Rich Rodriguez to Pitt Rumors: Why Panthers Alum Mark May Has It All Wrong

Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

That's exactly what Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg has got to be thinking about Pitt Outland Trophy winner and ESPN analyst Mark May's advice to replace Mike Haywood, recently released from jail and fired from Pitt, with Rich Rodriguez, whose claim to fame is negative P.R. generated by an abundance of sleaze.

Simply put, Rodriguez fails the ethics test, even one for college football coaches.

Rodriguez, who was reportedly fired by Michigan today, has been abhorrent in complying with the ethics of good sportsmanship, contracts and NCAA rules.

After signing a letter of resignation with a Jan. 3, 2008, date, Rodriguez decided he had to leave the West Virginia program before the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. He bailed out on Dec. 18, 2007.

He signed a contract extension with West Virginia prior to the 2007 season with a buyout clause that stipulated he would owe West Virginia $4 million if he left within one year of the August 2007 signing date.

Rodriguez was not concerned about the buyout because he publicly stated he had made a long-term commitment to West Virginia football. West Virginia football and the citizens of state have always had an unshakable bond.

He was not concerned about violating the public trust or his legal contract. He refused to pay back the $4 million he owed. As the citizens of the state fumed, West Virginia University hauled him off to court.

This is what his biography at wikipedia.org says about Rodriguez's departure from West Virginia:

"On Dec. 27, 2007, West Virginia University filed a motion ... (in) court, asking the court to find that Rodriguez's contract with the University was valid, that WVU had not breached that contract, and that Rodriguez had breached it. Subsequently, on January 18, 2008, WVU added a count of breach of contract after Rodriguez allegedly failed to pay the first installment of the $4 million..."

Rodriguez believed his long-term commitment and the validity of any contract he signed with the Mountaineers depended on everything going his way.

The unexpected loss to Pitt, which cost the Mountaineers a trip to the national championship game, left him sobbing in the locker room and apparently gave him license to do whatever he wanted to.

Chancellor Nordenberg is freaking out from some NCAA violations regarding text messages. Do you seriously think he would hire the guy who single-handedly got the Michigan football program in trouble with the NCAA for four major violations that the Wolverines admit to and one additional violation the NCAA is still making finding on?

All the Michigan violations occurred on Rodriguez's watch as head coach.

Just who initially reported Rodriguez? Former Michigan players and players who left the program because they didn't like Rodriguez's disrespect, foul language and disregard for NCAA practice rules.  

Don't forget the alleged NCAA violations Rodriguez committed at West Virginia. There, as at Michigan, he showed little regard for NCAA practice rules and the required paperwork, subject to audit, he was to keep.

Yes, Rich Rodriquez would bring a splashy name to the Pitt football program; yes, he is a creative guy; and yes, his presence would rattle Pitt's rivals down south on I-79.

In the midst of offering praise for Coach Rodriquez, people like Mr. May make a gigantic leap of faith: Why would the guy who was just fired by Michigan for not winning enough games and not running a clean enough program be the best choice to turn the Panthers into big winners?

With no athletic director leadership to keep control over an out-of-control egoist like Rodriguez?

To those Pitt fans who think Rich Rod is a big-time winner: He won one—that's right, only one—outright Big East championship at West Virginia in 2005. He tied for first three other times, in 2003, '04 and '07.

If Pitt wants to go after an attention-getting hire, they can do better than Rodriguez, who has an overall record of 120-84-2.

With all the personal and professional baggage Rodriguez brings along with his winning average of 70 percent, Pitt can find someone much better, even at this late date.