December 28, 2007

For all of you talking about coaching loyalty, an interesting development ... : West Virginia University has filed a lawsuit against former head coach Rich Rodriguez over a $4M buyout. Rodriguez, who left for the University of Michigan earlier this month, has two years to pay WVU back the money, but one-third is due by Jan. 19 and the Rodriguez camp has been making noise about the clause not being valid.

read story | posted by wfrazerjr to Football at 7:32 AM CDT (47 comments total)

I'm just not understanding the vitriol leveled against WVU here. He's not just a prick who abandoned his home school before a bowl game, he's trying to run off with $4m that isn't his.

How about this for a title: "Local coaching hero abandons team before big game with $4m in tow, sneering at terms of contract."

posted by chmurray at 8:41 AM CDT on December 28

I hope they nail him to the wall.

posted by jaygolf at 9:17 AM CDT on December 28

ok there is more to the story than this. his argument is that the school screwed him with his coaching staff, by not allowing him to give them the raises that they promised him he could give them. this was written in to his contract. the school broke the contract by not honoring the raise he wanted to give his staff. rich rodriguez is NOT a prick who sold out his home school. he ia a guy who left a second teir school to go to a top teir school, after wvu screwed over, not him, but his staff. that IS loyalty. he stood up for the people under him when the school was cheating them.
btw, you dont know what hes gonna do with that $4million. its easy to be cynical and assume he just pockets it, but a man who had the concern for others to demand in his contract that his underlings get a raise, might have other, more noble plans for it. maybe before you all judge, you should learn the whole story!

posted by elijahin at 9:30 AM CDT on December 28

It appears that the school has not broken any violations according to the article I read (the one posted for conversation). I would first question this....

1) WVU is not a second tier school and MU a first tier school. Look at which team is playing a BCS game this year.

2) A contract is an agreement in writing for the legal pundits (judges, lawyers, and courts) to determine who is right and wrong. If he is wrong, he will be judged and dealt with fairly.

3) As for the 4 million in question, there is no way to prove what his intentions are or would be. That is why you use the word assusmption. It is assumed that he will keep the money unless / until there is some type of evidence to show otherwise.

So, from reading the whole story, it is impossible to make inferences to what he would do with the money. I just think he messed up by leaving a wonderful program like WVU where he was from. He built that franchise and left prior to a BCS bowl game. He was classless there. I don't think many kids will feel comfortable knowing he flirted with Alabama the prior year - as listed in the article, and got a raise. Then he has a stellar seaxon with a chance to play for the BCS Championship game against - of all teams - Ohio State. Then he lost. Instead of riding into Tempe with his team he built, he splits to Michigan and does so without playing in the bowl him and his players earned. What if he would have won against Pitt.? Would he have left prior to the National Championship game to be the Michigan coach then?

His team will be playing a Great OU team that will be very happy and respectful of the program he built. They had Rodriquez and his staff at Norman a few years ago and offered nothing but praise for him and his staff. They are also very complimentary of his program and talent he assembled.

posted by Mickster at 9:59 AM CDT on December 28

Agreed, let's learn the whole story. but always remember the old saying,

once a snake always a snake

Everyone crying about how great Coach Rich was should look at what is happening in BB with Huggy bear coming back. Our mistake was not getting him back 5 years ago when we had the chance.

Does anyone truly believe that Miami, VT and BC's leaving did not have an impact on Coach Rich's "greatness."

While I loved and cherished the victory over GA a couple years ago, the game I watched was more a case of GA beating GA and our holding on for the win.

Bottom line to me is that a Great Coach "coaches" because he loves the game, loves the school and loves the students and alumni. Coach Rich loved the mirror. (give me another Bowden, or even an 81 year old JoePA)

buts thats just my voiceofreason

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 10:04 AM CDT on December 28

This isn't a development. It has been well broadcast that Rod would fight his buyout. WVU is just doing what they have to , too try and recupe their money. U of M is going to pay it but I guarantee you that they aren't getting 4M.

posted by B10 at 10:05 AM CDT on December 28

1) WVU is not a second tier school and MU a first tier school. Look at which team is playing a BCS game this year.

