Truth & Rumors > NCAAF
Latest Rodriguez conspiracy theory
Before the death threats to his brother's children, before the letters to the editor that rage against him in his local paper, before the destruction of his mailbox, and the printing of anti-Rod T-shirts, and the affixing of mocking posters to his gate at the end of his driveway, Rich Rodriguez was the most popular man in West Virginia. And it wasn't even close. Depending on the point of view, this past week unfolded in a tale of conspiracy and anger, ambition and treachery, big business, rabid fans and a local boy who grew up to be a hero only to become a traitor. The level of vitriol has surprised even Rodriguez, whose guilt and empathy are slowly turning into defiance. What irks him the most is a theory bubbling from the hollers to the Capitol to the campus bars in Morgantown. A theory that suggested he threw the Dec. 1 game against Pittsburgh -- the school's traditional season-ending rival -- to avoid a berth in the national championship game. Pitt was a 28 1/2 -point underdog. If West Virginia had won, the school would have earned its first shot at a BCS title.
More FanHouse Blogs
- UFC 106 Fight Card
- UFC 106 Results
- Stefanie Spielman Dies at Age 42
- Bears Shun NBC for Sunday Night Game
- Parisyan Pulls Out of UFC 106, Dana White Says Move is Career Ender
- Questions Surround ESPN's NBA Latino Power Rankings
- Steelers Fan Claims He Was Poisoned, Blinded in Chicago Bar
- Bosh Will Consider Joining Wade in Miami
- Chelios Fights Father Time for Last Shot
- Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young Award
Stub Hub
The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!
Truth & Rumors
MOST POPULAR
-
1
Agent: 'Extraordinary' interest in Bay
- Views
- 6242
- Comments
- 1892
-
2
Vikings to consider L.A. move?
- Views
- 67418
- Comments
- 1880
-
3
Bills owner wanted Gruden
- Views
- 37866
- Comments
- 345
-
4
Mayo rebukes Bruschi's Belichick knock
- Views
- 45750
- Comments
- 265
-
5
Can Iverson lure LeBron to Knicks?
- Views
- 10784
- Comments
- 178
Most Active Users
Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns
Message Boards
-
NCAAF > General NCAAF
Are college football coaches…
- Views
- 338
- Replies
- 51
-
NCAAF > General NCAAF
CFB Game Day 11/21/2009
- Views
- 215
- Replies
- 104
-
NCAAF > General NCAAF
Pac-10's Tough Schedule
- Views
- 137
- Replies
- 19


Shanon Lersh
Anne V



Comments (32) Add A Comment
Wow. This is ridiculous. You'd think he's the first coach to leave his alma mater.
MiggyT11
Chillicothe , OH
Total Comments (58)
We're talkng about the state of West Va. so it doen't surprise me that the fans have reacted this way.
psufaninaz
Peoria, AZ
Total Comments (30)
We're also talking about a story out of the Detroit Free Press, which hasn't set a very high standard for journalism through this whole mess. So the whole story is suspect.
trousdeloup
Total Comments (33)
Why would anybody want to be a D1 coach?
1Hawkeye1 wants Vida
Clear Lake , IA
Total Comments (1920)
Why would anybody want to be a D1 coach?
1Hawkeye1 |
Oh... About $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 reasons a year is good one to me.
TCopelin
Sugar Land , TX
Total Comments (110)
That wouldn't be enough to make up for death threats against my kids.
1Hawkeye1 wants Vida
Clear Lake , IA
Total Comments (1920)
I empathize with the residents of West Virginia, Michigan took both their hoops and football coach. But it could be worse, they could be from Ohio.
OJs Slashers
Sterling Heights, MI
Total Comments (43)
I've been telling everyone I see that is interested in college football... WVU will be better next year WITHOUT big richy.
I wouldn't go as far to say he threw the game on purpose, but the PITT game was the worst display of coaching and offensive game management I've seen in a long time. You have to be a complete idiot to give the ball only 9 times to one of the best backs in the nation and the fastest in the stadium. Pat White was even hurt half the game and they still didn't give Slaton the ball. They didn't use the screen game... They only went to their star senior receiver 3 times. Instead the game plan looked like the QB keep with 8 in the box. The backup quarterback had more carries then Devine & Slaton. While the running back on the opposite team had 38 carries.
