I want to thank Calvin Magee for his years of loyalty to the Mountaineers.  Coach Magee has been calling the plays for the offense for five years.  Unfortunately, he must now go.  Yup, Coach Rod will take him to Michigan.  How can you blame Coach Rod for that move?  He is awesome.  Honestly, I feel proud for Coach Magee.  He knows he is leaving and the team knows he is leaving.  Yet, unlike Coach Rod and Coach Gibson, Coach Magee chose NOT to turn his back on the Mountaineer Football team and the whole State of WV.  He will coach in the Fiesta Bowl.  Thank You! Coach Magee, you can come back anytime.  Coach Rod, though we still would have missed ya and been a little mad, if you could have had half the tact as Coach Magee we may not have disliked you.

OK, we couldn't reel in the big Fish from FSU.  So, now it looks like we will take Coach Rod's leftovers instead.  If you recall, one of the first people to welcome Coach Rod to Michigan was one of his former assistants at WVU/Michigan native/Central Michigan head coach, Butch Jones (Click here to read the article).  It just seems a little strange how the talk of the $4 million buyout has died down and now one of Coach Rod's buddies will probably get the nod to be the next head coach at WVU.  Originally when asked if he had been contacted about the job he responded by saying ''I haven't been called and I'm not even worried about it.''
Don't get me wrong, Butch Jones is not a bad coach and may fit in very well at WVU (again).  But, I can tell you that he is not dedicated to the state of WV.  He is a Michigan Man and will always be.  So, when deeper pockets come calling, will he stay at WVU because he is loyal or will he go because well, to put it in simple terms, he's a prodigy of Coach Rod?  That point made good in this article (Click here).  I realize we as the public have no say in who is chosen for the job but, I ask the administration to at least remember us while you are taking in the LOWEST BIDDER as the next Head Coach for the flagship school of the State of West Virginia. Howabout getting someone who will commit to WVU instead of committing to a low salary.

Well,  they won't have reindeer pulling their sleigh, they wont be climbing down any chimneys and they sure as heck won't be visiting certain folks in Michigan!  But, the Mountaineer football team is heading to Arizona for a Fiesta!!!!   
I'm am certain when I say, they will give us all a gift to remember.  Not only have the boys on the team been let down by their former coach but, it comes at a time when they just didn't need it.  The biggest game of their careers so far has been overshadowed by pushes and shoves from both the WVU administration and Coach Rod.  However, the administration did not abandoned the team as did Coach Rod. The biggest game of their lives is now going to be the biggest worry of their lives.  You see, the team must now bear the burden of abandonment.  They must take on the challenge of piecing back together what Coach Rod ripped apart.  BUT YA KNOW WHAT!  The Mountaineer Football Team, lead by Coach Bill Stewart, will be delivering the best gift ever to us, the Fans.  The gift of dedication that they have shown will bring home a Fiesta Bowl trophy to the State of West Virginia.  But, more than that, win or lose, our team has given us the best gift we could get, amidst the terrible turmoil we have faced.  PRIDE!!  Thanks guys...you're the best!!!!  

If you can afford it, please get tickets and go to the Fiesta Bowl.  We need to show our support.  I realize we feel a little let down. But, let's rally behind our team and show them that we care about them and not just ourselves.  If it were the National Championship you know you would go.  So, C'mon it's not too late to support the guys who will not let us down.  Please, Go to the Fiesta Bowl.  Go to www.StubHub.com or click the icon to the right to get your tickets.  Enjoy the game....

As I look around other sites and read the paper or even watch the television, I have come to the conclusion that we will never know how the final meeting between Coach Rod and the WVU Athletic Dept.  So, we may never be able to put the blame on a particular party (not that it is needed).  The fact is, we have no other choice but to just deal with it.  Either way, I will always be upset with Coach Rod for letting the administration's decisions cause him to go.  I could understand if they took away a million from his salary or told him he could only use student coaches.  But, simply not getting things done fast enough is not a good reason to abandon the kids on the team #1.  #2 those of us who worked really hard to like him.  ANYWAY, lets understand we must take what we get.  We must now back coach Stewart.  He is the WVU head football coach (deserving of it, I may add).  If he would accept the job permanently I would be happy.  Steve, Pat, Johnny, the other Pat, Mark, Keilen, Owen, Boogie, Noel, Vaughn, and all of the best football team around...You guys keep your chins up...you are the team...and you will win the Fiesta Bowl...Let's go Mountaineers...I'm pumped up.....Here we come Glendale...

As late as this evening, the word was that FSU offensive coordinator and WV native, Jimbo Fisher was coming to WVU to take over the head coaching position.  From the inside scoop that I heard, it was pretty much a done deal.  Well, Coach Rod must have talked to him and talked him out of it.  Not too many minutes ago Fisher made a statement stating he will be staying at Florida State.  Ya can't hardly blame the guy.  His contract says he will be the next head coach of FSU when now head coach, Bobby Bowden retires.  Oh well, it was a surprise to hear he would take the job at WVU but less of a gasp when he said he wasn't.   So the search is still on.  Who will it be?  I still like Doc Holliday.  But, who knows, If Jimbo talks anything like Coach Rod, he will be in Touchdown City, by Tuesday.....


