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Mom: Rodriguez family suffers threats, insults

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West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez, new head coach of Michigan Wolverines

West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez speaks to the media during a morning press conference at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday morning, Dec. 15, 2007 in Morganton, W.Va. (AP Photo/The Dominion Post, Jason DeProspero)

By Beth Boehne

GRANT TOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Relatives of Rich Rodriguez have been harassed and threatened in the three weeks since his resignation as West Virginia football coach.

His mother, Arleen Rodriguez, told the Charleston Daily Mail her teenage grandson received a death threat and found other harassing notes taped to his locker at East Fairmont High School. Arleen said her 12-year-old granddaughter had to be escorted to classes.

Mountaineer fans furious over Rodriguez's Dec. 16 decision to accept the coaching job at Michigan also vandalized his home near Morgantown, hanging signs on a fence and tossing a mailbox in the yard.

"He put seven years into WVU and now everybody thinks he's garbage," his mother said. "Think like a parent. That's all I can say. Think about it. Think about what you're doing."

The backlash has been even more venomous on the Facebook social networking site, where dozens of groups with profanity-laced names have formed, devoted to wishing ill for Rodriguez and his family.

A similar but short-lived fury boiled up last month against Mountaineer kicker Pat McAfee, who received angry text messages and had his car vandalized after missing two field goals in West Virginia's 13-9 loss to Pitt. The loss knocked WVU out of national championship contention, but the team went on without Rodriguez to beat Oklahoma at the Fiesta Bowl.

Several wealthy football boosters claim there was behind-the-scenes tension between Rodriguez and the WVU administration, but the coach has yet to publicly discuss the matter.

"I don't think he felt wanted at WVU anymore," his mother said.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 8:49 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I use to be a wvu fan since I grew up in West Virginia, but I switched several years ago because the fans are idiots, stuff like this and things like burning couches after big night games and heckling other fans and players, no class at all, couldn't be associated with it, Rich wanted to move on, should we threaten everyone who get a different job the rest of their life, I would really have to reconsider taking that job if I were picked to coach the mountaineers. I don't like anything about WVU.

Friday, Jan 11 at 8:46 AM Traci wrote ...

I agree with the statement above-it is only football. What if one of these zealot fans had actually hurt someone ...no one stops to think before they act like an idiot.

Wednesday, Jan 9 at 3:52 PM George wrote ...

Are you kidding me? If true, what a bunch of losers at WVU.

Wednesday, Jan 9 at 1:47 PM Riffle wrote ...

You need to look at Coach Rod's record. While at WVU he was 39-4 agianst teams with a .500 record or worse (Teams they should have beat). Only 21-22 agianst teams with winning records. He never won a big game until Pat White showed up. You all know that as an outsider, not from Mich. or an Alum, when he dosen't win, you'll get rid of him. Good luck with a coach who isn't what you think you hired!

Wednesday, Jan 9 at 12:36 PM Big-10 fan! wrote ...

This proves brains have become optional. When did violence become the answer to everything? I am a season ticket holder who drives 200 miles each home game to see my team but death threats over a loss? Get over it! IT IS ONLY A GAME no matter how seriously you take it. I do, however, feel that he should have stayed with the team until they finished the season. I was very glad that they won the bowl game without him. Coach Carr is a class act; this guy...?

Wednesday, Jan 9 at 10:11 AM Ron wrote ...

The same thing happened to me when I changed fast food jobs. The pressure is tremendous and when somebody offers you a .25 per hour raise, it's hard to turn down. The worst part was when I promoted a sandwich my new employer didn't make.

Wednesday, Jan 9 at 8:01 AM Anne wrote ...

This is sad. It's only football people. This man felt it was time to move on.

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