Rapid Reactions: Rich Rodriguez is BACK at

[@CouzsCornerSports]

You guys nailed this from the beginning. Good work.

[@eerslink5498]

Nearly 17 years to the day. Tons and tons of memories and nostalgia with Rich Rod. I hope we can relive the great days. Heres to the future! #LetsGo!

[@nazmoking3171]

Congratulations Ken Kendricks - you win!

[@zacharyvalloric9076]

I just told my wife this five minutes ago he paid buyout he picked coach 🤦‍♂️

[@Fuzz0530]

Welcome back RR. Im no apologist for RR but there is more to the story about his departure. When WVU starts winning again, fans will be putting the flying WV back on their cars. That said, imagine what Garrett Greene could have done under RR. Been a season ticket holder since 1980 and hope we can return the magic to Morgantown we once had. Lets Go! Montani Semper Liberi

[@hughglass9618]

The same. RR offense looks just like ours has the past 2.5 yrs. GG is not PW and spread offense only works if you have a QB like PW. If he can find one, then we'll win.

[@David-p4k9q]

Buddy what you said if GG would have been RR offense playing QB. My goodness at the yards he would have picked up with his legs. I agree with everything you said. Let go mountaineers.

[@Joaephw336]

So right 👍👍👍👍

[@willbygosh4887]

Neal Brown would make an excellent head coach for Jax State.

[@tmurph247]

There is actually talk of that on the Jax state fan forums. What's wrong with people...😂😂

[@ScottyRosencrance-dq4pj]

You are right….HIT THE GROUND RUNNING! It’s coming, I’m not doubting that!! I’m pumped. I didn’t care who we chose, I trust Wren. And everything it entails. I know a lot are not behind this. But next October, November that won’t matter! 😊

[@allamerican7351]

Love it!!!! No one's perfect RR departure was mishandled by both sides. That said he can coach BALL n knows how to win at WVU. That should be what everyone wants period!

[@MRThomas776]

Been waiting for this all morning.

[@johnf9710]

Glad folks are excited. I think this is wrong, but I trust Wren knows what he's doing with hand dealt

[@magicray5088]

shocked , but happy he was the best guy to hire , nobody wanted the job and we got the right man anyways!!!

[@BarryCoates-im7sb]

Definitely mixed emotions. That being said, he was the best coach we have had in my lifetime. On a side note, till this day, some have slowed it down, but NO ONE has been able to stop Richrod spread run offense. He may not be the best person/coach but he can recruit talent. Let's Gooo!, spend some money.

[@davidwilliams4498]

You have a very bad memory. Remember the 13 to 9 game. Pittsburgh loaded the box an we lost Rich rod had best running fullback in football an barely used him . He didn't care he knew he was going to Michigan You load the box an rich tod offense ain't diddly

[@hughglass9618]

quality teams have, the spread offense is no longer new, and it does not put QB's in the NFL.

[@Greenface35]

It’s the same five losers that keep crying over and over on every video. The same ones that wanted to keep extending Neal Brown. People haven’t paid attention to WVU football for almost 20 years. Excited for the future

[@BarryCoates-im7sb]

@@Greenface35 I now live in central Virginia and have season tickets to LU football. Chadwell would have been a good choice for WVU but he is happy making 4 million here. JAX ST is in our conference and when they came to town I recognized that offense from the start and Liberty couldn't stop it. I used to have season tickets to WVU before we moved here. Looking forward to seeing that brand of football again.

[@rgyoho]

I was 100% opposed to Rich's return to Morgantown. I even did a video on why I was opposed to the man. That said, I recalled that, unlike Neal Brown, Rod's players weren't sucking wind in the 4th quarter. They hit hard and played aggressively. I wanted that back, so I've come around to the idea. Despite my reservations, I'm now on board for Rich's Redemption.

