West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez announces cancelation of Spring Game

It seems the West Virginia Mountaineers will be following in the footsteps of numerous other college football programs, opting not to hold a traditional spring game in 2025.

On Saturday, Rich Rodriguez announced the change to the Gold-Blue Showcase: “We’re not going to do a true scrimmage or game,” he proclaimed, via Reddit CFB.

The decision from West Virginia follows a bevy of other programs modifying their spring game. The USC Trojans canceled their own version, amid a changing landscape in college athletics. The Trojans are hosting a fan appreciation event, instead. Spring practices in Los Angeles are remaining closed to the public.

Additionally, Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule shared earlier in the offseason that they would consider not hosting a spring game over concerns about tampering. They eventually did cancel their spring game. 

Along with those schools, the Ohio State Buckeyes also previously changed the format of their spring game. Another huge program in Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns cancelled their spring game, as well.

Tampering has been a major concern in the modern era of college athletics. With a transfer portal window opening up shortly after spring practice comes to an end, players who stand out in spring games could hypothetically draw attention from those outside the program. So, to avoid those players being tampered with, teams are moving away from playing those traditional games.

Even with the cancellation of West Virginia’s spring game, the hype is building for 2025, as Rodriguez is returning to Morgantown. He endeared himself to the fans during his first stint by winning 60 games compared to 26 losses, while also brining the Mountaineers to three 10-win seasons in a row during his tenure. There’s a reason an excitement is in the air for the program due to the coach’s return.

Earlier this offseason, Rodriguez gave his thoughts on the type of player he wants to bring to the program, as he looks to breathe new life into the team. Evidently, it boils down to two words, soft and lazy — that’s the type of player the Mountaineers will be trying to avoid moving forward.

“If they’re soft or lazy, if they don’t want to give their best effort, then I don’t want them around,” Rodriguez stated. “I mean, it’s pretty simple, right? It’s like the two words — four letter words, are soft and lazy. And that, to me, has nothing to do with talent, or what year they are in and this is and that.

“Coming from a state that I know very well, the people in the state of West Virginia work hard. They don’t want to be soft. They don’t want to be lazy. They don’t want the people playing, representing them, being soft and lazy.”

It may take a couple seasons, but Rich Rodriguez is primed for success with West Virginia. One thing is for sure, there won’t be any soft and lazy players allowed in Morgantown moving forward.

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.