December 26, 2007
West Virginia "returning to mediocrity"?
Big-shot booster Ken Kendrick of the Arizona Diamondbacks absolutely tees off on the West Virginia administration for their handling of former head coach Rich Rodriguez and the ensuing drama that has erupted since his departure.
Kendrick's comments appeared in a Huntsville Times piece detailing the extreme hatred being directed at Coach Rod by WVU fans.
"Rich Rodriguez is not the traitor he has been made out to be by some people in West Virginia,'' Kendrick said. "In his heart, I know he wanted to stay. But this time, he felt he had no choice but to leave.''Then Kendrick let it fly: "We have a poorly run athletic department and an incompetent AD and assistant AD. This is a $50 million business — and it is a business — and they don't have a strategic plan. They still run the place like it was a business the size of a dry-cleaning store.''
And Kendrick should know - he was one of the key boosters that negotiated a last second deal with Coach Rod to keep him in Morgantown a year ago.
"He wanted more money for his assistants, some improvements in facilities, an improved locker room, and some modest things — like waiving an old policy so that high school coaches could attend games free, and hiring another graduate assistant.''Kendrick said he was "among a group of individuals who were willing to fund the whole thing,'' that "it wouldn't have cost the university a penny,'' and that "none of it would've come from taxpayers' money.''
But the improvements were slow to come or nonexistent because WVU never acted, says Kendrick.
"I do believe our next coach will have at least momentary successes, based on what Rich has left behind,'' he said. "But I'm worried that our moment in time has passed. I'm afraid our chances of returning to mediocrity are pretty damn high.''
Comments:
kershawdw said:
posted on December 26, 2007 2:23 PM — 24.136.33.6 — link — abuse?
I feel their pain. However, us Hurricanes are in a different situation. For the most part everything HAS to be by donations, ticket and/or merchandise sales,etc for us. Maybe that can be credited for the sub-par facilities we have had for so long. thank god our AD is stepping down in June. He's been their as the AD since 1993 and I think most Canes fans would agree that we aren't to happy with how he has run things so I think maybe an AD change in West Virginia is a good thing. But I hope their fans are prepared to go back to the days of old. Why can't every AD be like Jeremy Foley lol
posted on December 26, 2007 3:47 PM — 205.188.116.136 — link — abuse?War Eagle Atlanta
said:
Looks like that misstep in West Virginia's cakewalk into the national championship game has the house crumbling on all sides. A lot of finger pointing seems to be occuring, especially now that Rod is gone. Too bad.
Looks like there's a chance that The Auburn-WV game may get moved to later in the season next year for TV purposes. Might actually be a good thing for both schools...
Zac said:
posted on December 26, 2007 6:36 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?
Mr. Kendrick & I have a lot in common. (It's not money, more's the pity.) We both agree; Ed Pastilong must go!!! That doesn't mean Rich Rodriguez handled the situation at WVU at all well, only that Kendrick has a point.
Rich Rodriguez was contacted by MI, showing their interest in him, before the Pitt game. He even contacted at least one perspective recruit in hopes to get him to follow, should things work out that way. It now appears as though Coach Rod's post Pitt game reaction was that of an individual who blew the chance of a life-time; i.e. coaching arguably the most notable program in college football, or no longer having additional leverage for additional demands.
Despite the Pitt loss, MI was still interested in him. He did go to Ed Pastilong with requests for staff bonuses, specific facility upgrades, and additional staff - Some of these things were allegedly part of the promises made to keep him at WVU when AL was interested. He didn't like Ed's response, arranged a meeting with MI, and tried to sneak out of town, which didn't work. He came back with an offer for $2.5 M/yr. All he had to do was go to Ed Pastilong and give him one more chance to at least make good, as Kendrick claims. If Pastilong says no, he goes to the Prez, armed with a $2.5 M/yr offer to coach MI, and simply tells the man, "Ed goes, or I go." Well, we know what actually happened.
Now there's talk of him having banged some cheerleader, and his wife Rita has had enough. So, she made him take the job at MI. Right!!!
Kendrick has a point; Rodriguez still handled the circumstances poorly, and WVU AD, Ed Pastilong has just about out-stayed his welcome. If it's not fixed decisively, if the right people aren't put into the right places, WVU's football program could well slip into mediocrity, and some of the other programs which have done well in recent years could slip in deep with it.
wvu_lifer
posted on December 26, 2007 7:32 PM — 75.109.107.108 — link — abuse? said:
Yes and no. Yes Mr. Pastilong is a nincanpoop, and Rod is a tick. I'm at the point where i don't care any more. The Admin is what has me very worried. A coach with ANY interest in taking the job would say so, ala Terry B. This process of finding a coach isn't really a process at all. It's more like a major task finding someone who would want to come run a football program that is in total shambles, under an incompitent AD. The Cheerlearder thing, all i have to say about that is, if true, Way to go Rod!! 44yr olds don't get that chance very often, lol!! Really though, if he betrayed his alma mater and home state..........why not the wife too!! Now, let's goooooooooooooooo get a coach!!
