[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Life is good for Coach Rod
‘I think we have the pieces in place’ for successful program
By John Veasey
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT — West Virginia’s football coach, home-grown Rich Rodriguez, was making his annual pre-season appearance before the Fairmont civic clubs Thursday.

And it was easy to tell he was happy the way things have progressed thus far for his fifth-ranked Mountaineer football team that launches its season next Saturday against Marshall in Morgantown.

Life is good!

The relaxed coach talked not about high ratings or unbeaten seasons or bowl championships. He didn’t even talk about Marshall. He talked in generalities about his football team that surprised almost all fans last year with a 10-1 record followed by a thumping of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

He seemed to be a man who has grown into his job quite well and feels comfortable in it.

“It’s neat to be part of a program that we thought could make it to the top 10 every year,” he said before a packed audience at Muriale’s Restaurant.

“I think we’ll be a very good football team if we stay healthy. I think we have the pieces in place to have a successful program.

“I’ve said that since the day I got the job that we’ll never be interested in building a team. We’ve always been interested in building a program.

“Last year when we had a good year and we surprised a lot of people, it wasn’t really a surprise to us in the football department. We knew what was going on and how we were building the program.

“This year people ask, ‘Can we win 11 games and go to another BCS Bowl?’ Well, everybody’s kind of counting on it,” he said with a laugh.

But he stressed, “You’ve got to be lucky and have a lot of things going your way.”

Then he quipped, “Last year, when we got a guy hurt, a guy would come in who was better than him. How smart was I for not having started him in the first place?” he said, bringing a lot of laughter to the luncheon crowd.

He was referring to the emergence of Steve Slaton and Patrick White as first-class Big East stars when they received the full opportunity as starters to show their skills.

The WVU coach says that people continue to ask him about the fake punt in the final moments of the Sugar Bowl battle with Georgia — the successful fake punt play that kept Georgia from handling the ball in the final minute and preserved the victory for the Mountaineers.

“They said, ‘What were you thinking? A minute to go, game on the line and 27 million people watching you.’

“I say, ‘Do you know what I was thinking? I was thinking I hope that sucker (WVU punter Phil Brady) can run fast!’

“As soon as he got the first down, I thought, ‘Go down!’”

He then reverted his remarks to the upcoming season.

“The key is we’ve got to stay healthy and we’ve got to stay humble.

“I’ve got a great group of young men,” he continued, saying that “I think the athletes and teams that do better each year are the ones that are always trying to prove themselves. You always should feel the need to prove yourself.”

He talked about how well his team was doing academically.

“More than 45 guys on our team had a GPA of over 3.0,” he said. “That’s the first time that’s ever happened in the history of West Virginia football.”

He said there is a wall in the football offices that has pictures of all the players who get over 3.0.

“The only way you can get your picture on that wall is to go over 3.0. The players come to me and tell me, ‘Coach, I’m going to be over 3.0. I’m going to get on that wall this semester.’ Whatever motivates them, I’m going to try and do.”

He said Slaton and White are still kids.

“They’re just going to be sophomores, and they’re just 18 and 19 years old,” he said. “They’re still kids. ... But Slaton, every day, practices like he’s still trying to earn a starting job. I tell him he’s made it. Patrick White — the same way.”

He said he believes Owen Schmitt last year was the best fullback in the Big East and to this day, every day, he tries to get the coach’s approval.

“That’s the key to our program,” he said. “I can’t tell you we’re going to win the Big East again or win the Sugar Bowl again. But we have a good group of young men, and they may not make all the right plays all the time, but they’re going to try hard.”

He said no team in America will outwork West Virginia football.

“And if that’s not good enough on a certain weekend,” he said, “and we stub our toe, let’s not worry about it.”

He said football was the greatest team sport there has ever been or ever will be “because it requires so many people all pulling in the same direction.”

WVU had three of its young standouts on the regional cover of Sports Illustrated last week — White, Slaton and Schmitt.

There has also been some front-page coverage in USA Today.

“As long as it doesn’t change who they are or how they work,” he said that was perfectly fine.

He praised the support he has received from the people in Marion County — ever since his first days at Fairview High School.

“No success I may have will ever change who I am or where I’m from. I’m an ol’ guy from Grant Town, W.Va., who got a chance to coach at Division I level, and I’m trying to make the most of it.”

E-mail John Veasey at jcveasey@timeswv.com.

[Lefty Noob]

“More than 45 guys on our team had a GPA of over 3.0,” he said. “That’s the first time that’s ever happened in the history of West Virginia football.”

He said there is a wall in the football offices that has pictures of all the players who get over 3.0.

“The only way you can get your picture on that wall is to go over 3.0. The players come to me and tell me, ‘Coach, I’m going to be over 3.0. I’m going to get on that wall this semester.’ Whatever motivates them, I’m going to try and do.”

This may be the greatest thing I've ever heard a college football coach talk about. Rodriguez is an excellent coach, on the field and off. His team performs well on Saturday and, from the sound of it, perform even better in the classroom throughout the week. Just a great, great story!

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

This may be the greatest thing I've ever heard a college football coach talk about. Rodriguez is an excellent coach, on the field and off. His team performs well on Saturday and, from the sound of it, perform even better in the classroom throughout the week. Just a great, great story!

Kind of puts an end to Dumb Jock.

