Dummies

I for one have been critical of the athletic department for what appears to have been a break down in communication between the department and the two ex-WVU now Michigan coaches. But that doesn't mean that I believe for one second that Rodriguez was in the right either. Rich continues to try to win the PR battle by having Ken Kendrick speak out whenever possible about the shame of him leaving. He has escalated this battle by having his mother speak out and talk about the "poor kids." Now if the kids were being threatened then there is no excuse for that, but if they are being picked on a little then welcome to being 13. Just because you're Dad is rich doesn't make you untouchable. Try being the smelly kid or the kid with a turkey foot for a hand and see if you come home crying a few times.

When you are fighting a full P.R. battle, however, sometimes there may be some collateral damage. In this case it is either the son of Tony Gibson or the principal at his son's school or both. Gibson reported that his son was harassed by the principal of his school after they left for Michigan. Unfortunately the principal didn't stay silent and said that the kid was actually upset because he was leaving his friends. The principal did take down a sign featuring Rich Rodriguez, although Kerry Gibson accused him of tearing it up and having all the kids stomp on it. In the end Gibson had this to say:

"I'm from there, my brother works in public service, and people say things. Where I'm from, it's a small town and they support my move. (West Virginia) is a place we need to stay out of for a while."

Of course he said that while his son is still going to school in Morgantown. But who who cares how rough you have made it on your son or his principal when you've got newspapers to sell.

Another PR hit for the Rodriguez machine came out this morning. Rodriguez has painted himself as the guy who fought for his players and the program above all else. Of course his loyalty has been questioned when he may have called recruits before telling his team, calls which may have kept WVU from calling due to a dark period. Now there is the case of the missing files.

Soon after returning to work after the Fiesta Bowl a little more than a week ago, the staff at the Puskar Center found that most of the files — including all of the player files — that had been stored in Rodriguez’s private office were missing. In addition, all of the players’ strength and conditioning files in the weight room were gone.

The missing paperwork includes all player personnel files which include good and bad deeds of all the current players, progression by players made during workouts, donor information, and other assorted fun facts. What all of this proves is that Rodriguez is really THAT stubborn. He started a PR war and he doesn't care that there is going to be blowback against him. He is going to keep running with the threats to the families as if it were a bubble screen.