04/26/24
July 09, 2008
Michigan to pay $2.5M, Rodriguez $1.5M to satisfy WVU buyout: -- Former West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez and the University of Michigan have agreed to pay a $4 million buyout clause and settle a lawsuit that WVU filed after he broke his contract in December 2007. (previously)
posted by netbros to business and law at 03:53 PM - 7 comments
I'm pretty sure at the bottom of his cheque, he could sign either Rich Rodriguez or "Douchebag" and the bank would accept it as his legal name.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:22 PM on July 09, 2008
I don't feel sorry for Rodriguez or Michigan.
posted by lil'red at 08:10 AM on July 10, 2008
I almost never root against the UF Gators but I was thrilled to see Coach Carr win his last game at UM. That may be the last good day that UM football has for a while. I just don't see the Rodriguez hire working out. Even if he has some success, his huge unlikability factor and some aspects of his coaching methodology that have previously been called into question will eventually influence the situation. His way of doing things is just not UM football. So when he eventually gets bought out, Les Miles may feel compelled to do what Roy Williams did. Not say no when home comes calling a second time.
posted by beaverboard at 09:06 AM on July 10, 2008
I think Rodriguez is going to do just fine at Michigan. I don't understand this bullshit about U-M football, the best teams are the teams that can understand that sometimes change is neccesary. Obviously the strategies that worked in 1997 have not been working for a while. Players at every position are getting faster and faster. I remember watching the Kansas/Missouri game last year and thinking "damn, these players are fast. Much faster than anything the Big Ten has." The Michigan fans who have the biggest problems with Rodriguez tend to be major traditionalists. Traditionalists who will shut up if Rodriguez beats Ohio State. Of course Michigan fans who like Rodriguez will have to put up with their bullshit for the first year or two while Michigan makes the transition from Lloyd Carr's team to Rodriguez's team. Once that happens I think Michigan will return to the top of the Big Ten and the NCAA.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:19 PM on July 10, 2008
Just out of curiosity, why did UM pony up the cash for what was obviously a losing argument (someone needs to teach Mr. Rodriguez the meanings of the words "material breach")? Unless that was part of the new contract (which TFA doesn't say). Because it would be a distraction to him to have taken a better job and suddenly have no money? Waah. Anyway, enough about UM, Coach R, and their woes, does this do anything for the Mountaineers? Coming off an exciting, momentum shifting bowl win and $4M in your pocket could be pretty big for WVU football or WVU athletics, no? Another big bowl win this season, not out of the question, and they should be worthy of some more consistent attention.
posted by bmauger at 03:32 PM on July 10, 2008
Well, if memory serves, the $4m buyout funds from Coach Rod is the same money or close to it as the total value of Coach Stewart's new package at WVU. You'd like to think that Coach Stewart will give the Mountaineers a shot in the arm. But that will have to be seen once the season starts and the recruiting picture under Stewart is further defined. But comparing the Pitt game to the bowl game against Oklahoma, WVU played the Sooners as though a load had been lifted off its shoulders. A lot of folks had not given WVU much of a chance to compete in that bowl game in the post-Rod aftermath. The Mountaineers looked like they were enjoying themselves. They did not always seem to be enjoying themselves when Rodriguez coached them. That's what you're concerned about in part as you ponder what Rodriguez will accomplish at UM. He'll get the talent. He'll add team speed and skill. And have game plans that are imaginative, at least more so than Tressel's. But the intangibles are a concern. Chemistry, conduct, leadership, etc. Coach Rod hasn't gotten off to a good start with how he's represented himself and the university. The word "class" is just not often used in any discussion of Rodriguez. You have to wonder whether he'll be able to get the most out of his talent. He's playing a higher stakes game now. If there was tension in his Morgantown locker room, there'll be double tension in Ann Arbor. Lloyd Carr was allowed to stay on because he was Lloyd Carr. If Coach Rod wins at least two thirds of his games and beats Tressel every other year on average but doesn't upgrade his intangibles, he could very easily be shown the door. If Rodriguez succeeds beyond my pessimistic expectations, I will certainly applaud him and take my hat off to him. Meanwhile back at WVU, if Coach Stewart has only modest success, he won't be held over hot coals right away because there are other things on people's minds at the university, such as the questionable conduct of its outgoing president. And the propensity of the governor for sticking his hand in every jar of jam in the en-tire state.
posted by beaverboard at 11:10 AM on July 11, 2008
Sounds like the new era of Nick Saban to me, with Bobby Petrino and rich Rodriguez screwing over their employers.