West Virginia Just Can't Let Go

Just when you thought it was safe to say the word football in West Virginia without attaching Rich Rodriguez to the conversation, "Shred Rich Rodriguez Night" is announced. The Wheeling Nailers, the AA minor league hockey team in Wheeling, WV, will offer fans discounts for bringing a picture or newspaper article of the former West Virginia coach to shred.

The Nailers are offering discounted tickets to any fan that brings in a newspaper article or picture of the former West Virginia University football coach to contribute to the industrial sized paper shredder that will be stationed in the concourse. Additionally any fan who wears WVU apparel to the game will receive $2 off their ticket price. Ohio State fans will also receive the discount by wearing their gear to the game to demonstrate their mutual distaste for Michigan. Any fan caught wearing University of Michigan apparel will be charged double in order to help Rodriguez pay his $4 million buyout to WVU.

Oh boy. Even though I'm a West Virginia fan, I've tried to stay away from a lot of this stuff. There was a two week period right after Rodriguez announced he was leaving when it was understandable and accepted that there would be some blow back from the decision. But the constant flow of youtube videos burning Rodriguez in effigy and the like has given the state and fans a bad name.
Not that a fan base that is constantly referred to as hillbillies, cousin loving, etc. is really going to care what anyone else thinks. But at some point this really does need to stop. Because it takes away from everything that the players on the team worked so hard to accomplish, and makes them pawns in a game of who's side are you on. Something they never asked for. They just came to West Virginia to play football and represent the university.

It's just a game. Yes, a game that gives them the opportunity to get an education or possibly fame and fortune in the NFL. But it's just a game. And it shouldn't be the kickoff point for a congressman's re-election campaign. Or a governor's way of getting his name out time and time again.

Things have gotten way out of control in West Virginia. From the administration that has seemingly bungled every chance to hold on to good coaches (like him or not, Beilein was good for West Virginia basketball), to the politicians that coattail on the success and more recently the demise of the football program, to the fans that have taken a bad situation and made it worse. It makes me sad to see my state and university in such a sad situation. I hope there is something learned from all this. Maybe that we should just enjoy and support the players and coaches while they are here. Maybe if we did that, West Virginia and the university would be the great place we all think it is.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-29-2008 @ 3:31AM

Patrick Nunan said...

First of all Beilen's wife hated Morgantown and wanted out of there. He was offered more money to stay at WVU than he is getting at Michigan. Second, if you think about it, some of this problem has been created by Coach Rod's agent. I didn't even know college coaches had agents. Third, this was a promo for a minor league hockey team. They do all kinds of crazy things. Got to give them credit, it is pretty funny. As far as the other stuff, yeah we have to move on. Get behind Coach Stewart and the new staff.

1-29-2008 @ 3:32AM

oljb said...

It will be easier once the buyout verdict is decided or settled, and the stream of articles out of the Pgh P-G, acting as the unofficial Rodriguez mouthpiece, is over.

Every time I feel like I'm ready to let go of my anger at Rod, especially after I supported him to my friends and family in the wake of the Pitt loss, something comes up that makes it impossible to forget all this ridiculousness.

I'm still pissed, man. I'll be really glad to let it go, but it looks like there's another good while until I'll be able to read the news and not get my ire up over this.

The man's a snake. It's not like he's the only one in the world, but him and especially his agent continuing to antagonize us makes it hard to ignore, for now.

1-29-2008 @ 9:20AM

Wolverine9455 said...

I'm a true die-hard Wolverine fan who happens to live in Charleston, WV. I have always rooted for the Mountaineers reguardless of who they played, "except" the Wolverines of course! This whole situation with Rich Rod is kind of crazy! Being a Wolverine Fan I couldn't be more happy with the coaching decision that Michigan made. Do I feel bad for WVU -- "NO"......just like any other team you have to move on!!!!!!!! WVU has a GREAT COACHING STAFF, but you never here anything about them because all the idiots here want to continue to talk about MICHIGANS coach! It's stupid -- let the University handle the buyout and move on with your program. It's sad the both side are looking for ways to bad mouth one another, but the University should be bigger about the things that they are trying bring out on RICH ROD (paper shredding, and how this was handled and that was handled)...remember this was your coach and the same people that questioned whether he was a good hire or not were the same people that beleived and supported him when he turned the intire program around! If he is such a bad person now, then he is the same bad person that was running your program over the last few years! He didn't go from a good person to a bad person over night! Wake the hell up people -- you have a good coach in Coach Stewart -- put more of your energy in supporting him and his staff or your going to lose the focus and dedication that is need to support these wonderful athletes that this program currently has!!!!!!! What player is going to want to come to WVU when the entire state is focusing more on hating Rich Rod and Michigan and showing more support for Michigan arch rivial Ohio State than focusing on what we have now!!! Keep this sh** up and the WVU excitment will be gone before you know it! Spoken from a true Wolverine -- GO BLUE!!!!!

1-31-2008 @ 6:07AM

sgrimes67 said...

Wolverine, that truely was spoken like a true Michigan fan, yes we loved him, just like you love your husband to death, until you catch him in bed with the Bimbo next door. Then he refuses to pay child support and or alimony. Yes, I do agree we need to get behind our new staff, and we are ready for him to take us even higher, so you just go on and cheer for Richy, Michigan deserves what they get.

Go Bucs!!!!!

1-29-2008 @ 12:35PM

Drb said...

well really it is behind me, but Rodriguez needs to pay WV what he owes them, he did sign the contract. I expect WV to compete for the BCS championship for 2008 we should have competed for the 2007 championship but Rodriguez wanted to leave, but that is another argument. Rodriguez owes WV $4 million, if he would pay his debt WV fans would find it easier to forgive him of all his misconduct from going to Michigan and throwing the Pitt game,,

1-30-2008 @ 8:29PM

Steve said...

S Grimes, you make it so easy to understand why a person would want to get out of W.Va. If someone tries to show you the opportunity for an intelligent discussion, as in the case of Wolverine 9455 you just hit the cheap shots. I can see what makes you folks such a big time program. By the way, in your note you talked about catching husbands in bed with another woman. True up here, But down there I suspect it's catch your brother in bed with another sister. You guys love to shoot low, you get what you deserve.

1-31-2008 @ 1:09AM

leslie said...

wolverine, i cant believe you would admit to living in wv and root for michigan. rich is a lier and a cheater that will get caught in michagan just like he did hear. we dont need him stew proved that but what is michagan going to do when he cant beat ohio state and i assure you he wont.

HEY RICH AND BLUE "GO BLOW"
LETS GOOOOO MOUNTAINEERS

1-31-2008 @ 6:47AM

2-01-2008 @ 6:58PM

Joe said...

If you read #3s ravings you would think he would move back to the great and powerful big ten and leave us alone. as for rich rod I am glad he is gone just wish he would have left sooner get it sooner.He could not have been any better or worse for West Virginia. A true and as time will tell worthless man. Thanks >>>>>>