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Rodriguez Fires Michigan Staff

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The Associated Press

Published: December 21, 2007

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Rich Rodriguez fired Michigan's assistant coaches Thursday, his second day as an employee of the school.

Rodriguez met with the coaches one by one at Schembechler Hall as retiring coach Lloyd Carr packed up his belongings in boxes, clearing space for his successor.

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin declined comment.

Carr will coach the Wolverines on Jan. 1 against Florida in the Capital One Bowl, then Rodriguez will take over.

But the former West Virginia coach put his mark on the program by firing each of Carr's assistants, all of whom were given two-year deals in March that will pay them through Feb. 28, 2009.

GOVERNOR BACKS WVU: Gov. Joe Manchin doesn't believe West Virginia University reneged on its promises to Rodriguez, which is what supporters of the former head coach say triggered his exit to the University of Michigan.

"All I've seen is mammoth improvements, tremendous improvements," Manchin said Thursday.

The governor cited the 70 percent boost to Rodriguez's pay, increased salaries for his coaching staff and a $2 million academic center for athletes.

"I don't know the intricacies of it. I'm speaking as a fan," Manchin said.

The governor earlier called on WVU to hold Rodriguez, a lifelong friend, to the $4 million buyout clause in its contract with him.

Since then, several wealthy donors to the school have alleged WVU let down its coach.

Manchin said Thursday that he doesn't care who pays.

"Whoever, I just want West Virginia to get the $4 million," the governor said. "If someone is generous enough to pay it, that's fine."

Rodriguez initially told WVU he planned to leave the day after the bowl game, but then announced he would not be coaching the bowl game and resigned Tuesday.

PATERNO TURNS 81: Joe Paterno's plans for his 81st birthday today sound about as ordinary as those rolled-up khakis and black sneakers he wears on the sideline.

As Paterno sticks to his late December routine of preparing Penn State for a bowl game, two familiar questions are in the air again in Happy Valley: How much longer will he coach, and who replaces JoePa when he leaves?

"Hopefully, I'm not going to be a crotchety old man, and you know, not handle it," Paterno said when asked about his future at a news conference last week. "When it's time to go, go, right? ... I just feel so good right now. I hate to put a time frame on when I'm going to get out of here."

NORTH CAROLINA: Three people have been charged with robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping of three North Carolina football players.

Police said the players were attacked early Sunday at their off-campus apartment. Police said they were bound with tape before they were assaulted, and one of those charged threatened the players with a knife.

Authorities have charged Monique Jenice Taylor, Tnika Monta Washington, and Michael Troy Lewis with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and one count of resisting arrest.

Taylor and Washington are also charged with one count of first-degree sexual offense.

OHIO STATE: Backup cornerback Eugene Clifford will not play in the BCS national championship game against LSU after being suspended Thursday for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Columbus station WCMH-TV and The Columbus Dispatch reported earlier that Clifford, a freshman, and starting cornerback Donald Washington had both been suspended for the game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

The school released a statement later stating only Clifford would be suspended. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith did not immediately return a message. Athletic department spokeswoman Shelly Poe said no further comment on the situation was expected.

Clifford was a prized recruit from Cincinnati's Colerain High School. He was listed as Malcolm Jenkins' backup at border corner on the Buckeyes' latest two-deep chart.

The top-ranked Buckeyes' final workout before the holidays was Wednesday. They will be off until Dec. 26, then practice for a week before flying to New Orleans on Jan. 2.

UCLA: Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow pulled his name from consideration for UCLA's head coaching job.

Chow interviewed for the job last weekend while in Kansas City, the night before the Titans' 26-17 victory against the Chiefs. He said he appreciated UCLA's interest and the chance to speak about the job.

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