WVU Football
Rich Rodriguez Self Criticizes, Blasts Defense in Post ISU Loss Tongue Lashing
With WVU football fans voicing frustration, Rich Rodriguez took the podium in Ames, Iowa to discuss his team’s 45-42 loss to Iowa State. And knowing Mountaineer Nation as well as any coach could, Rodriguez wasted no time in echoing the fans’ disgust.
“Too undisciplined. Not coached well enough to give us a chance,” said a noticeably frustrated Rodriguez off the top. He then even went as to relate to the fans.”I’m sure if I’m a Mountaineer fan, it’s hard to watch,” he added.
Rodriguez also made sure to cast the blame where he feels it needs to be: on the defense. A week removed from allowing 609 yards to Oklahoma State, Zac Alley’s defense gave up 577 yards, including 202 on the ground to Aiden Flora, in the loss to the Cyclones.
“Two games in a row, atrocious defense,” said Rodriguez, clearly annoyed that nothing he thought would fix the issue worked. Rodriguez then harped on the missed tackles, “chunk plays” against and the costly penalties. To Rodriguez, some of the calls were close, but most were deserved, to the tune of 10 for 86 yards.
“We gotta play better football, in all aspects, but we certainly got some key problems to a level that I haven’t seen in a while,” closed Rodriguez, hinting about the major defensive issues.
The only saving grace for Rodriguez’s 3-2 (0-2, Big 12) West Virginia team is a trip back home, one that will have them prepare to host Arizona at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Find more coverage of Rich Rodriguez and the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.
jackson five
October 4, 2026 at 5:50 am
RROD ALWAYS PUTS ON A BIG ACT WHEN WE LOSE, AND BLAMES SOMEONE LIKE ZAC ALLEY,, WONDER HOW ZAC FEELS,, BUT IN THE END, IT’ THE PLAYERS, PLAYERS MAKE COACHES LOOK GOOD, EVEEN GREAT AT TIMES,,
SO,, WE’RE STUCK WITH RROD FOR 3 MORE YRS AFTER THIS ONE
AND WHO’S FAULT IS IT,, WREN , HIRED HIM, BUT PRESSURE WAS PUT ON HIM BY DONORS, WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD RECAPTURE WHAT RR BROUGHT BEFORE
NEVER TIME DONORS,, IT’S STRICKLY ALL ABOUT MONEY,, IF A DUMB COACH HAS BIG TIME DONORS, THAT SCHOOL WILL WIN,, LOOK AT TTU,, OR UH,,,BUT WE HAVE DUMB COACHES WITH NOT SO MUCH MONEY
SO FACE IT WVU,, HAWKINS IS A ONE TIME PAT WHITE, WHO WILL MOVE ON TO A WINNING TEAM AFTER THIS YR, AND HAVE MORE MONEY IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT THAN ALMOST ALL THE WVU PLAYERS ARE GETTING,,
IF I WERE HAWKINS, I’D CASH IN TOO,, WHY WASTE 2 MORE YRS OF HIS COLLEGE ELIGIBILITY WAITIN ON WVU TO WIN,, HIS PRO CAREER IS AT STAKE, WHY WASTE IT ON A LOSER COACH AND A LOSER TEAM..
SAD STATE AFTER NEIL BROWN,, NOW ANOTHER LOSER COACH, WVU FINDS ITSELF WHERE IT SEEMS TO FIND A HOME, IN THE CELLAR OF THE BIG 12,, AND LITTLE HOPES OVER THE NEXT 3 YRS..
DONORS WILL FLEE WVU AFTER THIS SEASON, IF RROD CAN’T TURN IT AROUND,,AND WHY SHOULDN’T THEY ,,, I WOULD,, SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS AT WVU FOOTBALL AND THERE AIN’T NOT BLUE SKIES AHEAD, WITH THIS COACHING STAFF,..
SOME ONE PLEASE GIVE US SOME HOPE, JUST A LITTLE BIT….