ESPN Big Ten Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The case that has shadowed Rich Rodriguez ever since he became Michigan's coach appears to be over. West Virginia will pocket $4 million from its former favorite son, allowing Rodriguez the chance to close the book on a painful departure from his former employer. The Detroit News has a good synopsis of the saga.

This obviously wasn't the outcome Rodriguez had hoped for after being sued by WVU for breaking his contract in December. Remember what he said earlier:

"We have to do what we feel is right. It's been more painful doing it that way. We've got to do what's right, and we feel for us (this is right). It would have been a heck of a lot easier not to go through this, wouldn't it? It's distracting. . . .It's certainly not easy on my family. But we're doing what we think is right."

But the prospect of avoiding a trial and having his new bosses -- athletic director Bill Martin and university president Mary Sue Coleman -- give depositions in the case surely will provide some degree of relief to Rodriguez and the Michigan camp. The timing of the agreement, just before a ruling in Michigan on whether Martin and Coleman had to give depositions, suggests Rodriguez wanted this to finally go away. Now he can enter preseason camp without a major distraction.

My biggest question is whether West Virginians will finally let this go. One headline today read: "Rich Rod Will Pay!" A degree of bitterness is understandable, but a football coach leaving for a higher-profile job should never be the top news story in the state for months on end. There will no doubt be celebration today, but it's time for everyone, from Gov. Joe Manchin on down, to move on already.

I just talked with a university spokeswoman at Michigan. There should be a statement in the coming hours, so check back for updates.

UPDATE: As promised, university officials released a statement this afternoon saying that Michigan will handle $2.5 million of the amount owed by Rodriguez.