I just got through reading an article Ivan Maisel from ESPN wrote, and I want to clear up a few things about Rich Rodriguez taking the job at Michigan.
Maisel writes: "Rodriguez's decision to leave is justifiable because there's a difference between saying, 'I will never leave,' and 'I will not be the next coach at _____."
Yes, there is a difference—but that doesn't make it justifiable.
Rodriguez is a liar, and that's all there is to it. He said he would never leave WVU, and he did.
Earlier this year, his freshman tailback, Noel Divine missed practice because of a birth in his family. Coach Rod understood, but still sat him a game because that was the team rule—and we must abide by the rules.
Well the rules of society say that if you tell a lie, you are a liar. Rodriguez looked at the Old Gold and Blue Nation and lied.
Rod told a lie that big, wrong, and unable to be justified.
Maisel also writes: "We are all engorged with the parity college football served up every week this fall. But no matter how many Missouri's and West Virginia's threaten to stage a coup d'etat in this sport, there will always be royalty. Think of the schools whose tradition is immediately recognizable across the nation: USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, et al."
That might be true for those of you who blabber from your ivory towers—but for the rest of us, royalty is in the eye of the beholder.
For the the boy who was born a stone's throw from the stadium where the Mountaineers call home, WVU was Rodriguez's kingdom, and he rose to be it's ruler.
Michigan will always be the Big House where Bo reigned. I have never been to Ann Arbor, but I would guess there are monuments and streets and the like dedicated to the late Bo Schembechler. The legend of the great coach will always overshadow anything Rodriguez does at Michigan.
Rich Rodriguez was well on his way to that kind of status in Morgantown. A hometown boy, Rod would have been rewarded. Just like last year, when Rodriguez threw what amounted to a tantrum, and the Governor called the boosters to make sure he received the pacifiers he craved.
West Virginia was growing to love their Mountaineer leader. I hope Coach Rod remembers that every time he drives down Schembechler Boulevard.
Money and fame is fleeting and temporary; legends live forever.
Maisel also included this nugget of idiocy: "Don Nehlen, who turned West Virginia into a regional power in his 21 seasons (1980-2000), came to the school from Bo Schembechler's staff at Michigan. He made the Mountaineers uniforms look like an Allegheny version of the Wolverines."
Mr. Maisel, I know you were educated at Stanford, so you can't possibly be that stupid.
West Virginia University adopted their colors, Old Gold and Blue, in 1890. They were taken from the state seal of West Virginia, which was designed in 1863.
The University of Michigan did not choose their present shades of Blue and Gold until 1912. I know from reading Nehlen's remarks about Rodriguez going to Michigan that he is old and senile—but he still isn't old enough to take credit for the design of the state seal of West Virginia.
Finally, Maisel pens: "Rodriguez will be a worthy successor to Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, Schembechler, and Carr."
I am not familiar with the exploits of Yost and Crisler, but Carr was in my lifetime, and he always seemed befuddled but classy.
Two words I wouldn't use to describe Rodriguez.
As far as worthy enough to succeed Bo? I agree completely!
You see, Schembechler, like Rodiguez, was also a traitor to his state.
The great coach was born and educated in Ohio. Thus it appears that all that matters to the University of Michigan is winning—because they have proven loyalty can be bought.
That may be the norm for athletics in this modern era, but it is a terrible motto for a school.
comments (38) write a comment »
write a new comment
9 months ago
That sounds about right. This betrayal cuts deep, but the Mountaineers will live on, always free, always proud. Rich Rodriguez will never know the satisfaction of leading WVU to its first national championship, or its first dynasty. He will never know it as a leader or even a fan, because you can't share that emotion when your true loyalties lie with another team... or when you have no loyalty.
9 months ago
That sounds about right. This betrayal cuts deep, but the Mountaineers will live on, always free, always proud. Rich Rodriguez will never know the satisfaction of leading WVU to its first national championship, or its first dynasty. He will never know it as a leader or even a fan, because you can't share that emotion when your true loyalties lie with another team... or when you have no loyalty.
