The Readers Write
December 10, 2006 11:54 PM | General
December 11, 2006
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| West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez announced last Friday that he will remain the school's football coach.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – From the looks of the MSN mail box, productivity in the Mountain State hit an all-time low last week until Coach Rod announced last Friday that he was remaining at West Virginia University. Here is a sampling of the opinions and observations of some of our devoted readers:
I am a long time Mountaineer fan. Please keep Coach Rod. I was at the Rutgers game with my son and wife sitting in freezing temperatures until the very end of the game. With Coach Rod and the players he has recruited, fans know WVU always has a chance to pull out a win. We sat until the stuffed two point conversion attempt by Rutgers. The stadium was filled with fans, excited about the football program.
If WVU wants to stay at or near the top of college football, the school must retain Coach Rod. Match Bama's offer, but require a significant buy out to prevent other schools from making it a bidding game at the end of each season. Make the buy out so high, others will not force WVU to match all attractive offers that will continue to come in as the program increases in success!
A Loyal WVU Fan, With Great Concerns!
Bob Allen
Little Hocking, Ohio
When the details of the contract are released I believe everyone’s concerns will be alleviated.
Hey you guys, let’s keep Rich. I'll pay $300 more each year on my four season tickets to keep Rich. I'll bet if you go to all us season ticket holders we can raise $12 million over the next six years to keep him. If need be I'll sign a contract to guarantee I'll pay. Let's keep this guy.
Joe Wilson (Greensboro, NC) & Pat Wilson (Modesto, CA)
Here’s a better idea, check out the Mountaineer Athletic Club.com web site and click the Online Giving button located on the left. The MAC will be delighted to see you and everyone else out there jump on board. It takes every single one of us to have a great athletic program! Thanks for the suggestion, Joe.
I am happy to see Coach Rod is a Mountaineer at heart -- not in his wallet. Mountaineers will love him even more you know. We love loyalty!
brussell472@comcast.net
Coach Rod's decision speaks volumes about the man and his commitment to WVU. We all would have understood his decision to take on the rebuilding of a prestigious football program like Bama, but I for one am ecstatic he will continue to lead his Alma Mater to the next level as one of the premier football programs in the country. Mountaineer football and West Virginia should breathe a sigh of relief and now sit back and enjoy the Gator Bowl.
Let's Go Mountaineers!
Robert J. Smick
Coach Rod has made a lot of West Virginians very happy today. Word traveled all over Bluefield just moments after his announcement.
GO MOUNTAINEERS!
Jerry Jackson
I felt sick when I heard the news reports that Coach Rodriguez would leave WVU. When I heard today that he had decided to stay, tears almost came to my eyes. I doubt that WVU was able to match the financial package of Alabama, so I would have to assume that Mountaineer loyalty had to come in to play. I will sleep a little better tonight. Thanks Coach.
Pam Kisner
Those involved in the negotiations didn't get much sleep either. Thanks for the note Pam and be sure to get your rest!
Just heard the news that Coach Rod was staying at WVU … Just pass this along from a very happy Mountaineer fan with a huge Mountaineer family.
Thank you Coach Rod, for deciding to stay at Morgantown … We are proud of you and what you have done with the football program
Thanks For All
Ron Franklin
Mercer County
West Virginia
Thanks coach Rod for staying -- you give us WVU fans a lot of hope for a national title season. Although the Army has me away in the state of Kansas right now, I am and will always be a West Virginian and a WVU football fan. Thanks again coach for your loyalty.
Jerry Spears
Thank you, Jerry, for your service to our great country!
My wife and I are WVU alumni. It took great courage and strength of character for Coach Rodriguez to turn down Alabama. We are more proud of him at this moment than we would have been had he won the national championship. Our best wishes to Coach Rod and his family and thanks for a great year!
Bob Stout, class of 1963.
I am glad to see that Coach Rodriquez didn't give into the lure of the big buck, and forsake his allegiance to his alma mater, and opt for a job elsewhere.
He is to be congratulated!
Hal Pringle
Twin Falls, Idaho
NOW THAT I HAVE HEARD THE GOOD NEWS, I AM PLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE COACH DOES HAVE THE QUALITIES THAT I HAD THOUGHT ALL ALONG, HE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE PREVENTED MANY OF US FROM DOUBLING OUR B/P MEDICINE BY NOT DRAGGING THIS OUT THOUGH. THANK YOU FOR STAYING!!!
TISH
Picked a bad week to quit taking your medicine, huh? Hang in there Tish -- all is well again.
I think Coach Rodriguez made the right choice with his heart and not greed. I admire the man tremendously. He has done so well for West Virginia. If he had chosen Alabama, I do not think he would have been happy. I wish him and his team all the luck in the world.
Sincerely,
Renee Fazekas
Fairhope, Ala.
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| The Riddler |
How is it possible that your website hasn’t even speculated on the departure of Rich Rod? I know that you may be funded by the university, but give me a break! This is some of the biggest news in recent years and you guys are dropping the ball by sitting on your hands.
