MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — For all the unknowns surrounding West Virginia, of which there are plenty with 79 players added to the program this offseason, the story of Saturday’s season opener against Robert Morris centers around the return of head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Hired in December for his second go-around with that title in Morgantown, Rodriguez will control the Mountaineer sideline for the first time in 18 years come 2 p.m. in a matchup that can be seen on ESPN+.
Rodriguez compiled a 60-26 record over seven seasons during his first stint as WVU head coach, but left for Michigan on uneasy terms shortly after the Mountaineers came within one game of playing for a National Championship in 2007.
Rodriguez ranks fifth among active FBS coaches with 190 career wins and figures to have a high likelihood of acting to that total against the Colonials of the FCS. West Virginia is unbeaten in 22 previous meetings with programs at that level.
“It’s a little surreal, but it’s the first game for this new staff and the first game for a lot of players, but the nostalgia part [was] four or five months ago. It’s brought up more, which I understand that,” Rodriguez said. “I’m appreciative and grateful and the fans have been great. We’re working really hard. Only thing I can say is I want to have a certain work ethic and commitment to the program that our fans would appreciate. That’s always going to happen. I appreciate that and the opportunity. Our players will go out, have some fun and play really hard.”
Still, Rodriguez provided little emphasis on individuals during preseason camp and on the Mountaineers’ depth chart, five quarterbacks are separated by the term or without a starter indicated.
“There’s a lot of guys anxious to prove themselves,” Rodriguez said, “so it should be fun on Saturday.”
Rodriguez said he plans for more than one quarterback to play against RMU, which finished 7-5 last season and also has what can be described as a roster filled with turnover in addition to new coordinators for all three phases.
“From a players standpoint, it’s anybody’s guess, but it is for them, too,” Rodriguez said. “They have a lot of new players. It’s going to be an interesting first game.”
Whoever is at quarterback for WVU will guide a tempo-predicated offense that hopes to play at its preferred pace.
“The first game, there’s so many unknowns, particularly if you have 79 new players like we do and it’s a new system,” Rodriguez said. “They have three new coordinators, so they could be something totally new, too. You can anticipate and they can anticipate maybe the schemes, but who’s going to be doing it, there’s guesswork on both ends. You have to play a game to find out. The hardest part about the first game is you go live a little bit in camp, but it’s still different in game day and we’ll find out a lot about certain guys on Saturday.”
Zac Alley was brought on as defensive coordinator and hopes to help generate an increase in turnovers forced, an aspect the Mountaineers have struggled with in several seasons of late.
The 31-year-old Alley previously worked with Rodriguez at Jacksonville State in 2022 and 2023 before spending last season at Oklahoma. Alley is thought to run a rather complex defensive system that strives to be aggressive, but he admits there is plenty of uncertainty entering his first game at West Virginia.
“The rest of the year, at least you have a game to watch and you can get some information that way,” Alley said. “As far as not knowing what’s going to happen going into a game, it’s probably the most I’ve ever had.”
