West Virginia

Rodriguez has evolved with the changing times

Published

1 year ago

February 23, 2025

Rodriguez has evolved with the changing times

West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez has already had success in Morgantown.

Leading the football program from 2001-07, Rodriguez led the Mountaineers to a 60-26 record and three consecutive seasons with at least ten wins. But college football has changed in a lot of ways including the rise of name, image and likeness as a key component of roster management.

But like any good coach Rodriguez has adapted with the times. On top of just being a more seasoned head coach, he’s also had to embrace the new challenges that have come with the new era of college football.

“You have to evolve and if you want to win and have success at this level or any level, if the goalposts are moving then you better move with it and that’s what I’ve tried to learn and keep doing,” he said.

A self-described “football junkie,” Rodriguez is always pushing himself to learn more whether that’s scheme, methods or in recruiting. So, while it’s a different landscape than the one that Rodriguez inherited during his first tenure it’s one that he is prepared to meet head-on in his second.

“There’s a lot more knowledge and things that I know now that I didn’t know in 2001 but there’s also more challenges to being a head coach,” he said.

When it comes to a plan to address transfers and attracting as well as retaining talent on the roster, Rodriguez developed a plan at Jacksonville State where they molded the construction on an NFL scale.

By that, Rodriguez said that they apply certain percentages of funding to various positions on the roster such as a quarterback one receiving x amount of money and left tackles and down the line. Now that has to be spread out more than in the NFL simply because of the number of players that must be paid but it’s a formula that has worked as Rodriguez welcomed 60 new players with the Gamecocks last season and won the Conference USA Championship.

That will be aided even more once the revenue-sharing model is approved and goes into effect July 1 with the schools taking ownership of that as opposed to a variety of NIL deals.

“We are going to have an earned success model where if you’re the starting left tackle after August camp you’re going to get more money than the scout team right tackle. To have a fair system we’re going to do with our players,” Rodriguez said. “We have that model in place, we have that system ready to go. Some of that has already been implemented a lot of that will be implemented we hope June 30 when the rev share goes into play and the school can now pay players.”

There will still likely be an NIL component to it all even outside the revenue-sharing model but Rodriguez expects that will be better regulated compared to the current system. That also could open opportunities at a school like West Virginia which is the only Power Four program in a state with no professional teams.

“Our guys are a bigger deal in our state than a lot of similar type of programs in other states’” Rodriguez said. “Hopefully we can still have some NIL stuff where there’s interest at and we can get some really good players with that.”

The rise of the transfer portal has changed so much already in college football with some schools openly opting out of holding spring games to avoid having their players poached by other programs. It is a genuine concern compared to the past when the focus was more on coaches worrying about showing too much of their various schemes.

“We’ll have some little bit of scrimmage and play a little bit of football but I am worried about it because there’s not as much structure to keep the tampering away as it should be,” Rodriguez said.

West Virginia even scheduled their spring practice schedule to align with the beginning of the spring transfer portal window April 16 to allow a week for Rodriguez and the rest of the coaching staff to individually meet with players. That’s especially important with the potential for the total roster size to be reduced to 105 if the House Settlement is indeed passed.

“I’m still hoping we can grandfather that in and eventually get to that number because there’s going to be some really good players and some really hard working men that we have to cut just to fit the roster size and that’s not going to be fun at all,” he said.

Source link

West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Daily 3, Daily 4 on Feb. 26, 2026

Published

7 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the West Virginia Lottery’s draw games on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on Feb. 26.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

1-1-7

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

3-8-8-2

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 25 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

02-03-09-11-13-19

Check Cash 25 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

West Virginia

WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala raises $2 million for West Virginia’s kids and families

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala raises million for West Virginia’s kids and families

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s raised more than $2 million at its annual gala, an event dedicated to expanding care for children and expectant mothers in West Virginia and the surrounding region.

Approximately 1,300 guests enjoyed the “Celestial” themed event on Saturday (Feb. 21) as they helped little stars shine bright at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.

Donations from the community will go toward the greatest needs of WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, helping to ensure all families in need receive world-class care in a compassionate environment when they need it.

“Our community continues to show up in extraordinary ways for our patients and families,” Amy L. Bush, B.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., C.N.O.R., chief administrative officer for WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, said. “The generosity we witnessed at this year’s gala ensures we can continue growing our programs and enhancing the care we provide. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who believes in our mission.”

Engineer, TV host, and 100th woman to fly to space, Emily Calandrelli, served as emcee for the evening. The West Virginia University alumna is passionate about space exploration and inspiring children to pursue STEM careers.

Calandrelli spent time visiting patients at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s before the gala.