Best Regards,
Adam Smith
Adam, your answer resides inside your question. By the way, I was a big Frank Gorshin fan growing up in the 70s.
Dear Coach Rod,
Thank you for staying and being loyal to your alma mater and the state in which you were born and raised. We salute you and believe that you are well on your way to being the greatest coach WVU has ever had. See you at the Gator Bowl. Go Mounties!!
Sincerely,
Dan and Maria Westbrook
PROUD WVU alumnus
Hooray for Coach Rodriguez! I never forgave Bobby Bowden for leaving the Mountaineers for more money. Rod's a true West Virginian.
J. Allevato
WVU Class of '65
From what I've read, Bobby never forgave those who hung him in effigy at Woodburn Circle either.
Coach "Rod" your choice to stay at WVU has united a fire in every Mountaineer fan young and old. And we will always be thankful for the gifts that you and your staff have given our great state. And I speak on behalf of all Mountaineer Nation when I say that "The Tide Has Finally Rolled Our Way.” God bless West Virginia ... And Happy Holidays.
P.S. TO ALL THE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYERS: WHEN YOU STEP OUT ON THAT FIELD JAN. 1 LET THE NATION KNOW THAT EVEN GOD IS A WVU FAN. SO STRAP IT UP, BUMP SOME CHEST, SAY A PRAYER AND LET’S WIN THIS ONE FOR COACH ROD.
Jeremy Armentrout
P.S. Jeremy, I can think of a few better things to occupy God's time that day. Probably best that we beat Georgia Tech straight up anyway. Thanks for the note.
Please share with Rich and his family that we West Virginians here in the Tampa area are extremely proud of him regarding his decision to stay as our coach. Today he proved beyond a doubt that he and his family are truly West "By God" Virginian's. For those of us, my wife and I specifically who would love to come home to work and retire, we could not be more pleased with his decision. In fact, when and if Rich is in Tampa -- he always has a place here to stay.
David Cole
Brewster Technical Center
School District of Hillsborough County
Let's Go Mountaineers!
Did you not know that there is a women's basketball game tonight (Dec. 8) or did you just not have room to put any info concerning it on the website because of the FOOTBALL COACH? Why do they ALWAYS have to take the back seat?
WVSJC@aol.com
Thanks for the note. Here you go just in case my boss is reading this: http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?cat=netnews&story=10215
Thanks for staying loyal to your roots. WVU needs you to win the National Championship next year.
Nevin Lucabaugh
The first national championship prediction for 2008 was made by Nevin Lucabaugh on Friday, Dec. 8, 2006. Way to go Nevin!
Coach Rodriguez: Well done! Been living in Oregon 30 years since WVU; Still #1 fan of WVU and the Big East.
Roger
A Mountaineer and a guy with "Class.” Our family has season tickets to see the Mountaineer football team and would have really been disappointed had Coach Rod recruited guys for the team and then gone to another program just as the team starts to mature together. I attended WVU in 1966 before going into the USAF from the ROTC program and have always been proud to have studied there. I have 2 children who are WVU Grads. Amy Riggleman Zervos and Jeffrey Riggleman. We all support the athletic program and believe in Coach Rod. All of West Virginia should be proud of the Coach and give him our undivided support. What a great state we live in!
Fred Riggleman
Yes indeed, Fred, we do live in a great state – the best of the 50 in my book! And like Mr. Spears above, thank you for your service to our country!
I was upset when I heard that Rich was leaning towards leaving the team. I am from West Virginia and I have seen how the state has changed since Rich has become the coach. I have been going to games since the late 60s and I can only remember three coaches with the team; Rich is high on the list. Rich is great for the team and the state. I told my son yesterday when the news broke that sometimes MONEY is not always the most important thing to everyone all the time. It is great to see our coach feels the same.
Gary
We love you, Coach, and appreciate your loyalty. Thanks again!
Ruth Curtis, Clarksburg
Right back at you Ruth – and we love your loyalty to WVU, too!
Please convey to Coach Rodriguez my sincere congratulations on his decision to remain at WVU. I admire his loyalty to his alma mater and honoring his assurances to recruits. i am a former partisan of the university of Alabama. Their treachery in giving an extension of the contract along with a pay increase to Coach Shula and then firing him demonstrates the character of their directors. Coach Rodriguez probably spared himself and family a similar insult. I was born and reared in this state and have always cheered for the Crimson Tide, but cannot respect the program enough to continue doing so. I really feel ashamed of them, and sincerely hope they can’t find anyone to take the job. My hat's off to Coach Rodriguez!
Thanks
Charles Morrison
Wow, how do you answer that one without sounding smug? If published reports are accurate, the contract Alabama is offering will attract a good football coach -- a very, very good one.
Thanks so much for all of your feedback. Unfortunately, we were unable to answer all of your mail but we’ve made every effort to read them. Thanks, too, for the signed petition to keep Coach Rod that we received with nearly 1,800 signatures on it. Your opinions truly do count!
Let’s Go Mountaineers!