I could go on forever...they just didn't look like the same team, exactly why I think this rumor has started. Rich looked like a spectator the whole game, did they even make halftime adjustments? I've watched this game about 3 times and it still seems like Rich had already decided to leave. I don't know if he purposly blew the game, but don't expect Michigan to be good any time soon. When the game has been on the line countless times rich has not shown up to coach.
zY
Pullman, WA
Total Comments (498)
Wow, the folks in WV are now in a dead-heat tie with the folks in Tuscaloosca for the Absolutely Zero Perspective in Life Award. I've been to Morgantown before although, so I'm not shocked by this at all.
EastCoastKeith
Total Comments (2161)
zY, I totally agree.
I'm a West Virginian and was upset when Rodriguez announced he was leaving but I never had violent thoughts towards him or his family. I will admit, there are some pretty crazy individuals here in WV but we shouldn't all be labeled by the acts of a few.
My prediction (I know barely anyone will agree) is that the WV players will use this to their advantage and beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
Noel Devine stated that there's a better atmosphere in practice than there was when Rodriguez was there. They'll look like a totally different team than the team who lost to PITT.
FLETCH346
Total Comments (3626)
psufan, if Joe Pa had done the same thing in his tenure.. The PA State Police would have had a riot on their hands. Every state in this Nation have their fair share of loons.
FLETCH346
Total Comments (3626)
Those anti-Rod t-shirts will also sell great with the West Virginia lesbian crowd.
This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. If it weren't for him, WV wouldn't even be considered a decent team.
IrishR#1
Total Comments (8517)
How do you get an osu graduate off your front porch? Pay him for the pizza...
GO RU!
Bordentown , NJ
Total Comments (35)
The 'anti-Rod' T's don't say that, exactly, Irish.. LOL..
It's a WV Gold t-shirt that reads, in big blue letters across the front...
"Fraud-riguez"
I think with or without Rodriguez WV would still be considered a decent team. Check it:
Lifetime stats: W-653 L-440 .594 pct.
2006 Gator Bowl
2005 Sugar Bowl
2004 Gator Bowl
2003 Gator Bowl
2002 Continental Tire Bowl
2000 Music City Bowl
1998 Insight.com Bowl
1997 Carquest Bowl
1996 Gator Bowl
1994 Carquest Bowl
1993 Sugar Bowl
1989 Gator Bowl
1988 Fiesta Bowl
1987 Sun Bowl
Decent.
FLETCH346
Total Comments (3626)
For one thing, the Mountaineers have been a top 25 team for many years. Rod helped them to reach the top 10 consistently. What happens now is to hard to tell without knowing who the next coach will be. I don't care where you are, there are people who are overboard in their enthusiasm for their team. So you will always hear stories of threats and such after this type of move, or after a stupid loss. The sad thing is Michigan is now trying to lure away WVU's womens soccer coach. Maybe we should start calling it the U of WV at Ann Arbor or something. WVU alum may need to start looking into Pastilong to see if he is the reason they are losing their top coaches.
Superstans
Ripley , WV
Total Comments (1)
I think if WVU could get the $4 million that Rodriguez owes them they could then pay off Jimbo Fisher's $2.5 million buyout at FSU and still give him a signing bonus of $1.5 million.. Taaa Daa LOL
FLETCH346
Total Comments (3626)
michigan fans...dont be bitter there's always next year...or maybe the year after...or after that...well at some point you might get one....
84
Total Comments (7228)
VA peeps, chill out!!! RRod's got the program going in the right direction. Go and get Brian Kelly and he'll take it even further. Can't believe people are so busy looking behind them that they can't see the clear future AHEAD of them!
rhymeister
Total Comments (2198)
Sorry that should've been WV, LOL!
rhymeister
Total Comments (2198)
triple x 84
I hope you are right. Unfortunately, UM is not smart like Ohio State. They spend so much money on their coach that they cannot afford to pay their recruits/players as much. Fun fact, did you know that Katzenmoyer's IQ was the same as his jersey number? No joes about little Animal though, that guy will be better than the Rock and Stone Cold combined. Whoa, I am talking about pro wrestling, I am thinking about Ohio too much.
OJs Slashers
Sterling Heights, MI
Total Comments (43)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.