Pat McAfee Has 3-Word Reaction To West Virginia Hiring Rich Rodriguez
12/12/2024 12:50 PM
It's often said that to move into the future, you need to go back into the past.
That's exactly what West Virginia is doing with their football program, hiring former head coach Rich Rodriguez to the same position after he left to coach Michigan in 2008.
After stints with the Wolverines, Arizona and Jacksonville State, Rodriguez will be heading back to his alma mater as head coach.
Bringing Rodriguez back is a controversial move to some associated with the program and its fanbase, but one prominent former West Virginia player is completely on board with his return.
"Strap it up," said former punter and current NFL and college football analyst Pat McAfee. "Let's [expletive] go."
McAfee played for Rodriguez during his time at West Virginia, spending three seasons with the head coach while they were both in Morgantown.
West Virginia was on the verge of competing for a national title in 2007, but a loss to Pitt near the end of the season ended their hopes - a game McAfee missed two field goals in.
McAfee is bringing his show to Morgantown this week, as Friday's edition of the nationally recognized program will be broadcast live from the WVU Coliseum.
McAfee's show will lead into Rodriguez's official press conference at 1:30 PM, where he will be reintroduced to West Virginia fans ahead of his second stint as head coach.
Getty Images.
A lot has changed since Rodriguez left West Virginia following the 2007 season. The Mountaineers now play in the Big 12 instead of the Big East, and the additions of the transfer portal and NIL have completely adjusted the landscape of college football.
If the 12-team playoff existed in 2007, West Virginia would have likely qualified, giving themselves a chance to compete for a national title.
They'll need to go through the Big 12 - and likely win the conference championship game - in order to get there in 2025 and beyond, but Rodriguez's goal of bringing a national championship to Morgantown has not changed.
As he takes over for a second time, we'll see if history can repeat itself, allowing him to find success at one of the most prominent programs in all of college football.
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