Although WVU has had some recent success they are not the caliber of Mich. As for playing in a BCS game this year, well O.K. I'll give you that. That being said....So What? WVU plays in the Big East. Their big opponents were UCONN and South Florida? LOL Again, althogh the East Big has had some recent success, they are not the Big10. WVU would have trouble with Wisconsin this year for goodness sakes. Put the best team in the Big East in the Big 10 and they are maybe third. You can't honestly say that recruiting at WVU is as plentyful as it would be at U of M, and if you can than you're wrong. He went to the winningest program in D1 college football! Yes, he did go to a better tier school.

While I loved and cherished the victory over GA a couple years ago, the game I watched was more a case of GA beating GA and our holding on for the win.

This isn't a knock on you WVUVOICE but why does "EVERY" Big East fan hang their hat on that one win? "WVU beat Georgia in a BCS game!". The conference normally gets one team in the BCS every year and usually that's only because they're tied in. So you beat Georgia how many years ago? People still talk about it like it just happened.

posted by B10 at 10:27 AM CDT on December 28

This isn't a development.

I suggest you look the word up. The university taking the step of actually filing the lawsuit is a pretty big development.

posted by wfrazerjr at 10:58 AM CDT on December 28

wfrazerjr what I meant was that it was well known that WVU was going to take him to court. It wasn't really suprising new news. I guess I worded it wrong.

posted by B10 at 11:06 AM CDT on December 28

oh come on! wvu is totally a 2nd teir school. where were they before rich got there? they were in the top 25 sometimes. how about michigan (which by the way is UM not MU, MU is missouri) they are the winningest program in ncaa history. ok they are having a crappy season, but one season doesnt knock them off of the top teir. when 4 or 5 other shcools pass them up in wins we can talk about which teir they are on. how many championships does wvu have? now how many does michigan have? just look at the numbers. if you had the chance to go from wvu to michigan you wouldnt think twice and you know it.
as for the contract you would know about it if you had been listening when this dispute first started. they havent said much about it lately. my guess is that there is some kind of gag order.

posted by elijahin at 11:09 AM CDT on December 28

wfrazerjr what I meant was that it was well known that WVU was going to take him to court. It wasn't really suprising new news.

I don't know if that's really the case -- these things are typically settled before a lawsuit is filed; it's the threat of the lawsuit (and the concomitant high costs and uncertainty as to outcome) that brings the parties together to work something out. It is not a surprise that WVU is seeking the contract termination fee, it's that WVU has, at this early a stage, filed a lawsuit seeking it. In this case, it appears that WVU is beyond just the normal level of pissed off and is willing to take the next step, costs be damned.

posted by holden at 12:14 PM CDT on December 28

it appears that WVU is beyond just the normal level of pissed off and is willing to take the next step, costs be damned.

You're right about that. Also I think they filed before Rod did to pull the ball in their court. Rod did argue that they didn't fulfil their end of the bargain, bla, bla ,bla. You know, typical stuff with contracts. Honestly it probably was going to court anyway.

posted by B10 at 12:23 PM CDT on December 28

It never ceases to amaze me how a coach can bolt a school with little to no repercussions, but when a school sacks a coach, they have to pay huge buyouts. To those saying Rodriguez is a bastard for leaving before a BCS game, I offer that he now has a duty to Michigan, and has to begin recruiting right away in order to live up to the expectations set for him. I'm just offering the other side of the coin, and not arguing his actions are correct. As for comparing tiers, I would use the metric of getting a top-rated player and, without consideration to coaching, situation, etc., asking him which school he would rather go to; my guess would be Michigan.

I'm curious to see how Rodriguez ends up performing in Michigan. His style is incredibly different than what the Wolverines have had in place for as far back as I can remember. It wouldn't surprise me if next year is a bust for Michigan and Rodriguez catches a little heat, but they then go back to dominating the Big 10 soon after.