9 months ago
Man, you talk about provincial! Loyalty to a state?!?! And I thought West Virginia is that part of the country that decided back in the 1860s to remain loyal to the nation and to abandon its state. Robert E. Lee stayed loyal to his state ("his country"). West Virginians used the Civil War to carve themselves away from "their motherland" and to create a new state. You talk about opportunistic!
Oh, and lest you forget, Fielding H. Yost was from your beloved State of West Virginia. And it is on him and his record that the foundation for the tradition of Michigan football was built.
Come on folks! Get a life. Move on.
from 9 months ago
Loyalty to a state? I do not live in West Virginia but I know a liar when I see one. By the way, West Virginia never carved it's self from anything. Virginia chose to "carve" itself from the United States, West Virginia chose to stay. If I remember my history, it had a little do with West Virginia believing, one man should never be a slave to another, just because he was born with darker skin.
My thinking may be considered provincial by many people. I am old fashioned. I am old school. I do believe loyalty is important to family, state, country and God. I do believe when a man stands before me and makes a promise that he should live by that promise. I do believe when a man signs a contract through 2013, we should be able to expect him to honor it.
I have not seen Mr. Rodriguez's contract but by all reports he was signed to coach, The University of West Virginia, through the 2013 season. He asked for the extension last year and it was agreed upon. I apologize, if I am not aware that it read, Mr. Rodriguez will coach through 2013 unless a shinier bobble is dangled in front of his face.
There is an old saying that says "contracts are made to be broken". I hope Coach Rod remembers that if he goes 10 - 2 at Michigan, but one of those losses is to Ohio State, with a National tittle shot in the balance.
Ask Lloyd Carr how that worked out for him.
J Pat
Clubhusband.com
from 9 months ago
May I ask why we need to bring the civil war into this conversation?
Are we all bound by the actions our respective states took 150 years ago? Does the fact that the state you live in once made a mistake mean that you are not allowed to criticize other people when they do things you feel are classless? (And as J correctly points out, West Virginia was part of the Union anyway!)
Coach Rod made the decision he thought was best for him—but he left WVU in a tough spot in doing so and went back on his word. I think the argument made against him is justified. He can do what he wants, but in bolting for Michigan after committing to the Mountaineers until 2013, he opens the door to criticism.
In terms of WVU fans "getting a life": come on, this only happened a few days ago. Surely they get a few weeks to vent before people start telling them to shut up.
I'm sure the loyal Mountaineers fans will end up supporting whatever Coach replaces Rod. In the meantime, they feel betrayed and they want to talk about.
Go ahead I say—I for one feel for you guys and wish you the best of luck against Oklahoma...
9 months ago
John - read your History. WV was made a state by Lincoln as a political move and then they stayed that way. It was a small minority of people in northern WV that did it - they were in Wheeling. The bulk of West Virginians including General Stonewall Jackson remained loyal to Virginia, Lee and the South.
from 9 months ago
Eric - please reread your history books. Wheeling is where representatives from around the state of WV met to decide to succeed from Virginia. They did not believe in slavery. In WV there were both North and South loyalties and regiments. West Virginians for the most part are honest and religious and that drives the sentiment here. What stings so badly is that someone like Rodriquez who is in the limelight, goes against the values of the people here. That is why everyone is really angry.
from 9 months ago
Frank - Wheeling was the temporary capital because it was safe from the South. After the war - Charleston became the Capital. There were plenty of slave owners in WV. The sentiments for the north were very slim. The move to take West Virginia was a purely politcal move for Lincoln to punish Virginia. Plain and simple. And it was a good move.