WATCH OUT, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IS LOOKING FOR A NEW HEAD COACH AFTER THEY FIRED COACH MIKE SHULA LAST SUNDAY.
By Cecil Hurt
Sports Editor
December 05. 2006 3:30AM

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore is expected to meet with West Virginia University coach Rich Rodriguez today to discuss the Crimson Tide’s vacant head coaching position, according to several sources close to the search process.

Moore and UA president Dr. Robert Witt have been in New York City since Sunday attending activities connected with the College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. Rodriguez will also be in New York today to accompany one of his West Virginia players, linebacker Jay Henry, to the Draddy Award ceremonies at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Moore and Rodriguez are expected to meet at some point during the day. Moore also held meetings concerning the UA coaching search on Monday, although sources did not state if those meetings were with coaches or with agents representing those coaches.

Rodriguez is one of several coaches whose name has been mentioned in connection with the Alabama vacancy.

Wayne Huizenga, the owner of the Miami Dolphins, said Monday that he had “confidence” that his head coach, Nick Saban, would return to the NFL team next season.

Saban is another candidate whose name has been linked with the UA job, despite repeated denials and semi-denials of interest.

Huizenga said he expected Saban back despite Miami’s disappointing 5-7 record this season.

"We all got enthused and excited the last four games and they really played great, but we didn't do such a good job (Sunday)," Huizenga said. "I don't think I'm speaking out of (turn). I think we're all disappointed."

Saban said he has not spoken privately with Huizenga about the owner's feelings but understands them.

"I'm disappointed in the season, too, so I feel the same way he does," Saban told the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post. "I think a lot of players are probably a little disappointed as well. But I think the team has handled the negatives. I think it says a lot about the team to come back and win the four games that we won.

"We're here to try to win football games and get the most out of our players and get them to play to their full potential and when that doesn't happen it's disappointing to all of us."

Huizenga told the Palm Beach Post that Saban, whose first Dolphin team was 9-7 in 2005, told him that he had no intention of leaving.

"I'm just convinced he's on the right track," Huizenga said. "He knows what he's going to do. It's going to work. I may be wrong, but I don't think so. I'm completely sold on Nick Saban. “I'm expecting big things."

“(Saban) said that if he ever did want to leave, it would not happen ‘until the job is finished, and we haven't finished our job here yet.’"

Jim Grobe, the Wake Forest coach, has also been mentioned as a candidate at UA, although sources said reports that the search had narrowed to Rodriguez and Grobe were “premature.”

Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman declined comment to the Associated Press on Monday about whether Alabama officials had contacted him about Grobe.

Wake Forest won its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship since 1970 this season and will have an Orange Bowl matchup against Louisville.

"That's for Alabama to say whether they have contacted us," Wellman said. "That gets into their search, and I'm not going to do that."

Grobe was still in Winston Salem, N.C., on Monday, a school spokesman said.

Alabama has been searching for a coach since Mike Shula was fired on the night of November 26. Moore, who was unavailable for comment on Monday night, has repeatedly said that he has “no timetable” for hiring Shula’s successor.

(Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews,com or 205-722-0225.)

I think its sad. I went to North Marion w/ Rich. Alabama and Miami will never respect and revere Rich the way we do. They are thankless jobs. Didnt Shula have a pretty good record. Fired for not beating Auburn. Miami..better win a NC every other year.
Careful what you wish for Rich, God may give it to you.
Tim Martin
NMHS '84

Tim I dont know what Coach Rod is doing, I Love him to death but he is making a lot of enemys fast he is the best thing that happened to WVU lets pray he stays but money can talk. I hope all goes well for us as well as him. In the mean time lets go Mountaineers. Thanx for letting me vent. Larry

If this is the way that Rodriguez shows loyalty to the team that he's coached and shows this kind of support to the players that he "loves" then good RIDDANCE! He can close the door to WV when he leaves and please Rich don't come back!!! Money truly speaks louder than words. Sorry "Bama" fans he's not worth what you are paying for him!

[legend]

You guys don't get it. I am sure he will stay at West Virginia after they give him a hefty raise. You and I would do the exact same thing if under the same circumstances. It's his chance for a huge payday, and he isn't supposed to take it? By showing interest in the Alabama job, he will make WV up the ante to keep him. loyalty at these universities goes as far as the next losing season, so you need to make your money while you can.

[cwstech]

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez turned down Alabama on Friday, telling his players that he'll be back for his sixth season with the Mountaineers.

ESPN.com - NCF - Mountain man: Rodriguez to stay at West Virginia

I knew it would happen. The old game of Cat and Mouse!

[Lefty Noob]

If WVU didn't pony up, do you guys think he would've gone to Bama?

[Big Bama Fan]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If this is the way that Rodriguez shows loyalty to the team that he's coached and shows this kind of support to the players that he "loves" then good RIDDANCE! He can close the door to WV when he leaves and please Rich don't come back!!! Money truly speaks louder than words. Sorry "Bama" fans he's not worth what you are paying for him!

I agree that Rich Rodriguez lied to either his team or to Alabama. Either way he's a bum! Keep him in West Virginia.

[mervinout]

look Alabama fans he never had attetions of going their, he did this to nebreska he just wanted more money for his ast coaches. Your school and Mal Moore got used badly. To say now that you didnt get him your glad cause he is a liar, for staying where he said he was going to say just seems silly