Among the 34 head football coaches in West Virginia University history,

Rich Rodriguez continues to be the most polarizing and there's not even a close second.

It's been nearly 12 years now since he left West Virginia.

Using the word left is probably better than using resigned or departed left best describes how it all took place here

right now and then gone on sunday afternoon december the 16th 2007 rich rodriguez told his team

that he was taking the head coaching job at the university of michigan and he left right then and there

the very next day he was at a

podium in Ann Arbor being introduced as the replacement to retiring coach Lloyd Carr

Rich's departure ignited a cauldron of emotions the mountaineer's shocking loss to

Pitt had taken place just 15 days earlier. Leaving for Michigan

was pouring gas on an already burning fire. No matter how you look at it, it did not

end well. But like all things, time passes. Wounds heal for some but not for

everyone. The homegrown mountaineer who re-energized the program

and led it to eight or more wins in six of his seven seasons and double-digit wins in his

last three years mishandled his exit and he knows it and he regrets it. It is just one of the topics

we discuss on this episode of three guys before the game.

We also talk about what made him so angry in his final days at WVU. Why the Michigan job

didn't work, and yes, the pit game, that pit game, the one that no matter how many more games,

Rich Rodriguez will eventually win, it will

never leave him.

Episode 124 of three guys before the game with Rich Rodriguez is brought to you by Incova Insurance,

formerly Motorist's Insurance Group and Brick Street Insurance.

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