Weirton, WV, January 30, 2008
Former WVU football coach Rich Rodriguez reportedly walked out on his International House of Pancakes breakfast this morning in favor of a more substantial meal at a nearby Shoney's.
Local IHOP Manager Erv Puckman confirmed that the new Michigan coach arrived at 8:45 a.m., ordered several menu items, then dashed out shortly after 9:30 a.m.
“He was all smiles at first, but then he kept making demands that we tried to keep up with, and when we couldn’t give him everything he wanted, he’s like, ‘I’m outta here.’ I was kind of shocked," said Puckman.
Hostess Millie Packer said Rodriguez established an instant rapport with those around him, and his initial orders of savory bacon and piping hot buckwheat cakes were real crowd pleasers. Then, the former Mountaineer asked for extra syrup and some unsalted butter patties to take home for friends.
“We don’t normally do that kind of thing, but we wanted to keep him happy, so we did. Then he said he wanted hot fudge on his pancakes, but I told him our hot fudge machine doesn’t get turned on until lunch and it takes about 20 minutes to warm up. That’s when he got mad and started throwing other names around like Appleby’s, Shoney's, Bob’s Big Boy.”
Puckman added, “We can’t compete with those boys. They’ve got three times the waiting staff and enough equipment to cater a wedding. We’re just a small restaurant, and we do the best we can with what we’ve got.”
Rodriguez supporter Don Hemhaw defended the coach, saying, "Rich only came in because IHOP promised him a first-class breakfast. Well, they didn't deliver. Rich is a hungry guy. He stays hungry, and he stays humble."
First-year waitress Nancy Davis said the incident has destroyed her trust in morning customers. "When Coach Rodriguez came in, he looked me straight in the eye and said he wasn't leaving until every last biscuit got eaten. Fool that I am, I believed him."
Veteran waitress Kelly Dillon expressed no surprise. "I know this is a business, so I don't care what he does. If he's still eating at 9:30, I'm here. If he leaves, I'm still here. My shift doesn't end til 10:45."
A dispute remains as to whether Rodriguez owes the restaurant the $40 tab for the meal. Sources close to Rodriguez say he plans to contest the bill on the grounds of false inducement.
His agent, Mike Brown, said, "The menu clearly states 'Service with a Smile.' If Rich knew the service would be so poor, he never would have committed to the griddle cakes, let alone the scone and the three-cheese omelette."
IHOP officials contend they plan to insist that Rodriguez "pay every penny."
29 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Update:
Former West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez filed a $13.33 letter of credit Thursday, claiming that's the amount he owes the restaurant.
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annie mouse about 1 year ago
But later recanted on the $13.33 because his demands were not met in service. Earlier employees at IHOP said they saw him shred the bill and reboot the service computer at the pancake house losing all records of him ever being there.
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Rich Boggess about 1 year ago
In fact, while sitting at the table before he left, reports say that he was on his phone with customers on their way to the IHOP. He told the customers, "I'm heading to Shoney's up the street," before giving any indication he would be leaving.
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Rich Boggess about 1 year ago
He called family and friends saying that after he left IHOP his table was vandalized by other customers. Upon confirming these accusations with IHOP manager, he stated "The bus boy never said anything about cleaning up any more on his table then what was necessary." Rodriguez is still outraged by the lack of respect for that table.
"I have been loyal to IHOP for years. I was able to bring in new customers, my business helped them become a consistent contender for the Top 10 restaurant chains in the region. I can't believe they forgot all that I gave them. If it wasn't for me, they would have still only have 2 kinds of syrup at the table."
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Also, according to Brown, offensive coordinator Calvin Magee is claiming he was denied the opportunity to order an additional meal because of the color of his skin.
According to the waitress, "When we saw him leave for Shoney's with Rodriguez, we just assumed he had finished eating here as well."
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
PAY UP DEADBEAT
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Rodriguez has also issued a statement that he is philosophically opposed to paying $40 for a breakfast, but his receipt from Shoney's was obtained pursuant to a FOIA request, showing that he in fact paid $40 for his Shoney's breakfast.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT RR WENT TO SHONEY'S WITHOUT CONSULTING RITA FIRST.
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Rick Eades about 1 year ago
honorable, surprised, and disappointed roach cod says leave my family outta this. fans, confused, are asking, which family would that be oh great and powerful cod?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
THIS IS SSSOOOOO FUNNY... LOL
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Only a michigan coach would refuse to pay for ordering items and be served them. I understand that he is the newest celebrity but if somethings not on the menu then have something else. I have seen the menu there are more than 10 options. If you order something and they serve it then you are abbliged to pay it even if you don't eat it. The only acception is if they messed up your order in some way. They only have a certain amount of ingreadients. It is inconsidderate to order something and then leave without paying. Just because they aren't the Michigan coach doesn't mean they are not people. The least he could do is show some respect to the minimum wage working class. THey treat you with respect at least return the favor. And if you couldn't tell by now i am an OSU fan. Go Bucks!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Great stuff, I love a good allegory. I also love OSU... but dude you are retarded. Please take advantage of spell check next time you post something. In fact, maybe just avoid posting altogether.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
As I understand it, he also called three prospective IHOP employees and encouraged them to apply for jobs at Shoney's just pryor [sic] to walking out.
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Ryan T about 1 year ago
JUST IN: Live from WCHS, Rich Rodriguez was trying to run more than the "spread" while in IHOP that morning. Rookie Waitress states," He slowly spread the butter on his toast and then said I am the father of the spread so let me butter them buns." The young waitress was so upset she couldn't finish her interview but I think we all know what buns he was wanting to spread.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Leave it to the tO$U fan to think this is real. Geez, and to think I'm now forced to cheer for them one game a year.
