Relatives of coach Rich Rodriguez face harassment, threats, his mother says

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 receive

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.

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.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.