West Virginia President E. Gordon Gee has opened up about the possibility of rehiring former head coach Rich Rodriguez, following the recent firing of Neal Brown. Rodriguez, who currently coaches at Jacksonville State, has been rumored to be in line for a return to Morgantown. However, Gee acknowledges that Rodriguez’s previous departure in 2007 will complicate the decision, as he left in a controversial manner.
Rodriguez left West Virginia for the Michigan job before the Mountaineers’ Fiesta Bowl victory against Oklahoma, leaving a bitter taste in the fans’ mouths. Since then, Rodriguez has had mixed success at Michigan and Arizona before finding success at Jacksonville State. His recent achievements with the Gamecocks, including a conference championship, have put him back on the radar of Power 4 schools like West Virginia.
If Rodriguez were to return, he would be inheriting a different program from the one he left in 2007. West Virginia now competes in the Big 12 and has more opportunities to compete for national titles. With the playoff expansion to twelve teams, Rodriguez sees potential for the program to reach new heights.
West Virginia officials are expected to make a decision on their new head coach in the coming days, with the possibility of a Rodriguez comeback looming. His return would undoubtedly be a captivating story in the college football world as the Mountaineers seek to move forward from a disappointing season.
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