Storm in WVU! Their AD is crayfishing...

I believe that it is a done deal with Rich Rodriguez! It is clear to me that the current AD, Ed Pastilong, has not lived up to his commitments to Coach Rod. It is clear that since Rich and the WVU AD are meeting this afternoon, I would bet to say that the AD is crayfishing saying "whatever you want Rich! Yes, coach. What else can I get for you? A new office, sure no problem." Rich is probably on the other side of the table saying 'didn't you tell me that you were going to do things for the football program before?' If this thing goes down as expected maybe both AD's (Mal Moore and Ed Pastilong) will be removed from their positions. The full story is can be read at the following link (click here).

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Pastilong disputes reports

by Jacob Messer
Daily Mail sportswriter

West Virginia Athletic Director Ed Pastilong obviously doesn't want to lose Rich Rodriguez as the Mountaineer football coach.

Yet Pastilong balances that sense of urgency with a desire to set the record straight on several issues that have been discussed about Alabama's interest in Rodriguez.

"We want Rich to stay with us," Pastilong said Tuesday. "We made a strong commitment this summer with regard to salaries and facilities."

WVU rewarded Rodriguez with a seven-year contract worth $8.65 million in June.

Alabama reportedly wants to offer Rodriguez a deal worth almost three times as much. He would replace Mike Shula, who was fired as the Tide's coach on Nov. 26.

Pastilong wouldn't discuss whether WVU would make a counter offer, although sources said it is unlikely considering Rodriguez agreed to his current contract only five months ago.

Contrary to published reports, Pastilong said he spoke with Rodriguez on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

"And we plan on continuing our dialogue," Pastilong said.

Rodriguez reportedly has questioned the commitment WVU has made -- and will make -- to him and his program, specifically in regard to improving his team's facilities and increasing his assistants' salaries.

"All I want is to see us competitive in every aspect with every other team in the Big East," Rodriguez has been quoted as saying.

"That means facilities and everything that goes into a football program. My goal is to be competitive with every team in the Big East as far as a total football program. It's just a matter of talking about it and getting it done."

For example, Rodriguez wants a new academic center. In fact, that was one of the make-or-break items during negotiations for his current contract.

The Charleston Gazette reported Monday that Rodriguez was unhappy because "while the school ultimately promised to help build the center -- by remodeling the Thomas Room in the Puskar Center -- the project was to be privately funded.

"Yet now, more than five months later, no formal fund-raising campaign has been started. Rodriguez even offered to get the ball rolling with his own donation, apparently to no avail."

That information, Pastilong said, "is incorrect."

WVU already has raised half of the $2 million needed for building the academic center, according to Pastilong, and should have the rest of it next month.

That project will start "relatively soon," Pastilong said. "We're going to do that one first."

Then, WVU will turn its attention to the $4 million needed for renovating the first-floor facilities inside the Milan Puskar Center -- yet another Rodriguez initiative. That project will include the Mountaineers' locker room but not their weight room.

Rodriguez is aware of all that information, Pastilong said, because Assistant Athletic Director Whit Babcock (athletic development executive director) and Associate Athletic Director Russ Sharp (finance and administration) have kept him updated.

"(Rodriguez) has been heavily involved in regard to the planning of the study center and the locker room," Pastilong said.

"(Babcock) has been updating him as far as the funding process and (Sharp) has been working with him as far as the actual construction. We have an open dialogue with (Rodriguez). It's daily."

Pastilong said a pair of projects -- installing new artificial turf inside the Caperton Indoor Facility ($500,000) and putting together the Donald J. Brohard Hall of Traditions inside the Puskar Center ($300,000) -- already is completed.

Pastilong said another pair of projects -- installing new artificial turf at Mountaineer Field and expanding the club-level seating there ($2 million combined) -- is expected to be done within a few months.

"We're preparing bids right now," Pastilong said. "That should be done by this summer."

As for the salaries of the nine WVU assistant coaches, Rodriguez asked for $90,000 to be divided among them at his discretion. WVU actually gave him $125,000 -- $35,000 more than he requested.

"The media reports were incorrect," Pastilong said. "It's clear that we're strongly committed to our coach and our football program.

"We want Coach Rodriguez to have the resources needed to be successful. We're working with him. It has been a great effort department-wide, especially by the people helping with the funding."

The athletic department, however, must remain financially responsible.

"We're like any organization or company," Pastilong said. "On June 30, we have to balance the checkbook. But we do realize we need to do everything possible to have a successful football program."

Contact sportswriter Jacob Messer at 348-1712.