Junior Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3157227 West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez informed his players at a 1:30 p.m. meeting Sunday that he was leaving to become the new coach at Michigan. Rodriguez met with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin on Friday to talk about the Wolverines' coaching job. Rodriguez and his agent were in Toledo to talk with Martin and university president Mary Sue Coleman, according to Sporting News Radio, which cited unidentifed sources. The meeting was confirmed to ESPN's Joe Schad on Friday afternoon by a source close to the situation. Rodriguez, 44, was back in Morgantown on Friday after taking a flight from Ohio, and unwilling to talk about any possible interest in the Michigan job. "Going to practice. I'm going to practice," he told The Associated Press on Friday, getting into his car after a trip to Toledo. Rodriguez again refused to discuss Michigan's vacant coaching job on Saturday. At the opening of a previously scheduled news conference about West Virginia's trip to the Fiesta Bowl, Rodriguez said he would only talk about the game against Oklahoma (No. 4 BCS, No. 3 AP). "It may be disappointing to you, but I am not going to talk about any rumors or innuendo or jobs or what else is floating out there," Rodriguez said. "I'm not going to address the rumors or anything of that nature," Rodriguez said. "If any questions are asked about that, the press conference will be over." The questions about Michigan persisted, and Rodriguez fired back. "You all have not understood what I just said. One more question and this conference, unfortunately, and you all have been super, but if the questions persist outside of that then this thing will be over," he said. A reporter then asked whether Rodriguez would coach the team in the Fiesta Bowl. "You're a tricky guy," Rodriguez said. Some players indicated Rodriguez hadn't spoken to them about Michigan and that they were under orders to keep quiet. "I'm not supposed to talk about that. I'm sorry," offensive lineman Ryan Stanchek said Saturday. West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong spoke with Rodriguez on Saturday. "We talked about general issues within the football program," Pastilong told The Charleston Gazette, declining to be more specific. Pastilong, who didn't immediately return a telephone message to The Associated Press, told the newspaper "we'll know something very fast" in regard to Rodriguez's decision. Michigan, which lured basketball coach John Beilein away from West Virginia last April, is looking for a replacement for football coach Lloyd Carr, who announced his retirement Nov. 19 after 13 seasons. Pastilong said he was unaware Rodriguez, who has a hefty buyout clause in his contract, was in Toledo. "He has not shared that with me," Pastilong told The Associated Press. Pastilong would not say whether West Virginia had given Michigan permission to talk to Rodriguez, citing university policy. When asked further whether he knew Rodriguez was talking to Michigan, Pastilong said, "Rich has not mentioned anything of that nature to me. Secondly, we have a strong commitment with Rich, a strong contract. We're strongly committed to him and he's strongly committed to us. "I think it would be unusual that he would be doing that without sharing it with us." Michigan athletic department spokesman Bruce Madej said he was unaware of any talks. On the day Carr announced he was stepping down, Martin said he hoped to complete the hiring process quickly. But LSU's Les Miles withdrew from consideration before he was scheduled to meet with Martin and signed a contract extension with the Tigers. Rutgers' Greg Schiano said last week after being contacted about the Michigan job that he was staying with the Scarlet Knights. After a 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale knocked West Virginia out of the national championship game, Rodriguez said he wasn't going to be on the move. "The impact of your name being thrown about is sometimes a little overrated. It probably makes for a lot of angst among families and we don't want that," he said. "Sorry but you all are stuck with me here." Rodriguez has a 60-26 record at West Virginia. The Big East champion Mountaineers (10-2) play No. 3 Oklahoma (11-2) next month in the Fiesta Bowl. Last December, Rodriguez agreed to a one-year contract extension through 2013 after he turned down a lucrative offer from Alabama. The extension includes a $4 million buyout clause if he leaves before August 2008. That doubles the amount from the previous contract. Beilein had a $2.5 million buyout clause in his West Virginia contract, but under an agreement with the university he agreed to pay $1.5 million to the WVU Foundation for leaving for Michigan with five years remaining in his contract. Information from ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel and The Associated Press and was used in this report Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 3500 people on the boards at WVSports.com I always like going to college team boards when news goes down to see how many can amass at one place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 3500 people on the boards at WVSports.com I always like going to college team boards when news goes down to see how many can amass at one place. 4500+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Godfather Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Nice hire. I'll tell you who could end being the smartest hire though in NCAAf, and a guy I was really hoping Michigan would be patient enough to see if he would be available in a month: Marvin Lewis. He is going to make a great college coach, put him in at a school like Michigan, and he will have a dynasty in 4-5 years. Recruits will be lining up to play for a guy like that. UCLA would be a perfect fit, I could see him having Pete Carroll type success out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 I'm willing to bet Terry Bowden will emerge as one of the top candidates. Also, another interesting tidbit: How much do WV fans have to hate Michigan right now? They've taken their head basketball and football coaches in the span of a year. :lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FishFanInPA Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Wow....nice hire.