HISTORICAL RETURN: west Virginia to Elect Rich Rodriguez Statue to Be Unveiled at Puskar Stadium as legendary figure in the WVU’ history will be forever immortalized, as a statue honoring the iconic coach is set to be unveiled at Puskar Stadium…..
**HISTORICAL RETURN: West Virginia to Elect Rich Rodriguez Statue to Be Unveiled at Puskar Stadium**
In a moment that will echo through the annals of college football history, West Virginia University has officially announced that a statue honoring legendary former head coach **Rich Rodriguez** will be unveiled at Milan Puskar Stadium. The ceremony, set to take place ahead of the Mountaineers’ season-opening game, marks a powerful and emotional return for the man who redefined West Virginia football during the early 2000s.
Rodriguez, affectionately known by fans as “Coach Rod,” coached the Mountaineers from 2001 to 2007, transforming the program from a middling Big East competitor into a national powerhouse. His innovative spread offense revolutionized the college game, and under his guidance, West Virginia captured **four Big East titles**, recorded **multiple top-10 finishes**, and produced electric talents such as **Pat White**, **Steve Slaton**, and **Owen Schmitt**.
“This is more than a statue,” said WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons. “This is a symbol of gratitude, of tradition, and of a coach who poured his heart and soul into this program. Coach Rodriguez didn’t just win games—he built a legacy.”
The bronze statue will stand outside the stadium’s Mountaineer Gate, depicting Rodriguez mid-stride on the sideline with a playbook in one hand and his signature intense gaze fixed downfield. Sculpted by renowned artist Fred Morgan, the piece captures the fiery determination and relentless passion that defined Rodriguez’s coaching style.
For Mountaineer Nation, the announcement brings a wave of nostalgia and redemption. After his controversial departure for Michigan in 2007, Rodriguez remained a polarizing figure. However, time has softened tensions, and many fans now remember his tenure for what it truly was—a golden era of WVU football that set the tone for future success.
“I never thought this day would come,” said longtime WVU fan and Morgantown native Carla DeMarco. “But Coach Rod gave us memories we’ll never forget—beating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, that 2005 Louisville comeback, and dominating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. This statue is overdue.”
Rodriguez, now serving as a head coach again at a smaller program, expressed deep emotion upon learning of the honor.
“I’m humbled beyond words,” he said in a statement. “West Virginia is home. It always has been. The players, the fans, the mountains—this place made me who I am. I’m grateful to be remembered this way.”
The statue unveiling will coincide with a full weekend of celebration, including a Rich Rodriguez Legacy Gala, a player reunion, and a halftime tribute. WVU will also wear retro throwback uniforms from the Rodriguez era for their home opener—paying tribute to a time when West Virginia football was feared, fast, and full of fire.
As the crowd gathers and the curtain is pulled back, a new chapter begins in honoring the past. For West Virginia, it’s not just a statue—it’s a permanent reminder that legends never fade, they rise again in bronze.
