THE SCANDAL has been anything but a Bresch of fresh air in Morgantown.

The allegations of a fudged master's degree at West Virginia University, involving Heather Bresch, our governor's daughter, are nasty.

There have been more fingers pointed in Touchdown City lately than at a Jessica Simpson sighting.

The mess, on top of the ongoing divorce from football coach Rich Rodriguez, is exactly what the school didn't need.

Imagine if the two were intertwined.

In the words of John Lennon, it's easy if you try.

Rodriguez has charged promises were made to him by WVU president Mike Garrison. The prez says that didn't happen. One would think a judge would take the word of a university president over a football coach in that case. Or at least declare a push, right?

But what if Garrison's reputation is impugned during the Bresch case?

Garrison has not resigned. The WVU Board of Governors has issued a statement of support. But heads have rolled. And what if Faculty Senate member Sherman Riemenschneider has his way and pushes through a motion for a censure or vote of no confidence in regard to Garrison?

Might that make the Rodriguez case tougher to win for WVU lawyer Tom Flaherty?

"No," Flaherty said Tuesday. "I'm not even going to go there. One has nothing to do with the other."

Local attorney Rusty Webb, who has been covering the Rodriguez case for some media outlets, isn't so sure.

"Surely Rodriguez's attorney will take a shot at bringing it up," Webb said. "Why not? What's he got to lose? An objection?"

In the end, though, Webb predicts Garrison's place in the Bresch case won't matter in the Rodriguez hearing.

"I think it would if Garrison resigned or had been fired," Webb said. "That would have called into question his reputation or integrity.

"[Rodriguez's attorneys] may try to get into it, but I don't think they'll get very far."

Webb said a censure by a faculty "doesn't rise to the level'' of a firing in regard to credibility.

"I think if Rodriguez's lawyers try to use it, it signals desperation," Webb said.

He added WVU's attorneys may try to have the Bresch case excluded from the Rodriguez hearing as "inflammatory.''

More than anything, though, Webb predicts the Bresch case will be "so far off the radar'' by the time the Rodriguez case is heard that it won't be relevant.

Had to get hold of former WVU slot receiver Darius Reynaud on Tuesday. Maybe it's because his nickname is D-Rey and I love that. I really don't know.

But I had to ask him about leaving West Virginia, declaring for the NFL draft a year early - and then not being selected. Some would be bummed. Some would be ticked. However, I had a feeling that wouldn't be the case with Rey. He did, after all, sign a free agent contract with Minnesota.

"I made the right move," Reynaud said. "Things didn't go right in the draft, but I still think I made the right decision."

Reynaud said he left the Mountaineers because he didn't know his position coach when he declared. "I didn't think I'd have the same senior season [as he had as a junior],'' Reynaud said. "I felt hot."

Well, Rey-Rey did have 64 catches last season for 733 yards. That's more catches than any of Minnesota's top three receivers: Bobby Wade (54), Robert Ferguson (32) or Sidney Rice (31). But the Vikings also have Aundrae Allison and picked up Bernard Berrian from Chicago and drafted Jaymar Johnson. The Vikes have 12 receivers on their roster, including another free agent, Nate Jones of Texas. They'll keep five or six.

In my opinion, Reynaud didn't help or hurt himself (in regard to football, that is) by coming out early. He is what he is: a small, feisty slot man. He won't grow in a year. He won't get better or worse.

Reynaud will head to Minnesota on Thursday. With no regrets.

"Knowing what I know, I'd still come out," Reynaud said.

While piecing together the above, I spoke to a Vikings media representative. And I had a chance to get a couple other updates.

Ex-Minnesota lineman Darrion Scott, formerly of Capital High and Ohio State, is an unrestricted free agent. Scott, who led the Vikings in sacks in 2006, broke his foot last season and is unlikely to return to the team.

The reason? Minnesota gave up a first-round draft pick as well as two third-round selections and one in the sixth to acquire Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs. The wild guess from here is Allen will start at defensive end.

Scott, though, was spotted visiting the New England Patriots a couple weeks ago. It remains to be seen whether his December citation for misdemeanor marijuana possession will come into play.

Also, ex-WVU standout and Rimington Trophy winner Dan Mozes, who spent all of last season on Minnesota's injured reserve list (ACL), remains with the Vikings. The team spokesman said Mozes stuck around during the offseason and will be participating in preseason and mini camps.

And finally . . .

Another Viking tidbit to chew on as you go about your day.

Minnesota went out and signed Gus Frerotte in the offseason. You read correctly: Gus Frerotte. The 14-year veteran. The one with the career 74.3 passer rating.

Sadly for the Vikes, that rating is almost four points better than that of last season's starter, Tarvaris Jackson.

Look for a John David Booty in a Metrodome near you some day soon.

To contact sports editor Mitch Vingle, send e-mail to mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or call 348-4827.