[@BaldMan-vh6ul]

With this hire, Rich Rod will have the motivation to succeed! And with his former Mountaineer players promising to give NIL money, Nick Saben working behind the scenes, I believe WVU will quickly turn things around. Neal Brown's tenure caused so much damage to WVU football, that they needed a game changer, and Rich Rod is just that. I will be watching with great hope that this works out. LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!

[@rudymcgraw2660]

I promise you people will forget all about everything when he starts winning people who don’t buy season tickets. There will be 10 more replace him so they need to stop crying rich. Rod was the best coach we could’ve got.

[@curtlindner7554]

Cast a wide net? More like a dip net from Morgantown to Grant town! Much better choices out there. Oh, I just heard that Dan Mullen was hired at UNLV TODAY, 1 DAY AFTER WE HIRED RR. Funny I never heard his name mentioned. I HOPE WE WIN, BUT BIG MONEY WON FOR SURE. 🤔

[@mtntrout]

West Virginia University released the following statement regarding the event: “West Virginia University Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker will introduce Rich Rodriguez, the Mountaineers 36th Head Football Coach, on Friday, Dec. 13, at 1:30 p.m. in the WVU Coliseum. The event, which is open to the public, including all WVU students, will feature the Pat McAfee Show, hosted by former WVU kicker/punter and ESPN GameDay analyst Pat McAfee. The show will broadcast on-site live from the WVU Coliseum from noon until 2 p.m.

[@StanSmith-i8d]

There is no turning back, and I don’t believe those who are butt hurt will remain sore! Let’s not dwell on those negatives, let’s capture the moment, or as they say in the game we love…Momentum!

[@georgeedwards5468]

Sooo did Barry Odum bail on UNLV GROW UP THIS IS A BUSINESS!! GO CHEER NEAL BROWN ON AT UAB OR SOMEWHERE !! Opens me up a ticket to watch us whip pitt

[@deanstorey940]

RR, i don't agree with how you left, but i wasn't in the room when it went down. I know i have left jobs where i didn't get what i wanted. So i can't judge. I will give all my support to you and our mountaineers!!! I have faith in the Blue and Gold. A true fan doesn't give up on their team because they don't agree with every decision made by higher up's. The eer's will be my team whoever is coaching them win or lose!!!! Because i am a West Virginia Mountaineers Fan forever!!! LETS GO RICH ROD AND OUR MOUNTAINEERS !!!!! Thanks to one of our greatest Pat Mac for always showing support for WVU on your show and never forget where you come from. Love ya Dude.

[@eatya345]

He pulled up next to me at a light off of montrose Drive 64 exit about 19 years ago. He was driving a gold Mercedes. He saw how rabid I was and ignored my ass! Glad he is back. Redemption and National Championship coming

[@davidhaught8744]

Thank you Mr. Baker

[@mikedoggett1705]

I’m burn my couch right now… lol 🎉

[@michaelritchie8953]

Let's go eers..... I've not been excited and many years about WVU football

[@MountaineerAthletes]

Either way, it’s worth a shot. Even if Rodriguez doesn’t do well at least we tried. We’ll try something else after that. We have hired coordinators. We have hired G5 head coaches. Now we are going to hire a former experienced head coach who has won here in the past. All we can do is see what happens. If it doesn’t work out so be it. We will move on to the next idea. All we can do is keep trying.

[@briangreer6016]

I'm excited for Mountaineer Football once again

[@wildflowrecordsandmedia6355]

took the flying wv off the car this morning. good luck! "don't ever leave your wingman don't bail out on your brother" the climax of Coach Bill Stewart's speech pre-oklahoma and the final pregame fire up at milan pushkar.

[@wildflowrecordsandmedia6355]

ask him about that at the press conference mike you're the only one with the balls enough to do it. are they still gonna play that hype video before the game since they hired the guy that bailed out??

[@eatya345]

Grow up forgive watch Top Gun Maverick again goof

[@Greenface35]

@@eatya345Have you heard of TDS? This is RRDS

[@markhalstead2386]

So you are perfect and never made mistakes in your past?

