We’ve ignored our favorite topic recently of the Rich Rodriguez Saga involving West Virginia University, sports agents, and the University of Michigan. We’ll return to it this afternoon only because the absurdity coming out of Morgantown is hard to ignore, today.
Rodriguez continues to claim that West Virginia University was in the wrong and that’s why he left to take over the University of Michigan’s football program in December. As part of that claim, Rodriguez wants the University to open the books on its 501(c)3 fundraising organization, the West Virginia Foundation, to show if the institution was financially harmed by his departure. Supposedly, the Rodriguez camp wants to show that WVU was not harmed by his leaving and therefore he should not have to pay his $4 million buyout that was included in his contract.
There are several things that are inconsistent with Rodriguez’s line of reasoning.
The first, is that as a 501(c)3, the WVU Foundation is obligated to file Form 990s to the IRS. These include how much money the organization raised, liabilities, assets, and top salaried individuals. And as fate would have it, or the law in this case, Form 990s are public records. You can access WVU’s Form 990s through Guidestar.com.
Secondly, Rodriguez just left WVU two months ago. That’s too short of a time to prove if WVU has been benefited or lost from Rodriguez’ departure. It may take a full fundraising cycle for WVU to see what the net loss or gain from the decision was exactly. The argument by Rodriguez’ staff that hiring Bill Stewart at a cheaper salary proves his point proves nothing at all. Stewart’s experience did not justify a multi-million dollar-per year contract as Rodriguez was earning. Rodirguez is promoting a non sequitur argument.
Mike Casazza, of the Charleston Daily Mail, made a good point on his blog. He makes the point that WVU’s second BCS bowl win in three years and third-straight bowl win perhaps would give donors reasons to donate to the Foundation. Again, proof that Rodriguez’s camp is hoping not to catch people thinking at WVU … or anywhere actually.
I’m not opposed to the Foundation having its books opened. I believe that should be a requirement of any public institution that raises money through a foundation. However, Rodriguez is trying to throw spit balls at the wall hoping they will stick. They do not in this case.
The fact of the matter is this: Rodriguez signed a contract that included a $4 million buyout should he decide to leave prior to the end of the contract if he was not terminated. Rodriguez certainly was not terminated therefore the buyout becomes in play and becomes a liability for Rodriguez that he must pay legally.
