ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Maybe it’s the way he can stroll into one of the city’s many chili parlors, as he probably will this weekend when ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is in town to play Cincinnati, and speak the language fluently.

“When you go in, you say ‘four-way,’ you say ‘three-way’ or ‘cheese coneys,’� Brigger says. “You have the three-way with spaghetti, chili and cheese. Four ways, you get beans in there. And you can add onions and all this other stuff to get five ways.�

But, “coney?�

“That’s just a hot dog with chili and cheese,� Brigger says.

One more thing to know: Chili in Cincinnati isn’t anything like chili in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ or the rest of the Southwest.

With more than a dozen spices — including clove, cinnamon and nutmeg — the local delicacy actually has roots in what is now part of Greece, and Brigger says the many Greek immigrants in the area brought it to life in Cincinnati.

“It’s definitely an acquired taste,� Brigger says. “But I love it.�

Brigger had the first 22 years of his life to develop that taste before beginning a sports equipment management journey that took him to Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania and, finally, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.

Brigger grew up following all Cincinnati teams, became a soccer goalie at nearby Wyoming High School and then a Xavier student because, basically, it was in his blood.

“I’ve been going to Xavier basketball games my whole life,� Brigger said. “My mom and dad had season tickets since 1979. There was no chance I was going to Cincinnati.�

Shortly upon arriving at Xavier, Brigger walked through a university hall and spotted a flyer advertising openings for basketball student managers.

“I wanted to work for the team because I grew up watching it, and I thought it would be cool,� Brigger said. “It was, ‘Anybody interested, contact Chris Mack, director of basketball operations,’� Brigger said.

Before long, Brigger was one of five freshman managers in 2000-01, working first on the staff headed by Skip Prosser and later Thad Matta. He also came to know then-assistant coach Sean Miller, who became the Musketeers’ head coach in 2004 – while Mack took over as head coach when Miller headed to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 2009.

After graduating in 2004, Brigger worked internships at UCF and William and Mary, before a full-time job opened at Pittsburgh in 2005.

He circled back to Miller, who was a standout player for the Panthers in the 1980s.

“He was a reference when I applied,� Brigger said. “I called him to ask and he says ‘Happy to do it.’�

Brigger got the job and stayed at Pitt for seven years before Miller helped shift his career to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, adding Brigger as UA’s assistant director of equipment operations in 2012.

Even though Miller was fired in 2021, Brigger hasn’t left ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Technically an athletic department staffer more than a basketball staffer, Brigger said he still wondered if new UA coach Tommy Lloyd might prefer staffers of his own across the board.

He didn’t have to wonder very long.

“From the first day when Tommy came for his press conference and everything, he told me straight up: ‘Briggs, you’re good. I love you. You’re here, and you’re a big part of what we want to do.’

“That ended it right there. I was like ‘alright, sweet’ because I didn’t want to leave. I loved it here. Tommy was awesome. Still is.�

Lloyd also retained Miller’s strength and conditioning coach, Chris Rounds after his April 2021 hiring at UA, while Briggs and longtime UA trainer Justin Kokoskie stuck around.

“There’s a lot of guys that have stayed on with the program since I came here, and I think that continuity is really important,â€� Lloyd said. “I’m not going to come in and assume that I know everything that is ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ basketball. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ basketball was amazing before I got here and it’ll probably be amazing after me.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the program, and those guys have helped me … navigate ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ basketball.â€�

Lloyd has even referred to Brigger as “EMOY,� an acronym for “Equipment Manager of the Year� that has stuck over the years in part because of the spirited way Brigger cheers on the Wildcats during games, often leaping out on the court to welcome players back to the huddle, towel in hand.

The ultimate goal is not just injecting enthusiasm but also diffusing pressure.

“If somebody tells me to stop, then I’ll stop,� Brigger says. “But I just want to make sure guys are having fun. They look at me and they can laugh because I’m an old guy jumping around looking crazy. They can get loose. That’s why I do it.�

While doing his unique cheerleading – plus the usual long hours of laundry and management – Brigger has developed something of a cult following at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. The Zona Zoo has waved around a fathead of him, while there is also an X account called “@RealEMOYâ€� that chronicles his latest accomplishments.

On Friday, the account documented Brigger’s return to Xavier by posting a photo of him sitting in the Cintas Center stands while the Wildcats practiced.

“#EMOY back to where it all started for him,� @realEMOY posted.

But when reminded about that nickname that won’t go away, Brigger made little of it.

“Everybody still talks about it. I just put my head down to work,� Brigger says. “All I care about is winning. Let’s just win some games. It makes this job so much more fun when we’re doing that.