West Virginia players, officials react to Rodriguez's departure

Gov. Joe Manchin blamed the involvement of what he termed "high-priced agents" in college sports.

"I have known Rich for most of his life, from a boy whose only wish was to play football at WVU to a young man whose only wish was to coach at WVU," Manchin said in a statement. "His dreams came true and he brought back with him to West Virginia a love and a loyalty for our state that I though would never change."

Agents, however, have turned Rodriguez's dreams "into just another back-room business deal," Manchin said. "Something is wrong with the profession of college coaching today when a leader's word is no longer his bond."

Athletic director Ed Pastilong didn't immediately return a telephone message Sunday.

"You've got to do what you've got to do sometimes," fullback Owen Schmitt said. "He did all he could for us. As far as I know he did a lot of great things for this university."

West Virginia went through a similar wringer a year ago, when Alabama courted Rodriguez.

After several days, Rodriguez turned down Alabama's reported six-year, $12 million offer after the Mountaineers gave him a one-year contract extension through the 2013 season.

The new contract doubled Rodriguez's buyout clause to $4 million.

When Michigan lured Beilein away, his West Virginia contract had a $2.5 million buyout clause. Under an agreement with West Virginia, he agreed to pay $1.5 million to the WVU Foundation.