wvu_lifer
posted on December 26, 2007 7:45 PM — 75.109.107.108 — link — abuse? said:
I don't know how many ppl posting actually live in WV, the ones that don't are pretty obvious, lol, but i do. This place is buggin' out!! Like Zombies, like they just lost a loved one, very spooky. It's all EVERYONE is STILL talking about, i think i'm gonna move! Major, for AD, i love it! Just as long as he can smoke his crack, we'll be great!! Oh, i also agree WVU should play Auburn later on too. Way too much pressure on both schools, and you are steeped with more tradition than we could dream. The loser of that, if it were the 1st game of the year, would take a HUGE setback!! Anyways, gotta pack to go find a state with living people!
shiguy said:
posted on December 26, 2007 10:53 PM — 24.9.233.21 — link — abuse?
i personally am not totally against the AD for not simply giving rod everything he asked. his remarks for not paying are completely rediculous and in the broad scheme of things they did deliver on a lot of things that were major such as increased salaries and didn't they just start putting more suites in on the other endzone? you can't simply give a coach every single demand that they want. i personally like the fact that WVU does not cost absurd amounts just to go to a game, however that is changing as they have now started raising the ticketing prices. and i like the fact that students can go for free. when you look at other schools that are at the same level many of them are incredibly pricey. no rod should not have gotten everything he demanded and in my own opinion if a high school coach cannot afford to pay $5 to go to a football game, GET A NEW JOB! the thought that that is actually an argument blows my mind. for an entire year's home game schedule they pay half of the price that any other fan pays for one game! the other arguments of his are also equally absurd. letting his players keep their books to sell back WHICH THEY DIDN'T PAY FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. ARE YOU SERIOUS!? no regardless on what the AD did rod left a school that loved him, totally supported him, including those bad years of loosing seasons. i don't care if it's a business, this is a job you should love. you schooled there, you played there, you grew up there. no Rita this will not be forgotten. don't ever come back to this state without a second identity and military escort. even then... i doubt you'll make it through the state unscathed. o and btw rod at the least you could have come up with a different pep talk speech for when you went to michigan instead of the exact same word for word speech you gave here a year ago. even to the detail of "and this is my son, future west virginia/michigan quaterback of 2017" or whatever year it is. good job rod you stabbed your state in the back. go buy another yacht.
c-dogg said:
posted on December 26, 2007 11:39 PM — 76.188.146.13 — link — abuse?
@#3 OU-Ron...thanks. Excited about February signing day 4 My Canes. We still need a good 2 or 3 yrs of recruits to be elite again.
WVU should hire C.Mich's coach. As long as he doesn't coach the DEFENSE.
Go Canes! Get some(more) Recruits!
wvu_lifer
posted on December 27, 2007 12:45 AM — 75.109.107.108 — link — abuse? said:
Belive it or not, The Chips' coach has interviewed and is considered among the top 3 to get the job. He didn't want to say much while his team was getting reay for thier bowl, which you're right, i hope he's not the DC there too, lol. He is from here and the players' have been very supportive of him. And gOSU27, i sure hope. The sweater vested one is a genius, he'll figure a way to stop that spread somehow, maybe by watching the PITT game!!
Cane Mutiny
posted on December 27, 2007 1:15 AM — 76.110.77.142 — link — abuse? said:
No arguments here, C-Dogg: Signing Day should be a great day indeed for our 'Canes. I like that Fanblogs doesn't really get caught up with recruiting, but it's worth mentioning that we're ESPN's #1 class in the nation, and Rivals' #3. Hopefully we can do something with the crazy amount of talent we've got coming in.
-----
It's great to be a Miami Hurricane!
Hold on to those recruits!!wvu_lifer
posted on December 27, 2007 5:46 AM — 75.109.107.108 — link — abuse? said:
When the words "I'm not gonna comment on that" come from a head coach, who has been interviewed for a head coaching posistion elsewhere, where he was a former asst. right after his team loses a 51-48 bowl game. It usually means "see ya"!! If that's the case, Butch Jones is about to become WVU's new coach.
wvu_lifer
posted on December 27, 2007 7:21 AM — 75.109.107.108 — link — abuse? said:
hippie, no doubt in my mind. Ever heard of C.Mich b4 he arrived? I'm still on the Jerry Moore wagon, but if we hire Jones, i won't be upset. He was a former assistant here, and also hails from the state. Not that that means anything(lol).
gOSU27 said:
posted on December 27, 2007 9:24 AM — 207.74.25.36 — link — abuse?