Read Fisher's statement by clicking the link in the "headlines" section of this page.

Listen!  I am very unhappy at Coach Rod. I hate the way he handled the situation upon his leaving WVU.  I hate the way that the majority of the WV people feel about him right now, including myself. 
BUT!!!! I could never accuse Coach Rod of throwing ANY game.  Especially The Backyard Brawl. 
I understand how tough it is to deal with his departure (notice this whole website) but, he is still a doggone good coach and would not want that on his record.  Furthermore, Just because WVU may have won that game and gone on to the BCS Championship and perhaps even won it, doesn't automatically keep Coach Rod in Morgantown.  It, in my opinion, would only make other schools want him that much more.

We can all hate the fact that Coach Rod is gone, hate the way he went about it and even write about it on the web, in the papers or talk about it to everyone we meet.  But, we can't hate Coach Rod.  He had problems with the administration and visa versa. He could have accepted the fact that he may have to endure some difficulties with the administration. He should have not taken it out on the rest of us, AGREED! 
However, Coach Rod did not throw the Pitt game just so he would have an excuse to leave for Michigan.  That's just absured.....

Coach Rod, I would love to talk to you concerning some things, just to set the record straight for the fans.  If you would grant a short interview, it would be much appreciated by myself and a lot of other WVU fans.  My email is wvdj105@aol.com....

See related article under "headlines" below....

Now is the time we need to stick behind the coach.  I feel our boys will play as well as normal, even with out Coach Rod.  So let us rally round Coach Stewart and make him feel that we trust in him... Thanks Coach Stewart...

Too often over the past few years we have credited Coach Rod with the success of the WVU football program.  We need to think about that for a bit.  Coach Rod got lucky!  Adam Bednarik gets hurt and Hocus-Pocus....Pat White is now the QB and he is awesome.  Steve Slaton has a good game.  Where did these guys come from?  If Coach Rod was as great as we have given him credit for, then why weren't Pat and Steve already starting  each game?  Coach Rod got lucky.  Not taking anything away from White and Slaton, the fact is, they are both awesome.  But, if it weren't for ONE game where the starting QB got hurt, who knows if we would have ever known the name Pat White.  We may have never seen the dynamic duo in action.  As unlucky as it was for Adam Bedarik, it was even more lucky for Coach Rod.  We need to keep the players in mind.  That's who makes up a team.  Not the coach! 
I say all of that to say this.  Don Nehlen is the best coach to ever coach the Mountaineers.  He wasn't worried about his stature among man.  He was concerned for the team and the state of WV.
If it were not for Nehlen, there would be no Mountaineer football as we know it today.  If it were not for one young man's career ending injury,  Coach Rod wouldn't look so perfect. 
As for Adam Bednarik, I think he was a great QB.  I feel he should have had more playing time once he healed.  Perhaps he could have done much better things that Jarrett Brown.   But, there again the Great Coach Rod was the decision maker.
So Mountaineer football "is a heck of a lot bigger than Rich Rodriguez."  As Mr. Nehlen put it during a meeting with the team this week. 

Well Coach Rod's 2nd day on the job in The Big House was a big one.  Recall when Coach Rod came to WVU and fired most of the coaches?  Ha, he fired all of them at U-M.  Just remember, Michigan fans, you now have a former  NO an Ex-Mountaineer,  NO a guy who once called West Virginia his home, turned Wolverine.  Why do I point that out you may ask.  Let Merriam Webster answer the question.
WOLVERINE: 1plural also wolverine a: a carnivorous usually solitary mammal (Gulo gulo) of the weasel family.
Yup Pauly Shore is out of the picture.  You now have the mother of all WOLVERINES right there in Ann Arbor.  HEY!!! Good luck with all that..........

The thought has been brought up that the WVU administration caused the departure of CoachRod.  Hmmm,  I suppose that is the truth.  The Law of 'whatcha call it', states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  So, I guess when discussing "cause and effect" we must consider 'whacha call it" or maybe not but, I'm going to.  Who made the initial action in this procedure?  Well it sure seems it was Coach Rod.  Coach Rod, says "well fellas, I just may leave this place."  The fellas say "That's funny stuff."  CR says "No!! I'm serious."  The fellas say "Uh, didn't we already have this discussion last year?"  CR says "yup but you didn't fulfill your promises, even though the stadium has been a construction site all year, the upgrades to the practice facility are fantastic Oh, and that money thing with me, the 70% raise thingy... Anyway, you were supposed to do more and do it WHEN I SAY." 
Now I understand that CR expected things that may not had been done yet but c'mon COACH ROD, deal with it.  We have been waiting for a National championship for 7 years and have not received it yet.  Do you see the fans leaving??
OK, back to my point sorry....
Coach Rod, made the initial action in this case (out of selfishness perhaps).  Which caused the administration to have to react.  Which caused Coach Rod to react (even more selfishly), "Do you know who I am?".  Therefore, causing the fellas to say "CR, we have done what we can.  We just can't give in to your demands everytime another team wants you.  At some point we must say no."  All of this causes Coach Rod to turn around and stomp out saying "fine then I'm leaving".  So I guess it is the fault of the administration.  Whooda thunk it?? 

