3 things that stand out from Yahoo’s deep dive on Rich Rodriguez

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports rolled out an in-depth look at Rich Rodriguez’s return to West Virginia. The story is a long read, but there are several points that stand out for Mountaineer fans right now.

Rich Rodriguez admits leaving WVU was a mistake

Rodriguez told Yahoo flat out that it was a mistake to leave WVU back in 2007. He admitted he shouldn’t have walked away and that staying away from the state for so long took a toll. For a fan base that still remembers how messy that exit was, hearing him say it directly is a big deal. It doesn’t erase the past, but it shows he understands why people were angry

Rodriguez brings a unique NIL ‘salary restructuring’ approach

In an era when NIL often feels like free agency, Rodriguez is trying something unique. He’s holding back a pool of money to reward players who earn starting jobs, calling it “salary restructuring.” Instead of giving out starter money to everyone who asks, players have to prove it on the field. Whether that works or not remains to be seen, but it’s clear he’s trying to establish a culture that fits his “earned success” philosophy.

Rodriguez is bringing back the hard edge at WVU

Rodriguez is still the same fiery coach from his first stint in Morgantown. He’s demanding effort and accountability. In practice, players even answer in unison that “when you loaf, you are a traitor”, an ironic choice of words considering how many once called him that when he left for Michigan. He’s also banned TikTok, doubled down on toughness, and leaned on mottos like “hard edge” that fans will remember from the 2000s.

The Yahoo story goes deep into Rodriguez’s past and his path back to Morgantown, but these three takeaways say a lot about what his second act is shaping up to be. He knows he has to win games, but he’s also working to rebuild trust with a fan base that’s both scarred and hopeful.

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