If West Virginia had any hard feelings toward Rich Rodriguez for leaving 17 years ago, they weren’t apparent at the press conference introducing his return to Morgantown on Friday.

Well, one fan apparently wasn’t enthused about Rodriguez coming back to coach the Mountaineers. But the heckler was quickly shouted down by the fans in attendance and eventually escorted out of the WVU Coliseum.

Rodriguez had a quick quip for the heckler, winning over the crowd that was already enthusiastic about his return.

“OK, any other Pitt fans can leave the building,” said Rodriguez, who previously coached West Virginia from 2001-07 before leaving for Michigan.

The response from fans — and insulting chants toward rival Pitt — made Rodriguez emotional as he began his remarks.

“This is really surreal,” he said. “I never should have left.”

Rodriguez signed a five-year contract with WVU and will be paid an average annual salary of $3.75 million, according to ESPN. The value of the deal could increase with incentives tied to win totals and other benchmarks.

During his first stint in Morgantown, Rodriguez went 60–26 with five bowl appearances including a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia after the 2005 season. WVU went 32–5 in Rodriguez’s last three seasons and oversaw a revolutionary spread-option offense. Most memorably, the Mountaineers were in position for the BCS championship game in 2007 but lost 13–9 to Pitt.

Rodriguez left before WVU played in the Fiesta Bowl, where they defeated Oklahoma under interim coach Bill Stewart. Stewart was eventually named the permanent head coach.

That final loss to Pitt apparently stuck with Rodriguez, who made a point of taking a few jabs at the Panthers during his press conference and an interview with WVU alum Pat McAfee.

“I probably misspoke a little bit earlier when I said the two worst four-letter words were ‘soft’ and ‘lazy,’” Rodriguez said when describing the kinds of players he did not want at West Virginia. “I left out Pitt.”

West Virginia and Pitt play next season on Sept. 13.

I saw an advertisement recently that troubled me a bit, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. The ad, from the West Virginia Lottery, starts with a shot of the New River Gorge Bridge and quickly cuts to a group of people rafting who soon interact with animated characters that I presume are part of some lottery games. The point of the ad is to show off the state’s new digital lottery and gaming platform, iPlay. 

A press release from West Virginia Lottery touting the release of iPlay emphasizes the ability to “participate completely from the comfort of their homes.” Included with the rollout of the new app and web platform is a loyalty program, dubbed PlayOn, that rewards customers who repeatedly play the lottery games. 

Perhaps the troubled feeling I had about this ad could be more accurately described as uneasiness. One of the thoughts that came to my mind: should we throw incentives and rewards at repeat lottery and scratch players? I recalled feeling sympathetic in the past to the argument that lotteries are a regressive form of taxation, in that it’s often the poorest people who play (and pay) the most. A study from The Economist found that low-income people spend more than 30 times their income on lotteries compared to wealthier households. 

Some would say that even though it’s a regressive tax, it’s not that concerning since gambling is voluntary. No one is forced to play the lottery. However, the predatory capabilities of the lottery and similar games, and — worse, I think —  encouraging repeat playings, waters down that argument. Winning the lottery, as slim of a chance as it is, is often viewed as a ticket out of poverty for many who don’t have a lot of other options.  And once someone starts gambling, their odds of becoming addicted increase.

I’ve come to realize that my uneasiness toward gambling has been in the back of my mind for some time because of the pervasiveness of sports betting, particularly online betting. I took a few years away from paying much attention to sports, but over the last year I’ve gotten more engaged. It’s impossible not to notice the proliferation of commercials for sports betting platforms like DraftKings or FanDuel. Sports betting analytics have even wormed their way into the commentating and on the screen while you watch the game, not to mention the logos that are on jerseys and courts now. You can even bet on location at some stadiums. Driving to the grocery store, I see a billboard with High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens promising me “free” money if I sign up for BetMGM.

West Virginia was ahead of the curve when it came to legalizing sports betting. The state Legislature passed a bill in March 2018, months before the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision that overturned a decades-long ban on legal sports betting for almost every state in the country.

Now, six years after the sports betting ban was overturned, 20% of people say they have placed a bet in the last year, and we’re starting to see some data regarding its effects. One study this year found that in states with online sports betting, there’s been an increase in betting activity, higher credit card balances and a reduction in savings. Specifically, the researchers found that for every $1 bet placed, households experience a $2 reduction in investments — money they would have otherwise been saved or invested. Another study found that sports betting has led to an increase in bankruptcies and auto loan delinquencies. Other researchers suggest that the uptick in online sports betting has led to a rise in domestic violence. Anecdotal data from problem gambling support centers indicates that more people are calling in for support, and the callers are younger than in the past.

