A Moratorium on the Rich Rod vs. WVU Athletic Dept. Issue
Today it must stop. I want to also call out all of my fellow bloggers, reporters, forum admins, and site owners to do the same. We have the power as fan driven media to put a stop to this… TODAY!
I started this site to celebrate and share the great traditions, values, fun, and excitement that I as a WVU fan experience year in and year out. Recently though, because of the actions of Rich Rodriguez and subsequent reactions of the WVU Athletic Department I am starting to feel beat down as a fan. I’m getting the feeling that some of the magic and pride of wearing the Flying WV on my chest is dying. I am suffering, as I believe a lot of WVU fans are, because I can’t believe it has even gotten to this point. It sucks and I will have no part of it, and this site will no longer report on any of the bullshit that is going on… on either side. PERIOD.
I came to this decision this weekend after reading countless articles from both sides and it came to a head today with the ESPN front page article reporting that WVU is being racist. Yes, they have played that card. I will not go there and no one that is a fan of WVU should even give “them” the time of day (and let me be clear, when I say “they” or “them”, I mean the PR machine behind Rich Rod and the Michigan biased media that loves to hate on WV). They want to take this fight to the lowest level and we shouldn’t be part of it. I know I don’t want to be. This is dirty PR at it’s worst and at the end it’s the athletes, students and fans that lose.
WVU isn’t racist. The Program isn’t racist. The fans aren’t racist. This has nothing to do with race and we all know it.
I think one of the things that brought me to this is an email I received from a WVU fan in Spokane, WA. This speaks volumes and I agree. We must move on.
Here it is:
Hi,
I am a longtime fan of the Mountaineers. I grew up In Los Angeles and my boyhood hero was Jerry West. I started following WVU in the papers and still am a big fan. I also play music for a living and interact with lots of people. I have never presumed to offer any thoughts to the University, but the handling of the Rodriguez situation has been awful from a PR point of view. Rodriguez will hang himself. Its time to move on and stop talking in public. Even the Governor is making comments. It is petty and beneath the dignity of a major Big East school. Maybe you have the contacts to send along my suggestion. Just move on and take him on in court over the buyout. It is there the University will win the battle on all fronts and Rodriguez will be further exposed as a mercenary coach. Believe me the manner in which he left his team speaks volumes to the parents of kids he will recruit. The music biz is full of back biting and ego. The smart players are those who stay above the childish name calling. It is they who earn the respect in the end. WVU Athletics and especially the outstanding athletes on the football team are above the fray caused by the disloyal and self absorbed actions of a football coach. I hope to play music in Morgantown one day and visit the home of Jerry West.
God Bless,
TIM
Spokane, WA
AMEN!!! So we are done with this.
We need to refocus. It’s freaking Basketball season! Football recruiting is in High Gear! Our Women’s Basketball team is ranked and rolling and soon the Men’s will be back in the top 25. March Madness is little more than a month away. The Football Spring Game will be here before you know it! AND WE KICKED OKLAHOMA’S ASS IN THE FIESTA BOWL. I don’t know about you guys but I’m not finished celebrating that win!!!
So lets get back on the right track and LET’S GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!!!
ABOUT THIS AUTHOR
I second the motion. I’d already stopped looking at ESPN’s college football site, so I hadn’t seen that they’d accused us of racism. Dorks.
I don’t even know Pastilong, but ANY individual exercising logic would say that leaving for another school with your jerk of a leader is NOT the best way to line up for a head coaching job. Sort of like someone asking to go steady with you after dumping you at a party to go bang your best friend.
I just wanted to let you know that LetsGoMountaineers.net has joined your moratorium and here is the post to all of our members
“WVmountaineersports has issued a challenge to all bloggers, reporters, forum admins, and site owners to participate in a Moratorium on the Rich Rod vs. WVU Athletic Dept. Issue. This is my notice to all members here that we plan to meet that challenge. From this point on we will not allow or post anything concerning Rich Rod. Unless it is to announce the law suit has been adjudicated or settled. We intend to celebrate the great victory in the Fiesta Bowl and continue following one of the top mens basketball teams and one the best women’s basketball team in the best damn all sports conference.”
Jay Dee
Co-owner and Administrator
LetsGoMountaineers.net
This is one of the best posts we’ve had since I’ve been involved with the site. Great job MountaineerBob.
Contributor to WVMountaineersports.com
Owner:whereisjohnwilson.com
jwilson
Awesome post MountaineerBob!!
Good post. Enough is enough. But! I would like to throw in that it is particularly galling that anyone would try to push the idea that a man could not be considered for a head coaching position at WVU because of race. One only need look at our wildly successful head coach of men’s soccer, Marlon LeBlanc. He’s an African-American. The defense rests. Case closed.
The media tried pulling this crap with Texas A&M when they hired Mike Sherman. Enough.
Let’s go Mountaineers!!!!!!!!!!!!!