A last quip: the Big 10 has had a huge talent drop-off. Yes, they keep making good bowl games, but more because of reputation and weak conference play than anything else. Perhaps they'll surprise me this bowl season, but I'm not expecting much more than a series of crushing defeats.

posted by PublicUrinal at 12:25 PM CDT on December 28

I personally don't think that ALL THEM coaches could win with this team,no matter how good the team is.Belichick is one of those coaches that no matter how good you are,he thinks that there's always room for improvement.Brady could go 30 for 35 for 400 yds with 4 TD's,and I'm sure he could find something wrong.He seeks perfection from every one of his players no matter how good they were the last game.Every game in his mind can be better than the last. There's no doubt that N.E. is the best team in football right now.How they got there is Bill Belichick getting every bit of excellence out of his players each and every week.They practice and study film hard.Of course it helps having the players to work with.

posted by Ghastly1 at 12:32 PM CDT on December 28

the Big 10 has had a huge talent drop-off. Yes, they keep making good bowl games, but more because of reputation and weak conference play than anything else.

You're on the right track but it's not a talent drop off. The talent is there it's the style of play that the Big10 uses. The problem with the Big10 right now is that they're still playing an older style of football, like 10 to 15 years ago. The SEC, Big12 and Pac10 have adapted over the years and the Big10 has not. That's why they have been getting pounded in their bowl games. They mostly play the major conferences and the first look they get of a certain kind offense is in that game. Remember when the option was poular in college? Name me one team in the Big10 that used it substantially? None. The Big10 is a running Confernece and that doesn't cut it anymore. They have to adapt or they run the risk of becoming an ACC or Big East type Confernece. With Illinois and Ohio State flirting with the spread and now with Rod coming to Mich that should change in the next 2-3 years.

posted by B10 at 12:37 PM CDT on December 28

Sorry everyone,my post should of went to "Why don't you [bleeping block...]

posted by Ghastly1 at 12:37 PM CDT on December 28

Ok, being WVU Alumni and having my heart broken to many times when it comes to WVU football, this again was one of those moments. Rich I think you are one of the dirtiest rat bastard two face liars know to man. I truly hope that they ban you from the state. I hope that you have paid all of your taxes on the money you leave WV with. Leaving a team right before BCS bowl shows your caliber of a person, and how much your word really means, ZERO. Michigan, just watch yourselves because if a better team comes along, and there are better teams then you... You will feel the same issues. You may think you are a superpower in football, but you are like France when it comes to the actual amount of power you have.

I though give Rich credit, except for the first year he really pulled this team together at WVU. We have a lot of national level talent. People might complain about schedules, but the big east is the only conference that has to play all of the members of the conference. Not just half of them, and then have no name teams like APP STATE (oh yeah the no name that knocked off the big M). People might say it is because other teams dropped out of the Big East, that has WVU looking strong. Miami, Virginia Tech, and BC are all probably wondering how they can get back into the Big East, because their ACC appearance sure has been weak. Again the attraction of Money, vs tradition, and hertitage. Well we replaced those teams with better teams, that are are new but sure are growing and strong USF, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Like all great Dynasties, they must come to an end.

Now WVU losing to PITT, blame goes to Rich. The team was not prepared... Simple plain truth. They did not change up the runs to different players, poor Pat White looked like Major Harris out there. Slaton, Schmitt, Devon, and ect... why were they not give the ball to open the defense up... POOR COACHING!! Where you already thinking of the Big Blue versues the hopes for a national championship? Was this your plan to blow the game so you could get out of your contract and limp up to Michigan? Rich you suck.

Now the biggest thing I truly think that needs to happen is the NCAA needs to step in and banned all talks with coaches/ coaching staff till the championship game is played. Plain Simple, and done. Any team caught talking to a coach before that game, even through contacts or agents would be bowl ineligible for 5 years! It is not fair to the players, students, alumni, and fans to allow this to go on and haunt teams when they are looking at bowl games. It effects the support and mind set of the players. I personally think that Oklahoma is going to kick the shit out of WVU at this point. I sure hate to see this, but just think what the players must feel like. They lost the biggest game of thier college career, and then their coach jumps ship. The fans and alumni are pissed, and are not traveling to the game, which is going to leave WVU in a horrible spot. You though look at LSU had to deal with this rumor this year, along with multiple other teams. It has to stop!!! NCAA you want to raise the bar of College sports, you need to put this change in, not only for football but all collegiate sports. You can not tell me that Rich in the past 15 days has been able to fix all of Mich woes, or even started to look at it. Has he recruited anyone? The fat bastard has purchased a new house and had some turkey, with family and cronies that tell him he did the right thing, when truly you know in your heart you are wrong! .... So I think for fairness to all schools there should be something done to when competing schools can talk and recruit coaches.

