Campus Confidential

WOW! If this is true, there should be some sort of penalty. What a dirtbag.

Adam, I quit posting about this on your blog because I didn't think their were too many people who cared about what was happening at WVU, but this is even worse than the what the article alleges.

My sources at WVU tell me that the athletic department was told "The best revenge is doing well..." and has been instructed to focus on their core competency, football. The legal staff is focused on the $4 million that Rodriguez owes first, but I'm told they're prepared launch an "all out offensive" on multiple fronts as soon the contract terms are resolved in court.

First and foremost, WVU is ready to file a complaint against Rodriguez and his staff for violating NCAA bylaw 14.00.01: An employee of an NCAA institution may not recruit for another NCAA institution. Doing so it presents a direct conflict of interest to both institutions and prospects.

Hopefully the NCAA imposes major sanctions on Rodriguez that effective handcuff him for a period of time at Michigan.

It just doesn't seem right that a coach can do so much damage to a college football program and to the athletes involved without any repercussions.

As an avid Penn State fad, let me just say that this guy is a great fit for Michigan.

Just kidding. Even I don't think that low of Michigan.

BtW, I wonder how long coach Fraud will be at Michigan,

Here's a quote from is own father:

His father said, that "I wouldn't be surprised if Rich goes to the NFL someday. Because that would be the next level."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712230543

Published by a Michigan newspaper

Yeah but they are sueing there former very succesfull coach for a cool 4 mil, so I think this is justifed in a eye for a eye sort of way...now for 4 mil I thought he would have killed the chancellers dog and broke pat whites leg, but whateva different strokes for different folks.

Brad -- I think it's one thing to sue for something that was in a contract, but it's another to destroy files. I understand that RR gave WVU a lot on the football field, but WVU took a chance by making him head coach at a major program (whereas he only was an OC at a BCS school before that). It goes both ways, IMHO.

True enough, however it does say something that for all we know, WVU didnt do much to avoid sueing RR, and you can say he brought it upon himself, but in the college football landscape most contracts are made to be broken.
and from what I have read about WVU didnt live up to certain expectations(and possibly contratual obligations) RR had after the 2006 season.(one example, the textbooks debacal) WVU may have taken a chance, but if they didnt give it someone else would have (may not have been a BCS school, but a good HC job does help build cred even if it is at utah st..) also WVU isnt the first by any means to pick up a OC/DC to be a big time HC. (stoops is the first to spring to mind)

now the destruction of the file was most likly a overreaction or something he thought he could get away with for whatever nefarious reasons known only to him.
I disagree with it from a moral(and probably legal standpoint,) but from a a$$*&#% standpoint its a good move.

Coaches move around all of the time, but this whole situation stinks to high hell. I can't recall ever hearing anything like this ever happening. As a teacher, I can understand being angry at an institution. Been there, done that. Even to the point where I looked to extract my "pound of flesh". But never did I consider doing something that would create a problem for anyone else. This is about as classless an act as I have ever seen. Petrino's was worse, but he did it to the "pros" I never have any sympathy for them as far as the business aspects are concerned.

B&G, I realize the season is over, but you have to keep posting man, even if it is not all the time. Hate to miss out on the opinions. Many moons ago, chatting about college football was the first thing that I got into on line...I was a couple of years after graduation and back in NY (the cfb desert) when I discovered the real beauty of the internet, the ability to communicate with others you would never be able to.

I appreciate the shout out Paul. I'll keep posting until Adam or other posters let me know I'm beating the drum (or Dead Horse) too much. :-)

BtW Brad, Coach Fraud destroyed those files, BEFORE there was any mention of a lawsuit. he also recruited players for Michigan while still HC of WVU (OK so it was only one round of phone calls, but it's still a serious NCAA offense).

And those "broken promises"? yeah right, part of any good contract is written notification to the negligent party giving them ample opportunity to address the grievances, language that was in the RR/WVU contract, yet RR didn't even mention the issues verbally until AFTER the Michigan offer.

No matter, let the post coach Fraud era begin, meanwhile at Michigan two athletes have declared for the NFL and your starting QB has stated an intention to transfer...

Obviously, the above anonymous post was mine...

More fuel for the fire...

http://www.timeswv.com/wvu_sports/local_story_015234352.html

Anonymous,
Im not a michigan fan, (far from it in fact, I am a huge App St. fan) just to clarify. so its not my team.

BNG -- Great column you linked to.

BradH -- Boone is a great town. I ate food until I cried at Dan'l Boone Inn.

Adam,

I'm obviously very biased, but Hertzel and Mitch Vingle are two columnists who toil in relative obscurity in the mountain state, but I'll match them against any 'big city' writers out there.. apologies to my favorites, you, Glauber, and Staple... (ok ok you too Best)

yep boone is a good place

Fo Sho

Interviewing the writers who broke the Shred-Riguez story

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080117/SPORTS06/80116075/1050/SPORTS02

I loved the line where the interviewer said (paraphrasing) That's a bad man, I can't imagine Loydd Carr or Bo doing that

B&G, I guess now the former WVU coach is claiming he is being smeared.

Paul,

Of course, what else would he say? There are some questions about the reports out of WV. They talk about 100+ phone calls to a certain number, of course nobody thought about that number possibly being voicemail! (It is). They also made comments about RR shredding the ONLY copies of certain documents that, while they may have been master copies were not the only copies. Also, even in WV we have computers and backup systems.

If, in fact, RR was allowed to have the ONLY copies of some of these documents, wouldn't that add fire to his allegations that he athletic department was mismanaged?

But there are still many issues that can't be explained away, calling three candidates using a WVU cell phone and informing them of his decision before resigning or even informing the players, coaches or the AD of his decision. Refusal to pay off a contractual obilgation and forcing a protracted court battle, are just a couple of the most glaring. Not to mention the posioning of the well with major supporters of the program, potential recruits, existing players (See Steve Slatons Dad's comments), and the shredding of documents that may have helped WVU's program facilitate a smooth transition (Most importantly, in my mind anyway, where Mike Barwis and staffs S&C records on EXISTING WVU players).

I'm reminded of Bob Schembechlers quote when Frieder went to ASU "A Michigan man will coach Michigan..." - In retrospect, Ed Pastilong should have immediately confiscated all WVU property and locked the staff out as soon as the GA handed him RR's resignation. I'll bet E.P. is now a fan of the sphrase "No good deed goes unpunished".

B&G, easy my man, I was not insinuating anything about WV & its rural location, so to speak. I am just saying that there is a lot of crap here, and some one needs to figure out who is repsonsible, and if Rodriguez is, then he should pay, big time. Believe me, I remeber well, the Schembechler quote, I was at ASU at the time. And Bo was not wrong. I am sure that if the truth is out there to be found, someone will find it, even if the public never finds out.