Major Applewhite coming home

[CWood97]

Michigan got their man....You must be proud and Bo must be turning over in his grave....

:mj07: :mj07: :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:


When the University of Michigan began looking for a new football coach in November, it's safe to say a man the general public ranks with coaching bad boy Nick Saban wouldn't have been high on its list.

Yet comparisons between the carpetbagging Alabama coach and new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez have been pretty common on talk radio and the Internet over the past few days.

Let's say this up front: Rodriguez is not Saban.

He did not insist again and again that he'd never take the Michigan job, then skulk out of town when millions were put on the table, as Saban did with Alabama when he was coaching the Miami Dolphins. Rodriguez hasn't bolted three straight jobs after short stints, in each case leaving when someone waved more money at him.

That's not to say Rodriguez doesn't deserve some grief.

His damaged reputation is a self-inflicted wound.

From just about the moment it became public that the then-West Virginia coach was considering coming to Michigan, Rodriguez has made decisions that make him look like a coldly calculating mercenary with little concern for the fans and players he's left behind.

It was Rodriguez who sent a graduate assistant to inform his boss he was quitting.

It was Rodriguez who informed West Virginia recruit Terrelle Pryor that he was going to Michigan before he informed his own team, and then invited Pryor to join him in Ann Arbor.

It was Rodriguez who failed to ever talk to the West Virginia media - and by extension, the fans who loved him - in any meaningful way about his interview with Michigan and his decision to leave.

Finally, it was Rodriguez who - in his introductory press conference in Ann Arbor - made it clear he'd hired lawyers to try and reduce or void the $4 million buyout he was contractually obligated to pay West Virginia if he left for another job.

Now, this week, comes news Rodriguez may have destroyed documents in his West Virginia office prior to leaving town. The coach's agent denies he did anything wrong - and may very well be proved right eventually - but the damage is done on the public relations front. Your average college football fan - having read about the Pryor incident and how Rodriguez quit - could find it very believable the coach was shredding docs faster than an Enron executive, and shredding them for a reason.

In a few short weeks, Michigan has gone from a football program seemingly above question on the ethical front to national poster boy for me-first college football coaches.

If you doubt that, here's what a national columnist for The Associated Press wrote Wednesday:

"Missing files aside, the whole Rodriguez mess is a classic case study about all that is wrong in college football these days, where players get by on room and board while the coaches who lead them become multimillionaires."

You wonder what Bo Schembechler, legendary for always putting character first at Michigan, would say if he were alive.

You know he'd say something.

You know he wouldn't be happy.

Without Bo, it's long past time for somebody else at Michigan to step up and tell Rodriguez he has to do more than let his agent insist West Virginia probably has copies of any missing documents.

The first - and best - action the new coach could take is calling a press conference to announce he's paying West Virginia the $4 million buyout that was in the contract he signed.

It's the right thing to do.

You signed the contract. Live with it.

Yes, maybe you could pay some lawyers to weasel out of part of it, but Rodriguez needs to be about 100 miles from anything that involves weaseling right now.

He should pay the buyout, publicly admit he made some mistakes in the last month or so, apologize to West Virginia and its fans, and promise that the whole experience will cause him to be above question on these matters in the future.

America loves apologies. A simple public "I'm sorry" will instantly separate Rodriguez from Saban.

That and the $4 million, of course.

Until both are forthcoming, the odds are pretty good that Rodriguez's public fight with the entire state of West Virginia is going to get uglier before it gets better, dragging Michigan and its football program further into the mud in the process.

You people are like a crazy ex girlfriend who just got dumped for a hotter broad. Get over it, he's gone.

On the 4 million, this is how these things are handled everywhere. Both sides haggle, the number gets negotiated down and the lawyers win.

If your ridiculously cheap athletic dept wasn't so penny wise and pound foolish then you wouldn't be in this mess.

BTW, nice hire with Bill Stewart!!! :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

 

[CWood97]

still, to me, the kid is an attention whore.....

Aren't they all? :shrug:

 

[CWood97]

Stewart Mandel read my post!!!! :mj07: :mj07:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/01/18/wvu.rodriguez/index.html

 

[Wilson]

You people are like a crazy ex girlfriend who just got dumped for a hotter broad. Get over it, he's gone.

