The transfer portal is as active as ever now that players are compensated for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Roster management has become more difficult and more unpredictable than ever. It is even harder for WVU, which has always thrived on tradition and building players over their careers so they can contribute as upper-class men. They do not have the budget to sign the best players, so they must rely on recruiting more than ever, and that even means recruiting existing players to stay. Read more: How the Portal Changes Things for WVU Football.
They allocate a decent amount of money towards football, but is it enough to make them a contender to move to the top ranks of college football? Rich Rodriguez should allow them to expand the budget in upcoming seasons as more donors will offer more support with a proven coach at the helm.
Recruiting and Retention
The recruiting landscape has drastically shifted for teams in recent years. Coaches now have to recruit year-round. They must work to make sure their top performers feel valued on and off the field to keep them for seasons to come. Players are now weighing financial decisions, playing time and how they fit in the scheme. Player retention is just as, if not more, important than recruiting new players.
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On the flip side, it is easier to fill holes in the roster. The portal can be a lifeline for the Mountaineers. Seasoned, veteran players are turning to the portal more than ever, which means programs can fill voids with starters rather than depth players. Many transfers step in and play valuable snaps for other teams because they are either financially incentivized, or are looking for a better opportunity to prove themselves, or both.
Reliance on Donors
Rich Rodriguez brings a proven winning culture to Morgantown. He went 60-26 during his first stint with the Mountaineers and had five total losses in his final three seasons. Rodriguez won the Conference USA Championship with Jacksonville State last season in his third year with the program. He is also from West Virginia and played football for the Mountaineers, so he has ties with the community. Some of the wealthiest people in the state are more apt to give money to The Country Roads Trust, which is WVU’s NIL collective.
High School Recruiting
Recruiting players out of high school has taken a back seat to the portal. Programs give more scholarships to established athletes, while fewer high school athletes receive offers. WVU must be selective with who they recruit out of high school. A balance must be kept to prioritize talented high school athletes, who they believe can come in and be contributors for multiple seasons while remaining active in recruiting current college players who can come in and help the team immediately. It also opens a chance to recruit young athletes who may be overlooked by bigger schools, as they have more money to focus on highly-touted players in the portal. There is some give and take to the portal, but it is up to the coaching staff to find those players early.
What This Means Going Forward
The athletic department and coaching staff must adapt to the college athletics landscape. Athletic director Wren Baker has already addressed how they plan to adapt to this transformation. They are actively preparing for a $20 million increase in expenditures for WVU Athletics. More money is always a good thing in this new landscape, but the coaching staff must embrace the change to remain relevant in the nation.
College football has changed drastically, much more so than other sports, due to its much larger scale than other sports. Everything happens quickly, and WVU has to keep up or get left behind. The portal must be a tool used to remain competitive, and with Rich Rodriguez, they have the best chance to compete at a high level.
Yes, Rodriquez has ties to the community, particularly the cheerleaders