Now for Rich, get the fuck out and do not let the door hit you in the ass. Do not think you are a West Virginian, because no West Virginian would have screwed his school and state like you did. We gave you more then what you should have had last year, and you being the fat bastard you are was greedy, and more greedy. I hate to say that every year I am now an Ohio State fan for at least one game a year. I hope you are on the street in 2 years wondering how you went from being a good coach to a no name. Your word means nothing, and you have been itching to leave for a long time. So get out and stay out, and I hope you get heckled every time you come back to the state, just because you are money hungry asshole! I hope some day soon WVU has the chance to play Michigan, because it will be a day of reckoning.

Sasquatch Class of 92

posted by Wvusquatch at 1:30 PM CDT on December 28

I hope some day soon WVU has the chance to play Michigan, because it will be a day of reckoning.

I don't know if it will be anytime soon but WVU is 0-2 against U of M.

posted by B10 at 1:33 PM CDT on December 28

LLLLLLEEEEEEEEETTTTTT”SSSSS GGGGGOOOOO
MMMMMOOOOOUUUUNNNNNNNTTTTAAAAAIIIIIINNNNNNNEEEERRRRSSS

Holy Jeebus, that's just annoying to look at. Please have some respect for your fellow posters, and keep that stuff on the Yahoo! boards. Welcome to SportsFilter.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 2:33 PM CDT on December 28

Michigan, just watch yourselves because if a better team comes along, and there are better teams then you...
no there is not better school than michigan. there are some on the same level (i.e. USC, notre dame, florida, LSU, texas) but michigan has the most wins of any school at the div. I level. that puts them at the top of the totem pole. not alone at the top, but deffinitly at the top. the only place to go from here is the nfl, and while i realize that is always a possiblilty, i (and i think most michigan fans) am confident that he will be pretty happy here as long as UM doesnt pull the same crap that WVU pulled. you can be pissed off if you like, and you might even be justified, but the fact is he left a good school for a great school.
i agree that he should've stayed through the bowl season, but at the same time i understand why he didnt. schools often fire coaches and dont let them coach in the bowl game, why is it so different when a coach opts not to stay for one?
by the way the no-name school that beat mich to start the season just won the national championship at their level. so maybe they dont suck quite as bad as you think.
on another note, sasquatch, the next time you get on a rant, you might want to edit it before you click on the "post" icon. since you have been educated at a major university, i would think your spelling, writing, and grammar would be better than that. my spelling sucks and i know it, but at least you know what im saying. yours doesn't say much for the education they give you out at hatfield/mccoy U.

posted by elijahin at 2:49 PM CDT on December 28

Just to clear, if he and Michigan agreed the deal but didn't sign until after the bowl game--putting aside, for the moment the $4 million issue--Rodriguez would not be a scum bucket?

posted by billsaysthis at 3:19 PM CDT on December 28

The Big10 is a running Confernece and that doesn't cut it anymore. They have to adapt or they run the risk of becoming an ACC or Big East type Confernece.

For those of you that continue to knock on the ACC maybe you should take a look at this:

http://accfootballreport.blogspot.com/

Scroll down to where it says: Out of Conference Report- At seasons end

The ACC is not a second tier conference and I think we will see this come bowl season. They play tough OOC competition and go on the road A LOT!!!!
The Big 12 is over rated and the Big 10 SUCKS. The SEC is good but they don't have the balls to play on the road or outside the conference. The Big East had a solid performance but when you look at the numbers on the report you can see that the ACC is no laughing stock.

posted by clemsontigersfanatic at 4:01 PM CDT on December 28

The ACC is not a second tier conference and I think we will see this come bowl season. They play tough OOC competition and go on the road A LOT!!!!
The Big 12 is over rated and the Big 10 SUCKS.

