So yesterday I am in a pizza place for lunch and they have ESPN on and Bob Ley is interviewing some old man who writes for a Morgantown, WV newspaper. The old man (sorry I don't have the name, but does it really matter?) was going on and on about Rich Rodriguez leaving WVU as though he'd been personally hurt in the exchange.It makes you realize how much more insane college and high school sports are in a place like the backwoods of West Virginia. This guy got really animated -- and remember, he's being asked questions by Bob Ley -- and started squawking the following (paraphrasing): "We had a saying around here... 'In Rod we trust.' Where's that saying now? Where's Rod? Why isn't he here? Last year, he turned down the Alabama job and said he had a contract here and was going to be here a while. And now he's leaving. Why?"
Well, old man, first of all, settle down. You weren't personally slighted by this. It's a career decision. If someone came to you at your little cubicle at the Morgantown Gazette, or whatever it's called, and said, "Hey, I've got a position for you at much more prestigious newspaper in a much more prestigious location. You'll get better stories, more fame, your success will take you further and, oh, you'll be richer," what would you say? If you say you'd be loyal to your employer and not consider it then you're either a) stupid or b) a liar. Probably a little of both, in your case.
Now secondly, do I really need to explain to you why Rod might leave WVU for Michigan? Freakin' Michigan? Where should I begin?
1) Big Ten versus Big East. Um, no contest.
2) Big rivalry game is against OSU, and people will care. WVU's is against Pitt. Exciting.
3) Far more prestigious school, regardless of what the hillrats in WV want to believe. It's a fact, Jack.
4) Better recruits.
5) Better history.
6) Better legacy, especially if win.
7) More respect in the polls... which can lead to more chance of National Title game, etc.
Shall I go on? It's not even a contest, in my not-so-humble opinion. Michigan is a school with a fantastic tradition and a solid, top-notch football program. Sure, they're a conference rival of ours, but I can still respect worthy opponents. Just like Boilerdowd, I have no severe hatred for UM. And as for the forced outrage by WVU people, give me a break. Do you really think contracts have some kind of sanctity in college football? As Boilerdowd points out below, now WVU is potentially talking to Nick Saban. But wait! Doesn't he have a contract at Alabama? Yes, he does, but I'll bet all you backwoods clowns come out of the woodwork to worship at the altar of Saban if he were to make the jump to Morgantown.
Point is, Rodriguez got a better offer to run a better program at a better institution. It happens. WVU isn't Michigan and it probably never will be. Sorry if that hurts but it's best to come to grips with it.
15 comments:
Well said.
Isn't it ironic that after crucifying Rodriguez (wrongly) they are now talking to Saban? How long do they actually think Saban would stay at WVU? He would use it as a springboard to yet another elite job.
Well, I can understand some people being mad because he lied to the WVU faithful. Do you like being lied to? I doubt it. In some parts of the world, believe it or not, a man's word and integrity is an important thing. We sports fans who see people leaving jobs for more money and fame are not suprised by him leaving. But we're jaded. Maybe you think nothing is more important then fame and money, but some folks think honesty and integrity is. But I guess it is "stupid" to pass up the Michigan job if it means keeping your word. No wonder we have issues with morality as a society.
WV would be crazy to hire Saban. He would gone in less than a year...
Oy, E, give me a break. And don't imply I'm not a man of my word. And yes, it is indeed STUPID to pass up a better job under many conditions. People who do so are often afraid of new challenges. Family reasons? Fine. But "loyalty" to an employer, especially in a sports setting where you can be fired anytime, is ridiculous.
As for the "lying" point -- what is he supposed to say? "I'm staying, although I might consider other offers?" Of course not. Don't be silly.
I’m just going to play devil’s advocate for a moment.
