Rich Rodriguez forgot his family jewel.
The former West Virginia coach football team cleaned the cabinet before left he for Michigan. He took his offensive coordinator. He took his backfield coach, who doubles as his head of recruiting.
He even has designs on every prep star eyeing WVU as a college home—the prize being a speedy 6'6", 225-pound QB out of southwest Pennsylvania named Terrelle Pryor.
But for all that, the coach left the most important piece of the puzzle in Morgantown.
You see, Rodriguez may be the genius behind the spread offense, but quarterback Patrick White is the engine that makes it run.
Rodriguez went to West Virginia’s blur in a blue jersey whenever the team was in trouble. Without White, Rodriguez has a .600 win percentage. With him, Coach Rod’s sitting at .700—and on his way to Ann Arbor.
By my count, Patrick White is 30-2 in his college career when 100 percent healthy. One loss came as a freshman, when he shared QB duties. The other came when Steve Slaton was totally useless, due to a wrist injury, in last year's Louisville game.
I'm not going to predict the future. I am, however, looking forward to finally seeing if the wins at WVU were the product of Rodriguez’s genius or a very special quarterback.
I do think Rodriguez will have success at Michigan. But he won’t be the Big Ten dynamo the Wolverines expect. He won’t even enjoy the success Lloyd Carr did when he won 76 percent of his games—but that's not Rodriguez's biggest problem.
On the contrary, Rodriguez's problem is that Jim Tressel wins 83 percent of his games at Ohio State. That's quite a standard to live up to.
Especially when you forgot your precious White diamond back at your old stomping grounds.
J Pat
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8 months ago
Rodriquez relied on White too much.
He forgot about Steve Slaton.
He abandoned the guy who broke through when things looked bleak - Owen Schmidt.
He made the same mistakes his mentor made. Don Nehlen relied too much on Major Harris and when he got hurt against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl in 1988, he lost the National Championshp.
8 months ago
don nehlen is a traitor as far as i am concerned too. when push came to shove he told rod that Michigan was the place to be vs WVU. As far as I'm concerned Nehlen should pack up his belongings and take them with him to Ann Arbor; he too is a Michigan Man. Nehlen we know what you are about, we prefer you not come back to the Lake.
from 8 months ago
Awesome. I'm sure he cares what you think about him. Go Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8 months ago
Frank I agree 100%.
I don't remember Schmidt's numbers but I believe in the Pitt game Slaton had 9 carries and one reception. Slaton may not have had the season some of us thought he would but how many WVU games have you seen where Slaton ran for 15 yards on 10 carries and then 150 yards on the next ten? That was the story all of last year but this year he never got the second ten carries.
I know everyone is getting tired of the Rodriguez story but it will be interesting to see how Michigan does with Rodriguez and WVU does without him.
8 months ago
It's been a few years since I have been in Morgantown, does Nehlen's son in-law still own the chicken wing restaurants? If so I wonder how business will be affected. I know it sounds bad but I remember how West Virginians will do anything for a neighbor but will never forget if they get cheated or scorned.
from 7 months ago
thats bull.
and very stereotypical,
rodriguez made a promise to retire a west virginian,
but he broke it.
you'd be pissed too.
belien, on the other hand made a fair deal,
and made no promises.
he wasnt a liar, or a cheat.
8 months ago
Rodriguez DID NOT FINISH THE JOB he supposedly set out to do-- bring a national championship to West Virginia. What good is a job unfinished? Don't say he "left it in better shape than before he came". HE and his pocketbook LEFT IN BETTER SHAPE, than before he came. What good is a great incision for surgery when the surgery is cancelled? Leave an open wound is all! Which is what Rodriguez did to the state of West Virginia.
And as far as the "expert analysts" at ESPN- questioning the positon of a governor in such a matter. They say "where is the governor when a coach gets fired". I say "WHERE IS THE COACH YOU PAID MILLIONS TO HIRE?". He should be preparing for a BCS game, but he is out recruiting players for another program. In your narrow minded eyes- ESPN it is also a business when a drug addict breaks into your home for money for drugs-- is it not. To the drug addict- it is a business. So it all depends on what side you are looking from!
