ESPN analysts Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas. Memphis coach John Calipari called three times.
The UC athletic department's Web site, ucbearcats.com, offers fans a chance to send a message to Huggins and his family. More than 500 people had done so by late Monday afternoon.
Just inside the front entrance to the UC Bookstore was a giant "Get Well" card filled with signatures.
It was, otherwise, business as usual at the basketball office.
Huggins was scheduled to be on the road recruiting this week in Florida, Indiana, Kansas and Arkansas, returning Friday.
"I'm always in charge when he's off campus," Peters said. "I am responsible for whatever's going on when he's not here."
Peters will take to the road for one of those recruiting visits today in Vincennes, Ind., then return to Cincinnati.
Goin met with the team at 3 p.m., then the players had a scheduled meeting with an FBI agent and a retired police officer talking about gambling and other "pitfalls that are out there," Peters said.
"I'm feeling much better now," Bearcats senior guard Taron Barker said after hearing from Goin. "I couldn't stop thinking about it. After (coach Peters) told us Saturday, I didn't eat the rest of the day and I couldn't sleep. Hopefully, he'll be back soon."
Not much will change this week. Next week could be different.
The coaching staff typically gets together at Huggins' home or somewhere else off campus sometime the week before practices begin to discuss ideas. The first day of practice is Oct.12.
So, what happens next week?
"I haven't thought about it," Peters said. "The only thing I've thought about is taking care of business and hoping he's going to get better."
Peters, 48, was an assistant to Huggins for three years (1980-83) at Walsh College before taking over as head coach when Huggins left. His teams were 116-39 in five years. Peters was head coach at St.Joseph's (Ind.) for two years (43-14 record) and Youngstown State for six (78-87).
Peters, a longtime friend of Huggins, is entering his fourth season with the Bearcats.
"Until we hear something from the cardiologist, I don't think we can assume anything," Peters said. "We've got competent people here. They've got to just continue to do what they're supposed to do and what they've done in the past."
