Let’s face it – this year is going to be full of ups and downs. With nearly 80 new players on the roster and the potential loss of our star running back for a significant stretch, we need to be realistic about what to expect. READ MORE: Hurts So Good: Growing Pains in Rodriguez’s Return
Saturday’s loss to Ohio felt like a preview of what’s to come. The defense is clearly ahead of the offense right now. They flashed at times – forcing three turnovers – but also showed the communication breakdowns you’d expect from a group this new. That inconsistency will probably be the story of the season.
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Rich Rodriguez has always built his teams from the trenches, but right now he simply doesn’t have the personnel up front. On both lines, it showed. It didn’t matter which quarterback took the snaps – they were running for their lives. Once Jahiem White went down, Ohio’s defense pinned their ears back and attacked. Until Rodriguez rebuilds the offensive line, this is the reality.
Back to Reality
And now we see why Rodriguez sounded so concerned this summer about running back depth. Once White went down, the ground game all but disappeared – and in this style of offense, that’s a fatal flaw. The truth is, Rodriguez saw this coming months ago. Back in July, after only two running backs were able to finish a practice, he half-joked but also half-warned:
“I told those two, ‘That’s pretty good.’ There’s still 4,000 kids in the portal, isn’t there? I got a recruiting staff. I mean, I got a big ole recruiting staff and they do a really nice job. They’re still looking. We ain’t got a game. School don’t start for a couple weeks. I have a spot or two open, I’m just saying.”
But not all is lost. Let’s give credit where it’s due – this Ohio team isn’t some pushover. The Bobcats are a well-coached, veteran squad that would give just about any middle-of-the-pack Power Four program a serious fight. They play disciplined football, they know who they are, and they don’t beat themselves.
Keeping Receipts
And despite all of WVU’s struggles, the Mountaineers were right there until the very end. Even with an offense that never found its footing, even with injuries piling up, they still had a chance to tie it late. That tells you there’s some grit in this group. They’re not rolling over.
Yes, it’s a frustrating loss. But it’s not the kind of game that says WVU is hopeless. If anything, it shows the margin is thin – clean up a few mistakes, develop some chemistry, and this team can compete.
“I want it to hurt and it’s going to hurt all of us,” Rodriguez said. “I think it does for the next 20 hours or so, but we know who’s next and we need to get to work.”
But make no mistake – this program doesn’t run on excuses. Losses like this are supposed to sting, and they should. Ohio’s media team made sure of that, trolling WVU by using the song from Tavon Austin’s iconic highlight reel in their postgame video. Let’s be clear: West Virginia football is not in the business of being the punchline for a MAC program.
Take your shots now. Because this staff, this roster, and this fanbase are taking notes. It hurts – no doubt about it. But if you take the long view, this is the kind of hurt that leads to growth. Rodriguez has done it before, and with time, he’ll do it again. For now, Mountaineer fans just need to buckle up.
Yikes!