Research on online sports gambling is still an emerging field, and this data could change. And of course, correlation is not causation. But I believe there’s enough there for our policymakers in West Virginia — where sports and online gambling has grown at an unprecedented rate — to devote more funding to research, prevention and support services for people impacted by problem gambling. 

I recognize that one interpretation of this piece is that I’m moralizing. Another might be that I’m getting old, cranky and prefer the way things used to be. I’m trying my hardest not to be that way. I think gambling should be legal. I am pretty sure sports gambling should be legal. If for no other reason then it’s going to happen whether it’s legal or not, and I’d rather people owe their banks money than a bookie. I can’t help but wonder if we moved too fast, if the rate in which this hobby has grown is going to have dangerous and disastrous impacts for people in our state, where families already face some of the highest poverty rates in the nation. 

Problem gambling and financial harm aside, it’s important to get this right so that sports aren’t ruined for the athletes and viewers. We have already seen one NBA player banned for life for this year for intentionally playing badly to help bettors. A college basketball player is under investigation for something similar. Athletes now receive hate tweets and death threats for underperforming and ruining bettor’s parlays, costing them real money. 

We have to figure out a way to protect people and sports from the predatory nature of betting. Starting with restrictions on advertising is a start. I’ll be sorry to see you go, Vanessa Hudgens. 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) –

Seventeen years after leaving his alma mater for Michigan, Rich Rodriguez has returned as the 36th Head Coach of the West Virginia Football program. But how did it all end during Rodriguez’ first stint at the helm?

During his original tenure at West Virginia (2001-07) WVU Football was a nationally prominent program. That included four Big East Titles and multiple bowl victories, headlined by a 38-35 win in the 2006 Sugar Bowl over Georgia. Rodriguez went 4-3 in Backyard Brawls, but one Brawl loss remains unforgettable for Mountaineer fans.

December 1, 2007. The 100th edition of the famed rivalry game. Pitt, with a 4-7 record. West Virginia, 10-1, was ranked #2 in the nation. A win against Pitt in the final game of the season would put WVU in the national championship game. But then, the unthinkable happened. Pitt upset the Mountaineers 13-9 in Morgantown to spoil their National Championship hopes.

Shortly after the brutal defeat, Rodriguez left West Virginia to become the head coach of the University of Michigan. This exit was followed by Bill Stewart taking over as interim head coach, who then led the team to 48-28 win in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.Rich Rodriguez left his alma mater after totaling a 60-26 overall record in seven seasons – but it was not without a fight. West Virginia filed a lawsuit against Rodriguez, arguing that a new contract, signed months before his departure, required a buyout fee to be paid. This would later force both Rodriguez and Michigan too pay a 4-million-dollar buyout to West Virginia.

After that was settled, his success in West Virginia did not translate to his time in Ann Arbor. Rodriguez went 15-22 in three seasons, with only one bowl appearance and was eventually fired having the worst winning percentage of any football coach in the program’s history.

From there, Rodriguez took a year off coaching, and in 2012 was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats. He stayed there for 6 seasons, totaling a 43-35 overall record. On January 2nd, 2018, Rodriguez was fired from the program, which came after a sexual harassment allegation was filed against him and the school by a former administrative assistant. These allegations were denied by Rodriguez, and eventually the allegations were deemed unsubstantiated after a three-month university investigation.

Rodriguez then returned to head coaching in 2021-22 at Jacksonville State, leading the program to new heights. He recorded a 27-10 overall record and three consecutive nine-win seasons. Those include a 1st place finish in the ASUN Conference in 2022, a New Orleans bowl win in 2023, and the 2024 Conference USA Championship. The now 61-year-old coach will take over a program that regressed after a 9-4 2023 season, and one with a fan base desperate to get back to the national prowess the program had back in when he was the leader of the team.

9/13 will be a special day for the program next season, as Rodriguez will have the opportunity to take down Pitt in Morgantown for the 108th Backyard Brawl. Revenge for 13-9 on 9/13 may not erase the past but that game could herald a new beginning for the next chapter of West Virginia Football.

This article has been corrected. A previous version said WVU was 10-0 heading into the Backyard Brawl – they were 10-1.

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