First of all let me apologize for the lack of updates on the site.  Sometimes I just get fed up with foolin' with dead horses.

Anyway, time to re-hash. December 16th

Let us reminisce (cue the harp and blurry vision):

Two years ago, this day, I get a phone call from my sister.  "Scott, the nurse says we should call any family members who would want to be here and have a long way to travel." Keep in mind I had moved about five hours away from my native Lincoln County, WV, to the beautiful Eastern Panhandle of WV.

"She said mom's not gonna make it."  As I scurried to throw some clothes in a bag, call my fiancé', get the dogs ready and fight off tears, I remembered that I was going to telephone my mother the night before—just to say hello—but I got busy and forgot.  My mom and I kept in touch on a regular basis, but this time I felt I should call her for some reason.

The drive to Charleston was quite tense.  Tears were shed and thoughts were raced. 

As I stepped out of the elevator onto the floor of the hospital, I saw approximately twenty-five family members—most of whom are members of the Church of Christ in Alum Creek, WV—where my mother worshiped and where I worshiped before my move. 

What a feeling to see so many folks who care enough to be so supportive.  Keeping in mind, my mother was loved by all of these folks as well.  Needless to say, they were hurting too.

I sat down in the waiting room chair, not really knowing what to do or say. Someone spoke up and told me I should go into my mother’s room.  So I did.  Watching my mom lie there gasping for air—through a ventilator—was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  The whole time I was just hoping that her eyes would open, she would smile and I could tell her I love her. 

The machine was turned off and I—along with my two sisters and a few other folks—watched as my mom took her last breath.  I held her hand the whole time.  It was a terrible feeling.  You see, my mom was only 57 years old and died of a stroke. 

FAST FORWARD one year:

I'm surfing the web on my blackberry and see a "Breaking News" icon, "Rodriguez Headed to Michigan".  My heart dropped.  I could not believe it.  He had done so much for WVU, he couldn't leave.

I recalled the scare I had gotten when we just about lost Coach Rod to Alabama.  Therefore, I refused to believe the news.  I searched the web, tuned my radio to WV Metro News and hurried to wvmetronews.com.

The news seemed to be true this time.  There was no hoping, wishing, dreaming or turning back.  It was true, Coach Rod was gone.

What do we do now?  Who is going to coach the Fiesta Bowl? Can Coach Stew step up to the plate and get it done?  Who will be the next Head Coach of the Mountaineers?  I miss you Rod!!!!

Let's be honest. Few people liked Coach Rod when he took over the football program for West Virginia.  However, after a year or so we snuggled up to him and let him lead us into a new era of Mountaineer Football.

It took me a long time to get used to Coach Rod, but I began to enjoy his coaching and the atmosphere he brought along with it.  He is a great coach and we have him.

Until, the anniversary of my mother's death.

A large and ugly battle would then ensue.  Many people would do and say many things that they should not have. Folks would be dragged into the fiasco that should not have been.  Lies would be told.  Feelings would be hurt.

However, life would go on in Morgantown, WV and the Mountaineer Faithful would see to it that the football program would be just as important as it always had been.

 Present day (ok play the harp and do the blurry picture)

My mother was a very faithful Christian while on this earth.  She is now with God—because of her dedication and commitment.  Her life goes on. 

Each day of my life, I strive to live in a way that will allow me to spend eternity with my mother.

I say with a great deal of confidence that Coach Rod wishes he would have handled things a little better and not caused such a ruckus.  He is a great coach; I wish him all the best.

However, He could have chosen a different day to smash the hearts of so many Mountaineers.

Let’s GOOOOOOO Mountaineeeeeers… LIFE GOES ON

In the never ending saga of uselessness, it is now known that Coach Rod's agent, Mike Brown has ties to sports gambling.  It seems that maybe Rod is controlled more by his agent than his "love" of football and/or money.

In the past I have defended Rod against the accusations that he threw the Pitt game.  However, if one would think hard and long enough, some pieces just might fit that (sudoku) puzzle. 

