Should former West Virginia University football Coach Rich Rodriguez be inducted into the university’s sports hall of fame?
Most people who responded to the MetroNews West Virginia Poll still don’t know.
Rodriguez compiled a 60-26 record as football coach at WVU from 2001 to 2007. He had the Mountaineers in national championship discussions but left under a shroud of conflict.
WVU’s sports hall of fame, established in 1991, now includes dozens of athletes and administrators who have contributed to athletics.
The latest MetroNews West Virginia Poll surveyed 400 registered voters August 20-25 and asked whether Rodriguez should be honored with a sports hall of fame induction. Another question asked about the possible induction of Doc Holliday, Marshall University’s former football coach, into that college’s sports hall of fame.
On Rodriguez, 41 percent of respondents said they are not sure.
Thirty-seven percent favored his induction. And the rest opposed his induction.
A longtime close observer of Mountaineer sports, broadcaster Tony Caridi, said Rodriguez deserves the honor. But he acknowledged that is unlikely to happen right away.
“Very interesting question. As a member of the hall of fame committee I think Rich does deserve to be part of the group,” Caridi said.
“His accomplishments during his tenure at WVU are among the most successful in school history. His departure will always remain the ‘scab’ on his nomination. It’s true that…
