Rich Rodriguez opens up on emotions after Backyard Brawl win
Rich Rodriguez has coached in more than 300 games during his career. But he admitted his return to the Backyard Brawl was unlike anything else.
More emotional than expected
Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, the West Virginia head coach revealed just how much the 31-24 overtime win against Pitt meant to him.
“I was a lot more emotional than you’d think after 300 and some games as a head coach,” Rodriguez said. “I think it was maybe just because we won. It was our rival and all that. And there were 60-some thousand people, the game’s so important, and everything like that. I just think it was a combination of a lot of stuff. Being gone for 17 years, seeing what everybody put into this program.”
A rivalry that meant more
Rodriguez acknowledged the moment hit differently after spending nearly two decades away from Morgantown.
“People like yourself, how important it was for us to play well and to represent West Virginia in the way we need to be represented. They say every game counts as one. This one might be counting a little more than one,” he said. “The folks started tailgating last Tuesday and, hell, they haven’t left yet. So it’s been a wonderful few days.”
Time to move forward
The head coach said he allowed himself and his team a brief window to soak it in before moving forward.
“For 24 hours, it was a hell of a time,” Rodriguez said. “You know, obviously we’ve turned the page now and I’m moving on to Kansas on the road this weekend.”
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