Rodriguez "Pressured to Sign" with WVU; Deposition Released

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Rodriguez "Pressured to Sign" with WVU; Deposition Released

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Posted: 4:43 PM May 13, 2008
Last Updated: 9:41 AM May 14, 2008
Reporter: Scott Saxton
Email Address: scott.saxton@wsaz.com

14 comments

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DOCUMENTS:
+ Part 1: Click here to read the PDF (3 MB)
+ Part 2: Click here to read the PDF (3 MB)
+ Part 3: Click here to read the PDF (2 MB)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- Ex-football coach Rich Rodriguez says Governor Manchin and three members of the West Virginia University Board of Governors pressured him to sign a new contract last year.

The contract contains a 4 million-dollar damages clause that Rodriguez says he didn't want.

In depositions released today, Rodriguez says board members Steve Farmer, Drew Payne and Perry Petroplus assured him that all his outstanding demands for the football program would be met when Mike Garrison became WVU's president.

Rodriguez also claims Farmer told him months before Garrison's appointment that Garrison would get the presidency.

According to Rodriguez, Manchin called him on August 25th and warned of negative publicity if he didn't sign the contract before the football season started.

The deposition is part of the evidence collection for WVU's lawsuit seeking to recover the buyout.

Click on the link above to read the transcript of the deposition.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Phil on May 15, 2008 at 06:33 PM
I just love the other coach Huggins saying kids should stay in school....talk about paradox

Posted by: Anonymous on May 15, 2008 at 12:07 PM
wow, ur governor makes the decisions for the football team?

Posted by: NewAtTheGameOfFoolsBall on May 15, 2008 at 02:10 AM
This is so much fun to watch I can't wait to see how all this plays out...considering our Gov 'also' Bought her daughters degree...

Posted by: Anonymous on May 14, 2008 at 06:48 PM
you dem you are dumb you voted for him (the gov) how dirty can you all be he crys about football but not kids going to bed hungy his daugther gets a fake dergee

Posted by: Godfather on May 14, 2008 at 03:41 PM
He makes it sound like Luca Brasi was holding a gun to his head. I'm sure they may have urged him to sign, but did not say "your signature or your brains" on the contract.

Posted by: Randy on May 14, 2008 at 01:35 PM
When you sign a contract, your signature is to confirm that you agree with the terms of that contract. If I were Michigan, I would be worried that their contract with RichRod is worthless since he obviously does not have the integrity to abide by the agreements he makes.

Posted by: pay up on May 14, 2008 at 12:37 PM
He or Michigan should just go ahead and pay up he signed the contract so pay your bills. would he shoot hisself if he was pressured into it

Posted by: Chill Pill on May 14, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Stephanie... If you were to quit SCREAMING, maybe we would listen to you. Typing in all caps is very hard to read and is considered SCREAMING. I think you need a chill pill. You must not have much of a life if you are that upset over the problems in another person's life that don't even affect you.

Posted by: Michigan predicts a perfect season on May 14, 2008 at 05:47 AM
0 wins this season while Rich tries to get out of paying his BELOVED university

Posted by: Pay UP on May 14, 2008 at 05:46 AM
You signed it and if you did so the way you stated you need to fire you agent is all I can say for bad advice. A signed contract SHOULD mean you owe the university the money. Quit crying and PAY UP

Posted by: STEPHANIE on May 13, 2008 at 10:18 PM
THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THIS WHOLE MESS IS RICH IS A BIG BOY AND HE DIDN'T HAVE TO SIGN NOTHING, I DON'T CARE WHO TRIES TO GET YOU TO SIGN SOMETHING, THAT DON'T MEAN YOU GO AHEAD AND DO SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO. IF YOU GO TO A CAR LOT AND THEY PRESSURE YOU TO BUY A CAR, THAT DON'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO SIGN THE CONTRACT TO TAKE THE CAR. GET A LIFE RICH AND JUST PAY THE $4 MILLION DOLLARS AFTER ALL YOU ARE A BILLIONAIRE.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 06:42 PM
you know Manchin was behind all this he is the one that should step down.

Posted by: Atron on May 13, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Can WVU prove they have been damaged to the tune of $4 million? Only time well tell. Stay tuned.

Posted by: jim on May 13, 2008 at 05:11 PM
why waste are time talking about rich rodiquez. he is a fake no loyalty what so ever to his home state, he will see what michiagan is all about nothing!!!!!!

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