Interesting 2001 RichRod Article
Came across article from SI.com from 2001 talking about the transition from Nehlen to Rodriguez. Interesting because the expectations seemed to be moderately high for his first year there (I don´t think they expected to go 3-8).
It´s the offseason, this is all I have.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/2001/preview/bigeast_feature/
Seems like there was a transition period moving into RR's program even though he was a WVU Alum and former player. This makes me wonder how much of the junk we have had to endure would have manifested with any new coach, even Michigan Man Les Miles.
No matter who we hired they were screwed from the start and no one not even Jesus Christ could have made us a good team.
Definitely not in 2008, although a smoother transition and Ryan Mallett staying could have led to a couple more wins in 2008 and an 8-9 win season in 2009. Could have, not would have.
Even if they had promoted internally and kept the entire former staff, I bet Mallett would have taken off.
He was homesick, and as soon as Mustain transfered from Arkansas to USC, there was a huge opening at his hometown school.
In hind sight, I wish they had never recruited Mallet. Had they not, Jason Forcier would have been here when Rich Rod landed.
No disagreement here, but him staying may have helped in the short term.
There is absolutely no way Mallett was going to stay unless they hired his mom to coach.
I agree Tater. I just can't imagine any scenario where Mallett was going to stick around.
You misspelled Jim Harbaugh.
Nehlen's run-oriented, ball-control offense sparked an "up-the-middle-o-meter" at Mountaineer Field
The main difference is in WVU, Rich was a returning son, who had gone out in the world and made soemthing of himself. As I recall they weren't too happy aftre the first season even with him being the returning son. OF course he didn't have an O-line there either.
Harbaugh was not on the radar yet when Rich was hired. To say otherwise is revisionist history. Les Miles was the man to get, and misgivings about spread-option versus pro-set aside, Rich was hot too.
Ah well, we're knee deep in it now. Hopefully, we start to wade out this fall ...
RR was as hot as anyone when we got him, hotter than Miles. Alabama had tried to hire him the year before if I recall correctly. WVU was riding high under him despite the Pitt loss in his last game.
I think he will come through for us big time.