Bad news for WVU fans.....I guess the chance for Rich Rod to go coach at Michigan.....cant blame him.
Im torn on this one man....as a WVU fan...and native...Im really bummed Rich would say how much he wanted to retire here. But....it IS Michigan. I cant blame him on the move. Now...who steps in?
My condolences on your poor selection of college football team and state to be born in. Both of my parents are from West Virginia. When WVU loses, my Saturdays get better.
Your hatred for WV is your own loss my friend. I too am from WV and by no means am ashamed of it. Its a beautiful place,granted I dont live there. But WVU is a great school, who for a couple of years now has been a great program. I dread it going back to mediocrity.
Once, when I was a kid, there was a span of about two weeks where both of my half-brothers (then in their late 30s) were both visiting when the Hurricanes and Mountaineers were scheduled to play each other in Miami. We went to the game, and I was actively rooting for the Hurricanes even though I had no idea what football even was.
Well, with Rich out the door now, I would not be surprised if the programs switch places in dominance once again.
I still don't know how Les Miles didn't want the job. Though I think Michigan may have gotten a better hire in Rodriguez. I have no rooting interest in OSU/Michigan but the Sweater Vest owned Carr. Hopefully this will add something to the rivalry.
Maybe Michigan will be able to defend against the spread now that they will be practicing against it everyday. Should help their chances against OSU now too. Wonder what White, Slaton, and Devine are thinking right now.
My guess is money. Miles will make $2.8 million a year while Rodriguez will make $2.4 million a year (up from $2 million/year at WVU.) Meanwhile, Miles' contract has a salary escalator in it that guarantees his salary will be in the top three of all college coaches if he wins the national championship. That would mean Miles would earn $3.2 million a year.
Slaton has already been quoted as " he, understood, its a business, he had to do what was best for his family." But he has to feel slighted. Players like him and White go to colleges like WVU to play for coaches like him, not to be left behind when he bails. Rich Made the program without him....its a crappy situation for them.
Good for Michigan. Though I'd have wished they would take Cam so we can get a real coach with a real winning record but oh well.
He is a real coach, and maybe he'll have a winning record by the time he is done here, give the guy a frickin' chance.
At first, I was really upset that Coach Rod was even talking to anyone else. After the crap he pulled last year ... leaving for 'Bama, then staying put because of a raise ... I actually believed him when he said that he was happy that he was going to be able to finish out his career at WVU. However, as soon as this crap about his jumping ship to go to Michigan started up (the very next year no less) ... I wanted his arse gone! How can you possibly trust someone who keeps doing this? How in the world would we be able to recruit? Apparantly it's time to move on. Thanks Rich for what you did for us, but I honestly can't say I'm sad that you are gone. Early word that I've been hearing is that we are looking at Terry Bowden.
I've heard that might have had something to do with WVU's promise to upgrade the facilities, but not showing any willingness to follow up on it. Any truth to that?
Not sure. I recall that the University was talking about expanding the stadium just before the season started, but I haven't heard anything since.
Slaton was likely going to declare for the draft anyway. It's players like Noel Devine who should feel slighted.
I also have mixed feelings about Rodriguez. Part of me understands what he did. The big boy schools with budgets better than WVU will ever have due to boosters and better state economies were going to hound him until he made the move. In a way, it's kind of like a Roy Williams from Kansas to North Carolina deal minus the history Roy had with UNC. The other part of me really wishes he hadn't just pulled this crap a year ago only to pull it again. He showed great judgment in not dooming his career with a trip through the Alabama coaching carousel, but I think the better move would have been to stay at WVU a couple more years and take an even better job than the Michigan one.
I'm pretty sure the truth is that RR's dream job is whatever school he can win a championship at. Winning at WVU is kind of tough because in most normal years, there are going to be at least two teams from the 4-5 major conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 10, and maybe ACC) that will be ahead of WVU in line for the title game. Therefore, one of the big names in the major conferences is where he has a better chance. You can argue that the lack of a title game makes the Big Ten the optimal place -- you don't take the risk of one additional game dooming your season. Ohio State doesn't look to be coming open any time soon. I'd personally suggest Penn State is probably a better program than Michigan, particularly since RR already knows regional recruiting in that general area. Still, when is that job going to be open? You may be right. Michigan might sincerely be a dream job for him.
Rich didn't waste much time. Fired the whole coaching staff at Michigan. http://sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10539394
he rehired Fred Jackson to be RB coach and could rehire a couple other assistants. I don't expect us to have a great year next year, because we do not have all the athletes to run a spread offense. We've got some good WRs even after Manningham, but not great speed, and our RBs are not spread RBs (except incoming frosh Sam McGuffie), and Mallett is not a running QB. However, I do expect a better year than this year. Our offensive staff especially was stuck in a time warp running a rather ineffective playbook that would never have worked had it not been for the talent of Henne,Hart,Long,Manningham,and Arrington. So the new offensive philosophy will be welcomed. The best thing is Rodriguez has been able to keep recruits, the two big fish in our class so far, Bobo Cissoko and Sam McGuffie have reaffirmed their commitments and most other commits are excited. The only guy we've lost is Chris Weinke, whose a QB that would've never seen the field with Mallet,Threet(transfer from GTech), and potentially Pryor coming in. Rodriguez has also gotten other top recruits such as Terrelle Pryor and Justin Jenkins to atleast consider Michigan.
You seriously had a Chris Weinke? I have not idea how Mallet didn't ask for a transfer immediately. That kid will be a great QB, but I don't know how much more he could be miscast than in Rodriguez's offense.