9 months ago
Rodriguez is about to learn about integrity from a man in a sweater vest - who is also 6 and 1 against the Wolverines... and he is also about to learn all about what OH - IO means.....
from 6 months ago
West Virginia could not possibly whine any more. It is amazing that Rodriguez is hated so much for leaving for the best coaching position in the country. As for oh trash you are right. He will laugh all the way back to Ann Arbor after he hears some of the most disrespectful fans out there be silenced. The sweater vest is a joke and so are the buckeyes. osu fans for some reason forgot they have been embarrassed in the nat. champ.2 times. I guess beating Michigan is more important. Keep gloating losers.
9 months ago
Did you know that one of OSU's greatest players family, Archie Griffin, was from Logan Co., West Virginia? He told us that in the Wendy's High School Heisman Award dinner. He said he was the first Griffin born in Ohio. West Virginia and Ohio have a lot of family ties and at one time, Archie said when he was asst athletic director at Ohio State that he tried to get a home and home game with WVU but it never happened. A lot of our citizens on the border with Ohio cheer for OSU as much as they do WVU....
from 9 months ago
WV and OSU did play those games. In 87 WV came to OSU. I was there, and during the Cooper years, OSU went to WVU - when Katzenmoyer was playing for the Buckeyes. I myself came from WV to go to OSU. You are right about the ties between the two states. Rodriguez will be coming into extra hostile teritory in Columbus for sure.
9 months ago
On a pleasant, short-sleeved afternoon in Morgantown, W.Va, under
A brilliant, almost cloudless sky, a shaggy-haired, bespectacled
John Denver ambled toward the 50-yard line to, in effect, christen the
new 50,000-seat Mountaineer Field, home of West Virginia football
team.
It was September 6, 1980, and the university wanted to do
something special to introduce both its new stadium and a young first-year WVU coach named Don Nehlen. So Denver was invited to sing one of his signature songs - "Country Roads" - during pre game festivities.
Denver, who died in 1997, accepted the invitation apparently under
the impression that he would perform a quick novelty gig - hop off
his helicopter, take an escorted ride into the stadium, sing "Country
Roads" and then bail out. But that's not exactly what happened.
Denver entered the stadium and found his microphone at the center
of the field, amidst the 325-member Mountaineer Band, which around
him had formed an outline of the state of West Virginia. Then as he
crooned the opening lyrics - "Almost heaven, West Virginia" - Denver was joined by about 50,000 backup singers.
Those who were there say the crowd's collective voice swelled to a
climax at the conclusion: "Country roads, take me home, to a place
where I belong. West Virginia, Mountain Momma. Take me home, country
roads."
Those attending also say that when Denver finished his song, he
gazed in all directions - perhaps dumbfounded at the reaction. Some
among the crowd wept. Most just cheered for a long time.
“I'm pretty sure he had no idea what that song means to this
state," said Dan Miller, an executive with the West Virginia Coal
Association and an unofficial Mountaineer football historian. "I was stationed in Germany in 1971 the first time I heard 'Country Roads,' and I'm not ashamed to say that while I was listening I started crying," Miller said. "It means a lot when you come from a place that most people don't appreciate or understand. And here's someone singing about its beauty."
West Virginians, you see, feel they're underdogs - almost always
fighting an uphill battle. Economists tell West Virginians it's
tough for their state to prosper, because the mountains are so steep and rugged that land development is a challenge. Educators used to
say it was tough for many West Virginia children to get ahead, because
transportation to schools was difficult and winters are harsh.
In the sports realm, there annually aren't many young top-tier
athletes in the state, in part because most schools are small and
competition is not as daunting as in denser population areas. There are, of course, exceptions - many of them.
Native West Virginia athletes include Jerry West (basketball),
John Kruk (baseball) and Mary Lou Retton (gymnastics). Author Pearl
Buck was a West Virginian; so was Tuskegee Institute founder Booker T.
Washington. Nobel Prize winning mathematician John Nash was from
West Virginia. So are country singers Kathy Mattea and Brad Paisley. Actor Don Knotts was from the Mountain State, as is actress Jennifer Garner, who still speaks fondly of the "hillers" and "creekers" from her alma mater, George Washington High School in Charleston. Most have spoken of both loving life, and overcoming tough times, in West Virginia.
