J&J Show discuss Huff's "Going someplace bigger" comments

Charles Huff garnered national attention with his comments captured during his media availability on Tuesday (11/10) by Commercial Appeal Reporter Jonah Dylan:

Jason Smith and John Martin discussed Huff's comments on Wednesday's 92.9 FM ESPN J&J Show. AUDIO:

Charles Huff’s recruiting pitch landed differently in Memphis

Charles Huff had an answer for the coaches telling recruits he won’t be at Memphis for long. If he leaves, he said, “I’m going to something bigger.” And he tells those recruits they can come with him.

You can see why that might work in a living room. You can also see why it stopped the guys on the Jason & John Show Wednesday on 92.9 FM ESPN.

On J&J, the guys pointed out that this sounded like something a coach might say off to the side to a reporter. Huff said it at the podium. They reached for the old Dave Chappelle bit about what happens when keeping it real goes wrong. It fit. Huff’s candor is part of his appeal, and this time it let the whole city hear a pitch meant for a recruit.

As Jonah Dylan of The Commercial Appeal reported, rival coaches have been using the job rumors against Huff on the recruiting trail. Huff’s response turns their warning into a compliment. If other coaches think he’s good enough to get hired away, he can use that as evidence that a recruit is betting on the right guy. His move from Southern Miss to Memphis, with players following him, gives that pitch some credibility.

Huff was answering a recruiting question, and he framed leaving as a hypothetical. The fair question for him now is what he can build at Memphis that players would want to stick with even if his phone rings. That’s a harder sell than telling a kid he can follow you. It’s also the one Memphis hired him to make.

Next game: Memphis takes on South Florida Thursday (11/12) on ESPN at 7 p.m.