The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board

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

So what do I get?

December 26, 2007 by Mike Casazza

Leaving Dulles Airport in a few hours for Phoenix and the Fiesta Bowl prep — you do remember there’s a bowl, right? Anyhow, I columnized today about the bowl packagesÂ players receive and thought it might interest you to see what everyone else gets.

Bowl blog ought to be lively, particularly Saturday and Sunday when the newspaper does not print, but I do not rest.Â Â As for the obligatory coaching news, there is none. Everyone went silent for the holiday and it’s unlikely many candidates would remove themselves from 24 hours of “A Christmas Story” for the sole purpose of an interview.Â Seems to me WVU will use the opportunity of being out west to conduct some business there.

Season’s Greetings from Rich…

December 21, 2007 by Mike Casazza

Dear assistant coaches:

Merry Christmas!

I am,
Rich Rodriguez

A.D. for a day

December 20, 2007 by Mike Casazza

Ed Pastilong is out sick today (not really) and you’re put in charge (again, not really) and to make the most of the opportunity, you actually make the hire to replace Rich Rodriguez. So when you step up to the podium tonight at the Puskar Center, who is it that you introduce to the world as your new football coach?

A few rules:
1) Let’sÂ be real (Pete Carroll isn’t walking through that door).
2) Money matters (Marion County native Nick Saban isn’t leaving Alabama and $4 million a year).
3)Â Be practical (Paul Johnson just took the Georgia Tech job; other coaches/coordinators might listen).

…what are you waiting for? Get to work! I’ll be playing the part of President Mike Garrison and will address your suggestions.

Terry talks…SIRIUSly

December 19, 2007 by Mike Casazza

SIRIUS sent forth a transcript today of Terry Bowden’s radio show today and the comments he made regarding his interview at WVU. Bowden and Doc Holiday appear to be theÂ favorites for the job opening created by Rich Rodriguez’s resignation(s).

Well, Rodriguez always did admire Bobby Bowden…

by Mike Casazza

Got an interesting e-mail Tuesday night …

I went to the St. Albans Festival of Lights this evening and on the way saw a replica of Coach Rod being hung from a tree in someone’s front yard. Â It was really neat. Â I don’t know the address, but it is directly on the route leading to the Lights on the right side of the street in plain view with a spotlight on it. Â It would make an interesting story.

Indeed it does. (Best part of the e-mail: It was really neat.)

Moving on, it appears WVU will make a move soon, likely before the end of the week and perhaps even today. There are aparently five serious candidates, whatever that means, and that in some semblence or order it is Doc Holliday, Terry Bowden, Butch Jones, Tom Bradley and Rick Trickett. Holiday is the leader and maybe soon enough your leader.

Discuss…

Rodriguez resigns (officially this time)

December 18, 2007 by Mike Casazza

Statement from West Virginia University:Â

RODRIGUEZ CHANGES RESIGNATION DATE

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (December 18, 2007) — WVU Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong
informed the University administration late Tuesday that Head Football Coach
Rich Rodriguez has advised him in writing that his resignation from WVU is now
effective at 12 a.m. (midnight) Dec. 19, 2007.

Pastilong has also received a letter of resignation from Assistant Football
Coach Tony Gibson, effective at the same time.

Pastilong has named Bill Stewart as Interim Head Coach, and Stewart will
conduct all bowl preparations for the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2 against
Oklahoma.

WVU firing back

by Mike Casazza

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.

Rounduprodriguez

December 17, 2007 by Mike Casazza

The first collection of readings following an early review of the web.

This is getting ridiculous

by Mike Casazza

WVU women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown is a candidate for the opening at … all together now … MICHIGAN!

Families will move, too, and not only has Rodriguez left his alma mater for Michigan, but he follows former men’s basketball Coach John Beilein, who made the same move in early April.

Worst yet for Garrison, Pastilong and the Mountaineers is they might not have suffered their last loss.

Sources say women’s soccer Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown interviewed with Michigan this month to be the next coach there. Izzo-Brown could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Happy reading

by Mike Casazza

It probably still hurts — actually, it might not; I honestly sense people are happy with the way things turned out — but Rich Rodriguez is gone. If you can bring yourself to reading about it today, I have just one suggestion:

Read between the lines.

Players, coaches and administrators will be saying a lot of things that a sublte eye will catch.

Rodriguez will be introduced at 9 a.m. today and you can catch a live video stream here. It’s ~~your~~ our onlyÂ chance to get his side of the story.

I’ll be back here throughout the day to send along some things I think are worth reading. The reaction and revelations in the media oughtÂ to be interesting.

Speaking of interesting … laughter is the best medicine, yes?