WE OWE RICH RODRIGUEZ NOTHING-- but a PERSONALIZED EXIT SIGN THAT READS "CAN'T SPELL TRAITOR WITHOUT R R."
And as far as Ken Kendrick and his lame excuse about Fraud's departure; I say this:
"ask not what your university can do for you-- but rather ask what you can do for your university'
WE DON'T NEED YOUR BRIBE MONEY--- A MOUNTAINEER YOU NEVER WERE AND NEVER WILL BE! YOU AEE A SPOILED BRAT LIKE THE OTHER TRAITOR. A surgeon does not not cut off a whole leg for a flesh wound---- and that is what you have done! Don't come back either!!!
from 8 months ago
Quit crying........move on.........please. I am so sick of hearing about this. Rich Rodriguez has done plenty for WVU. More than he should have by the looks of it. You guys sure are unappreciative. If WVU had gone 7-4 or6-5, would you still be mad?NOpe
from 7 months ago
fyi,
we're not crying.
rod's an asshole, and personally, i'm glad to be rid of him,
if any of you guys have ever met the man, he's a retard.
he's the epitomy of the dumb hick stereotype of west virginia.
rod did do good as a coach this year, yes.
but years before: not so much.
it doesn't matter what the stats were.
he lied.
and if you're so sick of hearing about it,
don't f*cking look at the page.
and next time you try to tell someone off, my friend,
learn to type.
8 months ago
This article is right on. We loved Rodiguez and only wish him well, but we were disappointed in his attitude toward the WVU fans and how he handled his departure. We do have a lot to be thankful for, however, and the primary reason is that Pat White is still our quarterback, Steve Slaton is still our running back, and Owen Schmitt is still our fullback. That's not to mention all the other quality players that WVU has. Go Mountaineers!! Beat Oklahoma!!
8 months ago
DON'T PROCLAIM " YOUR DREAM JOB" AND THEN RUN OUT? If you like that-- maybe your wife should take note. Quite being so stupid and see the real problem here--- donkey brains like yopurs and rr's have no business in mountaineer country! He OWES HIS SUCCESS TO US!!!!
8 months ago
IF A BOWDEN SHOWS UP IN WV-- HAVE HIM ARRESTED THEM DEPORTED--WVU HAS SOME VERY GOOD PLAYERS. DO NOT LET A DREAMER RUIN WHAT IS LEFT OF A GOOD TEAM-- TEAM IS DOWN A LITTLE AT THIS TIME -- ALL THEY NEED IS A "DOC" TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK-- HOPE WHITE -SLATON - DEVINE AND ALL THE OTHERS STAY WITH WVU
8 months ago
To the WVU fans: At the end of the day, if the guy does not want to be your coach, do you really want him?
Besides, Michiganders will all LOVE the guy...until the first loss. Then they'll want to barbecue his rear end in molasses and send him packing. Okay, maybe the second loss. After the first one they'll be too stunned to think.
8 months ago
Pat White, the doozie from Daphne, is one of the greatest college quarterbacks in Big East memory. But you can rest assured that RichRod has his eyes on his brother for the near future anyway.
8 months ago
Oh, and about Terry Bowden--let us not forget that with Pat Dye's players the coach went an amazing 21-1-1 at Auburn. Pretty good if you ask me.
8 months ago
The guy's a low life. I feel so sorry for WVU fans. Just remember Tressel wins 83% of his games an 6 of 7 vs. MI. If that continues the "Rod" will be begging for his job back at WVU. I'de love to see that.
