Damn is right. I had really been looking forward to this trial and the opportunity to make both WVU and UM look stupid at the same time. And yes, then there is Rita Rodriguez.

Still, why the hell didn’t Rod just pay the money up front and avoid all the negative press, insults, and allegations that he’s gone through over the past six months? It surely impacted Michigan’s recruiting. Why fight it and then suddenly, inexplicably give up?

I’m sure a big Michigan donor is 4 million lighter in the wallet.

Lee, he thought he would get the same deal that the BB coach got a year earlier. In the end, if RR is only paying $1.5 out of pocket, then he did get the same deal as Beilein, because that what Beilein negotiated ($1.5M out of what I think was around $3M) Kurt, you hit the nail on the head…According to SI the deal was struck just before a deadline for RR to reveal who, if anyone, would help him pay this buyout. In addition, U of M and RR lost a court case recently that would have forced the U of M President and AD, among others, to be deposed in relation to this case. Can you imagine the black eye RR would have taken if those depositions would have revealed that he was talking to U of M prior to the Pitt game? Lastly, if the buyout was $4M, and RR is paying $4M, why is this referred to in the press as a “settlement”. WVU did not settle at all…they enforced their contract with RR and won. For at least the second time in the last year, RR is stomping around somewhere, with that I’m constipated look on his face, and cursing under his breath!

Yeah, the more I read, I think you’re right, Frank. Plus, MGoBlog seems to be suggesting that Michigan was the group who wanted to fight this all along, not Rodriguez.

Here’s part of why it’s a settlement. The buyout clause actually required two payments, with the first coming w/in 30 days of taking the new job. That was why WVU filed their initial lawsuit. They filed based on Dick’s statements indicating he would not be paying the buyout as it stood.

Instead Rodriguez gets time and the payments he has to make spread further out. Plus no interest and none of WVU’s legal fees are included.

As for Beilein. Even if it’s the same amount he’s paying, he has to be a little ticked in my view.
link to sports.aol.com

He got no support or help from Michigan in negotiating the buyout down (not even the legal costs), and he always held out hope that if Rodriguez won in court, he could get out of his own buyout.

Any idea how much it would cost for Dick Rod to ditch that hideous wife of his? 4 mill would seem like a steal for that feat

Free MBA degrees for everyone now! Tuition paid by Dick Rod! Pick yours up tomorrow!

Did anybody else see Rosenberg’s column in this morning’s Detroit Free Press? He just DESTROYS Rodriguez. In Michigan’s biggest newspaper.

Nice. While we’re airing out all the Big East laundry I’d like to mention the NJ Star Ledger article that suggests Rutgers’ stadium expansion to 55,000 seats – miiight only end up as an expansion to 45,000 seats.

Thanks Lee…Wow, that is a Smack Down for RR from the Det Free Press…For anyone interested, here is the link:

link to freep.com

And, it is all true. It’s about time a University finally dug in and made their former coach pay what their contract says they should pay to break their contract. I wonder if Howland paid the full amount or did we let him off easy. The similarities of what Howland and RR did are striking. Both built their teams into a national force, both signed new contracts and then walked away less than a year later, and both tried to explain their actions with the “dream job” excuse. I’m not saying those jobs are not great, even “dream” jobs, I’m just saying it does not excuse totally arrogant and self-serving behavior.

Great article. If the Michigan gig doesn’t pan out, Rodriguez could be a man without a home. You discover how some people are when they are faced with danger, but as for Rich Rodriguez, it took money. There is a very tall bridge somewhere in West Virginia, burning.

You guys have to get over rr leaving wvu and howland leaving pitt.

We’ve long been over Ben Howland leaving Pitt.

I think we got over Howland leaving the minute Jamie Dixon showed that he was just as capable of losing in the Sweet 16 as Ben was.

Now Ben’s moved on to losing in the Final Four. Good for him.

“Dick Rod!” That’s great. Never heard or thought to call him that before. Classic.

I always liked Rich Rodriquez as a coach but hated him for the mere fact he coached WVU. I’m glad he’s at Michigan because I can finally root for the guy.

If/when RR fails miserably or his shenanigans (recruiting thugs and non-qualifiers, etc) grows wearisome up there … assuming Gomer Stewart is flailing down under, WVU would welcome Back To The Future more than we did.