Allow me a few moments and I'll explain how rumors not only get started, but take flight.
Unfounded rumors, that is. If you're an elder, you might even pass this on to your kids in hopes they'll tread carefully in this barrage era of social media.
Now, if you're a WVU fan with your ear to the ground or, more correctly, your eyes to the Internet, you probably have seen the latest rumor involving the possible ouster of Mountaineer Dana Holgorsen.
Evan Massey, a Fox Sports contributor and writer at Campus Sports Net, recently quoted a report that read, "Major donors in WV have 'escorted' WVU AD [Shane] Lyons to Arizona on private jets twice since WVU entered the death stretch of losses in October. They are already quietly raising the money to pay out Holgorsen's contract and [Rich] Rodriguez's buyout in [Arizona]. The only catch is [Virginia Tech] AD Whit Babcock, who is a long time [Rich Rodriguez] confidant. Either way, looks like RR is back east in '16."
It pains me to even address such a "report," but I shall because of the aforementioned social-media crazed world in which we live.
"I'm not sure where this stuff started," Lyons told the Gazette-Mail. "No, there's nothing to it. Nothing."
There is, however, a reason all of the above started. It's twisted - as much is on the Internet - but it's somewhat understandable.
See, Lyons is planning a trip _ scheduled since the end of August _ to Arizona. It's not to see Rodriguez, though. It's with associate AD Matt Borman to see one of WVU's contributors. Lyons wouldn't reveal the name of the contributor, but it's not difficult to guess it is Ken Kendrick, the owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and one of the Mountaineers' finest backers. Lyons did say the trip was in hopes of facilities expansion donations.
But...
"It has nothing even remotely to do with [Rodriguez]," Lyons said.
One can imagine how the rumor was pieced together. Kendrick was a Rodriguez backer back in the day. The flight is scheduled to Arizona, where Rich Rod is the head coach.
In this case, however, it's coincidence. The trip has been planned since August. Also, Kendrick has been good to WVU in the past. He contributed so a Hot Rod Hundley statue can join that of Jerry West outside the Coliseum. He's both provided athletic funding and declined to do so in the past. Both will probably happen again.
One, however, needs to put this hot rumor on ice.
n n n
WVU has been working on athletic facility improvements and Lyons said his department is "getting very close" to an announcement updating all on the progress.
"Probably at the end of next month or the first of December," Lyons said.
The Mountaineer athletic department will "roll out in one big package" news of the improvements being done to Puskar Stadium, the Coliseum, the Olympic sports weight room and the Shell building.
Lyons said about $90 million in projects are underway. He estimated about $50 million worth of improvements are going on at the football stadium. Expanding the concourse and adding rest rooms and concession stands at the Coliseum will cost $15-16 million. The other projects will eat up the rest of the money.
"With the stadium," Lyons said, "all is going as planned. We'll finish the East and North sides. We're finishing the practice fields. Before the 2017 season, we'll finish the West side with rest rooms and graphics. We'll replace the turf and eliminate the crown."
He said the mild weather of late has helped.
n n n
And finally...
It's always nice to be Texas. At least the University of Texas. At least in regard to athletic funding.
At the end of last week, a report came out that UT and Nike had reached a 15-year licensing and apparel deal that will approach $200 million for the school. The deal still had to be approved by the school's regents. (Uh, the guess is that'll be done post haste.)
"Our deal with Nike is around $199 million," Lyons deadpanned.
In truth, WVU has one with the company that averages around $3.9 million per year through 2025, according to the AD.
"The Texas deal is not just apparel, but licensing," Lyons said. "It's a unique deal. But believe me, we'd like to have that deal."