Well here's the ACC's all time winning percentage against the big boys:

BIG 10: .367
PAC 10: .470
SEC: .455
BIG 12: .525

Looks like you have a little ways to go hugh? For the Big 10 sucking you sure don't win often aainst them. Look I never said that the ACC was a second tier conference but it is 4th or 5th best at this point.

posted by B10 at 4:10 PM CDT on December 28

no there is not better school than michigan. there are some on the same level (i.e. USC, notre dame, florida, LSU, texas) but michigan has the most wins of any school at the div. I level

Elijahin - stop drinking the BLUE Koolade its bad for your health

YES UM has the most wins of any D1 school but both Ford and GM have sold the most cars ever ........

Bottom line is Rod has moved on to UM, WVU will get over it but the whole world of college football is now watching to see if a "contract is a contract."

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 4:44 PM CDT on December 28

Elijahin....... maybe Michigan has more overall victories since the beginning of the sport (late 1800's??). But, since the beginning of the actual "Modern Era" of football, nobody can exceed that of the Oklahoma Sooners - a first level or tier school. Here are their stats. Just for your viewing pleasure. Please feel free to point out any errors. Most of the statistics are dated from the end of WWII and the year of 1946. The Associated Press didn't even begin until 1936. So, for the current records, I present to you the following:

"Oklahoma is the winningest program in what is widely considered the modern era of college football. OU has the most victories and best winning percentage of any team since the end of World War II. The Sooners have earned seven AP National Championships in that span and are recognized by the NCAA for 16 titles."

Victories, 1946-2007
1. Oklahoma 535
2. Penn State 502
3. Texas 500
4. Alabama 498
5. Nebraska 497
6. Ohio State 495
7. Michigan 489
8. Tennessee 484
9. Southern Cal 479
10. Notre Dame 470

Winning Percentage, 1946-2007
1. Oklahoma .762 (535-162-13)
2. Ohio State .747 (495-161-20)
3. Penn State .733 (502-180-9)
4. Michigan .728 (489-178-15)
5. Texas .714 (500-196-11)
6. Nebraska .703 (497-207-10)
7. Alabama .702 (498-205-20)
8. Notre Dame .696 (470-201-14)
9. Southern Cal .696 (479-202-23)
10. Tennessee .695 (484-206-23)

Weeks Ranked No. 1 in AP Poll
1. Oklahoma 95
Notre Dame 95
3. Ohio State 93
4. USC 86
5. Nebraska 70
6. Miami (Fla.) 68
7. Florida State 59
8. Texas 42
9. Michigan 34
10. Alabama 31

Weeks Ranked Top 5 in AP Poll
1. Oklahoma 352
2. Ohio State 297
3. Nebraska 294
4. Notre Dame 276
6. USC 273
5. Michigan 272
7. Texas 253
8. Alabama 243
9. Florida State 204
10. Miami (Fla.) 201

Weeks Ranked No. 1 in BCS
1. Oklahoma 18
2. Ohio State 15
USC 15
4. Florida State 7
Miami (Fla.) 7
6. Nebraska 5
Tennessee 5
8. LSU 2
9. Texas 1
UCLA 1

Weeks Ranked Top 5 in BCS
1. Oklahoma 38
2. Ohio State 32
3. USC 31
4. Miami (Fla.) 30
5. Florida State 25
6. Florida 20
Texas 20
Virginia Tech 20
9. Tennessee 16
10. Nebraska 15

AP National Titles (Last)
1. Notre Dame 8 (1988)
2. Oklahoma 7 (2000)
3. Alabama 6 (1992)
4. Miami 5 (2001)
Southern Cal 5 (2004)
6. Minnesota 4 (1960)
Nebraska 4 (1995)
Ohio State 4 (2002)
9. Texas 3 (2005)
10. Seven Schools 2 (2006)

All-Time Points Scored (Thru 2006)
1. Oklahoma 29,180
2. Michigan 28,993
3. Nebraska 28,723
4. Notre Dame 28,523
5. Texas 27,273
6. Penn State 26,251
7. Ohio State 26,092
8. Alabama 25,965
9. Southern Cal 25,587
10. Tennessee 24,991

posted by Mickster at 6:08 PM CDT on December 28

Hey clemsontigersfanatic, the 2nd place team in the ACC just beat the 8th place team in the Big10 by three. WOW, what a canference that ACC is!

