Former West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez, now the coach at Michigan, said in a May deposition that Gov. Joe Manchin and three members of the university's Board of Governors pressured him into signing a new contract before the start of the 2007 season, even though it contained a $4 million buyout clause he didn't want.
Download transcript of Craig Walker deposition (317 KB)
Download transcript of Mike Garrison deposition (530 KB)
Download transcript of Mike Parsons deposition (311 KB)
Download transcript of Perry Petroplus deposition (1.15 MB)
Download transcript of Steve Farmer deposition (2.50 MB)
Former West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez, now the coach at Michigan, said in a May deposition that Gov. Joe Manchin and three members of the university's Board of Governors pressured him into signing a new contract before the start of the 2007 season, even though it contained a $4 million buyout clause he didn't want.
In depositions released on Monday, however, two of the Board members disputed Rodriguez's word.
Rodriguez claimed Board members Steve Farmer, Drew Payne and Perry Petroplus assured him his outstanding demands for the Mountaineer football program would be met when Mike Garrison became president.
Depositions from Farmer and Petroplus, filed in the Monongalia County Circuit Court over WVU's lawsuit to recover $4 million from Rodriguez, run counter to the coach's claims.
Farmer, a Charleston lawyer whose term on the Board expired Monday, was asked by Rodriguez lawyer Marv Robon if he "indicated to Rich Rodriguez several months [before Garrison was hired to] be patient, when Garrison becomes president your problems will be solved?''
"Categorically, no,'' Farmer responded.
Farmer said he did talk to Rodriguez - and sympathized with the coach - over complaints involving WVU associate athletic director Mike Parsons.
"I told [Rodriguez] that was not something we could discuss at that time ... but was he aware President [David] Hardesty had retired and there would be a new administration.''
Farmer continued by saying that, "I didn't even, Mike Garrison never entered into that [discussion].''
Robon also asked Farmer if he'd indicated contract terms could be changed to Rodriguez's wife, Rita.
"I never discussed anything substantiative about Coach's contract or university business with Rita,'' he said.
Farmer did say he was involved in formulating the liquid damages figure, recommended the lawsuit be filed and served as a facilitator. He said he "did not'' research the $4 million figure before suggesting it.
Download transcript of Craig Walker deposition (317 KB)
Download transcript of Mike Garrison deposition (530 KB)
Download transcript of Mike Parsons deposition (311 KB)
Download transcript of Perry Petroplus deposition (1.15 MB)
Download transcript of Steve Farmer deposition (2.50 MB)
Former West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez, now the coach at Michigan, said in a May deposition that Gov. Joe Manchin and three members of the university's Board of Governors pressured him into signing a new contract before the start of the 2007 season, even though it contained a $4 million buyout clause he didn't want.
In depositions released on Monday, however, two of the Board members disputed Rodriguez's word.
Rodriguez claimed Board members Steve Farmer, Drew Payne and Perry Petroplus assured him his outstanding demands for the Mountaineer football program would be met when Mike Garrison became president.
Depositions from Farmer and Petroplus, filed in the Monongalia County Circuit Court over WVU's lawsuit to recover $4 million from Rodriguez, run counter to the coach's claims.
Farmer, a Charleston lawyer whose term on the Board expired Monday, was asked by Rodriguez lawyer Marv Robon if he "indicated to Rich Rodriguez several months [before Garrison was hired to] be patient, when Garrison becomes president your problems will be solved?''
"Categorically, no,'' Farmer responded.
Farmer said he did talk to Rodriguez - and sympathized with the coach - over complaints involving WVU associate athletic director Mike Parsons.
"I told [Rodriguez] that was not something we could discuss at that time ... but was he aware President [David] Hardesty had retired and there would be a new administration.''
Farmer continued by saying that, "I didn't even, Mike Garrison never entered into that [discussion].''
Robon also asked Farmer if he'd indicated contract terms could be changed to Rodriguez's wife, Rita.
"I never discussed anything substantiative about Coach's contract or university business with Rita,'' he said.
Farmer did say he was involved in formulating the liquid damages figure, recommended the lawsuit be filed and served as a facilitator. He said he "did not'' research the $4 million figure before suggesting it.
When asked by Robon if Garrison would have the authority to "make promises to Rich Rodriguez that he would negotiate or not enforce a buyout provision,'' Farmer said no.
"I don't know that the provision would entitle anyone to say you don't have to honor the written terms of a contract that you have with this university,'' said the Charleston lawyer. He later added that, "I mean it's not like going down to your neighborhood tailor and [negotiating] something. This is written contracts and governance of state matters.''
Farmer also claimed he "never made [the] statement'' to Rodriguez that Garrison would be WVU's president before the hiring.
Petroplus, a real estate developer and broker whose Board term ends in 2009, was also Rodriguez's neighbor. He said he talked to Rodriguez about the coach's many complaints with WVU's athletic administration before the move to Michigan.
"I said, 'Rich please be patient,''' said Petroplus. "It will take time. Nothing happens quick around here. I remember telling him that.''
Petroplus also said, "Rich did a lot of complaining about some of the issues but he never complained to me ever, ever about whatever the liquidated damage clause was.''
Petroplus said Rodriguez didn't indicate to him that Garrison had made promises.
Both men said Rodriguez was upset to the point of concern after WVU's regular season-ending loss to Pitt that cost the Mountaineers a shot at a national championship.
"I saw him at the Waterfront Hotel during [a] breakfast hour," Farmer said. "He had some recruits in and I went up to him and embraced him and asked him how he was doing because I knew he had taken the Pitt loss hard. And he told me, he says, well I've been on suicide watch. I said, well, I am too but you know we'll get through this.''
Farmer later testified he didn't take Rodriguez's suicide comment literally.
Petroplus spoke of a conversation "a couple days after the Pitt game.
"He wasn't playing straight for a while,'' said the developer. "He was still upset.''
He also called Rodriguez "stressed out'' after the Pitt game.
"I mean I'm no doctor,'' Petroplus said. "He wasn't the same Rich I knew for a while. His thinking was clouded.''
Reach Mitch Vingle at 348-4827
or mitchvin...@wvgazette.com
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Yes, there are always two sides to every story. Athletics is a very difficult way of life. The fan's disappointment after the loss of a game can not, in any manner, reach the intensity of the stress that a coach endures.