So when Denver sang about Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah
River, it doesn't matter to most West Virginians that the Blue
Ridge is primarily a Virginia-North Carolina strand and the Shenandoah runs only a few miles through their state's Eastern Panhandle. To people who have lived their lives fighting uphill battles, hearing someone tell them their home is "almost heaven" was more than music to their ears. It was something they already knew.
West Virginians love their state. "Wild Wonderful West Virginia" is a small part of HEAVEN!
from 9 months ago
Thanks for sharing this story! I was there - a Junior in High School - graduated in 81, moved to Columbus in 82, and attended OSU. I can not wait to get Rodriguez and his team from up North into Ohio Stadium. There is going to be some payback for the Mountaineers.
from 9 months ago
Oh yeah - as a kid in WV - we had to learn that song in Grade School. I am sure Rodriguez had to learn it as well. Guess he forgot. I hope that Rodriguez has the "Not Welcome" mat put out for him if he ever decides to visit the state again. What a bum.
9 months ago
I love the post about West Virginia. I live in Kentucky but I spent about ten years in Clarksburg. My youngest son was born next to the stadium in Morgantown. In fact he was born on a Saturday and I spent some of the time trying to see the game from the window in my wife's room.
West Virginia is a state with challenges but the people are the best. I guess that's why I don't understand Rodriguez. He was well on his way to being a legend. In Michigan he will just be another name on the list of great coaches.
I truly think, that being from West Virginia, he feels he will never be considered a top tier coach unless he leads a program like Michigan.
Maybe some day, one of those country roads will take him home.
J pat
Clubhusband.com
from 9 months ago
Amen to that. I'm guessing Rod will regret this decision in the end...like they say, home is where the heart is. He really left a lot behind.
It will be interesting to see how the spread offense works in Ann Arbor however.
"Country roads" is one of the best songs ever recorded, period. It's hard to imagine how much it would mean to you guys considering my emotional reaction when I hear it as a native Californian.
I really need to visit West Virginia, and Kentucky for that matter...where do you recommend I go?
from 9 months ago
Zander, you should get out to West Virginia and Kentucky sometime. I read you live in the Bay Area of California. We won't remind you much of San Francisco or Oakland but I think those little towns north of Sacramento, like Marysville and Grass Valley, will come to mind.
I admit, we do lack the excitement of the big cities of the east and west. You won't find Broadway shows or major league baseball in either state but Little League games do draw three hundred fans and make the front page of the sports section. I know that is not many peoples idea of a great town but it is Kentucky's and West Virginia's.
If you want to know where to go and you love college sports, (and a few beers ) Morgantown is your place. A little known fact outside the state is; 20 thousand people tailgate that never go into the WVU games. The stadium holds 64,000 but 84, 000 show up to every game. Ann Arbor may have WVU beat in football tradition but West Virginia University is the number one party school in America.
As far as Kentucky and college sports, Louisville and Kentucky both have up and down programs in football. So I would recommend to any college sports fan that he makes the pilgrimage during the round ball season. The Wildcats are as storied in basketball tradition, as Michigan is in football and Louisville isn't far behind.
That is your tourism report for the day and thanks for the kind comments.
9 months ago
Rich said he would never leave and he did.....'nough said.
The good ole boy from Grant Town, WV is letting money and fame overtake his life, his integrity and his word.
