The Needle On Mentality, Culture Trending Upward In Morgantown Under Rich Rodriguez
By Joshua Petry
At Friday's introductory press conference, Rich Rodriguez was introduced as the new head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, and optimism was in the air that hasn't been seen on that level in years. It appears that WVU football is about to look much different than in the past few years of the Neal Brown era.
The needle is trending upward in Morgantown; fans are optimistic and ready to start next season with unmatched excitement. Team meetings will be conducted differently, and recruiting will look very different. Practices will return to separating who wants to be a Mountaineer and who doesn't. This is the exact recipe that Morgantown needs.
While skeptics still exist, they should keep an open mind. The first year may have some growing pains, and WVU may win eight games, but what is my reason for thinking this? Rich Rodriguez will weed out anyone who doesn't give him the best chance to win games. In this day and age, his old-school style of coaching and NIL at the Power 4 level will be a trial and error of sorts.
It will take an entire season to truly get talent nationwide to want to come to West Virginia through the transfer portal. It takes a unique individual to play for Rodriguez. Once folks notice how the team plays fast and physical, and how they're coached, the players who want to be coached in such a way and who are hard-nosed themselves will transfer to WVU. The winning will speak for itself, and make no doubt about it. The wins will come.
One thing is for sure: Morgantown will be electrifying for the first game against Robert Morris. With Pitt coming into town in week three, the culture and mentality will start to take shape, making Morgantown a dreaded stop for any school. And that's just the recipe the doctor ordered for WVU football.