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

Happy, though belated, Mother’s Day

May 12, 2008 by Mike Casazza

It was about two years ago when I learned Alex Ruoff was not from Spring Hill, Fla., but rather from the Cincinnati suburb of Hamilton, Ohio. It’s where I was born, too, and there was actually a minor earthquake there the day I was baptized. These are the mysterious ways in which the Lord works.

And then there are the ways that have affected the Ruoffs.

We talked that day about the family’s move to Florida, but I never got the whole story from him. In retrospect, I can understand why a private matter did not go public. Over time, he’s filled in all the blanks and we’ve learned of a truly remarkable person.

Talking points

by Mike Casazza

…from the weekend that was. For your use in elevator rides, trips to the water cooler and other awkward moments on a Monday.

> O.J. Mayo is in a predicament, but one thing stands out. Couldn’t he just buy a plasma TV or pay his own cell phone bill with all that cash he was (allegedly) receiving? Also, he’s accused of getting money in high school in Ohio and West Virginia, so how, if at all, does this affect state titles won there and might the NCAA start looking into Bill Walker and Patrick Patterson?

> WVU to re-evaluate recruiting methods: Reporters met super recruit Devin Ebanks at Memphis International Airport. The Mountaineers will not copy this, but will instead make sure it never happens.

> That baseball team is pretty exciting, huh?

> Um, 10-and-a-half hours for a deposition? You’d think Mike Brown had some insight into this WVU v. Rich Rodriguez ordeal!

> Redskins fans agree: Chris Henry absolutely must play for the Cowboys.

Friday Feedback

May 9, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Bob Huggins finally showed he had something in common with Rich Rodriguez Thursday — he fell flat on his face. Of course, Rodriguez has a healthy lead in that category, 474-1 by my calculation. Rodriguez scored again this week when he indirectly insulted former Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards by issuing the No. 1 jersey to a freshman defensive back. That’s a no-no.

Huggins, as we now know, is fine and for all the whacks to the head absorbed by Rodriguez, there remains a possibility he’ll be fine no matter if he wins or loses his lawsuit with WVU.

If Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez loses his $4 million court fight with his former employer, West Virginia University, his accountant has a firm idea of who should pay the money: Michigan.

The school should, “as an inducement to netting (Rodriguez) as a coach, make him whole on the transaction,” including any taxes involved, his CPA, David A. Hammack, of Maumee, Ohio, said in a memo.

“This would mean not only fronting the $4 million payment to WVU, but also grossing it up for Rich, since the $4 million would be part of his first-year compensation,” Hammack wrote to Rodriguez’s financial adviser, Mike Wilcox, on Dec. 13.

U-M doesn’t deny that could happen and perhaps this better explains Rodriguez’s passion to wage what seems like a losing battle. He’s playing with Big House money.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. The one-liner that normally goes here was to be delivered by Chuck Storm, but he couldn’t make it.

jmbwvu said:

So an obvious supporter of RR overheard the “conversation” that took place at Garrison’s place. I wonder if a die hard WVU fan heard the same conversation if the words would come out the same? Good luck using that in court.

Of all the zany items obtained from Ed Pastiling’s deposition, this is atop the list. Rodriguez’s loyal video coordinator, Dusty Rutledge, he of “They fired Dusty!” fame from the Larry Aschebrook affidavit, is the key witness to Team Rodriguez’s assertion WVU made and broke verbal promises. Trouble is, if WVU did indeed fire Dusty — and in essence, WVU did — isn’t then he a clearly disgruntled former employee with an agenda testifying for … wait for it … a clearly disgruntled former employee with an agenda?  

Continue reading…

Huggins is fine, somewhat hungry

May 8, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Bob Huggins was discharged from the hospital Thursday afternoon and actually attended the Coaches Caravan dinner. Jaci Slone, social chair of the Charlotte chapter of the WVU Alumni Association said, “He’s perfectly fine. I’m actually sitting at a table with him having appetizers.”

Huggins to hospital for precautionary reasons

by Mike Casazza

Not exactly good news, but the mind immediately jumps to a different conclusion altogether. I’ll update as I learn more.