[@Greenface35]

@@markhalstead2386 Anyone who supported NB feverishly for six years has certainly made mistakes. Time for people to check in with their therapists or check out of the WVU fan club.

[@TheShawnm28]

If anyone hates the man for one career choice he made 17 years ago they should go see a therapist. He will right this ship !

[@BillCoger]

Get Ryan Walter as DC..( He was Purdue HC )... If that happens. Watch out Big 12... WVU IS BACK !!!!!

[@jerryciccolella4280]

No one was more disappointed than I Jerry from Follansbee and I was stoked that he got humbled at Michigan. But the Fn war ended for me when he got fired at Michigan.So spot the Fn ball and let's gooo!P.S if Dana were back I'd get behind him also.Why because he would be coaching the WVU Mountaineers. So quit living in the Fn past and get behind our program!!

[@hughglass9618]

I've never been one to fall in line.

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

I wonder what Ron in Morgantown thinks.

[@rollme1kenobi768]

Nobody's gonna have chance to complain once the season starts. We'll be singing country roads to much to care.

[@andyagnew1235]

I’m curious as to what happened to Fisher? Seemed like he just kinda got swept under the rug.

[@basshunter7631]

He sucks that’s what happened to him …. They’re paying him 27 million to stay home for a reason ! ….

[@empirion502]

Couldn't be less excited if I tried...

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

This hire certainly doesn’t seem like the rest wren has made.

[@empirion502]

@@Commentleaver-c6x I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but it feels like we just settled for what was available...and what was available wasn't great.

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

@@empirion502 I agree. I’m dubious about it at best.

[@StanleyMetzJr]

I'm not sold this was the right hire, "yet", I'll wait & see to see if I'm wrong. I'm yrs & yrs over the him leaving & the "how" he left WVU. My concerns are... 1- History shows rehashing ex-coaches rarely works out. 2-The dividing of the fan base & the fallout/how far we'll fall if his return isnt successful. 3- His P5 record minus WVU only sits at about a 50% win percentage. 3.2-Part of that win percentage includes Michigan where he had 4 & 5 star recruits and resources that then only the Blueblood programs had. 4-His record pre white/slaton isnt nearly as impressive & he accidentally found lighting in a bottle with white/slaton unfortunately due to two of our starters getting injured. 5-Him turning around a much lower level program isnt as impressive as its being made to be. Our ex-coach Neal Brown is just one of many examples of that. However, with that said hes our new coach & I'll support him 100%. I truly hopes he proves me & history wrong. I'm truely wanting to eat crow on this. So..."Spot the Ball" & Let's goooooo Mountainerssssssss!!!!!

[@williamcochran83]

A snake is always a snake / wise up.

[@tmurph247]

You seem to be an expert on that subject.

[@scottkessel952]

Oh but this time will be different 😂

[@littlesparrow4799]

Well, the board had it called from the get go. Nobody else saw it coming, it seems.

[@hughglass9618]

we saw it, just couldn't believe it or didn't want to, there's a difference.

[@brianperry8582]

There is no way that people in our state of WV will not be watching the outcome of this hire along with the whole world of college football in America. That WV brand got enormous exposure when RR was the coach heck man we were barely on national television until RR started winning. I hope that RR goes out with a bang and if so Wv goes too.

[@davidwilliams4498]

Lol what a sweet show that will be tomorrow. ESPN pat the 13 to 9 choker an rich rod who could care less when Pitt loaded the box that awful day in 2007 because he knew he was going to michigan an had best running fullback in football an barely used him that day. Will Pitt load the box again next September. Be a different situation. No doubt in my mind if rich rod dont use his big pat espn money an other donors who wanted him back for defense on Nil players. He will be booed out of town in 2 years. He a lot like Holgerson concentrate on offense an let the defende get lit up...We will find out next September what happens...

[@Hardlyable]

This day and age with the transfer portal and NIL money I believe college program success just comes down to which school can buy the best players regardless of school or coach notoriety.

