WVU HC Rich Rodriguez to Pat McAfee: ‘If You Loaf, You’re a Traitor’

Two days before kicking off his return the WVU sideline, Rich Rodriguez spent time talking with Pat McAfee on his show.

Rodriguez explained what he expects out of his team in their first game, the challenges in building a roster and his prediction for the future of the sport.

After spending the entire offseason changing the cultural of the program, Rodriguez discussed the atmosphere after fall camp.

“I’m really pleased about the culture that we’re establishing here.. You have to have more people buy in than ever before.”

"I'm really pleased about the culture that we're establishing here..

You have to have more people buy in than ever before" ~ @RealCoachRod #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/cCYeISXcDj

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 28, 2025

But putting together his new team wasn’t an easy process. It took a full offseason of overhauling a roster with about 80 new players, often times bringing players in and then replacing them a month later.

And as expected, Rodriguez is continuing his evaluation of his players into the season.

“The evaluation is always the biggest piece.. You have to evaluate if the player really loves football.. I want the dudes that love and want football,” he said.

Rodriguez sent a message to his team ahead of their season opening matchup against Robert Morris.

“When you hold, you’re lazy.. If you loaf, you’re a traitor and you play for the other team.. I don’t want lazy people and I don’t want traitors,” said Rodriguez.

"When you hold you're lazy..

If you loaf you're a traitor and you play for the other team..

I don't want lazy people and I don't want traitors"

You're THE BEST @RealCoachRod 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/tqsSXOUP7V

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 28, 2025

This generated a big reaction from McAfee and his crew, but is also something Rodriguez has reiterated since taking the job and has lived by his entire coaching career.

As far as where college football is headed and how WVU fit it in, Rodriguez doesn’t love the current system. However, he’s willing to play by whatever rules put in front of him.

“I still think there’s a separation that’s about to come where there’s gonna be 50-60 Power Four schools that have their own league,” said Rodriguez.

For a related story, Pat McAfee headlines the 2025 class of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame.