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

Meanwhile, the sky falls elsewhere

February 5, 2008 by Mike Casazza

So throughout the season, I look ahead at WVU’s schedule and jot down what I suspect the outcomes will be. Needless to say, I’ve changed my mind a few times in the month or so I’ve been doing this.

Just last week, I figured that as WVU played toward the NCAA Tournament, it might play three or four more games against ranked teams. Now I see one, maybe two. I thought the Mountaineers could win six of the final 10 regular season games. I still see six, but it’s not the same six. 

Continue reading…

In Hawaiian, I believe it means “invades the backfield”

February 4, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Let’s get to know Tevita Finau, a rather interesting character originally from New Zealand (he was on the national 16-and-under rugby team) who moved to Hawaii, played at Phoenix College last year and happens to be a very good defensive lineman. Finau made a notable commitment to WVU’s recruiting class last week.

Some Finau highlight videos have hit the internet. It’s not at the Noel Devine level — is anything? — but he is wearing No. 7 and he makes a ton of plays. Finau’s pledge to play at WVU is the biggest news for the recruiting class and his play-making power is particularly appealing for a group heavy on  defensive linemen to replace Johnny Dingle and Keilen Dykes.

Inspired ball

by Mike Casazza

A month from now, we might see WVU’s awful loss to Cincinnati as the game that kept it out of the NCAA Tournament … or perhaps it’s the game the delivered team there. Really, it’s up to them.

The Mountaineers haven’t been as low as they were Wednesday night and Coach Bob Huggins says they are in a hole now. Yet Saturday night, they began to climb out of it with a victory at Providence and an exhibition that indicated they’re a refocused group and on the same page with Huggins.

Huggins said was like a bunch of boys playing against men.

Then you add in the fact that Huggins lost to a team coached by former assistant Mick Cronin, who basically distanced himself from his former boss in order to get the head coaching job.

“It was disappointing because even though he’s our guy, Huggs is our boy,” Alexander said. “We felt that we kind of screwed him over.”

Things that go thud in the night

February 2, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Um, how about Rich Rodriguez’s much anticipated legal response to the lawsuit levied against him by his former employer, West Virginia University?

“The only way to tell whether or not West Virginia University has been damaged is to see if its donations to the foundation have decreased and/or if other expenses have increased,” his lawyers said, noting WVU hired assistant coach Bill Stewart to replace Rodriguez at a significantly smaller salary.

Rodriguez asked the court to make the foundation a third party to the lawsuit, citing recent news releases that claimed gifts to the foundation “were at an all-time high.” He wants the right to examine its books to find out if donations have dropped off since his departure.

Continue reading…

Friday Feedback

February 1, 2008 by Mike Casazza

A brief edition before we take off for Providence. No need to dance around this morning, though if we danced, I’d wear all gold. Call me crazy, but I thought Bob Huggins looked good.

Others disagree…

OB1 said:

After the Pitt debacle and the train wreck last night this state should seriously consider the criminalization of wearing all gold.

As always, comments appear as posted…

Continue reading…

Prelude to a trial

January 31, 2008 by Mike Casazza

In legal maneuver No. 1,433, WVU’s lawyers would like to know where the Rodriguez Family lived last month.

West Virginia University attorneys have asked U.S. District Judge John Bailey for permission to place former football coach Rich Rodriguez and his wife Rita Rodriguez under oath and ask them where he lived when the university sued him.

The university disputes Rodriguez’s claim that he established citizenship in Michigan before the university sued him in Monongalia Circuit Court in Morgantown.

The weird part about this — and I think it encapsulates everything about this drama — is it has nothing to really do with the lawsuit, but is just meant to determine jurisdiction and where the case can be tried. So, in short, we might have depositions to determine where we have a trial.

WVU presents other side

by Mike Casazza

No doubt perturbed by the fact many of the people writing bad things about him and his athletic program never bothered to call and check with him, WVU Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong gave his account of his relationship with former football Coach Rich Rodriguez.

However, Pastilong said Rodriguez never complained to him about the buyout contained in the deal.

“Rich never expressed any concerns to me regarding the buyout during that period of time,” Pastilong said Wednesday during an interview in his WVU Coliseum office.

Again Wednesday, WVU was dealing with the backlash from an Internet story critical of the university and athletic department. WVU has come out on the short end of several Web site stories by national writers in recent weeks.

The story posted late Tuesday on ESPN.com included quotes from multiple unnamed sources, including a “West Virginia booster,” and Pastilong. The story was critical of Gov. Joe Manchin and called into question the leadership of first-year university President Mike Garrison as well.

“It’s is a concern, the portrayal West Virginia University is getting from the national media,” Pastilong said. “I’m pleased with the state and local media in that for the most part, they verify information with us before printing it.

“The national people haven’t done that, as evidenced by this (story) today. It’s confusing to me as to why the information is being provided at all, relative to West Virginia University, without them contacting our athletic department to verify.

“It’s not only the content, but the purpose there.”

Official: Catlett’s leather jacket irrelevant

January 30, 2008 by Mike Casazza

Bob Huggins is apparently prepared to make a bold fashion statement tonight.

Find a way to check out Bob Huggins tonight. In his first game against his former team, Cincinnati, the West Virginia coach, in honor of his alma mater’s blue-and-gold colors, will be decked out in a gold suit.

Huggins gone, not forgotten at U.C.

by Mike Casazza

In the course of the last few weeks, I’ve wondered if there has been an uglier split than the one we’ve witnessed between WVU and Rich Rodriguez. There is no precedent, but not long ago, there was at least a similar situation when Bob Huggins clashed with University of Cincinnati President Nancy Zimpher and forced into resigning.

Continue reading…

Getting to know the parol evidence rule

by Mike Casazza

Perhaps the key three words to WVU’s legal dealings with former football coach Rich Rodriguez are as follows: parol evidence rule.

In order for the rule to be effective, the contract in question must be a fully integrated writing; it must, in the judgment of the court, be the final agreement between the parties (as opposed to a mere draft, for example). One way to ensure that the contract will be found fully integrated is through the inclusion of a merger clause, which recites that the contract is, in fact, the whole agreement between the parties.

Continue reading…