Former West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez says the rumors that he may have removed or destroyed Mountaineer player files are all lies.

In an interview with Ohio's Toledo Blade, Rodriguez said he only removed personal papers from his office at WVU.

He told the newspaper that the rumors about him erasing player files is the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard. He says the people spreading that story are just trying to smear his name.

Files from the coach's office were discovered missing after the team returned from the January 2 Fiesta Bowl, which Rodriguez did not coach in.

WVU officials are still trying to determine the scope and importance of the missing documents, but say the academic records of the players are secure because they're maintained in another location.

After Rodriguez left for Michigan last month, WVU sued him to collect on a $4-million buyout clause in his contract. Wednesday, the case was transferred from Monongalia County Circuit Court to U.S. District Court in Clarksburg.

Rodriguez' attorney, Marv Robon, says there's no way his client could have gotten a fair jury trial in Morgantown.