Don't worry Michigan, he will do the same to you. Good luck.
http://www.thankscoachrod.com
9 months ago
Sorry "Rod" you will be fired in four years. I think UM will have him around for three years thinking that the fourth year will be the year, but then when he is 0-4 against the Bucks, he will be sent packing. Rich, is not going to be let back into WV coaching circle, When he tries to come back with his tail between his legs. Iam from Texas and if I went to UT or A&M, then I was the head coach for my school. I do not care if the OSU, or UM or ND job came calling. If I said I was going to stay in Texas I would stay here. Texans are loyal to there state, and we know that we would not be known as the coach that left. In Texas that calls for the Death Penalty! :)
9 months ago
What bites the West Virginia fans so much was that Rodriguez was willing to leave a great football school for a school that has a greater history but not the same level of success recently. Do WVU fans still whine about Bobby Bowden leaving for Florida State in the 1970's?
Michigan has a great football tradition and Rodriguez will be fine there. With Michigan's appeal to top atheletes around the country, and Rodriguez's coaching prowness, I believe Michigan got a winner. I have to say that I like the choice of Rodriguez over Miles and Schiano. I have seen the bitter comments of above from people stating how Rodriguez will be fired in four years, etc. If Michigan put up with Lloyd Carr's mediocrity for so many years I cannot see Rodriguez of being in danger. The fact is that Rodriguez is an excellent tactician (I would not have used that term for Lloyd Carr) and an excellent recruiter. What burns WVU fans is that he left a place that he was reverred for a bigger stage and a better opportunity.
My comments to these fans is move on. WVU is a great school with great talent. Hire Terry Bowden who desperately wants to be your coach and your success should continue. As for Michigan fans - we finally have a recruiter who is a coach and can finally engineer a game plan to win the closely matched games. Go Blue!
from 9 months ago
Go Blow! This new guy will not change your teams fortunes against Tressel and the Buckeyes. You will remain losers. Now that you have hired a coach with zero integrity - Buckeye fans have yet another reason to loath you Go Blow people from up north.
9 months ago
Spoken by a true looser who loves to live in the past. If we want to live in the past why did Ohio State hire a young, innovative coach named Tressel? Because they had a coach who could recruit but failed to win the big game. Lloyd Carr lamented the day Tressel took over because now Ohio State had a coach that could manage the game and beat a team better than his. Time will tell the truth but I see Rodriguez giving the Big 10 a shakeup that it has been lacking for years.
9 months ago
Everybody who's calling Rich Rodriguez a liar is absolutely wrong. A "lie" is when one says something knowing that it's not true. When Rich Rodgriguez spoke about staying at WV, it's because that's how he felt at the time. Things change and so do people's feelings. Anybody who's ever been divorced knows about that...when you got married, you thought it was forever and that's why you made the vows. Nick Saban was different because he was saying one thing while working on doing something totally opposite - he intentionally misled everyone.
9 months ago
I heard Rodregues had to leave because of the ongoing affiar with a cheerleader. It was either leave or divorce
from 9 months ago
Either way - the man has no integrity - he will fit right in at Michigan.
from 9 months ago
I am a current member of the cheerleading squad and i can comment on this one. Rod got a past cheerleader pregnant and the school covered Rod's ass and paid her hush money and money to raise the child comfortably! True story!
9 months ago
It only prooves that you (Michigan) can't find talent on your own. You have to STEAL coaches from us. Good luck with Rodrigues and with your "so called" basketball coach. HA HA
9 months ago
"CANT'T SPELL TRAITOR WITHOUT R R."
9 months ago
"CAN'T SPELL TRAITOR WITHOUT R R."
9 months ago
I never thought so before, but the West Virginia University football team has a bunch of crybabies for fans. Will it never end? Move on. Maybe West Virginia and Michigan can have equally successful seasons in the near future and the two teams can meet in the national championship game, with RR leading the Wolverines.
