West Virginia

Rich Rodriguez is back at West Virginia and taking stand against player entitlement

Published

10 months ago

March 14, 2025

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Rich Rodriguez is back at West Virginia and taking stand against player entitlement

This ain’t about dancing, OK? Don’t get caught in the minutiae.

This is about how badly you want it, and how much you’ll sacrifice to get it.

“There’s a bigger sense of entitlement with our youth than ever before,” says West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.

And if you think he’s done there, clutch your pearls. We’re just getting started.

So I ask how he deals with the entitlement, and that sent Rodriguez – in the news earlier this week because, sin of all sins, he told players he didn’t want them dancing on TikTok – to a rare place only few coaches can go in this age of player empowerment.

The place of I Don’t Care.

“You don’t have to put up with that. We won’t,” Rodriguez said. “That’s just the way it is. It’s not really a conversation. It’s more of a directive. I’m not making a suggestion, I’m giving you a command.”

He pauses momentarily, and chuckles, “Sometimes I’ve got to yell a little louder.”

Welcome, everyone, the return of RichRod in Morgantown. The coach who had West By God one win from playing for the 2007 BCS National Championship, is back in his old stomping ground — and it’s like he never left.

In some ways, anyway.

It’s still finding three-star players and developing them into All-Americans (hello, Pat White and Steve Slaton). It’s still doing more with less, while dealing with blue blood football programs with more money and more advantages.

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It’s also still about Chris Borland.

Years ago, I found Rodriguez at the NCAA annual coaches convention, and he was trying to explain why it didn’t work at Michigan. He brought up Borland, a marginal linebacker recruit because of his size (5-feet-11 on a good day), but a beast of a player hours south of Michigan in Kettering, Ohio.

Before Rodriguez turned down Alabama and stayed at West Virginia (and Nick Saban later accepted the job), and after he eventually left for Michigan and it went bad, he pointed to Borland as a microcosm of the failure.

The Rodriguez of West Virginia would’ve snapped up Borland, developed him, and had an All-America linebacker (like Wisconsin did). But the Rodriguez of Michigan passed, opting instead for more stars, and height and weight that fit the mold — and fit what Michigan should be recruiting.

Instead of what made Rodriguez, and by extension West Virginia, a team that could win it all despite the inherent disadvantages.

He’s not making that mistake again, everyone. And now he has coaching capital.

West Virginia was desperate, and the fanbase was raging and restless after Bill Stewart, Dana Holgorsen and Neal Brown couldn’t recapture the magic of RichRod. So the university brought back the one coach who broke its collective heart nearly two decades ago.

Because now it finally made sense.

So if you think Rodriguez, whose coaching motto is Hard Edge, who was 32-5 from 2005-07 at West Virginia before leaving for Michigan, is backing down from players who want to put me before we, you clearly haven’t been following along.

NIL has a place and a purpose in football, he says. It doesn’t run football.

“You used to be able to tell a player to run through a wall, and he’ll run through it no questions,” Rodriguez said. “Now they want to know why, and when you give him the answer, he’ll say, ‘That’s not what it says on Google.’ I still think good players want to be coached hard. I still think you can be demanding. It’s our job as coaches to get you better than you ever thought you could be.”

Nothing about this reunion will be easy. West Virginia slipped late under Holgorsen, and then ran out of gas under Brown. The program that had elevated to national prominence under Rodriguez, struggled against rivals Pitt and Penn State and couldn’t compete in the Big 12.

The roster has been turned over, and Rodriguez doesn’t yet have a quarterback. Heck, he may even turn it over at some point in 2025 to freshman Scott Fox Jr., who enrolled early and has been a revelation of sorts in spring practice.

It should come as no surprise that Fox was a three-star recruit, and overlooked by blue blood power conference schools. He wants it. It’s important to him.

“There’s a lot of more things in your life than this sport. Your family, your religion,” Rodriguez said. “But when we’re practicing, when we’re playing, that next play is the most important thing in your world.”

Or as his friend Mike Leach always said, if you’re not coaching it, you’re allowing it.

In a few weeks, they’ll open up Milan Puskar Stadium for the annual spring game, and they’ll lock arms in the stands and sing “Country Roads”. The rebirth will have begin.

Somewhere in that crowd will be Rodriguez, call sheet in hand, looking for some help.

“I’m going to go in the stands and give fans a chance to call plays,” Rodriguez said. “I did it at Arizona, and when they called a play that didn’t work, I booed them at the top of my lungs. What a terrible call! Fire the bum!”

He’s laughing now, because it’s good to be back home and good to be wanted. And good to have that coaching capital again.

He’s talking about competing at a high level early, and not settling. About toughness and intensity and a core belief that players want to be coached hard.

All of those key building blocks of football that have gotten lost at times in a social media world.

“I’m still sticking to it,” Rodriguez said. “(Players) have to get refocused on exactly what the hell they’re supposed to be doing. They’re not on that team to be the best dancer on TikTok.”

The world of I Don’t Care has returned to West Virginia.

Don’t get caught in the minutiae.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

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West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Daily 3, Daily 4 on Jan. 8, 2026

Published

12 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Are you looking to win big? The West Virginia Lottery offers a variety of games if you think it’s your lucky day.

Lottery players in West Virginia can choose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Daily 3, Daily 4 and Cash 25.

Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.

Here’s a look at Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

8-1-9

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

9-6-6-7

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 25 numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

02-05-06-11-12-17

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.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

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.

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West Virginia

BREAKING: West Virginia Transfer DL Hammond Russell Commits to Wisconsin

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

BREAKING: West Virginia Transfer DL Hammond Russell Commits to Wisconsin

Wisconsin has added a transfer portal commitment from former West Virginia defensive lineman Hammond Russell.

