West Virginia lost one of its most recognizable benefactors with the death of businessman Ike Morris, and Rich Rodriguez made clear just how deep that loss runs in his own life.
Rodriguez, the WVU head football coach, first knew Morris back when he was coaching at Glenville State in 1990. In a statement released the morning of Morris’ passing, Rodriguez called him “the most influential person in my life.”
“My family and I are brokenhearted to learn of the passing of our dear friend Ike Morris. He was the most influential person in my life.
From my time at Glenville State 36 years ago to today, he was always there to help me and be like a second father. He never stopped caring or believing in me.
His wife, Sue, daughter, Shelly, son, Doug, and his many friends are in our prayers. Today is a sad day for the entire state of West Virginia, as he was one of the greatest West Virginians of all time.
I miss him already.”
Rodriguez expanded on that bond Monday night when he opened his weekly radio show. He said Morris was someone whose influence reached far beyond what most people ever saw.
“He’s done so much. Everybody that knows West Virginia knows what he’s done.
And a lot of things he’s done people don’t even know. I’ve been on trips with him that nobody even knew about in different communities.
The greatest West Virginian I’ve ever known.
“One of the biggest thrills of coming back was family being here, but being able to see Ike," he continued. "Wherever I went, he went.
And to come back here where I could see him every week was a big deal. Big heart.
Coach (Rick) Trickett and I have been really close with him, but everybody in my family’s known him for a long time. Everybody that’s grown up and lived in West Virginia has known him.
He’s done so much more that he never even cared about getting the credit for. It’s a sad, sad day.
He’s the most influential person in my life. It’s not even close.”
Morris built a major business footprint in the state as the owner of Waco Oil & Gas Co., Inc., based in Glenville, West Virginia. He also owned Waco Foods LLC, which operates the Glenville, Grantsville, and Craigsville Foodland stores. According to his WVU Business School Hall of Fame profile, his business interests also extended into coal mining, stone quarries, fitness center, restaurant, lounge, automatic car wash, and commercial and residential real estate.
But his reputation wasn’t built only on business. Morris was also known for giving back, supporting people and communities across West Virginia, including Glenville State University and WVU. Rodriguez’s words Monday underscored how personal that generosity was to him.
West Virginia has lost a man who meant a great deal to many, and Rodriguez said it plainly: “It’s a sad, sad day.”
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez May Be Closing In On Big Defensive Changes
West Virginias defensive problems have been impossible to ignore, and Rich Rodriguez has spent the past stretch digging into them with his staff. The Mountaineers have lacked a clear defensive identity, which has pushed Rodriguez to stress the basics and demand more urgency from his players as the unit tries to find some stability.
Zac Alley already trimmed the call sheet to just 12 defensive plays for the most recent game, a sign that simplification was part of the answer, at least on paper. Even with that adjustment, the inconsistency has continued, and the upcoming bye week could give Rodriguez another window to make bigger changes if the staff decides the current approach is not enough. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Still Has Two Big Problems Heading Into TCU
Rich Rodriguez spent part of the buildup to TCU doing what coaches often do when the tape has been uneven: acknowledging both the challenge ahead and the issues at home. He praised TCUs defense and made clear West Virginias own defensive play still needs work, even as he pointed to players such as Zac Alley and Carsten with the expectation that theyll keep improving as the season moves forward.
The matchup now carries more than the usual Big 12 weight for the Mountaineers, because Rodriguez also took a broader view of what conference championship games mean and how much they matter. For West Virginia, though, the immediate concern is simpler and more urgent: the team has to tighten up on one side of the ball before TCU exposes the same problems again. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Hawkins Jr. Just Gave West Virginia Fans More Offensive Hope
Michael Hawkins Jr. gave West Virginia plenty to feel good about in Saturdays 45-42 win over Cincinnati, and the recognition followed quickly. The Mountaineers quarterback was named Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week after putting together one of the most complete outings in recent program memory, throwing for 464 yards and three touchdowns while also adding 77 rushing yards and two more scores.
For a West Virginia offense that has been looking for a dependable spark, Hawkins delivered one in a way the program has never seen before. He became the first quarterback in school history to pile up at least 450 passing yards and 75 rushing yards in the same game, and the honor marked his second Walter Camp Player of the Week award this season, a reminder that his ceiling is starting to look as real as his production. [Read more 🡒]