West Virginia University is defending itself from boosters who are furious over the administration's failure to offer football coach Rich Rodriguez a deal to stay.

Attorney Stephen Goodwin is chairman of WVU's Board of Governors. He says the administration appreciates the donors but cannot let them decide how the university is run.

He says the board went to the ends of the earth to try to retain Rodriguez, and has confidence in athletic director Ed Pastilong and university President Mike Garrison.

Rodriguez was named head coach at Michigan this week after seven seasons in Morgantown.

Several WVU boosters told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Tuesday that the school made the worst business decision they've ever seen.

The boosters say they should have been asked to help broker a last-minute deal.