My first job was selling concessions at Mountaineer Field. As a young teenager, I got fired—not for bad performance, but because I was too busy watching the game instead of selling popcorn. Well, I guess bad performance was the issue…
As a young man, I was even escorted out of the stadium. After a game, I jumped over the wall to storm the field, thinking that was what fans were supposed to do. However, it turned out to be frowned upon. When I first noticed the officer, I stopped while others ran away. I guess I was the weakest in the group, and they decided to grab me. Regardless, the Mountaineers have always been an important part of my life.
Growing up, I listened to my family talk about the glory days of the “Beast of the East” and Major Harris running over anyone who stood in our way. I had a shirt that featured the Mountaineer holding the tail of the Nittany Lion, squashing the Turtle, and choking the Panther. That’s how it was back then—we were proud, united, and we felt unstoppable. It was all part of Don Nehlen’s legacy and the connection of small-town living.
After teams like Virginia Tech and Miami left and the Big East collapsed, it felt like college football lost some of its magic. However, Coach Rod came along and made WVU football great again—perhaps even the best it has ever been. I’ll never forget when the Pat White and Steve Slaton show began. It all started during that epic triple-overtime win against Louisville. What a game! From that moment on, the nation took notice.
Pat White, Steve Slaton, Pat McAfee, and Owen Schmitt were part of a truly unforgettable era of Mountaineer football. Alongside them were other standouts like Darius Reynaud, Ryan Mundy, Dan Mozes, Jeremy Sheffey, and Tim Lindsey. These players not only contributed to WVU’s dominance during those years but also went on to the NFL, showcasing their talents on a professional stage.
Coach Rod, however, broke a lot of our hearts in 2007. I was hurt—not only because I felt betrayed, but because I didn’t understand how someone from West Virginia could turn their back on the state. Not only was he from here but he played at WVU. My family is from Grant Town, the same place he was born and raised.
It wasn’t just a singular act of betrayal; it felt like a miscarriage of trust from a family member. Was it for money, fame, legacy—or was it simply the way things have always been? I’m not sure, but at the time, the emotions were overwhelming. So, I wrote a poem about it. I had it saved for the right time and it seems as if this is it:
The Big Game
The big game was finally here,
The Backyard Brawl—it was that time of the year.
We were number two in the nation,
On our way to being a national champion.All we had to do was beat the Panthers,
Pat White had all the right answers.
But Coach Rod was worried about the Big Ten,
So the Mountaineers were never going to win.He acted like he wanted the victory,
But it was nothing more than trickery.
Just like our hopes that night,
We all were looking at a different sight.Our focus was too far ahead,
And his on that contract he just read.
Too many in the box—throw the ball!
I could not understand him at all.But now it makes a bit more sense,
It was him, not their mediocre defense.
We should have read the writing on the wall—
Mr. Rodriguez was tired of being so small.He left on horrible terms,
Snuck away like a little worm.
It wasn’t just him that would suffer,
Mountaineer Nation would need to get tougher.That was our shot at glory,
A true underdog story.
We had lightning in a bottle,
Unstoppable when at full throttle.Our shot ended that night in Morgantown,
~Shawn Paul Cosner
Thanks to the selfishness of a big-ass clown.
Do I still feel the same way? Of course. But we’re all growing together, and each of us makes the mistakes our life presents to us based solely on accessible choices. I could never make that specific mistake because I’m not a college football coach, but I have made many mistakes. However, have you never accepted another job or considered an opportunity to better yourself and your family?
Maybe it’s time to heal. Maybe it’s time to support one of our own. Maybe he is here for a reason.
I know that the mountains and country roads always lead us home. Soon, Coach Rod’s words will be matched by his actions, and we will see where the rubber meets the dirt road.
Whether or not you liked the decisions that were made, he’s here. He has a unique way of winning, and it may not work everywhere, as the patience our system allows is not shared by the money-hungry big teams. But let’s see if he can find another Pat White and Steve Slaton out there in the nation—the players who are always overlooked, kind of like our state.
He has a bit more experience now, and his path has likely offered him more wisdom. I do have faith and will support the Mountaineers once again with Coach Rod at the helm.
Welcome home, Coach. Show us that second chances can lead to great things.
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