Not really much going on right now.  So, I don't have much to blog about.  However,  have you ever noticed how the media such as ESPN.com seem to talk about how we should all just let this whole thing go?  But yet they keep writing stories.  I think Mike Brown (CR's agent) is "behind" the all of it.  Well it won't be long until the verdict is out on the big "buyout" case.  So, we will have some discussing to do then...

OK!  Make a decision.  You are crying around about the fact that Garrison "reneged" on the fact that he thought the $4 million buyout was too much. However, your buyout is $4 million at Michigan.  I gotta tell ya Coach Rod, your story isn't making much sense.  Just seems to me that you need something to use to try to get the upper hand.  I think you need to stop listening to your agent and face the facts.  You did WVU wrong.  Stop making excuses.  Unfortunately, $4million is what you PROMISED to pay.  But of course you also promised to stay at WVU for a long time.  Just pay it.  Fire your agent and use the money you would've paid him.  What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind when you depart this life, Coach Rod?  Think about it... 

Coach Rod's agent, Mike Brown seems to be the biggest problem in all of this.  Everytime you read the latest in the saga, his name is there.  Just take a look at the emails that were sent back and forth before all of this started.  Some of those emails can be read in the "Headlines" section of thankscoachrod.com.  It is now my belief that Mike Brown was the deciding factor in the resignation of Coach Rod.  Looooooooooooser!

I gotta tell ya.  This is all getting out of hand.  I am tired of hearing from all of these outsiders.  Ken Kendrick or whatever his name is, constantly has something to say.  Listen Ken, no one knows who you are nor cares who you are.  So take your money and your mouth and forget about WVU.  You have said some ignorant things about Coach Stewart that just don't seem right for a "smart business man" like yourself to make.  Go worry about your little baseball team.  We don't want your money if it's gonna have to go along with you terrible attitude.  Mike Brown... you were also unknown before all of this.  Who even knew Coach Rod had an agent?  I am guessing you will never have a decent client after you are done with your "smear campaign".  Just keep your mouth shut and stop trying to be Jerry Maguire.  Dennis Dodd, How about getting quotes from the side of a REAL Mountaineer.  Tell your buddy Ivan Maisel that he needs to answer some emails.  Both of you just think you are all that CBSsportsline.com ever needed.  Go cover some Lacrosse or something.  We need real reporters on College Football.  I now must add Calvin Magee to the mix.  Did you ever stop to think that the "informant" who said you wouldn't get the job, just may be the one who won't let you sit in the front of the bus on the way to the game?  All of you are a bunch of Idiots.   

Ok, so the article from the Michigan writer had a little more to it, that wasn't published in a manner that made it readily accessible.  So, take a look at the article in the News and Headlines section of the thankscoachrod.com homepage and form your own opinion.  Although, It may be a tough decision. 
If you are a die-hard Mountaineer, you will side with Pastilong, Garrison and the WVU cronies.  If you are a true West Virginian, you will side with CoachRod.  However, if you are both, you will have trouble figuring out whose side you're on.  (Just blame it on a hanging chad.)  I consider myself a true West Virginian who is a die-hard Mountaineer fan.  I refuse to believe the things that the WVU administration is alleging.  Though, Coach Rod seems to be a hot-head, I tend to believe him a little more.  I never have hated the guy.  I know where Coach Rod spent Christmas and I have spoken with a fellow who is from that same area, who actually spoke with Coach Rod during the Holidays. 

I get the impression that the "smear campaign" that has risen from the smoldering ashes of the Mountaineer campfire that was smothered by the paw of a Panther, goes deeper than what we as the public see.  I have made an attempt to speak with Coach Rod about all of these issues.  I can only wait and see if the call is answered. 
I for one would love to see all of this just go away.  But, as we all know, this whistle will blow until the end of the 2008 football season.  Right now I'm on the fence.  Either side can be blamed for bad decisions.  The Governor of WV can be blamed for publicly slamming CoachRod (a close and longtime friend).  But, if you think about it, Gov. Joe Manchin has much more in his "order" that could be aired in a similar way.  Ya, didn't hear Coach Rod talking about him.  If I had my choice, I would trade Michigan, Joe Manchin for CoachRod any day.   Tony, it's still a great day to be a Mountaineer especially if you are a West Virginian...

OK, enough is enough.  Ever since Coach Rod left WVU (in a terrible way) there has been story after story attempting to discredit him as a human being and make him out to be some sort of satanistic, useless, Grinch type loser. HMMM??!  Anyway, we have got to stop this nonsense.  He is gone and we need to concentrate on what we have now, which is going to prove to be a lot better all around, than that of the Coach Rod regime.  This goes mainly for the WVU ADMINISTRATION.  President Garrison, I really think you are behind most of this.  Go back to the law firm or helping Bob Wise cover up his adultery or whatever it is you kiddies do, leave WVU alone. SORRY 'BOUT THAT BUT I HAD TO RELIEVE MYSELF.  Continuing, I can't see why Coach Rod would destroy info and files on players that was still needed.  I really think, deep down Coach Rod kinda likes the players at WVU so, why would he do that junk.  C'mon West Virginia, stop making up stuff.  If there is hard evidence that he did this, we will know about it.  But, until we can prove he did these things, let's leave him alone.  I mean we can still talk about the way he left and how bad it was and the everlasting legacy and eternal HEARTBURN he left behind but, let's not accuse him of criminal misconduct just yet.  Although, if the proof does come out and he did actually destroy files that he should not have THEN we will slam him...

