Rich Rodriguez understands all too well that his West Virginia football team doesn’t return a wealth of experience.
And with that he isn’t expecting a handful of players to step up and grab the leadership reins during the course of fall camp practices. But that’s exactly how he wants it, too.
“I really believe that during practice the leadership falls on the staff. We’ve got to make sure we’re pushing them to the point where they learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. We’re not there yet,” he said.
That’s not to say that player-driven leadership isn’t critical as Rodriguez is a firm believer that during games, in the locker room and when coaches aren’t around it’s a key component to have those roles filled.
But it’s just not something he expects or asks out of his players in a practice setting.
“I got hired to coach; we got hired to coach. We got hired to take these guys where they can’t take themselves. I don’t ever give up on them. I don’t ever give up on any kid or any coach. I was hired to take this staff, these players and this program where they can’t take themselves. That’s why I get paid good money and I remind myself that’s my job to do that and I will do my job,” Rodriguez said.
One thing that is key for players on the practice field is to set the right example. That gives the coaches a chance to point to those players as references for others on how things need to be done.
“Just do your job as well as you can do it,” Rodriguez said.
But in a roundabout way that is a form of leadership that the veteran head coach wants to see.
“But I don’t need that guy to be rah-rah, that’s my job,” he said.
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