Rodriguez meeting with Alabama officials

Johnny BlazE · 12-05-2006, 02:10 PM

Quote:

NEW YORK -- West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who called labeled reports that he had agreed to leave for Alabama last weekend as "rumors," is meeting with Alabama officials here, according to several published and broadcast reports.

Rodriguez, whose team faces Georgia Tech in the Toyota Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, has said he hasn't been contacted by Alabama officials.

Sources told ESPN.com's Joe Schad that Alabama officials were meeting with Rodriguez. The Birmingham News reported Tuesday that Alabama officials would meet Rodriguez at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. The paper reported its sources said a job offer is unlikely on Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Alabama is expect to offer Rodriguez the job in the next 48 hours. Alabama officials denied this, calling it premature, according to the Birmingham News.

Rodriguez has been coy about his plans, publicly saying he hasn't been contacted by Alabama.

"I plan on being at West Virginia the rest of my career," Rodriguez repeatedly stated in an interview with the Wheeling (West Va.) News-Register in a story posted on its Web site last Friday.

Also on Friday, Rodriguez replied to rumors he was leaving by telling MetroNews Statewide Sport radio: "I have no idea what anybody is talking about. I have not talked to anybody. They haven't offered me anything. I didn't even say I was interested. When all of these rumors came up, all I said was I don't address rumors. It's as simple as that."

Rodriguez is 49-24 record in six seasons at West Virginia. He signed a three-year extension with the Mountaineers on June 24 and has six years left on his contract, which pays him about $1.1 million annually with the possibility of more than $400,000 in additional performance bonuses. The contract includes a $2 million penalty if he leaves West Virginia before Aug. 31, 2007.

The amended contract increased Rodriguez's supplemental compensation for work such as radio/TV appearances and other promotional activities to more than $510,000. That sum increases to $900,000 beginning Jan. 16, with $50,000 increases each additional year until the contract expires after the 2012 season.

Rodriguez, 43, also would receive a $600,000 annuity from the school if he's still coaching the Mountaineers after the 2011 regular season. He loses the annuity if he leaves West Virginia before then.

This should be very interesting. He has been rambling on for a while about leaving, but not making it stand out to everyone. Now that it's out there and he will be speaking the team, it could get ugly.

Thoughts?

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 12-05-2006, 08:40 PM

I don't see him leaving, in an ESPN article he stated he planned to retire at WVU, and why does he need to leave a great team like the Mountaineers to go to a below average team in the Crimson Tide, IMO it isn't worth it, National Championships are possible at WVU, not at Alabama...

WackoJako · 12-05-2006, 08:43 PM

Yeah Alabam is probably more historically prestigious but why leave WVU? He's done a good job thus far and has built them fairly well and while the Big East has improved it's still far tougher to win week to week in the SEC. It makes more sense to stay put.

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 12-06-2006, 06:07 PM

Alabama is expected to make a decision in the next 72 hours on wether to offer him a contract, I think they will, but not sure if he will take it...

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Rodriguez meeting with Alabama officials

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