Former West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez's deposition in his ongoing lawsuit against West Virginia University has been released.

Officials made the 331 page testimony available for the first time today.

The Rodriguez deposition, which took place on April 21 in Romulus, Michigan, is the second of many which will be released over the next several weeks.  The deposition of West Virginia University Athletic Director Ed Pastilong was released last week.

Highlights from the Rodriguez deposition.

 --Rodriguez says he was being told “over and over” again that “things would change, things would be better” for him after Mike Garrison became President.   Instead of getting better, however, he says the strain between him, the administration and the athletic department actually got worse.

 --Rodriguez says he was told months before Garrison was hired that he was going to be the new President.  Rodriguez said he talked to Board of Governors members Steve Farmer and Drew Payne about Garrison.  Rodriguez said of Farmer, “I felt he had great influence, in particular, because he told me months before President Garrison was elected that he was going to be the next President of West Virginia.”

 --Rodriguez says he was reluctant to sign the new contract in August, 2007 with a $4 million buyout because he was uncertain and thought that WVU would lose its “sense of urgency” to accomplish some of the things he wanted done, especially if WVU had him “hostage” with the buyout.

 --Rodriguez admitted that Michigan offered a $2 million buyout, but he asked that it be raised to $4 million. 

Click here to read part one of the Rodriguez deposition.

Click here to read part two of the Rodriguez deposition.

Click here to read part three of the Rodriguez deposition.