RE: RRod meets with Michigan?
-- best article I have seen on the situation
Jackson
December 16, 2007
Rodriguez situation has no upside for WVU
By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor
IT WAS irony at its best. There was Rich Rodriguez in the midst of a press conference trying to steer away from the reports that he had met with Michigan officials about the Wolverine football job.
And the presser was being held in the renovated part of the Puskar Center. The part of the Center he pushed to have renovated when he turned down Alabama to stay in Morgantown. The part adjacent to the new academic center. The part that looks out over the new suites and directly over the locker rooms that are scheduled to be renovated now that the home season is over.
West Virginia University officials have bent over backward to keep the coach, to keep him happy. They apparently have paid to the point of strain. Yet one year after flirting with Alabama, he was flirting again with Michigan.
Forget Peoria. That didn’t play well in Morgantown. Or Charleston. Or Wheeling.
Loads of people in the Mountain State were recalling Rodriguez’s words when he turned down the Crimson Tide.
“When the details [of the new contract with WVU] come out, you’ll see that I’m committed to West Virginia University for a very, very long time,’’ said the coach at the time.
Yet last Friday he was in Toledo, Ohio, discussing an offer with UM.
Move over Nick Saban, huh? Hello Bobby Petrino Land.
Whatever is announced after the deadline for this column, it’s damage that one doubts can or could have been controlled.
Word out of Touchdown City is Rodriguez was so tight-lipped he didn’t even clue in his own assistants — some of which were on the road recruiting. Perhaps looking a bit foolish.
There’s a way to handle this kind of situation. And Rodriguez didn’t handle it well. Instead of addressing the situation straight on, he was coy. What WVU administrator, Rodriguez coworker or fan wants, or deserves, coyness? What financial supporter wants to watch his or her coach dancing after putting forth hard-earned money? Just come out with it. “Yes, I’m listening to Michigan. I’ll make a decision within 24 hours.” Then follow through.
Much of his good will with the fans has dissolved. I said earlier in the week all Rodriguez had to do was turn Michigan down, win the Fiesta Bowl and he’d again be a hero. I’m not so sure now.
The folks in these parts tired of the dalliances.
Oddly, Don Nehlen, the former WVU coach and UM assistant, was interviewed by one of the Detroit newspapers.
“If Rich talks to me, I’d tell him what I think,” Nehlen said. “Naturally, I love West Virginia. I coached there 21 years and stayed here, but I understand the mystique of Michigan. You talk about Michigan football ... Let’s be honest, that’s as good as it gets.’’
I guess what the coach doesn’t understand is that the level of Michigan’s program is what West Virginia wants to reach. Maybe the school never will draw over 100,000 to games, but, hey, that’s the goal, right? And, save for the Pitt game, WVU was more than pointed in the right direction. If memory serves, the Mountaineers are ranked in the top 10. The Wolverines are not ranked at all.
WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong and company had to think Rodriguez’s purpose was to help the Mountaineers climb toward the tradition of the Wolverines, not put his alma mater in the position of a stepping stone. John Beilein I think some can understand. But a boy from Grant Town?
Look, Rodriguez is a proven winner on the field, but his alma mater lost in a big way over the last couple of days. The damage is severe. Pastilong, Mike Parsons and the rest of the WVU honchos have to be fed up. The assistants have to be upset.
And I haven’t even touched upon the players. What must they be thinking? They came to play for the guy for four years in a five-year span. Yet every year he’s checking into moving? Who wants to get serious with someone sporting a wandering eye?
However you look at it, it’s a right cross to a program Rodriguez professes to love. To the psyche of the players and coaches. To the fans who have been asked to dress in gold, fill the stadium and donate cash.
And, oh my goodness, to the recruiting effort. When Rodriguez turned down Alabama, it made a statement. A heck of a statement. “Nothing,” the move said, “is going to pry me away from my home state.” Now all of that’s gone. If you don’t think recruiters from other schools would point to Rodriguez as they did Petrino, I’ve got some sparkling water dipped from the Kanawha River I’d like to sell.
Terrelle Pryor? Josh Jenkins? Nice knowing ya.
Any way you look, there’s no upside to the situation. None. And if Rodriguez was upset by the reaction of WVU fans after the Pitt game, what would he expect at Michigan? We’re talking about people who live in Detroit. If you’ve not been to Detroit, ask a friend. Soft the people are not. Go ahead. Win 11 games at UM, yet lose to Ohio State. See how that goes over. Do it two years in a row and we’ll see you back on the Tulane sideline.
We’ll have to wait and see how this will impact WVU season ticket sales next season. But forget about selling more Fiesta Bowl tickets.
It’s just a lot of damage.
Inflicted upon one of the program’s builders.
To contact staff writer Mitch Vingle, send e-mail to mitchvingle@wvgazette.com or call 348-4827.
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