Rich Rodriguez trolls Michigan over sign-stealing scandal, prepares smokescreen

Veteran head coach Rich Rodriguez is making his long-awaited return to West Virginia this season, 18 years after departing the program for the Michigan job.

In Rodriguez’s first stint, the Mountaineers saw immense success. In seven seasons (2001-2007), WVU posted a 60-26 record with three straight bowl game victories from 2005-2007 (Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl and Fiesta Bowl). His time at Michigan however did not go well at all, as he led the Wolverines to a disappointing 15-22 record over three seasons before he was fired.

Rodriguez threw a slight jab at his former school Michigan on Saturday after its punishment for the 2023 sign-stealing scandal was revealed the day prior.

“You can do both,” Rodriguez responded when asked if they still have to use hand signals or can use in-helmet communication when the offense is going fast. “We could huddle and go quick huddles and not have to do any signals. We change our signals up and we change the guy who’s signaling. And we’ve got a variety of different signals we can do for the same play. If it was a Michigan situation, we would be ready. That’s all I have to say about that.”

Michigan first came under fire in 2023, when news broke of an alleged sign-stealing scheme orchestrated by staffer Connor Stalions. He later resigned from his position and then-head coach Jim Harbaugh served a suspension handed down by the Big Ten under its sportsmanship clause to end the regular season.

Rodriguez reveals that many school attempt to steal signs

A hearing took place in June regarding the Stalions case, and the former analyst made an appearance. ESPN’s Dan Wetzel reported Michigan faced 11 violations, including six Level I – the most serious according to NCAA rules.

“There are guys that are usually very good at it,” Rodriguez continued when asked other teams stealing signs. “It’s obviously harder now because you’ve got helmet communication and everybody’s got multiple signal guys, but they’ll try and put up the big, black tents or whatever that kinda block you from doing that. But there are some guys who can look at it for a couple of quarters and figure (the signals) out.”

Michigan was placed on four years of probation and received an additional game of suspension for coach Sherrone Moore in 2026, according to the NCAA. UM will also pay a fine of $50,000 plus 10% of the football program’s budget, a fine “equal to the anticipated loss of postseason competition revenue-sharing from 2025 and 2026,” and the equivalent to 10% of scholarships awarded for 2025-26.

Unfortunately, Michigan and West Virginia would not meet this season unless it took place in either a bowl game or the College Football Playoff. With the tension between Rodriguez and Michigan, a matchup between the two entities would certainly be must-see television.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.