Now that the depositions are underway in the WVU vs. Rich Rodriguez case, we are finally starting to learn a few things that weren't apparent. For instance, we didn't know how little Rodriguez's attorney, Marv Robon knows about sports. More to the point, how little he knows about who is coaching where. At one point Pastilong testified that Texas A&M had a problem when its football coach was given his own Web site, leading to his dismissal. "You mean Bobby Knight?" Robon asked. Bobby Knight? He was a basketball coach. Latest stop at Texas Tech, not A&M. And he was fired at Indiana.Not satisfied that people knew the depth of his lack of fandom, Robon continued.
"Do people blame Mike Parsons for Bobby Huggins leaving?" When he was corrected and told that Huggins was the current coach, Robon dug himself in deeper. "Attempt to leave?" he asked.Once again, real life proves itself far funnier than anything I could ever make up. I'm sure he meant former West Virginia basketball coach John Beilein. And being a West Virginia fan, I heard a lot of things about assistant AD, Mike Parsons and the loss of Beilein. His name was also mentioned quite a bit during the Alabama-Rodriguez fiasco. Keep in mind that what I just said is 100% rumor. But the rumor goes that while both Rodriguez and Beilein were at West Virginia, they went to Ed Pastilong on more than one occasion to complain about Parsons. Most likely about facility issues and Parsons lack of concern.
It hardly seems important at this point, as Pastilong and Rodriguez made only sparse contact over his last eight months.
In Rodriguez's final eight months, Pastilong seldom had contact with the coach other than in social settings and was not involved in negotiations, which were done through Team Rodriguez's agent, lawyers and financial experts while the WVU legal team and President Garrison and Walker handled the Mountaineer side.
Yeah, so Pastilong wasn't involved with the negotiations for Rodriguez and Huggins. So anything he says involving the Rodriguez contract isn't going to mean much. And the guy that was involved in the negotiations, WVU President Mike Garrison, kind of has some character issues(language). And one of the things that Rodriguez has been saying from the beginning is that there were verbal agreements to reduce the buyout. I don't know much about law, but right about now I'm not feeling so good about my schools chances to collect the $4 million.
The scenario I've just described might not amount to anything. It might just be that what is in the contract is the only evidence that really matters. But then again, if these things play a part it won't really matter about Robon's sports knowledge. Because Garrison just grooved one down his wheel house.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-10-2008 @ 6:40AM
Jon said...
It doesn't matter what verbal agreements came about after the contract was signed. A written contract cannot be amended verbally. It has to be amended in writing.
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5-15-2008 @ 10:02AM
Dom said...
Rodriguez leaving WVa to coach Michigan could not have been a big surprise to WVa or they wouldn't have inserted the buyout clause in his contract. The fact that it was in his contract was WVa's way of saying that we want you here for the duration of this contract, we think you might leave during the term of this contract and we want to be compensated if you do. From what I've read in news reports, WVa was telling Rodriguez that n return for your agreeing to a contract extension and this buyout clause, we will give you a healthy pay increase. Rodriguez did not live up to the terms of the contract and therefore has to pay the buyout. He is currently posturing for a lower buyout, hoping that WVa will settle for less to reduce their legal costs in fighting this out in court. What is likely to work against Rodriguez is that the anamosity among the alumni will likely force WVa to fight this all the way. Michigan alumni should step in and pay the $4 million buyout because the bad press is hurting Rodriguez' image and integrity which in turn is greatly affecting his recruiting. Being an Ohio State alumnus, I hope they continue down the current course because OSU has benefitted greatly by winning recruits that both schools were seeking.
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