posted by B10 at 7:45 PM CDT on December 28

Take that antagonistic crap somewhere else.

posted by yerfatma at 9:13 PM CDT on December 28

in regards to mkckster: i dont think we are at odds on this. in the history of the league michigan has the most wins. in the "modern era michigan is on almost all of these top ten lists. and every other team on those lists with only a few exceptions, are teams i would consider "top teir teams" notice that no where on any of them do you see the words "west virginia" im not saying that michigan is better than so. cal. or texas. i think all the teams that consistantly appear on these lists, including but not limited to michigan, make up the top teir. my argument was against west virginia being among the best programs. if you left oklahoma to go to michigan, that would be a lateral move. if you left michigan to go to florida, that would be a lateral move. do you really think that west virginia to michigan is a lateral move? do you really put wvu on a level with tennessee? ill bet you dont and if im right, we are on the same side.

posted by elijahin at 10:43 PM CDT on December 28

btw voice of reason, who makes up the level above michigan and the rest of the schools on the lists above? if the maize and blue are not the top of the food chain, who is? im not saying it because im a fan anymore than patriots fans are saying they have the best team in the league this year because they are fans. sometimes, regardless of loyalties, truth is truth. im not sure what ford and gm have to do with it, but i guess they are the top two motor companies too. good for them.

posted by elijahin at 10:58 PM CDT on December 28

Hey clemsontigersfanatic, the 2nd place team in the ACC just beat the 8th place team in the Big10 by three. WOW, what a canference that ACC is!

First of all, a win is a win. If you want to use the logic you just made Michigan lost to App St. What a great conference the Big 10 is. Its about wins. Look at the info listed on the page. The ACC is not the 4th or 5th conference. How many of those games against the Big 10 where on the road? Home field advantage is a HUGE ADVANTAGE. The point is the ACC has the balls to go OOC and go on the road.

posted by clemsontigersfanatic at 1:55 AM CDT on December 29

elijahin: this makes two threads now that you have said WVU broke its contract with Rodriguez regarding asst. coaches pay raises.

That is clearly in dispute. Rodriguez, at least through several friends and allies, seems prepared to argue that WVU failed to live up to several obligations in the contract that he negotiated last December after entertaining an offer to become the coach at Alabama. WVU president Mike Garrison said that just isn’t true.

“I can say unequivocally that everything that was promised under the contract was delivered, and then some,’’ Garrison said. “I feel very comfortable in saying that.’’

It is also public record that at least WVU strength coach Mike Barwis did receive a raise from $95,236 last year to $127,500 this year. Other WVU asst. coaches have yet to comment.

posted by netbros at 2:07 AM CDT on December 29

Hey elijahin.... you are correct about the post. I am not seeing WVU anywhere on the list and I agree that until recently it would be insane to move from Michigan to WVU and not the other way around. I guess I would say that he has built them into a top tier "type" of program that could be. If they don't end up staying there, then it is a flash in the pan. I guess time will tell. Florida State was a joke until Bowden came in. I believe a coach can build a dynasty and that is what I thought Rodriguez was doing. But, he did leave for a great school with a very rich tradition.

I only pointed out the ommission of OU in the listing as I am a Sooner fan and they weren't listed with the USC, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, Michigan teams.

My bad on that point.

By the way, hope you enjoy him up there. I just fear that if he doesn't start strong, which is possible, will the people be patient with him. I don't think they have the players that are suited to play his style of spread football. guess time will tell.

posted by Mickster at 9:11 AM CDT on December 29

Look at the info listed on the page

You used a blog on blogspot.com for your reference. I need something a little more concrete.

