Well, it's finally over. Richie finally admitted that he signed a contract that said he'd pay WVU $4M if he left, and that he did in fact leave. It wasn't that tough of a leap, but it took Rich a while to get there.
RR has agreed that he owes $4M to WVU based on the contract. But, he's not going to pay it. UM is on the books to pay $2.5M of the total, while Rich will pay $1.5M over the next few years. Michigan will also foot the bill for the legal fees charged for RR's/their absurd challenges to WVU's lawsuit to force payment. What a great deal for UM! (heavy sarcasm here in case you're not picking that up. heavy.)
Did UM offer to pay up on Rich's behalf out of good will? I doubt it. I think the administration recognized that this had become a circus (that took a while too) and just wanted it to go away. So Rich essentially had UM backed into a corner - either they don't pony up and the madness continues, or they agree to pay out a (large) chunk of the bill.
And the pressue was just mounting more and more recently, according to the WWL:
The settlement was reached on what had been a key deadline in the case. As part of the discovery process, a judge had given Rodriguez until the end of Tuesday to reveal whether the University of Michigan or anyone else had agreed to pay WVU on his behalf.
Adding pressure to Rodriguez was a lawsuit WVU filed in a Michigan court last week, asking a judge to order Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and President Mary Sue Coleman to testify in depositions. A hearing on that request had been set for Wednesday afternoon.
WVU also recently got an Ohio court to issue a subpoena for testimony and records from Mike Wilcox, Rodriguez's financial adviser.
Staring that situation down - depositions, financial documents, etc, and the UM leadership didn't have much of a choice.
Fantastic moves by a new head coach trying to impress his employer. RR better keep those recruits coming in, this year best not be abysmal and next year better be good - because I don't think he has a ton of fans in the upper echelon of UM management today. They're already paying the guy well - if he doesn't pan out, that's another $2.5M+ to add to the mistake. Ouch.
By domer.mq July 9, 2008 - 11:34 am
I nearly wrote up something on this hours ago, but I knew you’d be all over this like Rich Rod on a group of solid 2s.
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By The Biscuit July 9, 2008 - 12:06 pm
That’s right! Good call.
I could’ve gone on for an hour, but frankly I’ve become tired. I’m glad it’s over and that there is SOME logic in the world, such that he had to just pay it.
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By DeepTeaKup July 9, 2008 - 12:32 pm
Gee what a shock, Biscuit all over RichRod.
Maybe he will go 5-2 his first 7 games and get a 10 year extension?
Tiresome really, new employer paid a buyout clause they could easily afford, happens all the time.
Also, just FYI, RichRod did not instigate the court proceedings, WVU did.
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By domer.mq July 9, 2008 - 3:17 pm
DTK,
To be fair, the headlines today are dominated by Dick Rod and by Michigan (sucks!) players pleading not guilty to Driving While Nearly Dead From Alcohol Poisoning.
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By DeepTeaKup July 9, 2008 - 3:36 pm
Domer, I get it that RichRod is topical, especially today. What I don’t understand is how Biscuit uses the whole affair as evidence that Richrod is Meyer like in his scum factor. He took a new job while he still had another job, it happens all the time. And if you are honest with hyourself, I think you would have to agree it is a pretty major step up.
Yeah, Kevin Grady what the heck were you thinking. IMO, there should be two levels of DUI, between .008 and .015, you still get today’s penalites. Above that, jail time and a loss of license for 5 years.
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By The Biscuit July 9, 2008 - 6:32 pm
DTK – you knew i’d jump all over it and i knew you’d object. so we’re all just fulfilling our roles here. as i’ve said before, i dont have a problem with RR taking the job. i have issues with how he did so. while i agree it’s a (big) step up from WVU, you have to admit that he didn’t the transition well at all. the evidence is that it’s STILL making news, months later. you have to admit that it’s absurd that he/UM fought the buyout clause. it was in a contract he signed, with counsel from lawyers, managers, etc. so you pay it. he said all this garbage about being pressured, etc. and it was garbage. and i am just calling him out on it.
And no, RR won’t get a 10 year extension because no one in the NFL will want him. they wanted Weis at 5-2 his first year. did that warrant a 10 year deal? probably not. ND went too far as the school is wont to do. but it’s about perception and supply and demand. there was demand for CW in the NFL that year and he was getting overtures. no one expects RR to bring Barwis and a spread offense to the NFL and have success, so the situations are completely different.
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By nyndfansub July 10, 2008 - 2:05 pm
DickRod started talking recruits that he pulled for WVU into going to Michigan (sucks!) while still employed there. By far the dirtiest thing any human on God’s Green Earth could do. Even small businesses have a “no competition” clause where you cannot sell out, buy another place, and poach old customers. It’s along the same lines as Ty Willy going golfing instead of recruiting when he found out he was gone. You are paid to do a job, and until they stop paying you, you do it. I can’t stop flipping burgers at McDonald’s because I found out that Burger King’s making me the whoppper guy, nor can I start taking the angus beef to my new fast food employer. A poor analogy, I know. But it’s lunch time at the office and I can spell the #5 from here.
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