Rodriguez has gotten very good recruits to WV and has a lot of success there. He is paid well and could probably approach the AD and say, “I’ve gotten us to be an annual top 20 team, I think I deserve a raise with some incentives.” Rodriquez is also an alumni, and sometimes that means more to a person than fame and money. Maybe he would want to get WVU to the point of being spoken of in the same circles as a Michigan, or Florida, or Oklahoma. He may want a Bobby Bowden type legacy – turning a program into an annual competitor on the national level and being respected by everyone (and hopefully retiring before that legacy lost some shine with crappy recruiting and loosing seasons).
All that said, money and prestige still have a strong pull. I think Michigan got a good coach, and I don’t feel sorry for WV or anyone else. I hope Purdue can pull that off in a few years. But I don’t think he would have been crazy for turning down Michigan if he had. Also, we’ll see how good Rodriquez makes UM by implementing a system they traditionally haven’t used, and by being the coach that only had to beat Pitt to make it to the BCS title game. I haven’t heard anyone talking about that – but I haven’t been paying much attention.
Eric, do you know anyone who has ever been laid off or fired? Talk to them about loyalty to a company or employer. Their take is a bit different than someone who hasn't been in that situation. Rodriguez earned every penny of what he made at WVU. His boss, WVU's AD had become less and less flexible over the past year and according to reports had been cold toward Rodriguez since the 'Bama job came calling last year. Remember, Rodriguez decided to stay and got that sort of reaction.
He probably had enough of the guy. And a bad boss can make a good job lousy. He still speaks highly of WVU and his former players and his players speak highly of him. Unlike many who leave positions, he never said about this job he was not interested or was not thinking about it.
It's not at all fair to put him on the same level as Saban, Petrino or others.
We have issues with morality in society because we live in one which moral relativism and post-modernism reign supreme. There are still ultimate wrongs and rights; many refuse to recognize that...Justin isn't one of those, you know better than that.
Well, I didn't realize the coldness he was getting from WVU. Of course that changes things. I was under the impression this was a total shock to people.
I was just trying to point out why some people might be mad. I know I hate getting lied to. It certainly wouldn't make me feel better knowing I got lied to because someone wanted money. Hopefully Rodriguez told his players he would leave for the right offer last offseason. Did you guys see White try to play with a busted up hand?? Makes you wonder if he would have attempted that again knowing his coach wasn't gonna be there for them.
I just get mad when people say it is "stupid" to pass up a job offer. Sure, I could go design washing machines for better money...but I actually enjoy working on rockets and take pride in working for our military.
And your job is doing it for you in a multitude of ways, E, and that's great.
But if it WASN'T and a better offer came along -- a better offer in every way, say, building rockets that send peace and harmony around the world -- you might consider it and you'd be dumb NOT to consider it if it would be a better situation for you and your family. Right?
Also, my point was this way in which the fans and media are acting betrayed... it's simply ridiculous.
The plot thickens...
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07352/842541-144.stm
Well, as someone that's been laid off twice in the past 6 months (stupid mortgage industry). . Anyway, this bothers me a bit (just a bit!) because he had a contract and I didn't. Heck, I didn't even get a name tag at job #2. You also have to remember WVU just lost their b-ball coach to Michigan (one who was outraged they were serious about his buyout) and now they lose their football coach to the same school. Oh well, the best part about this whole thing is that Lloyd Carr was the one making all the noise about how the spread will never work in the Big 10 and now they hire a coach that runs. .the spread.
I completely forgot about the basketball coach. If I were WVU I would be getting a complex now too. Suck...
Sounds like WVU has no commitment to that school having a premier football program... with these stories coming out about support of grad assistants and recruiting coordinators (or lack thereof), good luck signing a top coaching candidate. When will these administrations figure out that Football trumps all... it's the fountain of youth for universities...
Supposedly Rich told one of the top recruits in the nation to go to Michigan BEFORE he told anyone else he was going to Michigan.
Now how is that treating your school that just paid you 2 million bucks?
That's pretty lousy...if it's true.
Doesn't it matter to you that WVU kept $200,000 of bonuses, not from him, but from his assistants?
That's pretty important, to me. Sounds like WVU didn't keep its word.
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