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orlando Rays Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 I remember the Alabama rumors last year, and a WV alum called the Jim Rome show and said if Rodriguez ever returns to WV he better be in a bullet-proof limo. Guess it's time for him to spring for one? :mischief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minus Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Saban agent allegedly contacted West Virginia for vacant HC position... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Saban agent allegedly contacted West Virginia for vacant HC position... Not on behalf of Saban though. Agents have more than one client a lot of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minus Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Saban agent allegedly contacted West Virginia for vacant HC position... Not on behalf of Saban though. Agents have more than one client a lot of times. Sources close to University President Mike Garrison have informed WBGV that Nick Saban?s agent has contacted WVU regarding our vacant head-coaching position. These sources tell us that Saban is extremely unhappy in Tuscaloosa and has failed to recapture the situation he had in Baton Rouge with LSU. The purpose of the agent?s call was to express initial interest in the position and to have WVU athletics put together a compensation package enough to lure Saban from Alabama. This package would not need to be as much as Saban is currently making at Alabama, but enough to not result in a 50% paycut. So, we?re obviously talking more than the $1.9 million former coach Rich Rodriguez was making. Again, this is all very preliminary, but solid sources have confirmed that Nick Saban?s agent has contacted West Virginia University. like I said allegedly on Saban behalf.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I don't believe it for one second. Second rate journalists trying to make two different puzzle pieces fit together and to get the internet buzzing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minus Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I don't believe it for one second. Second rate journalists trying to make two different puzzle pieces fit together and to get the internet buzzing. I agree but Nick Saban is not exactly the most devoted man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FishFanInPA Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Bud Foster's name has come up again and a paper in West Virginia mentioned Al Golden.....no thanks, you can't have him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I can't imagine Bud Foster leaving VT after all this time. He has to be the heir apparent after Beamer leaves. How much longer does Beamer have at VT? Anyone want to speculate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Godfather Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Here is the link to the Saban talk...I don't buy it all either. http://wbgv.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/nick-...t-contacts-wvu/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FishFanInPA Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I can't imagine Bud Foster leaving VT after all this time. He has to be the heir apparent after Beamer leaves. How much longer does Beamer have at VT? Anyone want to speculate? He has not been offered the heir apparent to Beamer yet and many speculate here he wont. The only reason he'd leave is for a head job. Beamer will be around longer...i can't see him leaving in the next 2 or 3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passion Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 He wouldn't be? Any reasoning for that? Just based on my own intuition it would seem like a logical succession. If that isn't the case, he should absolutely leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FishFanInPA Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 there isnt much logic to it....it's so clear that he should be next but the thinking is Beamer will still be there in 4-5 more years and Bud Foster's agent has said he thinks Bud can get a HC job faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Tank Frenzy Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 http://wbgv.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/nick-...t-contacts-wvu/ Sources close to University President Mike Garrison have informed WBGV that Nick Saban?s agent has contacted WVU regarding our vacant head-coaching position. These sources tell us that Saban is extremely unhappy in Tuscaloosa and has failed to recapture the situation he had in Baton Rouge with LSU. The purpose of the agent?s call was to express initial interest in the position and to have WVU athletics put together a compensation package enough to lure Saban from Alabama. This package would not need to be as much as Saban is currently making at Alabama, but enough to not result in a 50% paycut. So, we?re obviously talking more than the $1.9 million former coach Rich Rodriguez was making. Again, this is all very preliminary, but solid sources have confirmed that Nick Saban?s agent has contacted West Virginia University. *** UPDATE #1 *** This report has been confirmed by the staff at WVSports.com. Unfortunately, it is posted on their premium board so that confirmation can not be reprinted here. Still, it has been confirmed. *** UPDATE #2 *** Well, it?s not a stone-cold confirmation, but our friend Mike Casazza can?t verify that the story isn?t true. Pardon the double negative, but it looks like this baby certainly has legs. Stay tuned. LMAO This guy is such a joke. Why would any team want to pursue him? He is just gonna leave them high and dry. A big LOL at the the Alabama fans and media. All of them criticizing Miami fans for our hatred towards Nick, I wonder how they will think of him if this does go down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelmsE Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I hope the Saban rumors aren't true. I can't believe a program such as West Virginia would be actively pursuing a coach who has failed his last two teams and has shown nothing close to dedication to a team while being a coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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