Should WVU fire Rich Rodriguez?

Question

i'm of the mindset that if I'm the AD at WVU and he is entertaining offers from other schools, i don't want him. I would want someone dedicated to my program and not just using it as a stepping stone. Kind of like what Bo Schembechler did to the UM basketball coach when he interviewed for the ASU job

If he takes the 'Bama job...do you let him coach the gator Bowl?

Answer 1

No. He's staying. WVU is a public instituition, and different rules apply.

Answer 2

If you're an AD you know that you hire coaches to fire'em -- eventually -- unless they leave first. If you end up firing them that means your team stinks, which you don't want. If you end up having them leave for greener pastures that means your team has done well which you do want.

Playing within these rules means that as an AD you do not fire your coaches for playing within them. Coaches usually don't complain when they get fired (getting rich severance packages helps) and you, the AD, does not complain when the coach can move on. Firing the coach for moving up and out will only make it harder to bring in a better coach in the future.

One AD (and university president) that did not play by these rules was Auburn's when they serruptiously sought to replace Tommy Tuberville with Bobby Petrino from Louisville. They are awfully lucky Tuberville decided to honor his position and carry Auburn to several successfuly years. But if that same AD and university president are still there, good luck replacing Tuberville when he leaves. What quality and in-demand coach would want to work in that environment?

The Bill Frieder/Bo Schembechler situation at Michigan was not the norm and I think was driven more by emotions and [bad] personal relationships than anything else. The WVU AD should be happy that Rodriguez has given WVU's team a high level of success that now enables him to move on.

Answer 3

If you're sure you can do better than Rodriguez, go ahead and fire him. I personally think RR is out of his mind if he leaves Morganhole, but then what do I know? Leaving six months after signing a seven year deal probably damages him more than firing him ever could. His word and 50 cents will get you a newspaper, but that's about it. He's not Bear Bryant re-incarnated, so no matter what he does at Alabama, it will never be enough. He should stay where he is right now, and WVU should re-examine that buyout clause...

Answer 4

Yea, and see how good the Michigan basketball program has been. No way they should fire Rodriguez. Not that it matters from what I hear he already accepted the Bama job.

Answer 5

actually, its probably for tax reasons. he doesnt want to enter into a new contract til the new year. its a smrt move on his part. hes not trying to screw anyone at wvu. and they wont find a coach before then because of the holidays. if they do, they will just wait and sign the contract jan 4. plus, he wants to wait til after the bowl game.

Answer 6

of course not. what BO did was prob due to some tension or animosity we didnt see between the two. is it wrong for a coach to want to go from a good div 1 program to a bigger one? if you were offered more money from another company to do the same job youre doing at your current company, wouldnt you at least "entertain" the idea? i would.

Answer 7

Rod is just using Bama offer to get more money from WVU.

Answer 8

too late to fire him. he already took the job at Bama

Answer 9

No,..they can hire him back in 3-4 years when Alabama runs him off. WAR EAGLE! CONTINUE TO FEAR,..SIX IS NEAR!

Answer 10

hell no!