I'm just really hacked off right now.  thanks to Coach Rod half the team is leaving.  I'm sure he is laughing at us.  He loves the fact of the recent decisions by some WVU players to go to the NFL.  Well, I am sure Slaton, Reynaud and Dingle will do well but, if Coach Rod would have stayed, I am sure they would have too... Thanks, Mr. Unprofessional..See ya in  Division I-AA....Or whatever they are calling it now..........

Well I sure wish you would stay Darius.  I hesitated to beg you to stay when I heard what you said about your family and needing to support them.  I like the attitude.  However, If there is some way you can make it and stay for one more year, it would be great.  Very few people can catch and run like you.  You light up the field and you amaze us.  We want you to beat that 4th place record you hold with Chris Henry for TD's in one season.  No one should want to be on the same page as him.  He was good but, not disciplined.  Do what you need to do Darius.  However, we will take ya back if you want.... 

It may be too late for me to plead to Steve Slaton to return next season.  I really thought he would decide to stay.  Here goes:

Steve, please come back.  We need you.  I understand you have to make choices that best benefit you but, we want you to break more records, run more yards, get more touchdowns and we want you to do it at WVU.  You can take home the Heisman.  Your smile and demeanor on and off the field only inspire us, the fans to endure the tough times.  Honestly, you could sit the bench all year and we would be happy just knowing you are there.  We could lose every game but, we would know that you gave your all.  Don't settle for second round of the draft.  You are first round material.  Give them one more year to see what you got.  Go for the number one pick.  Steve, you are Mountaineer Football.  You will be able to learn any offense you need to, if it should happen to change.  You are that good.  Please, Please, Please, give it one more year.  No matter what choice you make, we will love ya.  But, we just wanna love ya in blue and old gold. 

When a reporter asked Coach Rod what he thought about the departure of Michigan's talented QB, he replied with a simple "Don't Care".  This attitude is what WVU had to deal with.  Now, I understand when folks are proud of being successful.  Most people enjoy success.  Coach Rod however, seems to be thinking of himself only.  Understand that along with success comes responsibility, especially when you are a public figure.  Many people who are successful have only themselves to thank i.e. Bill Gates, Donald Trump, etc... Buuuuut, when your success depends on other people, you need to not only acknowledge it personally but, publicly as well.  Coach Rod doesn't do either very well.  His attitude seems to be "I built it and no one else helped".  Take away the assistant coaches, take away the players, take away the fans and Coach Rod has nothing.  So, Coach Rod, how about at the least acting like you care about a young man whom you forced to make possibly the toughest decision of his life, changing schools.  Your "don't care" attitude is the true you.  I thought we raised folks better than that in WV.  It's obvious you are not a true West Virginian.  Of course, if you trace your WV roots, they only go back a few years.  I consider you a migrate worker anyway. Your coaching history (as well as other things I will not NAME) says it all.  Michigan fans,  good luck.  I think you will see the the true Rodriguez very shortly.  You will win some ballgames.  However, I don't think you will be seeing any Big Ten trophies anytime soon.....

Well, Coach Stu must have really done some talkin' to get Doc Holliday to leave Florida to come home.  I'm sure WVU will have a very large bill from the Doc for this "House Call".  But it's AWESOME!!! Thanks Doc for coming.  I had no doubt that Steve Dunlap would come back to the flagship school of the state.  There couldn't be any better time for it to happen.  Dunlap, Kirelawich and Casteel will take the WVU defense to new heights.  Holliday will recruit the players we need.  Don't count out one of the country's highest rated high school players, Josh Jenkins, just yet.  I look for him to choose WVU with encouragement from the new staff.  Ya never know, Terrelle Pryor may change his mind as well.  Either way Stewart has already obtained several commitments.  It's a great day year to be a Mountaineer!!!!!

WVU has got to get some coaches hired.  With all of the recruits making decisions, we must get the coaches in place to do a little recruiting.  Several names have been mentioned but, the two I am most excited about are Steve Dunlap and Doc Holliday.  Though, in order to get the Doc, Stewart will have to convince the administration to shell out some real cash.  Holliday is currently an associate head coach at U of Florida.  He won't come back to WVU for chump change.  Steve Dunlap needs to return.  He is at Marshall now and has a more potential than that of the Herd.  You may recall WVU having a top rated defense for several seasons when Dunlap was the defensive coordinator under Nehlen.  The Coach Rod fired him...Go Figure..Why keep the best coaches??  Anyway, with the dedication and success of Jeff Casteel (current DC) and the unforgettable power of Dunlap, can you imagine the defense of WVU?  Man I hope it works out.  Probably won't take much to get Dunlap, plus his son is a Junior at WVU.  As for the rest of the names in and on the rumor mill, I think Stewart will make the best decision.  Just get it done already....

Read this ESPN Story: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3186883

OK, Let's get this straight.  Coach Rod took our money and ran.  He was only thinking of himself when he left.  When you're a public figure, being paid by the public, ya just gotta do things differently.  HOWEVER!!!! The harassment of Coach Rod's family MUST STOP!  It is absolutely absurd.  You cannot call yourself a real Mountaineer if you continue to harass innocent people.  Especially over something like this.  Yes I'm mad too.  BUT!  I would never stoop(s) (no pun intended) as low as to threaten Coach Rod or Coach Rod's family.  They may have had some influence on his decision but, that gives no reason to destroy their things and threaten their lives.  Straighten up people.  We are West Virginians, we act better than that.  The same goes for those who did it to Pat McAffe.  Be a true West Virginian or get out of the state.  Like Coach Rod did. (Did you think I would let him off that easy?)  Just stop the stupid stuff...