Ok, I don't know if this post makes any sense (if you've even read it this far) but, I'm just really hacked off at all of this.  Coach Rod should have taken a little pain with his pleasure.  I don't believe that negotiation for a sideline pass for his wife is an issue.  Coach Rod, we loved you.  We all did.  We endured some doubts and some pain under your regime for the sake of a young coach who wanted to see his alma mater succeed.  We just wish you would have as well.  We hated to see you go. We would have understood if you just wanted to go to better yourself.  The fact is you DIDN'T want to go but, you did, just to get back at the admin.  Now, you are trying to blame them so WE will not blame YOU.

Ok so what was the question again?  "Who was wrong; administration or Coach Rod? 
Answer:  I dunno, I just know Coach Rod has exiled himself from his home state and the hearts of many West Virginians, simply due to the way he handled the situation.....

Joe Paterno, JoePa for short, Is a classic example of a College football coach who is dedicated to the program that made him who he is today.  JoePa will celebrate his 81st birthday on Dec. 21st.  JoePa, the coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions has been the head football coach for over 40 years.  JoePa, the head coach of PSU has been on the PSU coaching staff since he graduated college in 1950.  JoePa, the head football coach of PSU worked his way up through the ranks to get where he is today.  JoePa, the best coach in the Big 10 has never had a salary over $500,000.  He may make that much this year.  JoePa, the best coach ever is second only to Bobby Bowden of Florida State in career wins.  JoePa, the coach of the team who will STOMP Michigan has been coaching the same team for 58 years.

JoePa's loyalty is so strong with Penn State that he turned down an offer to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, an offer he initially seriously considered. (The Steelers ended up hiring Chuck Noll, who would win four Super Bowls with the team in a 23-year head coaching career.)

I could go on and on about the loyalty and the awesome job that JoePa has done at PSU but, I haven't the space or time.  Just go to Wikipedia.org or some sports page somewhere and search Joe Paterno.  You will see his success.

Less than a $500,000 salary + 58 years, now that's loyalty, dedication, leadership, respect, yada yada...

So, what do I want to accomplish with this post???   GO FIGURE!!!!!!!!!

100. More Money
99. I could not control the new WVU administration!
98. I could not control the new WVU administration!
97.-2. I could not control the new WVU administration!


And the #1 reason I am glad I left WVU for Michigan...

My 9 year old son has already committed to the University of Michigan class of 2017! (of course I said that about WVU when I went there.)

Well, Coach Rod isn't gonna stop till he causes the whole country to despise him.  His attorneys are now arguing that the $4 million buyout should be dismissed.  It is very obvious that CoachRod and the WVU administration were not getting along.  BUT, Coach Rod!  What you are doing will cause the University to suffer.  The $4 million will only help find a new coach.  Therefore, helping those young men whom you mentored continue to show and play with pride.  I guess it's not only for the money but, now it's for SELFISH, egotistical, personal revenge reasons that are on your agenda, Coach ROD.  Thanks a lot...NOW you have gone too far....This cuts deep.  You built it, might as well tear it down......

I do not want anyone to think that I have hate for Coach Rod.  I don't and never will.  We are all just really hurt.  We all understand that everyone would like a promotion and Coach Rod got one.  However he may never be able to step foot in WV again because of the way he handled it.  We are proud of you Coach Rod, but Schiano seems to be an example of true commitment.  He is at Rutgers....Rutgers and he would leave to go to Michigan.  That would have been a much bigger promotion.  I took me awhile to like ya and you go and do this Coach Rod.  I'm a wounded Mountaineer and it doesn't feel good....

I didn't like you in the beginning Coach Rod.  However, I gave you a chance.  You proved yourself to be a great coach.  You stuck with the criticism when you first took over for the GREAT Don Nehlen.  You couldn't win a game.  We hated you... You kept on going.  For that we thank you.  We thank you for what you did do for WVU and the whole State of West Virginia.  We only thought you were doing it for West Virginia and not fame and fortune.

Now, we understand what an honor it must be to have all of the teams in America wanting you as their coach.  I am happy for that.  It was an honor to have you. But, couldn't the want be enough honor for ya Coach Rod? If only HONOR was as true as you said it was when you turned down the Alabama job.  When you declined that job, I was impressed with the things you said and your decision.  Therefore, I was floored when you wouldn't talk to anyone about the Michigan job.  I knew then what was going to happen.  I knew we had lost you.  I knew you had turned your back on the very people to whom at this time last year you said , “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,’’ . 
Thanks Coach Rod for "a long time"!!!