[@andrewmann4067]

Pretty much

[@georgeedwards5468]

RR CAN GET THE MONEY FROM BIG DONORS PLUS PAT MAC!!!

[@basshunter7631]

When is a free education NOT enough !!!!!

[@basshunter7631]

College kids should never be paid !!!!

[@georgeedwards5468]

@ I don’t think so they gettin a free education

[@Lannymo]

Winning heals ALL !! Like him or not he will win !

[@brianperry8582]

There is no way that people in our state of WV will not be watching the outcome of this hire along with the whole world of college football in America. That WV brand got enormous exposure when RR was the coach heck man we were barely on national television until RR started winning. I hope that RR goes out with a bang and if so Wv goes too. The people in the state of WV need to have something to be proud and happy about RR is family and we can all be winners in the end if we stick together and support RR.

[@mikedoggett1705]

Yeahhhhh baby!!! I’m about to run around my house babyyyyyy!!!!!

[@karenso103]

Good luck to the boys of WVU but this mountaineer can't get behind this 60 years of the Gold and Blue

[@georgeedwards5468]

IF THIS CAUSES YOU TO SPLIT THEN YOURE NO BETTER THAN WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT RR!! NOT A TRUE FAN!!!!

[@erics6883]

I'm all in on this. It's a great story for college football. It's human nature for him to want to redeem himself and I hope for everyone's sake that he does. Just love it. I would also love to know what happened between WVU and Kotelnicki. I'm just curious about that, nothing more. Ecstatic over RR coming back.

[@hughglass9618]

money is what heppened

[@shortdog304]

i have mixed feelings but if he comes in and wins then old feeling may just die.

[@hughglass9618]

winning fixes all

[@magicray5088]

when is the news conference?

[@patrickkelley6276]

Neal Brown's tenure is one word: MONEYBALL! "You play like Yankees here; you'll lose to the Yankees out there." If you want to play like Penn State here, you'll lose to Penn State out there. WVU beat the top 10 teams with 5 stars end-to-end talent by playing West Virginia football (spread, triple option, speed on offense & blitzes, stunts, aggressive defense). We never had 5 stars and beat the billionaire puppetmaster teams. That said, Monken would have been great, and so would PSU OC. Rich Rod does not deserve the job because he proved disloyal, but he does coach West Virginia football, so I will wait and see. I think he should offer to coach with incentives for the first year as a peace offering.

[@greggeorge5170]

This is fantastic news- I'm all in (but not the way Dallas is 'all in') I was in the stadium for that '07 Pitt-WVU game looking forward to seeing him back on the sideline.

[@jonpark6650]

Couch stocks just went up .........

[@JackssonClark]

We're living in a crazy timeline and I'm all in.

[@robertharpold3054]

Hey Mike and Chris.....name any recent coaching retreads that have worked? Petrino...no. Randy Edsell....no. Schiano....nothing worth a damn so far. Johnny Majors ..no. Bill Snyder...2nd time had 2 good seasons but avg 7.5 wins a season in 2nd stint. Wren Baker and Rodriguez will both go when this fails. I went to my first game in 1977 in old Mountaineer Field. My family has had season tix since 1982. We have been to multiple bowl games and multiple Big East tournaments just in case someone wants to doubt my fandom. Hiring this traitor who has no integrity or loyalty is disgusting. Wren Baker sold out

[@georgeedwards5468]

Trade Brown for RR who wouldn’t take that trade

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

Mike florio nailed it on sportsline last night. This feels like a desperation hire.

[@sndsofscnce]

I wish they'd chosen someone else. While winning will cure most things, some of us remember his departure and some of the things he said and did. All things considered, if he can win games, that's all that will matter. People like winning. No better way to turn things in his favor than to start next season 3-0.

[@codyparsons6800]

Rich Rod starts winning and everybody will be happy

[@hughglass9618]

about winning yes

[@bobfox2733]

Jacksonville Alabama

[@patrickcasto3426]

Rich Rod was given a hard time when he left, watch pat mcafees interview with him in 2021, wvu was mainly at fault . he wanted 50K to boost his assistance salery . They told him no.

