I was telling a story the other day about how Jim Lewis called me out of the blue to tell me about a tryout for the UFL. People were oddly impressed. I sure hope they don’t catch word of this.

“Someone was asking me about regrets and if I had any,” Rodriguez said. “And I got to thinking that one of the things I still feel bad about is that the day [he announced he was going to Michigan], I remember seeing you in the hallway and telling you I’d call you later and I never did. So I thought I would.”

And so, out of the blue, my phone rang just before noon Wednesday, just as I was signing over a good part of my shrinking net worth to get the wife and kids into Idlewild Park up near Latrobe, Pa.

I remember that promise. Vividly. And I remember Mr. Hickman smirking as Rodriguez left and saying something to the effect of, “I doubt that.” Joke’s on you, sir!

Gosh, all the memories of that surreal day. 

So I saw the sudden appearance of The Product in print last night around midnight as I was putting the dog down to sleep in bed in her crate and just couldn’t wait to write today’s headline. Then I get to the laptop today — and you can understand the delay — and see this.

On Wednesday, Rodriguez said perhaps he should have left WVU on different terms or taken more time to talk things out.

“It would’ve taken time to answer everything being said or done, and I didn’t do that,” he said. “Maybe I should have. You look back and Rita (his wife) and I talk about this. Let’s sit down, talk and explain. But people still would have been mad because you left.”

Lord. I know what you’re thinking because I’m thinking it, too: What the hell is going on? What is he up to or looking for? What is his motivation? I think the answer is pretty simple: It’s about him. Still. And he just doesn’t get it. Still.

The only thing that’s changed here is there absence of a Lion King quote that would have fit soooooo well here.

Rodriguez doesn’t offer an apology or even seem too remorseful — and it’s not clear if he was asked — but he does say he should have handled things better, which is about as significant an understatement as he could possibly provide. And still I credit him for that.

People would have been mad he left, for sure, but I don’t think there are many people who, given what we know now about a certain level of conflict and dysfunction in the athletic department, could have really blamed him for moving on. To Michigan … and yet, I still don’t think the university or that athletic department did anything wrong.

What people were and remain profoundly pissed about is the manner in which he conducted himself and his business.

Rarely, if ever, did he speak for himself and he relied upon a pack of cronies who often did more damage than good. I mean, somewhere along the line he had to realize Marvelous Robon was a dope or that Mike Brown was a liability. And when Rodriguez did act on his own, it was out of anger or vengeance.

Remember when he showed up to sit in on Mike Garrison’s deposition? What was the purpose other than to be a bully? What about the unrequited claims about threats to his family? Oh, or how about this exchange between Robon and Garrison?

Q. Did you, what did you figure the odds were that he would stay, on that evening?

A. I wasn’t sure. I, again, I tried to be very reasonable about the value that I saw for Mr. Rodriguez in coaching at his alma mater, and talked to him about how I saw it. Understanding that, as a man with a family and a career, that he had to make the decision himself.

But I was, I wasn’t very hopeful, based upon what he said to me. I was very surprised that he said that, you know, he didn’t share my sentiments about valuing the opportunity to coach here.

That was the first time I ever heard anything like that from Mr. Rodriguez.

Q. And was that because of the Pitt loss and the reaction to the fans?

A. I don’t know what that was, I don’t know why it was. He was angry enough to say it wasn’t that special, and he used an expletive before “special,” to be in West Virginia. And I know he was distraught, because I know Mr. Rodriguez and I know that he put value on that.

Apparently that never happened, if you believe P-Rod or are charmed by his words. He says West Virginia is, in fact, freaking special

“When I talk to people about West Virginia up here and across the country, I tell them it’s my home and a great place to coach,” he said.

Well, which was it? The vindictive ex or the prodigal son? The worst — best? — part about it is this: Rodriguez, if nothing else, had done himself, Michigan, WVU and West Virginia a small service by staying down and keeping quite. No one can make things worse if no one is saying anything, which prevents from others replying.

But last month he comes out with the ax murderer blast and then pops up in the West Virginia newspapers and doesn’t, well, bury the hatchet. Look, I’m not expecting a full apology, but he’s hesitant to accept blame for what he’s blamed for doing, which is making that whole ugly mess an ugly mess. He wants to deflect the heat while making himself a more sympathetic cause, but he manages to forget all the damage he’s already done.

“A lot of stuff got overblown and it all kind of took off sideways,” he said. “Some of it got personal and bothered me. I always try to treat people good, but some portrayed me as a certain type of guy. There’s nothing that has changed me as a person. We’ve changed jobs and addresses, but not who we are.

“West Virginia is my home. I love the state and the people. I hope that everybody can move forward.”