On the 4 million, this is how these things are handled everywhere. Both sides haggle, the number gets negotiated down and the lawyers win.

If your ridiculously cheap athletic dept wasn't so penny wise and pound foolish then you wouldn't be in this mess.

BTW, nice hire with Bill Stewart!!! :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

I can't wait to watch this whole entire relationship between RR and Michigan unfold.

RR, the egomaniacal control freak going to a place like AA. Mark my words....you will have soooo much attrition in the 1st year, your fan base will lose their minds.

He is a good coach and will eventually get you guys close to the top of Big Ten....but, you are in for a bumpy ride.

HOWEVER, your comment about Bill Stewart just shows what an ignorant fool you are (no offense). Please look who WVU just hired for their coaching staff....3 coaches from the SEC and they all made lateral moves. We'll be just fine and continue to win BCS bowls while you enjoy Big Ten mediocrity for a while.

RR's biggest criticism was his inadequate coaching staff....Tony Gibson....HAHAHAHA! What a joke. You will soon learn. Look at the rest of them....Tony Dews :mj07:

Just pay the fawking 4 million and wvu fans will move on. :SIB

 

[CWood97]

HOWEVER, your comment about Bill Stewart just shows what an ignorant fool you are (no offense).

RR was the architect and builder of the house. It was a nice house, yep. Impressed a lot of folks. The architect and builder leaves to build a new place on a premier piece of property. What's WVU do? They hire his freaking painter!! :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

He'll do okay next year. After that, you folks are DONE. That guy couldn't win in D2. Sure is a swell guy though. :shrug:

 

[Kramer]

RR was the architect and builder of the house. It was a nice house, yep. Impressed a lot of folks. The architect and builder leaves to build a new place on a premier piece of property. What's WVU do? They hire his freaking painter!! :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

He'll do okay next year. After that, you folks are DONE. That guy couldn't win in D2. Sure is a swell guy though. :shrug:

That's kinda cruel Wood, but the truth. WV blew
me and everyone else away with that knee jerk
reaction off the bowl win. They will pay for that
big time. While that may have been a big warm
fuzzy orgasmic win at the end of the season, the
fact of the matter is WV will not be a factor next
season for the simple reason of coaching. Don't
believe me, just hide and watch.

 

[Wilson]

RR was the architect and builder of the house. It was a nice house, yep. Impressed a lot of folks. The architect and builder leaves to build a new place on a premier piece of property. What's WVU do? They hire his freaking painter!! :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

He'll do okay next year. After that, you folks are DONE. That guy couldn't win in D2. Sure is a swell guy though. :shrug:

Wow Wood...did you make that up yourself?...at least credit the source for that statement.

On another note....below is integrity...something your new coach has none....just pay up Fraudriguez!

WVU pays $287K incentive bonus, still seeking $4 million from Rodriguez

Associated Press

Updated: January 18, 2008, 7:33 PM ET

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez received a $287,000 incentive payment from West Virginia on Friday for goals reached during the 2007 season.

Rodriguez is being sued by West Virginia in an attempt to collect on a $4 million buyout clause in his old contract.

Among the incentives he reached this season was a one-time $150,000 payment for winning the Big East championship and receiving a Bowl Championship Series berth, and $25,000 for finishing in the top 10.

Rodriguez's contract stipulated that WVU had 30 days from his resignation to make the payment. Rodriguez took over at Michigan on Dec. 16 and his resignation at WVU was effective three days later.

Bill Stewart coached the Mountaineers to a 48-28 win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2 and was named Rodriguez's successor the next day. WVU was No. 6 in the final Associated Press poll.

The incentives payment "is unrelated to the buyout clause in the contract or the funds due to WVU under that clause," WVU athletics spokesman Mike Fragale said Friday in a statement.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

 

[Wilson]

That's kinda cruel Wood, but the truth. WV blew
me and everyone else away with that knee jerk
reaction off the bowl win. They will pay for that
big time. While that may have been a big warm
fuzzy orgasmic win at the end of the season, the
fact of the matter is WV will not be a factor next
season for the simple reason of coaching. Don't
believe me, just hide and watch.

Again...look who Bill Stewart hired as assistants. A little bit of an upgrade?

