If you thought college football was crazy before, buckle up; Rich Rodriguez has returned to Morgantown, and the WVU soap opera just got a new season. Indeed, the same Rich Rod who used to make Mountaineer faithful envision national championships in the Pat White days has come back, this time charged with pulling West Virginia football back into the modern era of a sport that has evolved more than a cable bill since he last stalked the sideline. Rodriguez is trying to set a culture, but he admits he’s still figuring out how to run a “pro model” college team where everyone’s on a one-year deal and half the roster might be gone by July.

Now, talking about bold, let’s discuss quarterbacks. Step in Nicco Marchiol, the lefty who chose to stay around even after the change in coaching, thus becoming a bit of a unicorn in this current portal. Marchiol’s 2024 numbers? In eight games, he went 37-for-56 for 434 yards and five touchdowns, with only two interceptions. He chipped in 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

In the recent episode of Locked on West Virginia, Mountaineer Paul says, “I’ve spoken to as of now 11 separate players on the roster.” Paul makes a maneuver right out of a reality show; they begin to interview Nico’s teammates and ask them who they believe should be the starting quarterback. “The ball just looks different coming out of Nicco’s hand this year. He’s made huge strides in the passing game and is a very willing runner.” Now these are just his teammates rambling about him, if you are wondering.

Rich Rodriguez is back in the West Virginia saddle once again with a quarterback room that’s busier than the line at a midnight Morgantown Sheetz. The question on everybody’s mind-who’s QB1? And, fittingly, Rich Rod doesn’t just go with the shiny or the obvious. Marchiol isn’t only the guy who hung in there when the transfer portal began to resemble a Black Friday sale. He’s the anchor, the guy who’s been in the system, and, for that matter, the only quarterback who hasn’t attempted to unionize or publish a podcast on “the modern athlete’s journey.” “To me, it’s got to be Nicco because of the loyalty, man. If he’s not rewarded for this loyalty in this era, then what good is it to stay somewhere for as long as he stayed somewhere?”

It’s like Survivor, except you’re voting for the guy who will be throwing snaps and (hopefully) not picking ’em off. You can practically see the beads of sweat on Nico’s forehead as the coach places his teammates in the hot seat. Some opt with the safer response-“Yeah, Nicco’s our guy”-others play it cautious, most likely hoping not to find themselves on the wrong end of a locker room joke.

Paul was certain of the fact that Nico must be receiving the all-important support of his old friends; conveniently, he asks the defensive unit. “I went to a couple of defensive players, and I got some different answers, man. Here’s a really good one from somebody that’ll likely be—well, not likely, you know, most for sure going to be a starter on this defense. To him, Jaylen Henderson is just a cut above an extremely slippery runner and is a good passer.” 

You’d expect a locker room to rally around the guy who’s been there, who’s stuck it out, Nicco Marchiol. But, in a twist worthy of a soap opera, the defensive guys start throwing their support behind Jaylen Henderson. Defensive players are a different breed. They’re the ones who spend all week trying to make quarterbacks’ lives miserable in practice, so maybe they just want a fresh face to torment.

Henderson, a transfer from Texas A&M, is known for being rugged, athletic, and, more importantly, unpredictable. The guy’s got a stat line that looks like a highlight reel: at A&M in 2023, he went 53-for-78 for 715 yards with six touchdowns and only two interceptions, along with 104 yards rushing and two additional scores. The man can move, he can throw it, and he’s got enough flash to convince you that he might be able to deflect a blitz from his teammates.

The whole thing is classic college football theater. It’s not just about who throws the prettiest spiral or who can run a 4.5 forty. It’s about trust, leadership, and who the locker room believes in when the chips are down. And I think Paul has already done that job, RichRod. By letting the team weigh in, even if it’s just for show, he’s building buy-in and making sure his QB1 is the people’s champ, not just the coach’s pet project.

The entire ordeal is college football drama. It’s not merely who can throw the prettiest spiral or who can run a 4.5 forty. It’s who to trust, who to lead, and who the locker room trusts when things get tight. RichRod, the crafty old master, understands this. By allowing the team to get an opinion-even if it’s a show-he’s creating buy-in and ensuring his QB1 is the people’s champion and not the coach’s pet.

Rich Rodriguez’s homecoming with a mission

Well, RichRod needs to make his QB1 choice very sincerely, especially after the promise he made to the program. Rich Rodriguez is making it plain that this is his final destination. He’s not leveraging WVU as a stepping stone to the next high-profile opportunity or to build up his retirement account. He is here to complete what he began, and he will not retire the headset until he restores the Mountaineers to national prominence. And he’s not mincing words about the task.

The program he left behind? Let’s just say it was more of a fixer-upper than a turnkey mansion. More than 30 players exited the transfer portal the moment he stepped in, and RichRod essentially said, “Good luck, guys!” He’s cutting the roster, calling for toughness, and reinstating his signature no-huddle, zone-read attack, except now on Red Bull. His motto? Speed everywhere. If you can’t run, you can’t play.

The promise that has everyone in Morgantown abuzz: RichRod said to the world he returned because he feels WVU can win a national title. “I hadn’t seen the facility since I left, and they did a fantastic job with the facility, and so all the pieces are in place for us to have a chance to win it all.” He toured the new facilities, scouted out the talent, and essentially said, “Why not us? ” He’s hiring a staff of heavy hitters. And he’s stocking up on transfers and speedsters to complement his blueprint.

He even claimed he could’ve retired contentedly at Jacksonville State after winning a conference championship, but WVU’s lure and the unfinished business was too enticing. Rodriguez is fully committed. No more job-hopping, no more what-ifs. He’s vowed to give it all he’s got to return WVU to the top before he retires.