I can understand loyalty towards a program. I might even respect it. But Rich Rodriguez made a mistake. Rodriguez declined a job coaching for Alabama and will return to Morgantown next season, coaching the West Virginia Mountaineers. Rodrigeuz has built quite a team out in West Virginia but I think this move was a mistake. I know he’s a West Virginia alum with loyalties to the school and program but I think taking the Alabama job would have been a serious, serious upgrade.
It’s generally accepted that college football coaches are always looking to move up in the world. Rodriguez started off in Division II schools Salem and Glenville State before taking the job at West Virginia in 2001. He’s had lots of success there, even winning the 2006 Sugar Bowl with the Mountaineers. He’s recruited very well and has been the architect of one of the best programs in the Big East. What else do you have to accomplish there? A national championship would be nice but when a program like Alabama comes calling, you have to take that job.
Take Urban Meyer for example. Meyer spent two years at Bowling Green, turning around that program and winning MAC Coach of the Year honors. He then went to Utah, where he won a BCS bowl, finished 22-2, and produced a #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft in Alex Smith. But he didn’t make the mistake Rodriguez did. He had won at a small conference in the MAC, a better conference in the MWC, and he got his opportunity to move to the SEC, the best football conference in the country. He accepted the job at Florida and in his second season, he’s made the BCS National Championship Game.
In the end, there’s only so much you can do at a smaller program. The Mountaineers are a BCS Conference team so Rodriguez can still have some good opportunities there. But Alabama is a storied program, a program that has won National Championships, Heisman Trophies, and boasts one of the most famous coaches ever in Bear Bryant, Rodriguez simply doesn’t have that at West Virginia, no matter how many games he wins.
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I will be the first to admit that I do not know a lot about college football…but as a Morgantown, WV resident-I can tell you that there are many, many, many reasons why he made the right decision to stay put. The following are just my humble opinions… but here we go:
1. It seems that if you do not have a perfect season at Alabama, you are out the door. I read a lot of ‘Bama blogs and boards in the last few days-and it seems a lot of people are angry with the ‘Bama staff… not the last coach. It takes time to recruit and build a good team. Richs’ first year with us was not a good one. Do you think he’d really have job security there? He knows full well, I am sure-that he does here. WVU is forgiving and supportive… fans stick with the team through the good and the bad. In fact, we have an official first down cheer… I don’t know of any other school that does that… According to the story, this was started because the team was struggling to win games or maybe it was a particular game…I was very young when it started… sometime in the 80’s maybe… But in order to be supportive of the team, the fans were like… ‘well, lets cheer them on in something’… and to this day, it has an amazing effect in the stadium. There is nothing like a Mountaineer home game… I know I am biased but I have heard this from opposing teams fans as well…
So, to the point… job security…
2. He has two young children. I am not slamming ‘Bama by any means… but WV has a very low crime rate…Morgantown is a safe and beautiful place to raise a family. Sure we have our problems… but it’s a great place to live. People can make fun of us all they want-their vision of who we are is totally warped…They do not understand this place…and the sense of home…the sense of belonging…and the peace. (I am from Maryland by the way…Baltimore area…) Again, I am not saying Alabama is not all of these things as well…but there is a reason why we find it hard to leave this state…(or come back eventually when we do) and why we sing Country Roads (though silly and not quite correct lyrically) with immense passion…especially after a WV win.
Also, from what I read on ‘Bama message boards-it seems we are more tolerant of diversity within our city/state. I was shocked to read some of the things I read… and they call us ignorant? I do understand that they don’t represent all of Alabama…of course, we have our own bad seeds… but I don’t think we have as much negative press and pressure on people as ‘Bama seems to have.
So, we have atmosphere and quality of life.
3. Showing loyalty to a team that he has mentored and coached is not a mistake by any means. It shows these young men that money isn’t the end all to life. Reaching for the higher rung (supposedly) in the rat race that is business is not always going to make one happy. He has taught them-hopefully-that finding your place-finding your home…that is more important than any amount of money and so called prestige elsewhere. This is a huge lesson for those kids…one that they will take with them forever… that their coach didn’t leave them stranded just so he could add another job on his resume. We will eventually win the national championship… we will continue to make the Big East the best it can be…and continue to recruit awesome talent…but you said what more can he do here. In the crazy frenzy that is college football…I think the fact that they are here for an education gets lost sometimes… (at least in my opinion). The priority is to teach young men about leadership and life skills. Bowls and championships are awesome-no doubt.. but the “what more” is what he can teach these young men… And, what he can do with this program. If Alabama is already so great and prestigious, what more can he do there? Here, he can get people motivated to build better facilities, invest more in the athletes and the staff he already has…and again, with job security and support from not just WVU, fans and alumni…but practically the whole state of WV…(except for that small sliver of Huntington who love the Herd…and secretly, they love the ‘Eers too) Can Alabama offer that?
Also,-he is not the first one to turn the job down… I would think that speaks volumes about Alabama…. not about Coach Rod. Although-in his press conference, he did say that it had nothing to do with anything Alabama didn’t have…but his choice was more about what WV did have…
Education, values, loyalty and keeping ones word over money, fame and so called greener pastures…
4. From what I have read, it seems Alabama needs to get over the whole Bear Bryant thing… yes, he was great… but let it go. Give someone new room to grow, improve and establish their own name there… It seems like no one can fill those shoes… no one you get at Alabama is going to be good enough if you keep comparing him or wanting him to be Bryant.
So, perhaps not having as much flexibility and room to grow into a new position as he has had and will continue to have here….
Everyone underestimates WV time and time again. But that is okay. WV fans are passionate and regardless of what the outside world thinks about what a mistake he has made… there is no doubt in our minds that going to Alabama would have been a bigger mistake…especially after what many of us ‘Ears fans read on ‘Bama boards/blogs-
So we are very happy and excited that he chose to stay here.
I hope Alabama finds a great coach…those young men deserve the best… And I hope they can find someone like Coach Rod-who is willing and able to stick with them and turn the team around…. at least if the school is willing to work with the person to make it happen.