“As a Morgantown native who is passionate about science and children, I’m thrilled to play a small part in this beautiful evening that raises crucial funds for the lifesaving work WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital is doing right here in my hometown,” she said.

“The amazing doctors, nurses, and staff aren’t just healing sick kids, they are inspiring the next generation of curious explorers and adventurers who are one day going to change the world.”

Entertainment was provided by Party on the Moon, whose high-energy performance capped off the night’s festivities.

A highlight of the celebration was the recognition of inspiring patients and dedicated teams who care for kids across the state.

Carter Casey from Sod in Lincoln County was introduced as the 2026 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® Champion Child for West Virginia. He received care at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals in Charleston and WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s for life-threatening injuries after a go-kart accident.

Pavithra Ellison, M.D., M.M.M., F.A.S.A., associate chief quality officer and vice chair of anesthesiology, was presented with the WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital Award for her leadership, service, and lasting impact on pediatric healthcare.

The Community Service Award was presented to Little General, Inc. The company’s generosity has provided vital support to the children and families who turn to WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s for care. The Little General team across the state is committed to creating a better future for West Virginia’s families.

More than 80 sponsors contributed to the gala’s success. Leading sponsors included Iron Senergy, Dr. Christopher and Beth Mascio, Hope Gas, Infinity Electric & Service Co., CJL Engineering, HED Design, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Trilogy Innovations, Mark Carter and Amy Wildasin, PJ Dick, Triple H Enterprises, Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, Prolacta Bioscience, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Daniel’s Men’s Store, and StudioKat Photography.

David A. Rosen, M.D., Michelle Rosen, and the Rosen Family Foundation served as presenting sponsors and helped spearhead fundraising efforts. Dr. Rosen, a pediatric anesthesiologist at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s and professor and vice chair of research in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology, emphasized the importance of continued investment in pediatric care.

“I am proud to continue my support of the WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala. This commitment is deeply personal — not only as a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist who has had the privilege of serving WVU Medicine for more than 30 years, but also as someone who was personally affected by polio as a child,” Dr. Rosen said.

“That early experience shaped my lifelong appreciation for the critical role compassionate, specialized pediatric care plays in changing lives. Supporting WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital reflects both my professional dedication and my personal mission to advancing exceptional care for children with complex medical needs and supporting the families who rely on it.”

All gala contributions were made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities. Visit Childrens.WVUMedicine.org/Giving to make a gift to WVU Medicine Children’s.

For more information on WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, visit WVUKids.com.

Source link

West Virginia

Instant Takeaways from WVU’s Second Half Thrashing of UCF

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Instant Takeaways from WVU’s Second Half Thrashing of UCF

The Mountaineers earned their second win over the UFF Knights by a score of 74-62 on Wednesday night in Orlando at Addition Financial Arena. The Mountaineers went into the half trailing, but battled back for a comfortable win.

Here are some instant takeaways from West Virginia women’s hoops’ 23rd win of the season.

West Virginia Proves They Can Overcome Slow Starts

It was a very slow first half for the Mountaineers. West Virginia trailed 27-25 at halftime, but came out in the third quarter firing on all cylinders. Within the first minute of the third quarter, the Mountaineers had regained the lead off of a Gia Cooke layup and a tough finish inside by Carter McCray.

West Virginia went on to have a 31-9 run in the third quarter, leading by as many as 21 to propel them to victory. The way that the Mountaineers were able to regroup and go on a run in the second half shows that this team is built to win in many ways. They have depth at guard in particular that can keep them in the game against almost any team in the nation.

The Mountaineers Have Depth Everywhere

When the Mountaineers came out of the second half, it ended up being guards Gia Cooke and Jordan Harrison who led the way, scoring the ball. Harrison, who scored 16 points against UCF, in particular, has displayed through her three seasons at West Virginia that she fits perfectly into head coach Mark Kellogg’s defensive style of basketball. Harrison has also been molded into a solid offensive player. Cooke leads the team in points per game and leads the team with 19 points tonight. When the Mountaineers need a bucket, they can count on the experience of Cooke and Harrison down the stretch.

Meme Wheeler and Carter McCray had nearly identical stat lines that included 12 points and 7 rebounds each. Having Wheeler and McCray capable of rebounding with just about anybody in the Big 12 is part of what West Virginia has been missing during Kellogg’s tenure. This truly does feel like the most complete team of the Kellogg era thus far.

The win moves West Virginia to 14-4 in Big 12 play and 24-6 overall. The Mountaineers sit behind only TCU in the Big 12, with Baylor a game back and WVU owning the head-to-head victory over the Bears. Kellogg and his crew will finish their 2025-26 regular season campaign on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Hope Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

Source link