Doc Holliday denies being source

From Bob Hertzel at the Times West Virginian: http://timeswv.com/wvu_sports/x383274628/HERTZEL-COLUMN-Holliday-denies-rumors

MORGANTOWN — New Marshall football coach Doc Holliday vehemently denied speculation that he was the unnamed source behind a story in last Sunday’s Huntington Dispatch that reported West Virginia University had self-reported to the NCAA violations of using personnel in coaching roles over the limit of nine.

“I would never do anything like that,” an irate Holliday said. “West Virginia is my alma mater, remember. I spent a long time there. I have roots there.”

A column early this week in the Times West Virginian included these paragraphs, which Holliday took to be accusing him of being the leak.

“When one realized the head coach at Marshall is Doc Holliday, a long-time WVU assistant who left the program back when Don Nehlen was retiring and then was snubbed when Bill Stewart was named over him as Rodriguez's replacement after he had spent time at North Carolina State and Florida, there was much suspicion that he may have been behind the planting of the story.“

Considering Holliday also has hired away some of WVU's graduate assistants to work in his program, one can assume that the first shot in what could be a hot rivalry has been fired.

”While it is true speculation existed that Holliday was the unnamed source of the story, he made it a point to stress this was not the case."

I have enough to worry about with my football team,” the former West Virginia coach said.

West Virginia officials have steadfastly refused to confirm or deny the report that Pat Kirkland and Dale Wolfley, two men who hold administrative positions, had been used in coaching duties.

NCAA rules prohibit them from commenting publically at this time.