[@shinnstoneer7]

Don nehlen was 4 years older than DickRod when some of the same boosters forced him out because he was too old.

[@rudymcgraw2660]

You sound like you’re holding a grudge against him get over it dude

[@kellahobbs9232]

Wvmetronews, wchs and others have been dead set against the return of RR. We all remember what they have said! Podcasters will take over the news of importantance.

[@nazmoking3171]

Rich Rodriguez is an unsavory hire for WVU. He is like the Bobby Petrino of West Virginia. It would be like Arkansas re-hiring Bobby.

[@fritzfryer1388]

Did Bobby Petrino turn us down

[@drpiv]

Every time I hear Monken's name, it ruins my day 🤬

[@jerryciccolella4280]

Man I'm sick of this b.s about what's wrong g with the hire and start focusing on.what's right like the money and power brokers like McAfee that are behind him.Foucus on the POSITIVE let's go Mountaineers!!!!!!

[@hughglass9618]

friends helping friends is all this is about

[@TheShawnm28]

They will not lose season tickets. They will gain season ticket sales. Lol. You guys are sort of annoying to listen to

[@WoodyAllenManiac]

Rich was hired to appease donors. This is about money. He was not a strong power 5 coach.

[@alfordtl1]

Wren lost his kahunas.

[@WVUforus]

RR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@eatya345]

4 year contract then reassess

[@hughglass9618]

3 max, he needs to be on a very short leash

[@virginiaglock17]

I am afraid this is going to be a dumpster fire.

[@scottkessel952]

As it should be. Embarrassing

[@Greenface35]

To anyone whining… please see a therapist. It’s not worth it. TDS has claimed many and it seems like RRDS will follow that trend.

[@jimlyons5677]

This has to be a joke.

[@Greenface35]

It is. We resigned Neal

[@tmurph247]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 ​@@Greenface35

[@MaximusBacon]

I wish it was a joke.

[@Warmmmmm]

Trust the climb baby ​@@Greenface35

[@jeffwoollard2280]

P-Rod will win the fanbase over if he starts 3-0, the game against Pitt is his saving grace or could be a big part of his downfall. Lose that game and the negative " I told you so's" will be deafening, the opposite will be true if he wins.

[@hughglass9618]

he knows what he's signing up for

[@Wvgrizz]

Not a good choice...

[@WV_in_KC]

No success since 2007. No other power 4 programs wanted him and for good reason.

[@CherylEversole-ne1cd]

Want to see sucess, look to where he's been. I used to be mad at him for the way he left, but then I found out the truth. Hell Alabama was after RichRod, and ended up taking Sabin. RichRod didn't want to leave WV, he wanted to stay and build a Winner, and WV turned him down.

[@hughglass9618]

@@CherylEversole-ne1cd If he would have beat Pitt and played for a Natty, the world was his, history will repeat itself.

[@WV_in_KC]

@@CherylEversole-ne1cd success? Where? At Michigan? At Arizona? I’m only concerned about his time as a head coach . Preferably at a power 4 program.

[@WV_in_KC]

@@hughglass9618 I disagree. What makes you think so though?

[@hughglass9618]

@@WV_in_KC which part?

[@scottkessel952]

UNC gets Belicheck. We get the lower who abandoned us. Wonderful hire

[@bb3438]

Meh..

[@kildeathful]

Wren baker needs to go. This is going to go horribly.

[@GeorgeSomerville-r1d]

This makes absolutely no sense at all. Kinda like Trump, he must not have done enough damage in his first term..

[@StanleyMetzJr]

Nobody wants politics mixed with there sports. SMH. But since you did.. facts are Trumps presidency was highly successful. Low prices on everything & a GREAT economy. If you're gonna spout something atleast dont make yourself sound like an IDIOT by spouting something common sense & facts show to be false.