We’re not here to judge who did who wrong in the whole West Virginia-Rich Rodriguez fiasco (although we have to disclose that we did call him an asshole once). But some digging from the Associated Press has shed some light on the wheelings and dealings that went on in Wheeler, and it turns out this mess has more government intrigue and backstabbing than a John Le Carre novel. Oh, also, that Rich Rodriguez might not be the asshole here and not owe the $4 million back to West Virginia.

The disintegration of the relationship between Rodriguez and the WVU Athletic Department is documented in a series of e-mails written over a five-month period … [and] show Rodriguez’s agent, Mike Brown, fighting to get his client more operational and marketing control over the football program, and over money Rodriguez helped raise through a booster organization he founded. They also show Brown threatening to take his client elsewhere as early as mid-November.

Rodriguez ultimately signed the new contract with West Virginia on Aug. 24, 2007.

In his latest letter, sent to Athletic Director Ed Pastilong, Rodriguez restated his displeasure with how slowly WVU was responding to additional demands he made in December 2006, when he passed up a $12 million deal at Alabama. They included allowing him to have his own Web site…

Hey, Rodriguez is with it. He knows the power of the internet. Unfortunately for him, now it’s because he’s been crapped on all over the blogosphere. Michigan’s got a top-notch computer programming department, so we’d be weary to open any emails with the subject line, “Blogger peace offering from Rich Rodriguez.” That has virus written (or coded) all over it.

Rodriguez Claimed West Virginia Reneged on Verbal Agreements [NY Times]
Image [MSNBC]