posted by B10 at 9:16 AM CDT on December 29

mickster i wasnt clear i guess, i didnt mean that the top was limited to the teams i named. i was only naming a few that represent the top. i also omited (perhaps intentionally ohio state,) nebraska, alabama, and tennessee, but certainly they and ou belong on the same level.
as for my inference that wvu broke the contract, from netbros, of course the guy on the otherside of the perverbial courtroom says they didnt break the contract. thats why he id suing RR. the one guy accuses the other, and vice versa. thats how it works. im not saying RR is right, but if he is he should be praised for standing up for his staff. if he is wrong, he should pay back the money. that seems simple enough doesnt it? the problem is that we the public are so impatient that we cant wait for a verdict. we want to judge him in the court of public opinion. obviously WVU fans will defend their school, because their loyalty is to the mountaineers. and those of us who are michigan fans will defend our new coach, because we want to believe in him. all im saying is lets wait and watch. you guys in the mountains can feel betrayed if you like, and i understand if you do. and we wolverien fans will take comfort in the fact that after a shitty season, and years with a coach that even our most staunch fans have never fully believed in, we finaly have a coach who is charismatic, and inovative. i actually like WVU.
i have friends who went to school there and i support them as long as they are not playing michigan, but on this we are at odds. im sorry you guys lost a good coach. and i do hope the program stays strong, but im more hopefull that within the next 5 years he can return us to the top of the rankings where we belong.

posted by elijahin at 10:01 AM CDT on December 29

within the next 5 years he can return us to the top of the rankings

Realistically if he gets his recruits, you're probably looking at 2 maybe 3 seasons tops.

posted by B10 at 10:26 AM CDT on December 29

i agree b10, but i never start calling for a coaches head, until he has played at least one season with all his own recruits. but you're right, he should have us there in 2 or 3.

posted by elijahin at 10:32 AM CDT on December 29

The point is the ACC has the balls to go OOC and go on the road.

So other conferences only play OOC at home? Enough already, look the ACC is a good confernece, it's not a powerhouse like it was for a few years but it is a good conference. All I pointed out was a fact that the're all time OOC record was not impressive considering the only have a winning record against the Big12 and the Big East, out of the major conferences anyway. Like you siad earlier, "Its about wins".

posted by B10 at 10:34 AM CDT on December 29

elijahin: Here are three of your recent comments (emphasis mine):

"lets also not forget, that wvu screwed rich on some of the things they had promised him, not the least of which being a raise for his staff."

"his argument is that the school screwed him with his coaching staff, by not allowing him to give them the raises that they promised him he could give them. this was written in to his contract. the school broke the contract by not honoring the raise he wanted to give his staff."

"im not saying RR is right, but if he is he should be praised for standing up for his staff. if he is wrong, he should pay back the money."

So which is it? Backpedal much?

How about we await the court ruling to see who is right rather than continuing to state your personal beliefs as fact. That would make it a lot easier on everyone here. Thanks.

posted by netbros at 12:11 PM CDT on December 29

To me, all RR had to say was look guys, as much as I love my state and my school, I'd hate myself if I didn't try to coach at um given all of its tradition. Instead, RR took the "other path" and tried to make it sound like WVU 'abandon him' forcing him to leave. To me, this is no different than when a 2 year old craps his pants and blames his mother because she forgot to ask him if he needed to go to the bathroom.

RR is gone, and that's that. However, as I said before, the whole world of college sports is watching this one to see if "a deal is a deal."

As far as WVU, per RR, "reneging and not letting the players keep their books after class is over so they can sell them and pocket some extra money, "like some other programs do." If you notice RR did not mention any of these other programs by name because the practice of letting players "sell" their books for change is a potential serious NCAA violation. Just ask Mickster about part time jobs at car dealerships. If you notice Coach Stoops put a quick end to that practice once he learned what was really up with that.

Lastly, while I am a WVU grad, I sent one of my children to UM as unlike their sports programs, their music school has not lost a beat...

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 4:31 PM CDT on December 29

well thats funny netbros. if you were quoting something i said on another site, or even another story, i might be too lazy to look it up, but since you are quoting me from this very page, i can just scroll up, then copy and paste my exact, non-distorted quote here: "ok there is more to the story than this. his argument is that the school screwed him with his coaching staff, by not allowing him to give them the raises that they promised him he could give them. this was written in to his contract. the school broke the contract by not honoring the raise he wanted to give his staff. rich rodriguez is NOT a prick who sold out his home school. he ia a guy who left a second teir school to go to a top teir school, after wvu screwed over, not him, but his staff. that IS loyalty. he stood up for the people under him when the school was cheating them."
thus proving that i always said that i was giving RR's argument. im not telling you what did happen because i dont know. im only telling the side of the argument that is getting no representation outside of me, on this page. if your claim is that weak that you have to twist my words to give yourself credibility, maybe its time to get out of the conversation.
misquote much?

posted by elijahin at 9:20 PM CDT on December 29

thus proving that i always said that i was giving RR's argument.