Russell played in 36 games for the Mountaineers during his career. As a senior, the 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman posted 13.0 tackles and 2.0 sacks. For his career, Hammond has 40.0 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Russell is expected to get a redshirt for his 2022 season, in which he missed the entirety of due to a broken foot and a concussion.

A three-star recruit coming out of Dublin, Ohio, Russell chose WVU over Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Illinois, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Purdue, and more.

During his transfer portal recruitment, Russell also visited Kansas.

Russell joins a Wisconsin defensive line that’s set to return junior Charles Perkins and sophomore Dillan Johnson, among others. The Badgers also signed Junior Poyser out of Buffalo this week.

Russell is currently unranked as a transfer prospect, according to On3. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

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West Virginia

West Virginia falters late in 71-66 loss to 17th-ranked Texas Tech – WV MetroNews

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia falters late in 71-66 loss to 17th-ranked Texas Tech – WV MetroNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The third quarter of Wednesday’s contest against 17th-ranked Texas Tech was among West Virginia’s best this season from an offensive standpoint.

What followed in the fourth, however, was perhaps the worst 10-minute stretch on that end through 16 contests. The Mountaineers missed numerous decent looks and shot 3 for 19 from the field and 6 for 12 on free throws in the final frame, while squandering a six-point advantage with inside 8 minutes remaining and falling to the unbeaten Red Raiders, 71-66.

“We took one bad shot that I didn’t like at all and had a bad turnover late, but we got 19 shots off in the fourth quarter and most were pretty good looks,” WVU head coach Mark Kellogg said. “We just didn’t convert. The defensive end concerns me as much as the offensive end. Giving up 40 points in the second half is way too many.”

Of WVU’s three fourth-quarter buckets, only one within the first 9:34 — a layup from Kierra ‘MeMe’ Wheeler with 7:10 remaining that left the home team with a 58-53 lead and came directly after Texas Tech’s Bailey Maupin had made a three-pointer.

Despite the offensive struggles, WVU dug in enough defensively to maintain a 61-57 advantage with inside 2 minutes remaining before the game turned in the visitors’ favor over a 7-second stretch.

Snudda Collins scored on a drive to the basket, while being fouled by Carter McCray in the process. With 1:59 left, Collins stepped to the free-throw line but was unable to convert the three-point play. Tech’s Jalynn Bristow came up with a pivotal offensive rebound, and found Maupin on the perimeter, who drained her fourth and final triple to give the Red Raiders (17-0, 4-0) a 62-61 lead at the 1:52 mark.

“They’re really good in the third quarter and I would venture to say we’re really good in the fourth quarter from previous games,” Red Raiders’ head coach Krista Gerlich said. “I’m not real sure fatigue played a factor in it as much as our kids just kind of locked down, really tried to defend and we got better on the glass. They missed a lot of easy shots early in the fourth quarter and that maybe played toward fatigue, but our kids did a good job on the glass and limiting second-chance opportunities, and we quit fouling a bit.”

Jordan Harrison missed a pair of threes on WVU’s ensuing trip, before Maupin made two free throws for a three-point advantage with 38 seconds left.

“What a basketball game. We knew coming in this was going to be a huge challenge and I’m super proud of our kids for being resilient for four quarters,” Gerlich said.

Harrison scored from close range 13 seconds later, but the Red Raiders continued to excel from the free-throw line and Collins made a pair for a 66-63 lead with 20 seconds to play.

Maupin then stole a Gia Cooke pass and made 1-of-2 free throws to make it a two-possession game, before another Mountaineer turnover all but ended any hope of late heroics for the home team.

“We made a lot of mistakes. They sped us up a little bit, but the mistakes we made were on us,” Harrison said. “When we go back and watch the film, we’ll see there was an easier way to score — slow down and read the defense.”

The third period was a far different story as WVU (13-3, 3-1) overcame a 31-28 halftime deficit by making 10-of-13 shots in what amounted to a 25-point frame. Harrison was the catalyst for the success, scoring 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting and dishing out three assists, while McCray continued to be a presence inside and scored seven points on 3-for-3 shooting.

But Texas Tech managed 19 points in the third to stay well within striking distance, with the Red Raiders making half of their six three-point attempts in that quarter, including both from Denae Fritz.

“You’re up six in the fourth, you’re supposed to find a way to win that game,” Kellogg said.

The entirety of the game was played within six points, with Tech’s largest lead coming at 29-23 after a Collins triple.

McCray and Harrison combined for the next five points, before Maupin capped the first-half scoring with a pair of free throws. She scored 11 of her game-high 27 points through two quarters and 13 more in the fourth.

“No basketball game is all ups and no basketball game is all downs,” Maupin said. “It’s finding a balance between your highs and lows and managing that to be able to come out with a win.”

Collins scored 19 points to help her team finish with a 25-2 advantage in bench points.

Tech finished with a 37-33 rebounding edge, and despite having 16 offensive boards to WVU’s 18, the Red Raiders accounted for 20 of the game’s 28 second-chance points.

“We got a lot of offensive rebounds and didn’t convert very many of them,” Kellogg said.

Harrison led four WVU double-figure scorers with 22 points and added five rebounds and five assists.

McCray added 15 points and Wheeler scored 11 to go with a team-best nine boards. Sydney Shaw scored 10 but shot 4 for 14, while Cooke was held to six points on 2-for-9 shooting.

The Mountaineers forced 20 turnovers, but managed only four steals.

“We had too many things go wrong that we had control of,” McCray said, “and that led to our detriment in the end.”

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