Full Allegations Emerge on Rich Rodriguez's firing
EDITED (12:58PM)
By suggestion of other posters I have removed a college of excerpts which others felt trivialized the magnitude of the allegations.
I encourage all to read the full details before coming to their opinions. Appreciation goes to the others who have suggested ways to improve my post on this sensitive topic.
January 4th, 2018 at 1:49 PM ^
I think every Michigan fan should be happy he is no longer associated with the University of Michigan in any way, and this does help explain why it was that so many people inside Michigan had an instant revulsion to him on a personal level in a way that didn't really make a ton of sense to fans. A lot of things make a lot more sense now having read that.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:15 PM ^
This would seem to explain the apparent 180-degree turn on Lloyd Carr's part, from asking RichRod to take the job to hating his guts.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:27 PM ^
And so many people blamed Lloyd....
January 4th, 2018 at 1:48 PM ^
I'm just thankful it happen after he left here we don't need anymore negative shit
January 4th, 2018 at 1:48 PM ^
It seems she was not as talkative with others (her friends and family) about the specific incidents as other accusers have been - maybe the lack of corroboration is why the university deemed her not credible. If she was not complaining via text/ email to friends and family about the specific incidents, I am not sure what a jury will think. Yes, she has a couple emails, but that may not equal $7.5MM
January 4th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^
She chose to get a lawyer and file suit rather than cooperate with their internal investigation at all. And I see reason to do that, if she felt the level of power he had wielded was such than any internal investigation wouldn't be fair and honest.
Nobody's is under obligation to help their employer fix their own mistakes.
January 4th, 2018 at 1:54 PM ^
Especially after she tried to transfer departments to get away from him, and was blocked - by the employer.
January 5th, 2018 at 2:53 PM ^
the university allegedly blocked her internal transfer because it would piss off Rodriguez. If true the univeristy enabled the harassment and are on the hook for damages. $7.5 million may well be very high, but the university has at least as great a motivation to settle this as Rodriguez. If the allegations are true and provable my guess is low seven figures.
January 4th, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^
hope my dude signed a prenup
January 4th, 2018 at 1:51 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:31 PM ^
Zero credible argument the notice letter by itself constitutes an extortion attempt. For extortion to work as intended, the threat of doing something to a target or the target's relations is the basis for an extortionist's demands. Here, the claimant has already spilled the beans to law enforcement, the state and the university/employer. There's no means of extorting available anymore.
The Rodriguez attorneys may attempt to use the letter against the claimant. False claims, disparagement/defamation, breach of contract and abetting etc. Alone the letter is of little value to them.
It was wise for claimant to do this if her goal is to bring the accused to justice and, further, to pursue compensation for her injuries alleged.
0.02
January 4th, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
Others have given a good justification for the style, but I'd just like to point out that despite asking for $7.5m they couldn't pay $10 for a copyedit.
January 4th, 2018 at 3:13 PM ^
Why, I'd have to pay a copyeditor more than that. Whereas a junior associate will work for far less than $10 per 24 hours and I can bill that lawyer out for $400/hour for each of 25 hours each day. /s and upvoted
January 4th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
have trivialized the despicable and rehrensible actions of RR and his staff. I read the entire suit and it's details and that bastard deserves whatever hell he gets. No amount of money makes you feel better from emotional abuse from a superior at work.
I now hate to admit that Michigan ever thought hiring that ass-clown was a good idea.
January 4th, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^
You act like it's a final judgment, and not just a claim for damages. Do you believe in due process? I can almost guarantee this will be settled with no admission of guilt. Will that also make you believe that it happened, or maybe that none of it happened? Or maybe that there's some truth and some fabrication? I can't believe how naive some people are.
January 4th, 2018 at 1:59 PM ^
So much for the Leaders and Best across this thread... We can, and should do better when faced with issues of sexual assault, harassment, and intimidation. Any coach who fosters an environment like this should be fired.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:07 PM ^
That article made me sick to my stomach.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^
I thought RR was a creep from the minute I heard of him. Who leaves their alma mater when you're already making millions and a game out of winning the national championship. It is no wonder Michigan alum and community rejected him. Pro tip: don't hire guys with circles of trust, triangles of secrecy or any other illuminati shapes.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
If all allegations are true - what a shit head. 7.5M though? Dang. Seems like in those situations that ask for an absurd about of money and then typically seem to settle out of court for a more "reasonable" amount.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:15 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:23 PM ^
Yeah, and it's written that way to scare the shit out of RR, so he'll just pay up rather than drag it through the court system.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:40 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
But one thing we've learned about RR is that he doesn't like to pay up.
Something I've been trying to work out here: what leverage does the university have to get him to settle? They definitely don't want this to get dragged through the courts--what can they do to stop it? Is there any way they can use his buyout as a bargaining chip?
