Gov. Joe Manchin responded to a story detailing e-mails between Rich Rodriguez's agent and West Virginia University athletic officials by saying he did not interfere with Mountaineer athletics, and would propose sweeping changes in collegiate sports at an upcoming national governors meeting.
Gov. Joe Manchin responded to a story detailing e-mails between Rich Rodriguez's agent and West Virginia University athletic officials by saying he did not interfere with Mountaineer athletics, and would propose sweeping changes in collegiate sports at an upcoming national governors meeting.
Manchin said he would ask his colleagues at the National Governors Association winter meetings "if they all believe, as I do, the whole collegiate atmosphere is going in the wrong direction.
"There is some very, very high-priced bidding with all of the scruples taken out of the process. That's happening because of agents, who are gaining on the side,'' the governor said before Wednesday's Capital Classic at the Charleston Civic Center.
Rodriguez last month resigned as WVU's football coach to take the same job at the University of Michigan.
Manchin suggested coaches be held to the same standards as athletes.
"If a student athlete decides to transfer, he or she must sit out a year,'' Manchin said. "If the student athlete doesn't make the grades, they can't play. If a student takes compensation, they're disqualified. Shouldn't the person who is teaching values also have to live up to values?
"I'm going to see if enough governors can collectively ask the NCAA if this is truly the collegiate atmosphere we're trying to promote. If it's not, let's take a hard look because something is wrong.''
Among the e-mails obtained by The Associated Press via the Freedom of Information Act was one from Rodriguez's agent Mike Brown that complained that "[WVU athletic director Ed] Pastilong is talking directly to the governor,'' and Manchin later called the coach to placate him.
Gov. Joe Manchin responded to a story detailing e-mails between Rich Rodriguez's agent and West Virginia University athletic officials by saying he did not interfere with Mountaineer athletics, and would propose sweeping changes in collegiate sports at an upcoming national governors meeting.
Manchin said he would ask his colleagues at the National Governors Association winter meetings "if they all believe, as I do, the whole collegiate atmosphere is going in the wrong direction.
"There is some very, very high-priced bidding with all of the scruples taken out of the process. That's happening because of agents, who are gaining on the side,'' the governor said before Wednesday's Capital Classic at the Charleston Civic Center.
Rodriguez last month resigned as WVU's football coach to take the same job at the University of Michigan.
Manchin suggested coaches be held to the same standards as athletes.
"If a student athlete decides to transfer, he or she must sit out a year,'' Manchin said. "If the student athlete doesn't make the grades, they can't play. If a student takes compensation, they're disqualified. Shouldn't the person who is teaching values also have to live up to values?
"I'm going to see if enough governors can collectively ask the NCAA if this is truly the collegiate atmosphere we're trying to promote. If it's not, let's take a hard look because something is wrong.''
Among the e-mails obtained by The Associated Press via the Freedom of Information Act was one from Rodriguez's agent Mike Brown that complained that "[WVU athletic director Ed] Pastilong is talking directly to the governor,'' and Manchin later called the coach to placate him.
"I've never interfered,'' Manchin said Thursday. "I never, ever have. The only thing is, I did call Rich once because I understood [his] contract hadn't been signed. Maybe in July, I don't remember the time.
"I took it upon myself. He's my friend. I said, 'Buddy, I can only give you my input. I think everyone thinks you've already signed the contract.' He said, 'Aw, it'll be worked out.'''
Manchin said he'd simply like the truth over the Rodriguez-WVU dispute to come out.
"Any time I see this back and forth, I say, 'Let's let the facts come forward,''' Manchin said. "I think you have a hired gun, if you will, the agent ... I think if we all took a step back and look how Raquel, Rich's daughter, and Blaine, Billy's son, handled it, we could all learn something.''
A Gazette story on Wednesday outlined how Rodriguez's daughter Raquel and new WVU coach Bill Stewart's son Blaine text-messaged each other in peace.
"The only thing I can tell you is I wish the best for Rich and his family,'' Manchin said. "I'm sorry it happened. I wish he was still at West Virginia. I wish he would always be.
"That was a choice he made and I had no input. The only regret I have is I never really got a chance to talk to him after the Pitt game. I made the phone call, but we never talked. I don't know if it would have made any difference, but we always talked - and never had a problem.''
To contact sports editor Mitch Vingle, use e-mail or call 348-4827.
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