West Virginia HC Rich Rodriguez tells why he deserves statue at Alabama

Feb 19, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head football coach Rich Rodriguez speaks to the crowd during a timeout during the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

West Virginia Head Coach Rich Rodriguez feels a statue of him should be on the campus of the University of Alabama.

Rodriguez discussed being tied to the Alabama football head coaching job before Nick Saban took over in Tuscaloosa during a recent conversation with 247 Sports’ Josh Pate. He did not take his coaching expertise to Tuscaloosa, and he thinks he should be rewarded for this decision after Saban went to Tuscaloosa and led one of the best dynasties college football had ever seen.

“I just always tell the story so where’s my trophy in Tuscaloosa? Where’s my statue outside there?” Rodriguez said with a laugh. “Because if I had gone there, you may not have those six. You probably wouldn’t have those six national championships and all that. But it was you know, that’s what’s so interesting about my journey and how things, one decision can affect a whole lot of different programs.”

The Saban era has come and gone in Tuscaloosa, and Alabama fans are grateful for his contributions and Rodriguez not coming to Tuscaloosa.

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Justin Smith is the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith