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Pat McAfee Posts Four-Word Message After West Virginia’s Major Coaching Hire

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated Feb 12, 2025 8:22 PM ET

Former West Virginia kicker Pat McAfee appears to be all-in on the Mountaineers' latest coaching hire ahead of the 2025 college football season.

The popular podcast host and ESPN "College GameDay" analyst got his start at WVU from 2005-08, earning First-Team All-American honors as a senior.

He still ranks as the program's all-time scoring leader (384 points) and the third all-time leader in field goals made (58).

McAfee's head coach with the Mountaineers, Rich Rodriguez, has returned to the program following the firing of Neal Brown in the midst of a 6-7 season in 2024.

Rodriguez, 61, spent the last two seasons at Jackson State following stints at Arizona (2012-17) and Michigan (2008-10).

The former WVU safety was at his best at the helm of the Mountaineers, though, leading his alma mater to a pair of 11-win seasons with a Sugar Bowl win in 2005.

And Rodriguez hired one of West Virginia's all-time greats on Wednesday in former star quarterback Pat White.

White will serve as quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach under Rodriguez, who recruited the eventual three-time First-Team All-Big East selection to the Mountaineers in 2004.

White sits second all-time in rushing yards (4,480) and rushing touchdowns (47) for the Mountaineers. And he also threw for 6,049 yards with 56 touchdowns to 23 interceptions from 2005-2008.

Considered as one of the top, if not the best, players in program history, White received a warm welcome from McAfee, his former teammate, after the news broke.

"The (GOAT) is home," he wrote on X.

The is home. https://t.co/iZE9b8Pq4F
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 12, 2025

Smith will be tasked, in part, with helping rising senior quarterback Nicco Marchiol carry the load in 2025 after the departure of former starter Garrett Greene to the NFL draft.

And there are plenty of areas to address for Rodriguez, White and offensive coordinator Chad Scott after the unit finished 54th in scoring offense and 88th in passing offense last season.

However, the feeling around the program has reached a promising status with the familiar faces back in the fold.

The new-look Mountaineers will open the 2025 season at home against Robert Morris on Aug. 30.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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