You never said any such thing. And I have yet to hear Rich Rodriguez himself make that argument. It has been third party individuals.

im only telling the side of the argument that is getting no representation outside of me, on this page.

Perhaps because that argument has quickly lost all its legs in the media.

misquote much?

I took the quote verbatim from your previous post.

I make no "claims" as you suggest. I'm merely suggesting you might wish to stick to facts rather than suppositions.

posted by netbros at 11:02 PM CDT on December 29

net, im getting tired of arguing with you. i have worked in media, and i can tell you first hand that when legal action is taken, details get left out when stories are broadcast. even if the details had been disclosed on-air previously, judges often issue gag orders, or sometimes just requests, that those details not be discussed on-air anymore so that potential jurrors are not influenced by the talking heads that may or may not know what they are talking about. just because you dont hear those details, does not mean that they have lost their legs.
if i forgot to say "according to RR" before making one of the previous statements, i appologise, but i dont see any where i did but whatever. either way i dont think i need to keep saying that "this is what he said" over and over again. throughout this thread, i have been arguing the point that he, and his agent/lawyer made. and i have always intended it to be taken as their point, not necessarily mine. in any case, net, you dont come off as someone who is making a strong case. you come off as a bitter mountaineers fan who is just pissed that his coach left for a slightly better school. you see it as a betrayal, and i get that (if i come off as condesending, that is unintentional) but the situation is what it is. the legal battle will work itself out in court or in a settelment. michigan will probably suck the next year or two anyway. enjoy it. revel in rod's temporary mediocricy. just stop hating. its dragging you down. im not gonna argue with you anymore.

posted by elijahin at 11:26 PM CDT on December 29

I couldn't care less where he left for. Michigan means nothing to me. I just wish you would quit saying that WVU broke a contract. There is absolutely no evidence of that. You have stated it in two different threads on this site. Please stop.

posted by netbros at 11:35 PM CDT on December 29

if i were to continue arguing with you, which as i previously stated i will not, is: what i have said is that RR and his lawyer said that they broke the contract, and since the media pointed that out early and not much since, and since nobody other than me on this page is mentioning any side other than that of the disgruntled WVU fan, i am representing that side of the argument. did it happen? i dont know, but if you are gonna convict and execute RR in the court of public opinion here, he deserves to have his case made. as for the evidence, you have no idea if there is or is not evidence of that unless you are a judge, juror, or attourny for either the school or mr. rodriguez. are you any of those things?
that is what i would say if i were to argue with you, but since i am not going to do that, ill simply say have a happy new year.

posted by elijahin at 11:46 PM CDT on December 29

I have said nothing either for or against Rich Rodriguez in any of my comments. I'm not trying to convict him of anything.

I think if you check, elijahin, Coach Rodriguez himself has never said publicly that WVU broke their contract with him. When asked about the $4million buyout clause in his contract with WVU during his hiring press conference at Michigan, he said simply "that is for the lawyers."

Ken Kendrick, Managing General Partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, WVU booster, and Rodriguez friend is the one who made statements relative to the contract between WVU and Rodriguez.

As to Rodriguez deserving to have his case heard, absolutely. He is required to respond to the WVU breach of contract lawsuit by January 19th.

posted by netbros at 12:01 AM CDT on December 30

after watching the game last night, I began to wonder---- does anyone know when Coach Rod and Michigan 1st hooked up discussions? Was it BEFORE the PITT game?

Just wondering???

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 9:04 AM CDT on January 3

I am almost positive it was after. He was rarely mentioned as a candidate before that game and most of Michigan's focus was on Les Miles.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 5:31 PM CDT on January 3

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