In response to the live report from WCHS, Rodriguez' camp has issued a statement that it was not him hitting on the waitress, it was in fact his look alike brother.
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Dave B about 1 year ago
Last year, when Fraudriguez turned down offers to eat breakfast at McDonald's , he said, "I'm very excited to stay at IHOP and look forward to eating here the rest of my career,' Rodriguez said. "A lot of things that influenced my decision was the outpouring of support from the workers at IHOP and throughout the country. It had a tremendous influence on me and my family."
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Mo Ford about 1 year ago
Now Rod can't find a Head chef to run the breakfast spread that he likes, "It seems that all the good one's have been taken" "I'm trying to bribe a young up and coming chef, That is going to work for Wendy's" just south of where he is now.
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Lou Stephan III about 1 year ago
Just the week before Rich had gone to IHOP and ordered their National Champ Breakfast Monthly Special. But, after ordering his feet were getting gold and he was feeling clammy. His mind was wo ndering if the National Champ Breakfast was on the menu everyday in Michigan. He was thinking the pancakes had to taste better, the breakfast meats had to be tastier, and the juice had to be sweeter up there. He would be able to eat at IHOP 3 /7/52 a year (except Saturdays cause he would be coaching). By the time he came to, the National Champ Breakfast Special was cold and had to be thrown away.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
THIS JUST IN FROM LOU HOLTZ, "THUFFERIN THUCATASH, ALL THIS OVER BREAKFAST?"
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BUDDY B about 1 year ago
THIS JUST IN FROM LOU HOLTZ, "THUFFERIN THUCATASH, ALL THIS OVER BREAKFAST?"
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
An unnamed source overheard Rodriguez saying one positive thing about IHOP: "I love their hash browns! They're shredded. Not in square patties. I love things that are shredded!"
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Doug Phelps about 1 year ago
Exclusive Bleacher Report
***BREAKING NEWS UPDATE***
Rodriquez responds to IHOP:
Former WVU Football Coach Rich Rodriguez says he left IHOP to go to Shoney's because of the actions of IHOP not because Shoney's gave him a better offer.
Rodriguez filed his formal response in federal court Friday to the accusations filed against him by IHOP over the $40 tab with the restaurant.
The answer repeats a lot of the same issues Rodriguez has mentioned since he left IHOP. "There had been promises of extra syrup and some unsalted butter patties and fudge for the pancakes." He claims verbal promises were made to him and not upheld.
Rodriguez says those broken promises were nothing more than fraud by the restaurant. He also says he was forced to leave because his tab was nullified by the restaurant .
Rodriguez also blames IHOP for conducting a smear campaign against him.
Rodriguez asserts his leaving IHOP has not damaged the restaurant's breakfast efforts. He says that IHOP watresses recently reported record tips. He says the books and W2's should be looked at to determine if his leaving has damaged IHOP. The answer also requests that IHOP customers be made a third-party to the lawsuit.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
what a bonehead
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
BARRY SWITZER COMMENTS: "Cleary IHOP needs to get over this incident and move on. Rich was a loyal customer for many years and brought success to IHOP. He has simply moved on to a better restaurant". When told that IHOP didn't want Rich back as a customer, they just wanted him to pay his tab, Switzer replied, "That's for the courts to decide."
Rodriguez agent Mike Brown wants an investigation into how much this IHOP chain suffered as a result his client's actions. "IHOP wants to bill Rich forty dollars to his breakfast, but the chain is as profitable as ever. We can't conclude that the meager about of food that Rich and his party ate damaged IHOP anywhere near the amount of forty dollars. It is ridiculous and almost fraudulent".
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
It doesn't matter if the restaurant is damaged or not. He knew what it would cost to eat there, he even signed a contract stating so, so he must pay his tab. He keeps trying to spin everything so he might as well go to McDonalds. They have a playground. IHOP does not.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
What color was the waitress and did she cheer about his breakfast?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Rodriguez also claims that his children and family were harassed shortly after leaving IHOP.
"I knew there would be emotions when I decided to change restaurants," Rod said. "I didn't think they would go as far as to throw food my kids."
IHOP managment however claims it was other customers in the restaurant and not any employees of IHOP that harassed Rodriguez's children.
"SOme customers come here and like it and don't want to eat anywhere else because it cozy- It's home," an IHOP spokesman said. "When they see someboy come in here and do what ROd did, well, some customers just take that personally. IHOP can't be held responsible for what every customer in here feels about a man like Rod."
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
And the problems continue... PRYOR to his move to Shoney's, Rod got this great new menu item from his Great Grandmother called the 'Taco Perfectiono'. This new item was sure to propel IHOP to the top of the restaurant chains. Rod thought he could just take Taco Perfectiono with him to Shoney's, but Lee Corso was sitting there waiting for him and said "Not so fast my friend!". You see, while Rod was arguing over his $40 tab, other more reliable and trustworthy restaurants started working on putting the 'Taco Perfectiono' on THEIR menus.
So now Rod may have to end up paying the $40 tab and losing his beloved 'Taco Perfectiono'. What is he going to do now??? Looks like Rod's stay at Shoney's won't be long!
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James Clegg about 1 year ago
Mr. Rodriguez also left a one sentence response on an IHOP comment card which said, "I will never eat here again." The message was left with a former waitress who is currently unemployed.
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