Rich Rodriguez's agent, Mike Brown, is next in line to be deposed in the highly charged lawsuit between West Virginia University and its former football coach, now serving the University of Michigan.
Rich Rodriguez's agent, Mike Brown, is next in line to be deposed in the highly charged lawsuit between West Virginia University and its former football coach, now serving the University of Michigan.
According to WVU lawyer Tom Flaherty, Brown will be deposed Friday in Toledo, Ohio.
WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong and Rodriguez have already been deposed. Flaherty said he's received a draft of the Rodriguez interview, but is awaiting a final transcript.
Meanwhile, the transcript of Pastilong's deposition has been made available.
West Virginia University president Mike Garrison is to be deposed June 12, while his chief of staff, Craig Walker, is set for June 11.
"We're doing depositions and discovery," said Flaherty's associate, Jeff Wakefield. "They've had Ed Pastilong and we've had Rich Rodriguez. We'll continue with that.
"Also, both sides have submitted deadline requests. We've called for all discovery to be completed by the middle of August and file motions in September. We'd like to have a hearing in October and get this resolved.
"The other side, though, has asked for a longer discovery period, which would take us to the beginning of next year."
Wakefield said WVU has offered the dates of June 9 and 10 for Rodriguez's lawyers to depose witnesses like associate athletic director Mike Parsons, chairman of the Board of Governors Steve Goodwin as well as fellow Board members Steve Farmer and Drew Payne.
WVU is looking for dates to depose Rita Rodriguez, the coach's wife, and Mike Wilcox, the coach's financial advisor, in addition to Brown.
Flaherty said the depositions of Pastilong and Rodriguez took approximately eight hours apiece.
Within the Pastilong testimony:
The athletic director said he did not hear any promises made by Garrison to Rodriguez in regard to the football coach's contract.
When asked about damages to WVU's football program since Rodriguez's departure, the AD cited the losses of standout players Steve Slaton and Darius Reynaud, both of whom left a year early for the NFL, pledges from donors Ken Kendrick and Don Reynolds, an overlap in paying two assistant coaching staffs and other pledges from donors.Rich Rodriguez's agent, Mike Brown, is next in line to be deposed in the highly charged lawsuit between West Virginia University and its former football coach, now serving the University of Michigan.
According to WVU lawyer Tom Flaherty, Brown will be deposed Friday in Toledo, Ohio.
WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong and Rodriguez have already been deposed. Flaherty said he's received a draft of the Rodriguez interview, but is awaiting a final transcript.
Meanwhile, the transcript of Pastilong's deposition has been made available.
West Virginia University president Mike Garrison is to be deposed June 12, while his chief of staff, Craig Walker, is set for June 11.
"We're doing depositions and discovery," said Flaherty's associate, Jeff Wakefield. "They've had Ed Pastilong and we've had Rich Rodriguez. We'll continue with that.
"Also, both sides have submitted deadline requests. We've called for all discovery to be completed by the middle of August and file motions in September. We'd like to have a hearing in October and get this resolved.
"The other side, though, has asked for a longer discovery period, which would take us to the beginning of next year."
Wakefield said WVU has offered the dates of June 9 and 10 for Rodriguez's lawyers to depose witnesses like associate athletic director Mike Parsons, chairman of the Board of Governors Steve Goodwin as well as fellow Board members Steve Farmer and Drew Payne.
WVU is looking for dates to depose Rita Rodriguez, the coach's wife, and Mike Wilcox, the coach's financial advisor, in addition to Brown.
Flaherty said the depositions of Pastilong and Rodriguez took approximately eight hours apiece.
Within the Pastilong testimony:
The athletic director said he did not hear any promises made by Garrison to Rodriguez in regard to the football coach's contract.
When asked about damages to WVU's football program since Rodriguez's departure, the AD cited the losses of standout players Steve Slaton and Darius Reynaud, both of whom left a year early for the NFL, pledges from donors Ken Kendrick and Don Reynolds, an overlap in paying two assistant coaching staffs and other pledges from donors.
The athletic director said he did not - nor did he know of anyone within the athletic department who did - help former Mountaineer Athletic Club administrator Larry Aschebrook land a job at Arizona State. Aschebrook has been a central figure in charges leveled by ex-WVU assistant coach Calvin Magee concerning racism.
Pastlilong called Rodriguez a friend and an outstanding coach and employee.
Rodriguez lawyer Marv Robon, meanwhile, indicated via the deposition that ex-WVU administrator Whit Babcock would testify that the $4 million buyout figure for which the school is suing was intended as a penalty to prevent Rodriguez from leaving.
Also, Robon submitted an exhibit of a letter written from Rodriguez to Pastilong on Jan. 10, after the coach had left for Michigan.
"Mike Garrison stated he did not believe in buyouts and that if I wanted to leave 'the buyout would be reduced to $2 million or eliminated altogether.' "
Pastilong said he didn't respond and turned that letter over to the school's legal department.
Robon also said ex-Mountaineer video coordinator Dusty Rutledge "overheard the conversation between President Garrison and Coach Rodriguez on Sept. 15, 2007'' in which promises were allegedly made.
In addition, the Rodriguez lawyer asked Pastilong if Gov. Joe Manchin spoke to Central Michigan coach Butch Jones about replacing Rodriguez. The AD said he didn't know. The governor had said he was not involved in the hiring process.
In other notes, Pastilong could cost Mountain State native and Florida State coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher a $2.5 million buyout by saying under oath that "following Rich's official resignation I had telephone conversations with Jimbo Fisher.'' T.K. Wetherell, FSU's president, said at the time that Fisher's contract stipulates he can't even talk to other schools about a job.
Robon apparently was confused when he asked Pastilong if "people blame [associate AD] Mike Parsons for Bobby Huggins leaving?'' Huggins is the school's basketball coach.
Robon and Flaherty also provided humor via the deposition.
"So we got two presidents in a row, that are lawyers. ... I think I want to move down here, I might get a job," said Robon.
"I wouldn't count on it," said Flaherty.
To contact sports editor Mitch Vingle, use e-mail or call 348-4827.
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