 

[Cie]

I thought this quote from HC Stewart talking about his new asst HC, Steve Dunlap, from Marshall was interesting:

"Steve has just a tremendous insight of the game of football. His knowledge is so vast, it confuses me," Stewart said.

 

[Kramer]

That big smile and go getem boys chit at the bowl
game where they had nothing to lose is one thing,
next season will treat WV just like Louie was this season, and that's in a 2nd tier conference. Their
are PLENTY of teams in that conference licking
their chops at WV next year. We shall see.

 

[CWood97]

"Steve has just a tremendous insight of the game of football. His knowledge is so vast, it confuses me," Stewart said.

:scared :scared :142smilie

 

[Wilson]

I know Michelangelo is the painter of the Sistine Chapel. Who was the architect?

 

[Wilson]

Jenkins may see cohorts at WVU
Star?s brother may be student assistant; bowl teammate Jackson leaning toward WVU

By JIM BUTTA, Sports Writer and DAVE POE, Sports Editor
POSTED: January 19, 2008
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Josh Jenkins

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PARKERSBURG ? After spending Thursday with Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, Parkersburg High School all-America lineman Josh Jenkins left Friday for his official visit to West Virginia University, which will take place this weekend.

Jenkins remains the subject of a red-hot recruiting battle with at least three schools ?WVU, Ohio State and Florida State ?still in the running for the services of the 6-foot-5, 305-pound standout, who recently participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

If Jenkins ends up casting his lot with the Mountaineers, he may find himself being coached by one of his brothers and may be blocking for one of his East teammates at the All-American Bowl.

Jenkins brother, Ohio University senior Paul Johnson, who is completing an internship that will qualify him for graduation, has interviewed with WVU regarding a graduate assistant position for which he had applied several months ago.

When Jenkins played at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, he was extremely impressed with his East teammate, quarterback Star Jackson of Lake Worth, Fla., who came out on top in several quarterback drills at the all-star game. Jackson, who was said to be leaning to Alabama, now appears to have put West Virginia at the top of his list. His timing couldn?t be better with Pat White having one more year in Morgantown, after which the signal-calling position will be up for grabs.

Jackson not only was being recruited by the previous Mountaineer staff, but he also was being targeted by Florida recruiting coordinator John ?Doc? Holliday, who recently became West Virginia?s recruiting guru.

This is a big recruiting weekend for Mountaineer football coach and his staff.

Joining Jenkins in Morgantown are offensive tackle Greg Shaw, offensive guard Joey Madsen, defensive tackle Jewhan Edwards and defensive end Corey Freeman.

Of the group Madsen, is the only one to have announced his verbal commitment to the gold and blue ? a choice from which he has not swayed despite all of the upheaval at WVU.

Jenkins, who had given his verbal commitment following his junior season with the Big Reds, announced his de-commitment in December following the departure of seven-year head coach Rich Rodriguez to the University of Michigan.

The Big Red standout, however, agreed to take a formal visit to the campus earlier this week following a meeting with Stewart and Holliday, who visited PHS on Tuesday, two days before Ohio State University?s Jim Tressel made Parkersburg his home for a day.

WVU has made scholarship offers to all five of the players visiting this weekend.

Shaw (6-6, 280) attended Monsignor Pace High School in Miami, Fla., and is considered a 3-star recruit and one of the Top 50 high school players in the country at his position.

Same for Madsen (6-4, 275), who played at Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio.

Edwards and Freeman are considered to be the first of what will be many recruits landed by new assistants Steve Dunlap, Chris Beatty, David Lockwood and David Johnson.

Edwards (6-3, 310) played at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia while Freeman (6-1, 192) attends Cleveland Heights High School in University Heights, Ohio.

This weekend?s group brings the total number of possible recruits to visit WVU since August to 119.

Wide receiver Eugene Hilton (5-10, 165) from Miami Springs High School in Miami Springs, Fla., and tight end Jamal Mosley (6-4, 227) from Kingsbury High School in Memphis, Tenn., are slated to visit the campus over the next couple of weeks.

That number, like this weekend?s, likely will grow as Stewart and his staff continue to hit the recruiting trail over the next several days.

National letter of intent signing day is Wednesday, Feb. 6.