West Virginia still isn’t getting a public answer on the quarterback job, and Rich Rodriguez is fine keeping it that way.
Asked Friday why he hasn’t named a starter, Rodriguez made it clear he sees no reason to hand that information over before kickoff. He told reporters, “I don’t need to tell anybody.
In fact, I think it’s kind of intriguing. If you want to find out who is going to start, buy a ticket and come to great Mountaineer Field.
You can tailgate until 12:58, but make sure you get in in time because at 1 o’clock we might be kicking off or kickoff return, and we’ll see who runs out there. I’m going to know before then.
I may know before I tell the coaches. I may know right now.
Probably do. I like you guys, I really do, but I ain’t giving you the scoop, so you got to keep coming back.
Come back to the next media opportunity, and you still won’t know.
“It’s not really (a strategic advantage). I mean, obviously, if they were completely different guys, you prepare defensively a little bit different.
But when all of our guys run all of our plays, and they’re very similar, it doesn’t make a big advantage. So if it doesn’t make a difference, why don’t you go ahead and announce the guy?
I don’t feel like it today.”
The answer, though unstated by the coach, appears to be Mike Hawkins Jr. Hawkins has held the edge since spring, and that hasn’t changed. Scotty Fox Jr. is still viewed as a strong talent and a future Power Four quarterback, but this job right now belongs to Hawkins.
Rodriguez has known the answer for a while, even if he’s not planning to say it publicly. When West Virginia opens against Coastal Carolina on September 5th, the expectation is that No. 3 Hawkins will be the first quarterback out there.
There’s also the possibility both quarterbacks see the field. That would make sense, and if they don’t both play, then something bigger is going on. But if both do get snaps, it won’t be about sorting out the competition.
In Other News...
WVU Brings Back A Home Game Perk Fans Will Appreciate
Mountaineer fans heading back to Milan Puskar Stadium this fall will find a familiar perk waiting for them at the concession stands. WVU Athletics has announced the return of Fan First concession pricing on select items and stand locations for home football games, with popcorn, small bottled water, fountain drinks and pepperoni rolls among the offerings available at designated spots around the stadium.
The school is also bringing back the Coca-Cola Season Ticket Holder Deal of the Game, another game-day benefit aimed at rewarding the fans who have committed for the full home slate. The deal will again give season ticket holders discounts on concessions and at the WVU Team Shop, a small but welcome touch as the Mountaineers look to make the stadium experience a little easier on the wallet. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Next Roster Decision Could Bring Back Two Familiar Veterans
West Virginias roster picture still has a little room to shift as fall approaches, and two familiar veterans are back in the mix. The program said tight end Jacob Barrick and cornerback Jason Chambers are taking part in team activities while WVU waits on a legal decision that could affect whether players from the 2022 class can claim a fifth year of eligibility.
For the Mountaineers, the timing matters because the staff is already managing roster space with an eye on possible additions. WVU has two open spots available, and the plan is not to clear room by cutting anyone loose, even as the team keeps one eye on the transfer portal and another on the outcome of the eligibility ruling. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginias Rebuilt Defense Faces Early Test Up Front
West Virginias defense is entering preseason practice with a very different look, and the biggest changes are up front. The Mountaineers have almost completely remade their two-deep defensive roster, bringing in junior college and FBS additions at defensive line and bandit while also leaning on a few experienced returnees who could be pushed into bigger roles.
Rich Rodriguez said the roster turnover is part of the reality of this reset as camp and scrimmages get underway, and it puts the early spotlight on how quickly the new pieces can mesh. For a unit trying to establish itself before the season starts, the first few weeks up front will tell a lot about whether the rebuild is ahead of schedule or still very much a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]