MORGANTOWN — It is, really, a 1,000-to-1 shot come true, a near statistical impossibility that two of the key figures in the restoration of the West Virginia University football prestige at the game’s highest level in 2025 would rest in the hands of its head coach, Rich Rodriguez, and the player he is starting at cornerback, Michael Coats Jr.

The journey Rodriguez has taken is well known and forever etched into the long, deep history of the game at the school. A one-time walk-on player from just 20 or so miles from the school, Rodriguez worked his way from the bottom up until, in 2007, he was one of the most celebrated Mountaineers coaches ever. kAmw6 H@C<65 9:D E62> :?E@ E96 A@D:E:@? H96C6 :7 :E 362E 92E65 q24<J2C5 qC2H= C:G2= !:EE[ 282:?DE H9@> :E H2D 2 7@FC\E@F495@H? 72G@C:E6[ :E H@F=

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