It was funny the reaction I received after the RichRod saga ended yesterday.  I actually had a couple emailers (most of whom were in good nature) saying SEE, VIC they didn’t have to settle with Rich.

So, I went back to my post on this a few weeks ago and re-read it, I thought I DID say they should settle and well, the fact is that in some fans mind there is only hatred for RichRod and no one actually read what I said.

I had two points in that commentary. 

One was that they should settle with Rich and get this thing behind us.  They did settle.  It was great they got the $4 million, I suggested $2.5 or $3.0, but my guess is after WVU pays its own lawyer fees (which I suggested would happen)…  well, wait, I’m actually DYING to know how much those lawyer fees will be.  Again, did they REALLY need six lawyers charging out $300/hour flying to Detroit to depose Rich?  (again, another case of the lawyers getting rich)

But, let’s say they get $3.5 million, then I think that’s great for WVU and somewhat more than I suggested they settle.

The second point was on the fateful Saturday night meeting with Rich and Garrison, when Rich walked into that meeting, he never had any intention of leaving WVU.  I firmly believe that and nothing about the depositions or settlement changed my mind about that statement.  After the Garrison meeting, he walked out knowing he couldn’t stay. 

I don’t think there was any question that he was run off by Garrison.  Pure and simple.  But, he’s gone, the reasons he is gone are now moot, he’s paying the buyout, Michigan stepped up to end this battle, WVU gets it’s buyout, Rich moves on, WVU move on, Michigan moves on.

Great all around.

OK, OK, ONE final point and I promise to never speak the words RichRod or Craig Walker on this blog again (let’s hope I don’t have to, at least)…  I doubled-over with laughter when Craig Walker said in his deposition when asked why he didn’t fulfill the requests that Rich had on his “list” was because, “I suspect that he would just have another list.  And, then another list.”

Holy smokes. 

Isn’t that exactly what a good coach should be doing? 

Look, I’ve had some really good managers and some really poor managers.  The really good ones?  They were ALWAYS wanting to do this or do that or advertise here or advertise there or move this or move that.  It was never ending.  You know why?  Because they wanted to improve the place or do something different.  It was awesome. 

Bad managers?  You never hear from them.  Why?  Because they are simply content with the status quo and aren’t really putting any thought into how improvements can be made.

I don’t know, I think it’s a good thing that RichRod was pushing the envelope.  We should want that in a football coach, but Craig was annoyed by it.  Silly Rich, wanting to improve the program and all.

Look, trust me, I don’t want to write about the situation again, no one wants to read about the situation again and hopefully, we can all now just move on.  Thank goodness.

And, the last time I checked, that was the point of my last commentary.

OK, one final point, I’m just happy it’s over so Hoppy Kercheval doesn’t have an aneurysm on air.  He absolutely cracks me up.  I don’t get much of a chance to listen because that’s normally my office time during the day, but I was out and about and listening to him and he went off over RichRod not feeling “loved.” 

It was absolutely hysterical and may have been one of the funniest shows I’ve ever heard.  I mean, Hoppy was letting him have it, yelling “be a MAN!”  It was great, you just never hear Hop like that, so I was happy to hear him fired up.