DEVELOPING: Stewart Discussions Today In Morgantown ((UPDATED: Stewart's Gone))

((HT: Charleston Gazette/Hickman))

Current-soon-to-be-ex West By Gawd Virginia head football coach Bill Stewart and his new attorney, Michael Benninger, seem to be discussing some kind of exit.

The points of contention come from Hickman's article:

When Stewart was allowed to stay on for another year, it was done by way of a letter as an attachment to his revised contract, stipulating that he would coach the 2011 season, it was to be at his originally-agreed-upon (in 2008) salary of roughly $1 million.

But there is also a clause in the December agreement that says if Stewart is asked to coach in 2011 and then is terminated at any time during the 2011 season -- and this would presumably count as during that season -- the university shall pay him the aforementioned amounts (the $750,000 and $375,000, or a total of $1.125 million).

This has gone from sad to downright creepy with all the backdoor tactics of a Nixonian dirty tricks campaign as Stewart allegedly tried to have reporters paint coach-in-waiting Dana Holgorsen in the worst light possible so Stewart could stay employed longer than his amended contract... and, at the same time, kinda give an amended "FU" to the higher-ups in Morgantown for kicking Stewart out the door in the first place... somewhat occupationally prematurely...

But Athletics Directors are good at that these days...

Yeesh...the Watergate burglars would be proud of this one...

This tune should sum it all up...


UPDATE:

Bill Stewart's new attorney Michael Benninger confirmed to WVMetronews.com that he will meet with WVU lawyers concerning Stewart's future with the University. Whether that process involves a buyout is unknown.

"We are now engaged in a meaningful process,” Benninger said of the upcoming meeting with University lawyers. “Bill is interested in doing what is best for his family and the University,”

PM UPDATE: He's gone... and by "he" we mean Stewart...

Here's Oliver Luck introducing Holgorsen as head coach, thanks to our friends at WVIllustrated...

Geoff Coyle was there for WVI, and Luck was not really a happy man...

“I think the one thing you don’t want around any program are distractions,” said Luck. “I think the totality of the circumstances, the totality of all the innuendo and other things that were being said and the distractions that I believed would not come to a close prompted me to sit down with Coach Stewart and discuss these issues in a very frank and candid manner.”

Luck Running Stewart Out Of West Virginia?

[HT: The Sporting News]

Matt Hayes at sportingnews.com is reporting that a source close to the situation says West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck is negotiating a buyout with Mountaineer head coach Bill Stewart and thus the head coach in waiting tag would be removed from Dana Holgorsen and the gig would be his for 2011.

You can read Hayes's story RIGHT HERE

In a text message Luck responded with a no comment back to sportingnews.com.

WV Illustrated.com is also citing multiple sources confirming that buyout negotiations are underway. Which means both stories have some merit. The buyout numbers are supposedly in the $650,000 to $800,000 range.

The story from Scott Grayson and wvillustrated.com RIGHT HERE

Those of us in the OSG HQ believe that something will go down and Bill Stewart will out by Friday. Holgorsen is Oliver Luck's guy and Luck is sticking his neck out for the soon to be WVU head coach.

The "Luck" Of The Mountaineers

Bill Stewart

What is it about family feuds and West Virginia? This one involving the Stewarts (WVU head coach Bill and his wife), the Holgorsen's (WVU head coach in waiting Dana) is proving to be a damn good soap oprea.

There is even spectulation that West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck could just wipe the slate clean and get rid of Bill Stewart and Dana Holgorsen and bring back RichRod.

Read the CBSSports.com story RIGHT HERE

Tuesday West Virginia A.D. Oliver Luck released this statement regarding the whole mess within the Mountaineer football program.

“There have been various reports, much speculation, and rumor around our football program and coaches. But I want to make it clear that I consider these to be personnel matters and while I take them very seriously, I am dealing with them internally and privately – and I will not discuss them publically.

“What I will say is that our athletic department coaches and staff are clear that their focus is on the program, the team and a successful season.

“My expectations of all our coaches and staff have not wavered; that is to run a clean and honest program with the utmost integrity and professionalism. Anything less is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Pittsburgh reporter: Stewart wanted dirt on Holgorsen

Bill Stewart

Sigh...

Are we sure we are talking about grown-ups here? According to Colin Dunlap, a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he was approached and asked by West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart to see if he could "dig up some dirt" on his heir apparent, Dana Holgorsen.

The reveal came during an interview on Pittsburgh radio station 93.7, the Fan late Monday night. Dunlap told the station Stewart said to him "You need to dig up this dirt, you need to get it out on this guy" in a phone call.

This comes on the heels of yesterday's reports that Stewart--or his wife planted reports about Holgorsen allegedly having an alcohol issue in two West Virginia newspapers.

This is a story that appears to have a some legs and will keep developing. We're afraid its going to get even uglier for the people involved. Wisely, Holgorsen is keeping a low profile and hasn't publicly commented on this. He shouldn't. It's just going to feed the machine. He needs to let it play out and what happens, happens. After it does, he can speak his mind.

