From a journalist's point of view, I have a question:

 

Why is there neither comment nor references to an attempt to get a comment from any WVU official in this story? Very one-sided and not very well-researched; this would not have gotten out of my first newspaper writing course in college.

 

And another thing ... I came away from this story feeling that all the boosters that commented were Rich's boys. Where's the rest of them? That's another problem from a sourcing point of view.

 

http://cincinnati.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=2509&tid=108657393&mid=108657393&sid=943&style=2

http://cincinnati.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=2509&tid=108657393&mid=108657393&sid=943&style=2

 

Good get, GT. You do realize that this post just makes that story look even worse? :lol: Clearly there's another side to this story which that reporter didn't get.

Good get, GT. You do realize that this post just makes that story look even worse? :lol: Clearly there's another side to this story which that reporter didn't get.

 

I'm not afraid to give both sides. It was on my message board, and written pretty well. Just thought I'd provide what you were asking for...

Too bad most of the Post-Gazette's readers didn't get to read that in Mr. Finder's story.

Here is a email I got earlier today from Mike Montoro,Director of Football Communications at WVU.

 

 

 

Stephen Goodwin, chairman of WVU's Board of Governors, expressed his support for WVU's administration in handling the coaching Tuesday. In addition, Goodwin issued the following statement through the University:

 

"WVU appreciates donors to its academic and athletic programs. The University and the Board listen to their suggestions, as we listen to students, alumni, faculty and staff. People who are successful in other areas of life often have important insights into how we operate, how we are perceived, and how we can improve the University.

 

 

 

At the end of the day, the University is governed by its Board and its President, and the people they appoint to positions of responsibility. Making donations to a public university does not entitle anyone to dictate policy or personnel.

 

 

 

The Board has a lot of confidence in how Ed Pastilong and Mike Garrison are handling this coaching change. They've taken a responsible approach to this throughout - and really offered Coach Rodriguez and the team a lot of support in a very difficult time for the team. We're heard a lot of support from fans, from alumni, and from donors - large and small - about how the University is handling this.

 

 

 

WVU went to the ends of the earth to keep the coach here - and clearly, some of our major donors assisted the school in that effort.

 

* His salary was increased by 70%

 

* His assistants salaries were increased

 

* We built a $2 million academic center for the team

 

* We have started construction on a $6 million locker room renovation

 

 

 

There were some very minor issues that he raised with the administration - and people were working on them. I think you will agree that the things that are being talked about are pretty minor in comparison to what has been done already.

 

 

 

But he clearly was looking for excuse to leave-he looked last year, and again this year.

 

 

 

But when he went to visit another team, and then came back to campus with demands based on those minor issues - university officials simply told him they would continue to work the issues. He was asked to focus on the student athletes and the upcoming bowl game. There's a long off-season coming up to work out those sorts of minor issues. Whoever comes in as coach will know that they can count on support from WVU on big issues and small issues."

I don't know what to take from this article.

 

On one hand you have to blame WVU because these questions should be easy to fix - especially with willing boosters. Plus with all these coaches leaving there has to be something wrong to make so many coaches unhappy.

 

On the other hand WVU felt they might have had a gun to their head demand as stated in their article. Last year RichRod held Alabama over their heads to get a raise and the academic building. Now this year he POSSIBLY could be using the Michigan job to hold over their heads to get this stuff. I could see where WVU would get tired of this pretty quickly and tell him to take a hike if he wants to.

 

I would love to know the whole story.

With the job he did at WV he shouldn't have had to hold the offer of another job over their heads to get what he wanted. Kinda like when I switched phone companies and the old one offered to give me the same deal. Why didn't they offer before I switched?

Will UC learn from this?

 

I don't think we should compare Kelly to Rodriguez at this juncture.

I don't think we should compare Kelly to Rodriguez at this juncture.

 

Why? Kelly has been very vocal in his demands. He didn't go behind close doors. He went to the media? Why? To put pressure on UC AND to have an out should he decide to leave.