World's worst secret keeper
Rich Rodriguez to stay at West Virginia. Per ESPN and AL.com.
If Mal Moore and the Bama trustees could have kept their mouths shut, this would've been over quickly. But they couldn't help themselves. This story had more leaks than a White House investigation.
Rich Rodriguez was in a horrible situation. He was born in West Virginia, and he went to school at WVU. His entire extended family is in West Virginia. He married a WVU cheerleader. For him to walk away from WVU would have sent the signal that their program had absolutely no long term future.
He needed to be able to communicate his decision to leave Bama in a manner that would leave West Virginia's alumni, fans and players with their dignity. He needed to communicate that decision without burning every bridge in the state. Mal Moore and company's instance on having such an "open process" forced Rodriguez's hand. He couldn't handle things gracefully or quickly, and Bama made themselves look ridiculous in the process.
Their bumbling actions gave Rodriguez time to pause and reflect on the job. His hestitation gave WVU time to counteroffer and plead their case. Bama a chance at a top quality coach today, and they've made the job less attractive to the next candidate.
Mal Moore is a bumbling oaf. Roll Tide.
Paul Westerdawg
Alabama Native and Part-time Bama Fan (when UGA isn't playing)
BTW -- At what point does someone from the Birmingham News get fired for failing to be right on a single one of their calls related to this story?