Brown has admitted to "shopping around" for Coach Rod.  He was continually trying to find him another  job.  Brown has also admitted to having ties to pro and college betting.  Ya think that Brown's control over Rod had anything to do with the loss to Pitt in the Backyard Brawl?

I really hate to insinuate this heinous act, but in all actuality, it could be the truth.

I really do not believe Coach Rod would throw a game.  On the other hand, if he is trying stay in the pocket of a corrupt agent, he just may have to "not try as hard"  Does that make sense?  Brown tells Rod to throw the game, then bets against WVU.

You can view the story and deposition of Mike Brown in the headlines section of www.thankscoachrod.com. 

Though I hope the former coach of Coach Bill Stewart's Fiesta Bowl Champs would not stoop so low, after the latest news, I am forced to reevaluate the facts and my opinions before I conclude on the matter.

No matter what, Michigan fans better get ready for a bumpy season.  A season in which the head coach's mind is far from Ann Arbor. 

First of all, let me say this is the furthest thing from an anti JoePa article and a little closer to an anti-Coach Rod article.  (GO FIGURE)  Unfortunately, Joe Paterno, the head football coach of THE Penn State University is not getting any younger. 

As you may well know, there have been opinions spanning the last three or four years that have cultivated many rumors of the future of Coach Paterno. 

However, when the rumors and opinions begin to erupt, so does the continuing legacy of the best coach in the NCAA.  When it seems the decision to get rid of Paterno is threatening, he always ends up taking care of business on the gridiron (that means football field for you soccer fans) thus, quieting his critics for yet another season. 

Many rush to blame JoePa for the off-field antics, in which some PSU players have recently chosen to partake.  Nevertheless, the parents of these overly rambunctious teens are still never mentioned as being contributors to such erratic behavior. 

"It's the coach's fault these boys get into trouble, we all know their parents raised them so very well." That's just preposterous! Parents need to teach their children to act respectfully, especially when they are getting a free education.

Although, when a player decides to make a mockery of himself and his team, it is the responsibility of the coach to take a stand. At this point, the coach cannot allow a player to assume he can do what he wants, when he wants, for the simple fact that he's a great football player. 

JoePa knows how to discipline.  Just ask Austin Scott. Not only was JoePa's disciplinary action the best move for the football program but, the best for the young Mr. Scott as well.

Take former WVU players, Chris Henry and Adam 'Pacman' Jones for instance.  Both had trouble on and off the field while playing for Coach Rod.  Coach Rod chose not to discipline them in the proper way.  Look at where they are now.  Nothing but trouble in the NFL.

OK, so the fact is JoePa is getting older.  Some of the trustees for PSU sports would probably not beg him to stay if he hinted he wanted to leave. Furthermore, JoePa will never be forced to leave the program that he built into what it is today.

Now for the Wolverines.  Keep in mind that the No. 1 reason that Coach Rod gave when asked why he left WVU to go to Michigan was "it's Michigan".  Of course he was speaking of the great football program and the history of the school.  He has a good point but c'mon, everybody knows that Penn State is the dream job for any football coach. 

So, watch out U-M.  I imagine a statement something like this in the near future: "I left Michigan, No. 1, because it's Penn State and No. 2, my son has already committed to the Nittany Lions class of 2010. Oh yeah, and it's a lot closer to home..."

I never really thought that www.thankscoachrod.com would ever get as many visitors as it has thus far.  I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to stop by and think the site is good enough to visit again.  Over the last 2 months I have given you my opinions of Coach Rod and the WVU athletic Dept.  Some good comments and some bad.  I suppose it depends on what side you are on.

I have not made any money from the website.  I have not asked for any money nor have I been offered any.  This is a site for you and I to use for fun.  I have even put links to other for-profit sites just to help keep you informed.  These other sites have done nothing for me.  Why even WVMETRONEWS.com stopped posting my comments on their site.  Of course as a former employee of their parent company, I know some of the folks who are in control therefore, it doesn't surprise me.

