Rich Rod can sleep in his messy bed

In response to Dave Hickman's story "Rich Rod rues messy split" in the online edition of the Charleston Gazette this morning.

I would much rather read a story about Coach Stew doing his laundry than any regrets “Roots” may have about his departure from WVU. He made his bed, he turned his back on his home and his team now let him turn his attention to his new home. That may sound harsh..”Roots” and his supporters say he just changed jobs; that he left for a better job with better pay for the sake of his family. I call bullshit!

We all know that the HC at WVU is more important to the people of WV than the HC job at any Big 10 school. Our people rely on WVU football (for good or ill) for more than just Saturday entertainment. Mountaineer football and basketball are often the only good publicity our state gets in the national media. The flying WV is recognized anywhere you go and most have a positive impression of Mountaineer sports as being like our people: blue collar, smash mouth and hard-working.

Owen Schmitt is more a West Virginian that “Roots” will ever be. I recall his tearful interview at the end of the Fiesta Bowl; with “Country Roads” playing in the background Owen spoke of his love for the state, the school, and our people. Whereas “Roots” said something like “What’s so $%@#ing special about West Virginia!”

Well what “Roots” doesn’t understand is that there is something special about West Virginia. We have a since of “folken” so keen that maybe only Texans understand our connection to the land and to each other. Many people born in our state are forced to leave to find work. I was one of them. It took me 10 years to find an opportunity to come home. I gave up nearly 60% of my annual salary to return to WV and do what I can to help my fellow Mountaineers.

Many displaced Mountaineers long for the opportunity to come home too. “Roots” had what for many of us was the dream… But “Roots” threw that all away. He had it all..he was the most popular man in WV. The highest paid state employee, and he carried the pride of the people on his shoulders, and he traded it all for 30 pieces of silver.

He cried to the national media when we tried to hold him to his contract. His lawyer, his agent, and Michigan fans labeled us the "jilted girlfriend" and went on and on about our obsession. On the advice of his attorney (after losing several battles on pre-hearing motions in court), Rod and Michigan caved in and honored his contract.

And Mountaineer nation moved on...

Now Rod can't stand to be the pariah. He is once again using the media to paint WV and WVU fans as bitter people who can't understand his desire to better himself. Message to Rich...it wasn't that you left...it was HOW you left!