The opener against Robert Morris highlighted by the return to the WVU key line for Rodriguez
Morgantown, W.VA. – For all the unknowns surrounding Virginia-Western, of which there are many with 79 players added to the program during the offseason, the history of the opening of the season of Saturday against Robert Morris focuses on the return of head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Hired in December for his second postponement with this title to Morgantown, Rodriguez will control the touchline of mountaineering for the first time in 18 years at 2 p.m. in a match that can be seen on ESPN +.
Rodriguez compiled a record of 60-26 in seven seasons in his first pass as a WVU head coach, but left for Michigan at uncomfortable terms after the Mountaineers had a match for a national championship in 2007.
Rodriguez ranks fifth among active FBS coaches with 190 career victories and figures to have a high probability of acting on this total against the colonials of the FCS. Virginia-Western is undefeated during 22 previous meetings with programs at this level.
“It’s a bit surreal, but it is the first game for this new staff and the first match for many players, but the share of nostalgia [was] Four or five months ago. It spoke more, what I understand, “said Rodriguez.” I am grateful and grateful and the fans were great. We work very hard. The only thing I can say is that I want to have a certain work ethics and a commitment to the program that our fans would appreciate. It will always happen. I appreciate this and the opportunity. Our players will go out, have fun and play very hard. »»
However, Rodriguez has little emphasized on individuals during the pre-season camp and on the depth table of the mountaineers, five quarters are separated by the term or without indicated starter.
“There are a lot of guys anxious to prove themselves,” said Rodriguez, “so that should be fun on Saturday.”
Rodriguez said that he was planning that more than a quarter of a quarter were playing against RMU, who finished 7-5 last season and also has what can be described as an alignment filled with turnover in addition to new coordinators for the three phases.
“From the players’ point of view, it is someone’s assumption, but it is also for them,” said Rodriguez. “They have a lot of new players. It will be a first interesting match.”
The one who is quarter-rear for WVU will guide an offense predicted to the tempo who hopes to play at his favorite pace.
“The first match, there are so many unknowns, especially if you have 79 new players like us and it’s a new system,” said Rodriguez. “They have three new coordinators, so they could also be something completely new. You can anticipate and they can perhaps anticipate the diagrams, but which will do it, there are riddles at both ends. You have to play a game to discover it. The most difficult role on the first game is that you are going a little live in the camp, but it’s always different in the day of the game and we will discover it a lot on Saturday on Saturday.”
Zac Alley has been led as a defensive coordinator and hopes to help generate an increase in forced reversals, one aspect with which mountaineers have had several seasons in recent times.
The 31 -year -old alley previously worked with Rodriguez in Jacksonville State in 2022 and 2023 before spending last season in Oklahoma. It is believed that Alley directs a fairly complex defensive system which strives to be aggressive, but he admits that there is a lot of uncertainty entering his first match in Virginia-Western.
“The rest of the year, at least you have a game to watch and you can get information that way,” said Alley. “Regarding not knowing what will happen in a match, it’s probably the most I have ever had.”
