West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez recently showed a rare funny side during an interview with CBS Sports’ Josh Pate, joking that he deserves a statue right alongside legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Rodriguez, better known for his fast-paced offense, top-tier defenses, and an infamous stint at Michigan, surprised viewers with a tongue-in-cheek remark about nearly landing the Alabama job before Saban. “Where’s my trophy in Tuscaloosa? Where’s my statue out there?” he laughed. “If I’d taken that job, you might not have six national championships.”
He playfully suggested that by not taking the job, he paved the way for Alabama’s dominant run under Saban—so maybe he’s owed a little credit, and even a monument of his own. Maybe “Saban Field” could use a rename?
While clearly joking, Rodriguez also spoke seriously about his confidence in WVU’s potential. He said he wouldn’t have returned to Morgantown if he didn’t believe the Mountaineers could win a national title.
“If I didn’t think we could win it all, I wouldn’t have come back,” Rodriguez said. “You can win it all here.”
And who knows—if he brings home the program’s first College Football Playoff trophy, maybe that statue in Morgantown won’t just be a punchline.