January 4th, 2018 at 5:53 PM ^
I can't see how they could, really. The only thing that comes to mind would be firing him without cause, I guess there is small potential that they worked that out privately, on the agreement that he'd pay a certain amount to settle. Possible, I guesss.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:20 PM ^
I've seen this over and over again in both business and government.
You get to a certain level of power and you begin to think the normal rules of society do not apply to you.
You are constantly surrounded by people that never tell you no, and will even cover for you.
The lack of checks and balances on power is the issue. And it does not matter if it is in business, government, entertainment, science, medicine, etc.
As the saying goes, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
What a fucking scumbag. I used to feel bad for the guy, but fuck him if even half of this is true.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
In most cases it doesn't (still)
January 4th, 2018 at 2:30 PM ^
...it's also clear that RR was and is a scumbag. We (Michigan) were fortunate that stretchgate wasn't something more serious with major consequences. We were also fortunate that RR was such an obviously bad coach at Michigan that he was fired after 3 years with the only lasting damage being the product on the field (ie. no lasting culture damage). We're also fortunate--believe it or not--that someone with the values and integrity of Brady Hoke followed RR and began turning the ship around. It's too bad (of course) that Hoke wasn't a better coach, although since it's all hindsight, his failure as well as the firing of DB led to the hiring of double JH's (Hackett and Harbaugh). I think RR is a textbook narcissist who could care less about other's feelings or experiences. He's all about his own interests and not much else. He was at Arizona twice as long as in Ann Arbor and was able to create and defend his kingdom. Now it's come crashing down and I'll bet it's his last college head coaching job. The broader culture will prohibit an AD from hiring him. If the prospect of hiring an apparently decent guy like Schiano--with no evidence of wrongdoing--can incite a fanbase to react the way Tennessee's did then just imagine the reaction of a fanbase when RR's name gets floated. He's toast at the college level and presumably as a TV analyst too. Maybe an NFL team gives him a shot? I hope not.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:30 PM ^
While these allegations are disgusting, and Rodriguez is despicable, I wish she had left/brought this up sooner. It's time for women to say no at the first sign of harrassment or intimidation. As a woman in advertising, I experienced low-level stuff - nothing like this - but still bad enough to make me feel very uncomfortable. At the time, I was young and didn't want to rock the boat. I loved my job. But today, I would take the guy on. Fear of lawsuits is enough to make companies take you seriously, so if a guy pushes back or threatens to fire you, just threaten to sue. Ladies, it's time to step up and speak out. Take shit from no one!
January 4th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:45 PM ^
...but I understand her position. Her daughter was in school there and it sounds like that might not have been possible without the tuition reduction she got as an employee's daughter. She tried more than once to transfer within the university and they wouldn't let her; she complained to HR and they brushed her off.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:52 PM ^
Um, she did all of those things. She tried to transfer departments, and was shot down. She was powerless in a toxic workplace environment that thrived off of something called the "Triangle of Secrecy" The timeline on this stuff leads all the way into 2017. It's not like she waited for years on this. Blaming her for not speaking up is disingenous.
January 4th, 2018 at 4:18 PM ^
I'm not blaming her. I'm saying from here on, women need to stop taking even a little shit. I know you're coming from a good place but this issue isn't black and white for women. Trust me, as a woman who was in advertising, a notorious bad boys club, I and my female comrades have been through a lot, but there is a certain generational shift in how women see this issue. In fact, there was an op ed in the NYT about this a few days ago. Today, many women wonder why should they have to change, or take charge of the change, in men's behavior. Shouldn't the men be responsible for that? My cronies graduated from the "I'll do it myself" school. Hence, my mindset. It's more of a fight back attitude.
No matter what, you are not stuck. The alternative - quitting your job - might suck and might be unfair. But no amount of stress-induced, marriage-wrecking anxiety is worth keeping a job where you're mistreated. Hopefully the climate is changing so women will feel empowered to have zero tolerance.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:59 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
I'm not talking about suing. This is more about getting yourself out of the situation itself. Don't wait. The only reason I bring up suing is because I think companies are more willing to listen for fear of being sued. So women shouldn't be afraid to speak up. I'm not advocating a lawsuit; it's just leverage if the company wants to brush things under the rug.
January 4th, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^
Things escalate and there are always major consequences for the victim as well.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
to think I cheered that guy on. What a douche, assuming even half of what's in there is true.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
January 4th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
Even if the harrassment allegations are false, there's enough other stuff there to make me not like the guy and be happy he's not our coach.
January 4th, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
lawyer describes in this letter, RR is a much bigger creep than I ever imagined. It's pretty much a textbook example of how someone in a leadership position creates a toxic work atmosphere of harassment, assault, and degradation. This is likely the end of RichRod professionally. He'll be lucky to every coach at any level ever again. I can't imagine any high school or college would want to risk bringing him in.