The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

WVU firing back

So the picture became a little more clear today as to what may have led to Rich Rodriguez’s resignation Sunday with revelations you’ll find here and especially here, a piece filled with, shall we say, very informed statements.

These things did not go over well with WVU and word is that a rather direct rebuttal will come shortly.

UPDATE: It’s out and it’s what you’d expect.

Chair of WVU’s Board of Governors expresses support for
administration
Statement from Stephen P. Goodwin, chairman of West Virginia
University’s Board of Governors

MORGANTOWN, W Va. — 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 percent.
●        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.”