ESPN’s Disrespect Toward Rich Rodriguez Forces WVU Insider to Break Silence Days After HC’s Big Promise
Morgantown, WV — In a twist as fiery as a Mountaineer bonfire, an internal West Virginia University source has broken ranks, exposing what they claim is a calculated media freeze-out by ESPN against recently reappointed head coach Rich Rodriguez. The revelation comes just days after Rodriguez made national waves with a bold promise: “This program will be feared again, starting this season.”
Rodriguez, the former WVU head coach who engineered the Mountaineers’ rise to national prominence in the early 2000s, was reintroduced to the program in what was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming. With a rebuilt staff, a dynamic new offense, and a locker room buzzing with belief, the only thing missing was coverage from the nation’s largest sports network.
“Not a single segment. Not one profile. Not even a bottom-line ticker,” the anonymous insider told Blue Gold Confidential, a local fan site turned unlikely whistleblower. “It’s like they want to erase him.”
According to the insider, ESPN’s snub isn’t accidental. “There are old wounds in Bristol,” they claim, referencing Rodriguez’s controversial 2007 departure from WVU to Michigan, a move that angered fans and allegedly left producers at ESPN skeptical of Rodriguez’s “loyalty narrative.” But now, with redemption in sight, the coach’s resurgence is being quietly buried.
Rodriguez’s recent remarks only added fuel to the fire. During an offseason rally at Milan Puskar Stadium, he took the mic and said: “We’re going to outwork everyone. We’re not here to rebuild — we’re here to rise.” His declaration lit up fan forums but drew no mention from ESPN, which chose instead to spotlight middling offseason stories from other Power 5 programs.
“Rich made that promise with fire in his eyes,” said former WVU linebacker Cody Simmons. “The silence after was deafening. ESPN covered a mascot redesign at another school instead. Are you kidding me?”
The insider alleges that behind closed doors, WVU’s media relations department reached out multiple times to ESPN to schedule segments highlighting Rodriguez’s return — all were met with polite deferrals or outright silence.
“It’s not just about Rich. It’s about WVU being left out of the national conversation intentionally,” the source added.
Fans aren’t taking it lightly. The hashtag #RespectRich trended regionally on X (formerly Twitter) this week, with former players and alumni joining the chorus. “Say what you want about the past,” tweeted Pat White, WVU legend and former Rodriguez quarterback. “But he built something here, and he’s building again. The world should see it.”
As summer camps approach, the Mountaineers prepare with chips on their shoulders and fire in their hearts — not just to win games, but to reclaim a narrative seemingly stolen from them.
In Morgantown, the message is clear: Rich Rodriguez is back — whether ESPN likes it or not.
