Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Media & Entertainment Law Blogs -> Sports Biz

Media & Entertainment Law

: Sports Biz

WVU Sues Rodriguez for $4 Million Buyout

By Mark

Rich Rodriguez began work as Michigan's new football coach today watching the Big Blue practice for their upcoming Capital One Bowl appearance against Florida. Back home in West Virginia, his former employer was busy too. Busy filing suit to collect $4 million which WVU alleges that Rod owes pursuant to the terms of his contract as a buyout to leave West Virginia to take the job at Michigan. Under the terms of his contract, he was to pay the $4 million in two payments over two years, the first due in 30 days following the termination of his contract.

WVU alleges that Coach Rod has no intention of making the payments and has anticipatorily breached the contract. Rodriguez, I expect, will claim that West Virgina failed to live up to promises made to him last year when he turned down Alabama to stay in Morgantown. If this case is not settled, as would be likely, anticipate the court hearings to be brutal. I don't think the WVU administration will want Rodriguez on the stand testifying under oath to all of the promises made to him to induce him to stay - it could prove embarrassing. Expect a settlement.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on December 27, 2007 (boomark / email).