8 months ago
sorry for all you west virginia fans... RichRod is going to get someone better than Pat White:
...his name is Terrelle Pryor
8 months ago
sorry for all you west virginia fans... RichRod is going to get someone better than Pat White:
...his name is Terrelle Pryor
8 months ago
sorry for all you west virginia fans... RichRod is going to get someone better than Pat White:
...his name is Terrelle Pryor
8 months ago
sorry for all you west virginia fans... RichRod is going to get someone better than Pat White:
...his name is Terrelle Pryor
8 months ago
Ryan,
Do really think Michigan would have hired rod if he went 7-4 or 6-5. Think before you make retarded statements. As for crying! You've been crying about Loyd get his ass handed to him by Tressel annually. Get over it and move on!!!!!!!
from 8 months ago
we would have still looked at hiring him, yes, one of our prospects was rutgers' greg schiano, and another was ball state's brady hoke both of which went 7-5 [and happen to be going to the same bowl]
8 months ago
Wow to compare a kid who hasn't stepped on a college field to a 2 time all-american is quite arrogant! Must be the mouth of the "Michigan man".
from 8 months ago
not neccisarily, just a dumbass like the post below this one
8 months ago
CAN'T SPELL TRAITOR WITHOUT RR
8 months ago
Thank you Michigan for taking a problem child off our hands. Hopefully one day you'll be looking to play for Natl Champ and all you have to do is beat Indiana who is 4-7 at home and 110,00 of you fans sit in shock and disbelief as the 4 offensive plays Coach Rod runs all 4 quarters did not work and you get outcoached and beat by a hapless Indiana. And then sneak out of town at night to be annouced as the new head coach at Florida, which btw would be a huge step up from Miss-again. Oh well,,,,pay that man all you can cause you Mich fans are used to "Wait Till Next Year" Rah, Rah,,,GO BLUE. Again thank you for taking this problem from our hands and taking him to the capitol of "Home Foreclosures and layoff. Also Coach Rod should love it up there with all the black-aa crack whores all over the place up there. He likes them black cheerleaders!!!! GO BLUE and GO BLOW YOUR WAD BITCHES!!!!!! RAH< RAH ROO !!! You bunch of sorry ass loosers.
8 months ago
I do thank Michigan for taking him. A lifelong WVU fan, after the Dec. 1 debacle I swore off football until Rod was gone - which I was worried could be until I died. The man has never made an adjustment once the game has started, fortunately they were usually up by 30 points before the opposition figured the offense out. Many people aren't as upset as him being gone as in the bush league actions of calling the recruits, setting his resignation after the bowl game and not having enought balls to tell the AD face to face that he was leaving (he sent a letter via an intern). It is hard to take (or believe) a guy that repeated said how he would be "here until I retire" (I think he repeated that for the Michigan job) and then whines because his wife didn't have a field pass and high school coaches had to pay $5 for a ticket. WVU deserves better and so does Michigan. I figure Miles will be there within three years and Michigan will be better off and a lot of people in West Virginia will be happy when Rod is looking for a job.
BTW - Pryor isn't going to Michigan.
7 months ago
Bill Stewert, is a fantastic coach he does not preasure the boys as much as Rodriguez, Way 2 go Mountaineers I am so proud of you,
Way to go Pat White and Divine and Dingle and Rivers and Owen, We are all proud of you!!!!! IN YOUR FACE RODRIGUEZ.... We thought that Rodriguez leaving was bad but now we have away better coach Bill Stewert, Bad things turn into good things.
7 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.
6 months ago
Rod Loveed you while you were hill now your gone.... you made somepromises to us fans that you were goiong to be our coach tiil you retire,,, no natter whar your staying.... Well you didnt. Hope you read this personally I guess when family lets you down they let you down you dont expect that out of family but when it does it hurts the most... not sure of your reasons money maybe? looks like you were getting what you nneded for you and your family to ritire... well you left had a deal ,deal was broken, time to honor that deal.. cough up the money you owe us and dont come back whining.... thats how i see we as respectable wvu football fans (borned and raised) have to see it. hope your health stays well and your football program goes to shit.... but give that money back to the school we'll be fine with out you dont you worry we always have been we dont abandon one another i beleives its written in these hill somewhere. oh tell your other buddy beiline we saaid hello hope things going well for him there. well have a good life coach kepp your family strong and say your prayers keep those things close to you forget about the score of your games they are meaninless to you now your coaching their team now not yours.your team and home is here and it will stay strong without you. John Beverly A true WVU Fan from clarksburg.... oh yeah i wont forget seeing the old salem games either it was a good life with good people,
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