I talked with Larry Aschebrook exactly once after he was hired and that conversation came well after he was promoted to Executive Director of the Mountaineer Athletic Club in August. I know several of my peers had fewer conversations with the man and some never heard of him before this past week. I saw him at the Big East Tournament in March, but someone had to tell me who he was.

He was a chief fundraiser, an integral, though largely anonymous part of the athletic department.

If you believe some things you read, he was also an expert on race relations.

I was out of the country and out of the loop last week. When I landed in Newark, N.J., Friday night and turned on my MotoQ, the queued texts and e-mails came in quickly. It was stunning news, to be honest, and despite my pledge to stay away from work until Sunday I spent a good amount of time that night in the hotel lobby using the courtesy computer to read what had been written.

I was and still am stunned this is not a bigger deal nationally. That is the first of 10 ten things that jump off the page here.

2. No offense to Larry Aschebrook, who through my limited knowledge seemed like a fine person and administrator, but who is Larry Aschebrook? Why would Cal Magee seek the counsel of a fundraiser — and one who had been here for 18 months — for matters dealing with a university’s hiring practices? Couldn’t he have gone to five, 10, 15, 50 other people for more qualified opinions. And again, no offense to Aschebrook, but how and why did Magee turn that opinion into such a big deal?

3. The affidavit is very intriguing. Not only was it prompt, not only was it sworn testimony that is subject to perjury if proved to be false, but it was really detailed. One gets the sense Aschebrook knew what had happened, realized what was coming and took notes on the conversation.

4. Aschebrook called Magee and Rodriguez from Macy’s! Maybe it’s just me, but when I’m angry, I tend to deal with the problem right away. I’ve never been falsely accused of saying my employer was racist, but I’d like to think that if such a thing ever happened, I’d address the issue as soon as possible. I’m not waiting until I get home or to my hotel room. If it happens in a department store, it happens in a department store.

5. “What’s up, Larry?” Probably the three defining words of the affidavit. Magee and Rodriguez surely knew Aschebrook would be upset and had to be expecting a phone call. That call came and I just couldn’t get over how composed Magee and Rodriguez came across to be in the affidavit. It seemed so rehearsed, right down to the fact they had a plan to hire Aschebrook at UM so long as he fell on the sword at WVU. Seems like an odd contingency to have in place.

6. Never doubt the arrogance of Rodriguez ever again. Ever. Improbably, he believes that (allegedly) making a false accusation about Aschebrook and admitting it might cost Aschebrook his job is not about Aschebrook, but rather about him and his legal battle against WVU. If this is true — and be honest, unbiased and fair here: Who do you believe? — he’s put himself ahead of everyone and everything else.

7. Rodriguez’s fight is not about principle or broken promises. It’s about money and he sees he’s in financial danger if he loses this case. It has to dawn on him sooner or later. Right? Anyone?

8. What seems most unusual to me is that every time I think Rich Rodriguez can’t look any worse, something happens to make him look worse. It’s uncanny. The UM blue-bloods have to be pulling out their hair. Really, since he’s been hired he’s:

     > fired the coaching staff four days after he was hired and four days before Christmas
     > ignored a buyout
     > been sued
     > filed a bizarre counter suit he was fortunate the court allowed
     > lost the likely starting quarterback to another school
     > lost the stud recruit quarterback to the other school
     > issued unfounded allegations about threats and valdalism
     > been called out by two Big Ten coaches for recruiting practices
     > been called out by a transfer who said family values disappeared at UM
     > been represented by a lawyer who made a bad analogy about slavery
     > been asked to pay legal fees for needlessly involving the WVU Foundation 
     > watched idly as his legal team stalls while interest and legal fees accumulate
     > been accused of being a guy who throws friends and colleagues under the bus

9. From now until something compels me to feel different, every time he talks I can’t help but see and hear W. I wouldn’t dare say so myself, but a greater historian might say this is his Iraq. He’s in a mess now, he can’t get out, he won’t try to get out and it looks really, really bad. Yet through it all, he maintains that smirk and exudes the feeling that everyone else is wrong and everything will work out just fine.

10. Let’s be careful here, but let’s also acknowledge the presence of the 500-pound gorilla standing in the corner. To no fanfare, Aschebrook left his job at WVU to take a different job at Arizona State. He may say one incident has nothing to do with the other, he did indeed come to WVU from Northern Arizona and, of course, WVU has lost valuable personnel in similar capacities in recent years. However, the timing is curious, to say the least, especially amid stories about emotional is-there-any-other-way? goodbyes before he left. He worked his life in university administration to get to a certain level and spent 18 months at WVU, the last eight in an elite position, where people say he was very good and very liked, when donations were at an all-time high. And he’s gone? Now? Something’s fishy…