Michigan fans, here's a bulletin:
Most WVU fans are already over "it" and have been for some time.
"It", of course, being Rich Rodriguez's departure from West Virginia. Despite protestations to the contrary by many UM fans, few here in West Virginia are obsessing.
Granted, people here don't like Rodriguez very much. When one says, "I plan on coaching at West Virginia for as long as they'll have me", it is supposed to mean that, and if one later backpedals, people tend to feel betrayed.
In Ann Arbor, some see Rod's reversal as "just business". Many knowledgeable UM fans have told me this. But, no matter. Mere dislike of a person doesn't rise to the level of obsession, as much as Michigan fans would like it to be so.
And WVU fans aren't just going to forget about a $4 million contract that he signed and now claims holds him "hostage". Not on your life. That's money for our football program, which is an investment in something we love and are passionate about.
WVU fans fully expect him to honor his contract, because he signed it. There's nothing personal or hateful about it; it's "just business".
Some UM fans seem to miss the concept that Rodriguez himself isn't doing much to move on, either. He's made the whole departure it into a drawn-out, very public dispute, instead of just honoring the terms of the contract that he himself signed. Even considering that, however expecting a contract to be honored is not an "obsession," no matter what UM fans think.
If you disagree, you can get a second opinion. Call your bank and tell them that they are "obsessing" about your mortgage payments or your car loan and that they just need to let it go. Feed them the line about the psycho ex-girlfriend, too. Then, please come back here and let us know how that worked out for you.
In all honesty, when you talk to WVU fans without becoming arrogant, resorting to insults, or trying to stereotype them, you'll find that WVU fans are polite, love their team, and the name Rodriguez is rarely mentioned.
Instead, when WVU fans talk football, they talk about the recruiting class that Stew and his crew were able to put together for 2008 in such a short time and under dire circumstances.
They're thrilled to tell of the high caliber of talent that Stew has assembled on his staff here, and they're positively giddy with the new philosophy: an already explosive offense will be completely unleashed next year. They're also incredibly excited aboutt the talent that is coming to WVU in 2009.
Michigan fans who thrive on our misfortune might be disappointed to overhear these conversations, which actually do NOT consist of bouts of hand-wringing, gnashing of teeth, self flailing, sack cloth, ashes, or wailing about how sad we are at our former coach, nor any lamentations about wanting him back.
On the rare occasion that we do talk about him, he's often the butt of a joke. For example, there's the one about Rich's house being egged after he announced he was going to Michigan. The cops were there for an hour trying to figure out who might have done it, and Rich was up the rest of the night trying to figure out how the perpetrators got the eggs from the car to the house. Rim shot, please.
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