With WVU Football’s season opener against Coastal Carolina just two weeks away, the anticipation is beginning to build inside the Mountaineer program. Read more: Rich Rodriguez ‘anxious’ to see what WVU has as season opener nears.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez acknowledged Friday that he is anxious to see what his team looks like when it finally gets onto the field for a game.
“I’m excited for our team, our players. I’m excited for our fans, and I’m anxious to see what we got, too,” Rodriguez said.
Players ready to get on the field
Rodriguez said he would prefer to have another week of practice before the season begins, though he admitted the players likely feel differently.
“I’d rather have an extra week of practice, but the players would tell you, hell no,” Rodriguez said. “Alright, let’s play a game next week.”
The buildup has been somewhat different for West Virginia this preseason. Rodriguez noted that the team has only had two weeks of camp, which has made it difficult to experience the traditional grind of preseason preparation.
WVU still has questions to answer
Despite that, Rodriguez said he has an idea of what the Mountaineers can be.
“I think I have an idea, but I’ve been doing this a long time. I could get fooled,” Rodriguez said.
The first game will provide WVU with its first true test after weeks of preparation, particularly as Coastal Carolina enters the season with a new coaching staff and several new players.
Related: Pat White: The day everything changed (M*tch, Please!)
Rodriguez said the uncertainty surrounding a first opponent makes the opening game one of the most difficult to prepare for from a schematic standpoint.
“You got to be foundational and fundamentally strong going into it” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez expects a fun team to watch
For now West Virginia still has time to prepare before the season officially begins.
But with the first game quickly approaching, Rodriguez is ready to find out what his team looks like when preparation finally gives way to competition.
