Former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez has stirred up conversation in the college football world by openly criticizing the effort level of the 2025 West Virginia Mountaineers football team. Speaking during a recent podcast appearance, Rodriguez expressed disappointment in what he described as “inconsistent intensity and lack of urgency” in several of the team’s performances throughout the season.
Rodriguez, who coached the Mountaineers from 2001 to 2007 and led the program to some of its most successful years in modern history, didn’t hold back when asked about the current state of his former team. “You can look at the film—there were games where it was obvious that the guys weren’t playing with the kind of fire or discipline that’s expected at West Virginia,” he said. “That’s not the culture we built when I was there, and it’s not the culture fans deserve.”
His comments come on the heels of a frustrating season for WVU, which saw the team hover around .500 and miss out on serious contention in the newly realigned Big 12. Despite flashes of promise, the Mountaineers struggled with inconsistency, particularly in high-stakes matchups against ranked opponents. Games against Kansas State, Cincinnati, and Oklahoma State stood out as examples where the team appeared flat or failed to match the opponent’s intensity.
Rodriguez noted that effort is one of the few things in football that can be controlled regardless of talent level or game plan. “You’re not going to win every game,” he said, “but there’s no excuse for not giving full effort every snap. That’s about pride. That’s about leadership.”
The former coach stopped short of blaming current head coach Neal Brown directly, but his comments implied a disconnect between the coaching staff and the players. “It starts at the top. If you’re not demanding maximum effort every day in practice, it won’t show up on Saturdays,” Rodriguez added. “Fans see it. Recruits see it. And your opponents definitely see it.”
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