9 months ago
True story Coach Rod got a cheerleader pregnant. Not only that, but also the cheerleader was BLACK!! Wife Rita kicked his ass out of the house and he stayed down at the Radison for some months. Now how can some white boy be sleeping with a black girl. And were they smoking crack to?? Does the admin give her crack money too?? Now come on, do we want a coach who's bveen sleeeping around with black girls. You have the money for everything you want to do and been spending billions renovating buildings all over campus,,,,,so spend the bucks and get a real head coach with proven track record who is a little bit older and can't get it up anymoreso we know he'll keep it in his pants and concentrate on winning football. Forget that turd Terry Bowden and all the other yoyo's and get real and get a real coach!!! And Mich-again, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking a problem child from off our hands. Thank you, thank you Mich. GO BLOW you faggots. A for this well if employers with more prestige offered you more money you'd leave,,,blahy, blah. Remember that it's is standard and customary to work out a 2 week notice!! Rod didn't have the decency to do that. Go EERS,,,,,,FUCK ROD and his trailer park trash wife RITA!!!!!!!!
9 months ago
I'm glad someone else has posted about the black cheerleader as well. It's been well known around Morgantown for a few years. Good to see the word out, ha!!!!! I'm also happy to see FRADriguez GOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It's just a shame that he hurt his players and are recruiting at present. What a bum. I'll remembr him from his first and last game coached here, a big goose egggggg. We will move on, and be successful, but we will never forget a turncoat> just like va tech, and boston college. Screw the Blue, go buckeyes. : )
9 months ago
Rodriguez will never be in the same coaching league as Yost, Bo, or Carr. Those coaches wouldn't have left their team on the eve of a bowl game. They would have waited; they would have left with class and dignity. Hoping my Mountaineers shove the Fiesta Bowl right up Rodriguez's ass
9 months ago
We will most likely never know what went on between Rodriguez and WVU. I'm a West Virginia home boy,but now live in the deep south. I will always be a WVU fan and know WVU football will move on. Coach Stew can by all means take WVU to a national champonship in 08. He has most of his team coming back, and yes I'm pis*ed off about Rodriguez jumping ship like he did. We must look at the problem, If Rodriguez wasn't happy at WVU, and stayed just so he could fulfill his contract; His heart wouldn't be in his work! No one wants to stay at a job their not happy with. I think WVU is better off and the 08 team is better off. Mich fans think Rodriguez will be their dream come true, but I don't look for Mich to have a winning team in 08 as far as a national championship! Will they make a bowl game? Yes, I think they can, but thats not good in the eyes of Mich fans. They want it all!! I think Rodriguez hurt him self by going bye bye from WVU. If his ship sinks in Mich. he will always be looked at as a losing coach. Ol Coach Rod has his work cut out for him. He may wish he never left WVU.
9 months ago
I'm a WVU fan too!!! Coach Rodriguez is a Mother Fucking Son of a bitch !!!!!! I hope that Dick Sucker can't win a game at Michigain!! Fuck him any WVU coaching staff that goes with him !!!!!!
8 months ago
January 15, 2008
Football player files missing
Fingers point to Rodriguez
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
MORGANTOWN — West Virginia officials are wondering if assistant coaches aren’t all that Rich Rodriguez took with him to Michigan. They believe he may also have destroyed all or most of the paperwork files relating to every player on the current Mountaineer roster and virtually all of the activities conducted by the program over the past seven years.
Soon after returning to work after the Fiesta Bowl a little more than a week ago, the staff at the Puskar Center found that most of the files — including all of the player files — that had been stored in Rodriguez’s private office were missing. In addition, all of the players’ strength and conditioning files in the weight room were gone.
“It’s unbelievable. Everything is gone, like it never existed,’’ said a source within the athletic department, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Good, bad or indifferent, we don’t have a record of anything that has happened.’’
According to the source, the files in Rodriguez’s office that are now missing included everything from records regarding summer camps — financial and otherwise — to data on boosters, recruiting and most everything related to activities within the program during Rodriguez’s seven years at WVU.
Most disturbing, though, is the absence of all of the players’ personal files, which included, among other things, contact information, scholarship money awarded, class attendance records and records on personal conduct and community service, be it positive or negative.
8 months ago
http://youtube.com/watch?v=grxNSfpB0os
write a new comment