West Virginia fans went through this last year. Last December, as the Mountaineers prepared for the Gator Bowl, a few media outlets reported Rodriguez had “agreed in principle” to a six-year, $12 million offer to coach at Alabama. West Virginia boosters rallied and showed their financial support. The school extended his contract through 2013, hiking his salary from $1.1 million to almost $2 million a year.

At the time, it seemed to be a story of tremendous loyalty — a rarity these days in the coaching profession. West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin apparently was banking on that loyalty to last longer than one year.

“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 published by The Associated Press. “His dreams came true and he brought back with him to West Virginia a love and a loyalty for our state that I thought would never change.”

It really didn’t. He just got a better offer.

Back in July, Rodriguez said national attention should never be a hindrance to success. “If it doesn’t change how hard you work or who you are, what’s the big deal?” he said. He said he didn’t have any second thoughts about turning down Alabama, not like he did when he was an assistant at Clemson and rejected a chance to coach at Texas Tech.

“My lesson No. 1 has always been to do what you’re doing as passionately as you can, and enjoy the process,” he said.

He added that he had always built or bought a house in every location where he coached, a symbol of his commitment to that school. But when he got his contract extension last year, it included a $4 million buyout.

West Virginia fans probably feel betrayed today. It can’t help that Michigan successfully lured away Mountaineers basketball coach John Beilein last April. Around Morgantown, sports fans probably feel they are being used as a farm club for the Wolverines. That’s strange, but it’s mere coincidence and simply a sign of the times in coaching these days.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

On the other hand, Michigan fans are getting a fresh start with a coach who is young, energetic and extremely passionate. He is drastically different in comparison to the man he is replacing. Michigan will have to adjust, but so will Rodriguez. He left the comforts of home and now has the keys to one of college football’s vintage machines. The pressure just went up.

It may have been the toughest decision of his life, but Rodriguez knew he couldn’t say no. Not to Michigan. Not now.

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