Statement from Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong: Coach Huggins and other athletic staff members flew to Charlotte this morning for a Mountaineer Athletic Club function. After he got off the plane, Coach Huggins was checking his cell phone messages when he tripped over a cone on the tarmac and hit his head on the pavement. He received a bump on his head and was taken to a Charlotte area hospital for precautionary reasons. He never lost consciousness. Coach Huggins is fine and will be released from the hospital shortly.
(Latest update: 3:42 p.m.)

Deep thinking

by Mike Casazza

Somewhere along the line, and almost certainly early on in the reading, I reached a point in the Ed Pastilong transcript where I realized Rich Rodriguez was in pretty deep. Perhaps it was when attorney Marv Robon asked Pastilong at the start of the session if he had a hangover.

If Rodriguez was following a dog soldier into battle, that dog had three legs, a bad case of mange and a name like Kip or Peyton. Sooner or later, it seemed, Rodriguez was going to have to end this endeavor and ask for a settlement. There were just too many follies committed on his behalf to envision any other outcome.

Then, deep in the deposition, came the Hail, Mary. Mary, thy name is Dusty Rutledge.

Continue reading…

That was … well, it was long

May 7, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Spent the better part of two hours combing through the deposition and I’m left with a few impressions I’m saving to present in a column rather than here. No offense. It wasn’t as much informative as it was entertaining. I didn’t really learn anything pertinent to the case and the most tangible value is that some things are now on the record. I was instead left with the unmistakable feeling that this is a verrrry combative conflict.

Take this segment of questions from Team Rodriguez attorney Marv Robon and the answers from Ed Pastilong near the finish as the prime example: 

Q     Hardesty wasn’t a lawyer; was he?

A     Hardesty is a lawyer.

Q     Oh, he is a lawyer?

A     Yes, sir.

 Q     So we got two presidents in a row, that are  lawyers.  Okay.

         I think I want to move down here, I might get a job.

[WVU attorney] MR. FLAHERTY:  I wouldn’t count on it.

It was like that from the very beginning. Team Rodriguez seemed just a little off on so many facts, premises and pursuits and eventually Team WVU was clearly objecting and injecting in disbelief.

I read through the comments and enjoyed them all, but one in particular stood tall:

jmbwvu said:

Mike,

Can you start a ’sub-blog’ within this entry asking for what the theme song should be for Team RR??? That could get funny.

Uh, yes. Carry on…

Pastilong deposition is in … and lengthy

by Mike Casazza

Just digging in to read through the interminable deposition given by Director of Athletic Ed PastilongApril 18. It’s going to take a while, but I’m excited, if for nothing else than for this exchange between Pastilong and Team Rodriguez captain Marv Robon to begin the quarrel.

Q     Mr. Pastilong, you know who I am, correct; why I am here?

A     I assume I do.

Q     Okay.  I am here for a search for the truth, protect Richard Rodriguez; you have been told that?

A     You are here for the truth.

Q     Yes.

A     And that’s fine with me.

Let’s meet back here later to share some thoughts.

Did they say 11 years? They meant 10.

May 6, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Your first look at Bob Huggins’ “lifetime” contract at WVU.

Prediction: PSP/NCAA ‘09 sales to soar in W.Va.

by Mike Casazza

Not going out on a limb, I know, but this is pretty cool, yes?

From walk-on to cult hero, one of college ball’s most colorful personalities is also one of its best fullbacks due to his devastating strength, blistering speed and the relentless desire to block opponents back into last season.

And not that anyone had any doubt, but he needed very little time to introduce himself in Seattle.

During a run drill, his kick-out block on safety C.J. Wallace allowed rookie running back Justin Forsett to cut behind it and get into the secondary. On the very next play, the handoff when to Schmitt, and rookie linebacker David Hawthorne went to turf after bouncing off the 247-pound fullback as he powered through the line.

That, in two quick snaps, is what Schmitt brings – tenacious blocking, a tough-guy attitude and some power. At least on offense. We’ll all have to wait until the preseason games this summer to see what kind of impact he can have on special teams.