Maybe, Maybe Not.
I honestly think most of the people cheering him, will be sarcastic cheers because him leaving allowed us to bring MR back. Sure WW did some good while here at VCU. Kept our NCAA Tourney streak alive and such.... but it's no secret of how much dislike there was for the guy.... He is not going to get the same reception that Shaka did.... No Chance.
Also, I'm not so sure about that. Sure Duquesne was/is a step up from Rice....however there were at least 2 huge factors that made MR pounce at the opportunity to come back to VCU.... 1. He knew VCU quite well, loved this fan base, loved this school, not to mention all the alums that he once coached who always come back at some point during their off seasons to work out & visit. 2. He knows the Richmond area very well, probably better than a lot of D1 coaches.... I mean heck, the man worked right up the road at Randolph Macon for like a decade before leaving and coming to VCU. I believe it's public knowledge that him & his wife actually really like this area.
Not that Pittsburgh isn't nice and all, definitely a good sports town.... but other than Duquesne being a better job than Rice.... what ties does MR have to the school or the area? I don't know of any.
I believe Shaka made the comment saying Texas was on his "short list of schools" that he would leave VCU for... after turning down Job after Job after Job before finally taking the Longhorns job.... and even then the rumors were that it was a back and forth on that night. One min hes staying, next hes going, next hes saying.... etc. Besides a P5/Big East job.... I honestly believe that VCU was one of the few jobs that MR woulda left Rice early for. I honestly didn't see him leaving for any other team in the A10.... maybe Dayton when Miller left because Dayton was a school at or near the top most years.... but I honestly don't think he would've left for Duquesne. Especially since he just got Rice going right before the VCU job opened.
