Rich Rodriguez Cracked a Joke WVU Fans Will Love

The comments were delivered with a smile, but the implication was clear. Rodriguez was joking about Pitt players going down frequently, suggesting that the stoppages slowed momentum and looked less than convincing. McAfee, who played under Rodriguez at West Virginia before going on to an NFL career, laughed as his old coach delivered the line, calling it “phenomenal.”

For West Virginia fans, the joke landed perfectly. The Backyard Brawl is one of the sport’s oldest and most heated rivalries, and any opportunity to needle Pitt adds fuel to the fire. The Mountaineers controlled the game throughout, leaning on their defense and strong running game to secure another rivalry win, and Rodriguez’s postgame appearance kept the banter rolling into the week.

Rivalry games often carry moments that extend beyond the scoreboard, and this was one of them. Pitt has dealt with a rough start to the season, and Rodriguez’s comments only add to the perception that the Panthers are searching for answers. For WVU, the ability to win convincingly and then enjoy a moment of levity on a national platform highlights how much momentum Rodriguez is building in his return to Morgantown.

McAfee, who has made his show a hub for lighthearted but headline-grabbing interviews, seemed to enjoy the interaction as much as anyone. His relationship with Rodriguez stretches back two decades, and the comfort between the two was evident. For college football fans, it was another reminder of what makes the Backyard Brawl special: passion, history, and the occasional jab at the other side.