Post by cviller on Jan 31, 2008 10:59:27 GMT -5
WVU lawyers begin negotiating for payback of buyout
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sportswriter
MORGANTOWN - Lawyers for West Virginia University and former football Coach Rich Rodriguez have begun negotiations regarding the buyout in Rodriguez's final contract.
The discussions, which began Monday, do not involve the amount of money Rodriguez is to pay WVU, but how and when the sum is to be paid, according to WVU co-counsel Jeff Wakefield, of the Charleston firm Flaherty, Sensabaugh & Bonasso.
"The only discussions that have occurred were with Mr. Rodriguez's attorneys and we indicated we may be willing to discuss with them the method and manner in which he pays the $4 million," Wakefield said. "Any resolution to that matter would include Mr. Rodriguez paying $4 million."
Sean McGinley, the Rodriguez attorney with whom WVU has spoken, did not return a message.
WVU is suing Rodriguez for the buyout amount and claims he breached the contract by failing to pay one-third of the total within 30 days of his resignation. Rodriguez challenged the buyout and questioned the validity of the contract. He said he was pressured into signing and that he was promised by WVU President Mike Garrison the buyout would be reduced or removed.
However, Rodriguez filed a $1.5 million letter of credit Monday saying he was willing to pay that sum. His agent, Mike Brown, called it a "good faith effort to move the process and communication lines forward so all parties can concentrate on their future endeavors."
That process for WVU includes no plans to reduce the buyout and just considerations to work with Rodriguez to allow him to pay the money in a matter more to his liking.
"We maintain Mr. Rodriguez owes West Virginia $4 million," Wakefield said. "We'd certainly be open to discussions with Mr. Rodriguez and his representatives about the method of payment or a schedule of payment, but any discussion with them would have to center around the payment of the $4 million."
Last April, former men's basketball Coach John Beilein reached an agreement with WVU regarding his buyout. He and his lawyer, Wheeling's Bob Fitzsimmons, who is working for WVU in its case against Rodriguez, shaved $1 million off the original $2.5 million. Beilein will make the first of five $300,000 payments to the WVU Foundation in April.
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JORGE WRIGHT, a defensive lineman from Miami's Dr. Michael Krop High School, gave a verbal commitment to WVU football Coach Bill Stewart Sunday. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound end is the 17th signed or verbal commitment to the Mountaineers' recruiting class.
Wright was on campus last weekend for an official visit. He had 18 sacks as a senior and is the seventh defensive lineman prospect to join the recruiting class. Wright chose WVU over Central Florida, Auburn and Tennessee.
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sportswriter
MORGANTOWN - Lawyers for West Virginia University and former football Coach Rich Rodriguez have begun negotiations regarding the buyout in Rodriguez's final contract.
The discussions, which began Monday, do not involve the amount of money Rodriguez is to pay WVU, but how and when the sum is to be paid, according to WVU co-counsel Jeff Wakefield, of the Charleston firm Flaherty, Sensabaugh & Bonasso.
"The only discussions that have occurred were with Mr. Rodriguez's attorneys and we indicated we may be willing to discuss with them the method and manner in which he pays the $4 million," Wakefield said. "Any resolution to that matter would include Mr. Rodriguez paying $4 million."
Sean McGinley, the Rodriguez attorney with whom WVU has spoken, did not return a message.
WVU is suing Rodriguez for the buyout amount and claims he breached the contract by failing to pay one-third of the total within 30 days of his resignation. Rodriguez challenged the buyout and questioned the validity of the contract. He said he was pressured into signing and that he was promised by WVU President Mike Garrison the buyout would be reduced or removed.
However, Rodriguez filed a $1.5 million letter of credit Monday saying he was willing to pay that sum. His agent, Mike Brown, called it a "good faith effort to move the process and communication lines forward so all parties can concentrate on their future endeavors."
That process for WVU includes no plans to reduce the buyout and just considerations to work with Rodriguez to allow him to pay the money in a matter more to his liking.
"We maintain Mr. Rodriguez owes West Virginia $4 million," Wakefield said. "We'd certainly be open to discussions with Mr. Rodriguez and his representatives about the method of payment or a schedule of payment, but any discussion with them would have to center around the payment of the $4 million."
Last April, former men's basketball Coach John Beilein reached an agreement with WVU regarding his buyout. He and his lawyer, Wheeling's Bob Fitzsimmons, who is working for WVU in its case against Rodriguez, shaved $1 million off the original $2.5 million. Beilein will make the first of five $300,000 payments to the WVU Foundation in April.
n n n
JORGE WRIGHT, a defensive lineman from Miami's Dr. Michael Krop High School, gave a verbal commitment to WVU football Coach Bill Stewart Sunday. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound end is the 17th signed or verbal commitment to the Mountaineers' recruiting class.
Wright was on campus last weekend for an official visit. He had 18 sacks as a senior and is the seventh defensive lineman prospect to join the recruiting class. Wright chose WVU over Central Florida, Auburn and Tennessee.