"The sweater vested one is a genius, he'll figure a way to stop that spread somehow, maybe by watching the PITT game!!"--wvu_lifer
LOL....sorry to laugh at that game but that was not good coaching. I didn't even have a chance to see it but i saw highlights and stats. Okay, so Pat White gets injured.....one excuse. But when your star QB goes down you only give your star RB 9 or 10 carries? I know that slaton was having a bad game but it seems like he relies on the big run.
I don't know about this guy....he seems to be a great recruiter....but, theres talk of Sam Mcguffie transfering!!!....C'mon Pryor, go OSU!
kershawdw said:
posted on December 27, 2007 12:42 PM — 24.136.33.6 — link — abuse?
shiguy, you can't really knock Rod for asking ticket prices to be waived for coaches. More often than not Coaches are mainly teachers who do the coaching deal on the side, not for profit but for love of the game. Unless your a high school like Hoover or another big time h.s. program chances are they are paying your coach maybe a $150 a season so why shouldn't they be able to go to the games for free. If it means you have the possibility of getting a 5 star athlete from the h.s. coaches program than you should be all over it. Teacher's don't make jack, most coaches don't make jack so why not take care of them? We aren't talking about hundreds of dollars in lost ticket sales bud.
The common denominator between Central michigan and WVU is they both lack defense (as seen last night), so Coach Jones should adjust nicely if he takes the job :)
Zac said:
posted on December 27, 2007 1:10 PM — 209.36.193.14 — link — abuse?
C-Dogg & Cane Mutiny, I’m not nearly as worried about who’ll be there for WVU on signing day, as I’m worried about who won’t be there. This is part of the damage control WVU’s Admin needs to get control of, in addition to finding the right man for HC.
Butch Jones was without question one of the better AC’s WVU has had in a long time. Still, at this point I couldn’t say with accuracy whether or not he’s better than Terry Bowden. I can say with accuracy, one respectable season as a HC for a program like C MI’s does not a great HC make. While I appreciate his “no quit” attitude, as was evident after his team was down 34-13 at the half, his team still lost. Jonesy still has a lot to learn, and defense is a big part of that.
GOSU27, I agree; being down 34-13 at the half, force a tie, and fall by only 3 in the final 2 seconds, that’s the kind of game I like to see. It keeps the fans on the edge of the seat. Gator Hippy said it best; imagine if the winner was going on to the next level in a tourney with a promise of a National Championship.
Cane Mutiny
posted on December 27, 2007 3:14 PM — 76.110.77.142 — link — abuse? said:
Hey, I hear you loud and clear, Zac. While it wasn't under the same circumstances, my Canes were feverishly looking for a coach last year, and us fans were left uncertain as to what kind of guy they would give the job to.
We found a guy who has the makings of a great coach - but only after getting turned down by a lot of bigger names. So, you never really know what's going to happen in situations like these.
Good luck to W.Va. finding a coach that'll keep you guys in it year after year...
---
It's great to be a Miami Hurricane!
Hang on to those recruits!!wvu_lifer
posted on December 27, 2007 11:31 PM — 75.109.107.108 — link — abuse? said:
gOSU27, Agreed. He let J. Brown try to be Pat, and that, his is not. Yes, they should have fed them HUGE doses of Slaton, and Devine.mixed w/ a little Schmitt.....yeah, Rods head was not in the game!! I want to thank everyone who has been supportive of both the WVU program and most of our fans, I love CFB!!! We haven't really had to deal with this, - Belien, but Football is a religion here, so we didn't mind. I do hope we find the right man for the job. Like Jerry Moore!!
gOSU27 said:
posted on December 28, 2007 10:21 AM — 207.74.25.36 — link — abuse?
Get a hold of this....."The AP story linked above states that the buyout clause requires Coach Rod to pay the $4 large (as in VERY large) to WVU over two years with one-third of the total due 30 days after his employment ends. Which means, since he resigned on December 19, he's got about three weeks to come up with a shitload of coin.
Another interesting tidbit is that the lawsuit claims that WVU officials were not aware of and did not consent to Rodriguez talking to Michigan about its head coaching vacancy."
That's from www.michiganzone.blogspot.com
I don't know why I read it but now days I'll read anything college football...
Zac said:
posted on January 1, 2008 5:28 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?
I wonder if Ed Pastilong would consider hiring Lloyd Carr. Carr wouldn't need to obtain but 1 or 2 speciallty coaches. Everything else is in place. With Carr as WVU's HC & Rodriguez as MI's HC, you just know there'd be a home & home scheduled between the 2 in the near future.
c-dogg said:
posted on December 26, 2007 2:09 PM — 12.33.203.234 — link — abuse?Where is Major Harris when you need him. Let him be AD....:O)