Rich Rodriguez Receives Game Ball for West Virginia’s Week 1 Win

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Rich Rodriguez won his first game back in West Virginia since 2007, earning him a special honor after the game.

Following WVU’s 45-3 victory over Robert Morris in the 2025 season opener, director of athletics Wren Baker presented Rodriguez with the game ball.

The WVU program shared a video of the special moment on social media.

Game ball 🟰 @RealCoachRod 🏈 pic.twitter.com/PCGlKVpB3w

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) August 31, 2025

“Coach, welcome back home. Great job today,” said Baker as he handed the game ball to Rodriguez during a celebration with the team in the locker room.

Rodriguez’s team cheered as he accepted the ball and then started chanting the West Virginia fight song in unison.

Up next for Rodriguez and his Mountaineers (1-0) is a tough road trip to take on the Ohio Bobcats (0-1) in Athens, Ohio.

For a related story, WVU quarterback Nicco Marchiol explained when he learned he was starting and offered his own evaluation of his play.