Anyway, I would like to open the site up to you a little more.  I have always had a place where you could leave your comments and leave feedback.  What I want to do now is post your thoughts to my blog.  If you wish, send me your thoughts in an email and I will post them.  Wvdj105@aol.com is the email address.

You never know.  You may end up with a job at Sports Illustrated.  Ha! 

Thankscoachrod.com is getting more and more hits.  Especially from www.bleachrreport.com.  So come on! Give it a shot.  Let's see what you can say to enlighten readers.

Fortunately for those who are fed up with the whole controversy, there has been nothing much to write about.  Unfortunately, those who like to see the continuous bashing of Coach Rod are getting bored.  We could always discuss recruiting but, that's old news and it's getting older.  I could talk about the fact that Coach Rod really racked up on his recruiting though, he has yet to sign # 1 prospect, Terrelle Pryor.  I could talk about the fact that Mr. Pryor may not even go to a Big Ten School and may end up in Oregon.  I could talk about the slim chance of Pryor choosing WVU.  I could talk about the fact that Coach Stew didn't do too bad himself in the recruiting.  Pat White's little bro' Coley looks to be the next QB at WVU, providing Coach Stew does not use him elsewhere.  I never doubted but, the top pick Josh Jenkins also added himself to the Mountaineer team among several other 2, 3 and 4 star recruits including Terrance Kerns and J.J. Dorsey.  However, I don't want to talk about recruiting.  We could discuss great staff that Coach Stew has put together but, that goes without saying.  We could talk about the loss of 3 great WVU players who were cut from the team for getting arrested for drugs and how Coach Stew will not accept stupid.  BUT, there again, needs no discussion.  I guess I will just re-iterate my disgust with Coach Rod.  You did us wrong.  You left on selfish motive.  Money or not.  Administration or not.  You did not have to leave.  You say they forced you out.  NOPE!  You let what they were doing effect your ego and you made the decision to leave.  Thanks again Coach Rod for "a very long time".  Hope your son decides against U-M in the class of 2017 or whatever it is you said at WVU and U-M.  Blaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh, Yadaaaaaaaaaa... 

Sounds a lot like a story you might hear about on the latest episode of "48 Hours Investigates".  A man and his wife are on the run.   Everyone is looking for them with the intent of making them pay for what they had done.  Perhaps they will be hanged in the town square.  Maybe they will be stoned to death.  Or it could be way rougher than that.  Something like a $4 million buyout with no loss of life.  
In hopes to protect the innocent I will change the names in this story.
As a law enforcement officer by day, I see many driver's licenses.  Some from WV, MD, PA, OR and an occasional Michigan driver's license.  Often times however, I run across one in which the information is falsified, causing the license to be invalid. 
Ok, to the point.  Coach Rod and Rita Rod are trying to keep their case in federal court, claiming they were residents of the state of Michigan when it the lawsuit was filed.  
Their lawyer is stating that they were getting driver's licences and switching their voter rights to the state of Michigan on the day that the lawsuit was filed (Dec 27th 2007).  Not to mention the fact that they signed a lease on a townhouse on December 26th.
Let me put it this way.  There is NO WAY that the Rods were able to get all of this accomplished in the time they had.  If there are driver's licenses that were obtained BEFORE the lawsuit was filed then they are invalid.  Perhaps they were obtained the same day but, after the lawsuit was filed.  As do many states, I am sure the state of Michigan allows one to register to vote when at the DMV for licensing purposes.
If one were to know where Coach Rod spent Christmas they would know the improbability of these things taking place before the lawsuit was filed. 
In conclusion, his kids were still in school in WV, all of his things were still in WV.  Of course his "intentions" were to move his residency to Michigan but, it wasn't fast enough.  Face it, Coach Rod, you were just a too slow for WVU.  Which should make you feel stupid, seeing as you were going against Garrison.
Ok, This entry may make no sense but, i think you get the picture.  If the Case stays in Federal Court then, the judge needs to go to Michigan too....