**BREAKING NEWS (Just Now): WVU Parts Ways With Star Receiver Following Verbal Altercation Involving Coach Rich Rodriguez**
*Morgantown, WV* — Chaos has erupted in Morgantown as the West Virginia University Mountaineers have officially parted ways with star wide receiver **DeShawn “Flash” Mathis** following a heated verbal confrontation with head coach Rich Rodriguez. The news broke Monday morning after multiple sources within the program confirmed that Mathis had been dismissed from the team following an incident that took place during Sunday evening’s closed practice session.
According to team insiders, tensions had been mounting between Mathis and the coaching staff for several weeks, with friction surrounding playing time, route assignments, and Mathis’s criticism of Rodriguez’s coaching style. The situation reached a boiling point when Mathis allegedly lashed out during a team huddle, directly targeting Coach Rodriguez with a series of harsh words in front of teammates and staff.
One assistant coach, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the confrontation as “emotionally explosive” and “completely unacceptable.”
> “It was more than just a disagreement,” the coach said. “It was personal, disrespectful, and crossed a line we can’t ignore.”
WVU Athletics Director Wren Baker addressed the situation swiftly with a formal statement early Monday:
> “Effective immediately, DeShawn Mathis has been dismissed from the WVU football program. We take great pride in building a team culture rooted in accountability, discipline, and respect for leadership. This decision was made in the best interest of the program moving forward.”
Mathis, a junior out of Atlanta, had emerged as a key weapon in WVU’s offense. Known for his breakaway speed and exceptional footwork, he racked up 987 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in the 2024 season, helping lead the Mountaineers to a surprise 9-4 finish. Many considered him a potential All-Big 12 first-teamer and a rising NFL Draft prospect.
His departure leaves a glaring hole in WVU’s receiving corps and sends shockwaves through a locker room that had high expectations heading into the 2025 campaign. Several players took to social media after the news broke, expressing shock and disappointment.
Coach Rodriguez, in a press briefing held shortly after practice Monday, chose to keep his remarks brief but firm:
> “DeShawn is an incredibly talented young man, but we have a standard here at West Virginia. You can’t build a championship team without mutual respect and unity. We’re moving forward with the guys who are committed to that vision.”
As the team prepares for fall camp, focus now shifts to sophomore receiver Bryce Taylor and freshman standout Kamren Boyd, both of whom are expected to step into larger roles in Mathis’s absence.
Mathis has not yet issued a public statement, though sources close to him suggest he may enter the transfer portal in the coming days or forgo the college season entirely to prepare for the NFL Combine.
With one of the program’s brightest stars suddenly gone, the Mountaineers are left facing a season filled with uncertainty, but Rodriguez remains steadfast in his belief that “adversity builds identity.”
One thing is certain: the drama in Morgantown is far from over.