Here is the interview, Courtesy: KDKA The Fan radio/SportsbyBrooks--


CREDIT: KDKA-FM PITTBURGH by sportsxbrooks

Was Holgorsen story a plant by current coach Bill Stewart?

Bill Stewart

((ht: smokingmusket.com))

**Update**--WVU is now investigating this "incident" and has put the exit contract Bill Stewart on hold until it is resolved.

Hmmm. If it was, we may have been a bit of a victim to it as well. Though we did attribute the report to the reporters in question. A couple of the comments, if what we are now reading is true, we probably shouldn't have made.

You can read the original story RIGHT HERE

It appears that there may be a few "Issues" in West Virginia surfacing from its coaching tree. Last week, we mentioned a report from the Huntington, West Virginia Herald-Dispatch and later forwarded by the Wheeling News-Register, laying out an apparent sequence of events showing that "Coach-in-waiting" Dana Holgorsen has a history of getting tossed from Casino's and bars.

WVU and the Charleston Daily-Mail refute the report RIGHT HERE

Some question has arisen about the accuracy of said report. According to a couple of Blogs in West Virginia, the tip on the story may have come from Holgorsen's current boss Bill Stewart.

Interesting.

Read the story from the Smoking Musket RIGHT HERE

According to the Musket, Stewart has been less than thrilled with the whole hiring of Holgorsen to replace him in 2012 thing. Which, about that, we question the process, as laid out by AD Oliver Luck too.

The question though is why? Why would Stewart try and sabotage Holgorsen like that? Why would he sabotage the integrity of the program like that? Why would he release that info to a couple of selected reporters? And why, if it isn't true, did those reporters, report it?

All legitimate questions. Questions someone needs to answer. For their part. West Virginia has vigorously denied most of the accusations against their coach in waiting, calling the allegations "Blatant Lies."

This is beginning to sound like the script from a soap opera or movie, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Here's Stewart after the Mountaineers Spring Game--thanks WVU:

Future West Va. coach Dana Holgersen: Alcoholic, problem or bad luck?

Dana Holgorsen/Courtesy: twifonline.com

((ht: herald-dispatch.com))

Hmmm. Future West Virginia head football coach Dana Holgorsen appears to have some baggage that's come along with him. According to the Huntington, West Virginia Herald-Dispatch, Holgorsen has been tossed from anywhere from 3 to 6 places in the past six months---for being drunk and disorderly.

Holgorsen was asked to leave the Mardi Gras Casino, May 18th after the Casino called police to help them remove an intoxicated customer who wouldn't leave. That customer was Holgorsen. No charges were filed, but apparently it wasn't the 1st time it's happened either.

According to the report, and a supplemental story from a Wheeling, West Virginia paper, Holgorsen has ben asked to leave 2 other Casino's this year for similar incidents. He's also been allegedly banned at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport and supposedly is not allowed at the bar at the Morgantown hotel that he's living at.

Read the Herald-Dispatch story RIGHT HERE

Holgorsen was hired in December to take over the West Virginia football program in 2012 from Bill Stewart. That unto itself was odd. Holgorsen will be the offensive coordinator in 2011, before taking the reins. He was given a 6-year, $14.25 million contract to do it.

It sounds like he's got a problem. And it's a problem that he better get taken care of...fast. After the Mardi Gras casino incident, he apparently released a statement saying "I will not put myself in that situation again."


As most people know, the 1st step in solving a drinking problem is admitting there is a problem. And while the evidence is a bit circumstantial, it sure sounds like that is what is happening here.

If Holgorsen doesn't make a drastic change, it's only a matter of time before his "Problem" will put him on the unemployment line.

Here is Holgorsen's introductory presser from December. Thanks WVU:

West Virginia Has A New Head Coach..... In 2012

The "head coach in waiting" title has become the new trend in college football. It worked out great for Florida State. Not so well for Texas and maybe Maryland where James Franklin and Vanderbilt are talking.

West Virginia has hired former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen as the Mountaineers head coach in waiting for 2011 then take over as head coach in 2012.

"I look forward to the opportunity to join West Virginia University as offensive coordinator for the 2011 season,” Holgorsen said in a statement released by the University.

“Naturally, I am excited about succeeding coach Stewart in 2012 and becoming the head coach of the Mountaineers and leading the West Virginia football program to even greater heights."

“My goal is to win a national championship at West Virginia University, and I firmly believe that coach Stewart has built a solid foundation, which will allow us to compete with the very best in the country."

Current head coach Bill Stewart has a lame duck year ahead of him after the Mountaineers play NC State in the Champs Sports Bowl.

"I look forward to having Coach Holgorsen join our staff and working with him to ensure a smooth transition in 2012." Stewart said in a University release.

Those of us in the OSG HQ see a disastrous 2011 season for West Virginia. Are the players going to see Bill Stewart as their leader? Will their be a tendency to go behind Stewart's back? Will their be disarray within the coaching staff?

I bring this up because their was a reason why Florida State was mediocre at best during the last two years of the Bobby Bowden era, it was the questions I bring up for West Virginia.

If you don't like Bill Stewart as your head coach pay the man and make the move now.

Check out Bill Stewart's "Leave No Doubt" speech before the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. (Thanks WilsonTigerFootball/Youtube.com)