Rodriguez, who left to ire, returns to blend of nostalgia and anticipation

Guess who’s back.

Rich Rodriguez, who left West Virginia University under a cloud of fan resentment 17 years ago, returned to cheers and nostalgia during a formal reintroduction at the Coliseum in Morgantown.

“It is great to be home. Should have never left,” Rodriguez, a state native, told fans, former athletes and university officials. “I am very, very appreciative of the opportunity to come back home to be your head football coach at West Virginia University.”

Rich Rodriguez seemed as stunned as anyone to find himself, RichRod, standing in this place at this time. Over the course of discussing his return, Rodriguez had to pause a couple of times to gather his emotions.

“You know, this is really surreal,” he said.

Photo gallery & video: Rich Rodriguez is introduced as WVU’s 36th head football coach

The football coach, 61, with more gray in his hair than when he left in the winter of 2007, faced a heckling disbeliever just moments into his remarks. As much of the crowd booed the dissenter, Rodriguez rallied with reference to a rival: “OK, any other Pitt fans can leave the building.”

That was one of several references to the University of Pittsburgh, the Backyard Brawl opponent that clawed a 13-9 hole in WVU’s 2007 season, destroyed that year’s national championship hopes and launched Rodriguez into a coaching odyssey to Michigan, Arizona and Jacksonville State before he finally swirled back home.

The Mountaineers and Rodriguez can go full circle in a collision with Pitt, now a non-league rival, three games into next season on a date circled on calendars, 9-13.

“It’s the biggest that we play,” Rodriguez said in response to a reporter’s question about the significance of that game.

Rodriguez told the crowd that the head guy on the sidelines will be a different, closer to self-actualized man. Using the heckler as an example, he suggested he handles his business differently now.

“You know, when that Pitt fan yahooed up right there — my younger days would want to jump off this podium and talk to him in person,” Rodriguez said to cheers. “Yeah, I’d have seen if he had a real hard edge. You know what I’m talking about, if he had a fake hard edge or a real hard edge.

“But my older, mature self would say, gosh, I’m blessed to have all you folks here, so I’ll let you all take care of that. But I’ve tried to throughout my career, and in particular in the 17th year since I made the mistake of leaving, is, how can I make myself better, not only as a coach but as a person.”

The buildup to Rodriguez’s return was broadcast nationally on the Pat McAfee Show, hosted by the punter for WVU from 2005 to 2008.

Rodriguez gave McAfee and other former players rounds of shoutouts, marveling at the maturity of Adam “Pac Man” Jones, recalling the many times “Runaway Beer Truck” Owen Schmitt busted helmets and noting with surprise the presence of Avon Cobourne, a star in a string of superb running backs, on the front row.

“Is that Avon Cobourne in the front row? Avon Cobourne in the front row!” Rodriguez exclaimed.

WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker spoke before Rodriguez and said the university went through a rigorous screening process before landing on the familiar coach once more.

“We vetted dozens of candidates, interviewed over 15, narrowed that down — and candidates wanted this job because of our history, our tradition, our resources, but time and time again we heard it was because of you, the passionate fans of West Virginia,” Baker said.

The athletic director said the hiring team aimed for someone reflecting West Virginia values: “work ethic, passion, grit and determination that makes us Mountaineers.”

In the final determination, he said, Rodriguez was the fit.

“We wanted someone who would entrench themselves in West Virginia. This is an awesome place to live and work. It’s a privilege to represent Mountaineer Nation, and we felt like it would be important for our next head coach to understand that. One candidate stood above all others,” he said. “Coach Rodriguez is a winner.”

Mountaineers broadcaster Tony Caridi, who also works for West Virginia MetroNews, made the introductory remarks of the event. He used wordplay to underscore the unique situation of bringing back Rodriguez.

“It’s back, and it’s to the future for the Mountaineer program,” Caridi said. “And today Rich returns home.”

Rodriguez, answering the final question of the day, returned to a final reference to Pitt, the hated rival. He asked the fans to help him recall an unrefined word rhyming with Pitt that is often used as a suggested ingestive behavior.

“Four letter word. What do we say?” Rodriguez asked. “What? What?”

And the fans instinctively, enthusiastically offered the response.

“OK,” the coach said, “that’s my sentiments exactly.”

Then Caridi wrapped it up. “On that note, ladies and gentlemen, we are concluded.”