Post by cviller on Sept 20, 2007 21:23:44 GMT -5
Posted By John Antonik: September 20, 2007 (10:35 am)
Rich Rodriguez is doing it on the football field -- his team’s 25-3 record over the last 28 games is a testament to the type of football program he’s building at West Virginia University.
Along with that great on-field success are the hidden things that he has also been steadily implementing at his alma mater such as the beautiful Donald J. Brohard Hall of Traditions, the Reynolds Family Academic Performance Center and the new team locker room expansion set to begin after this season.
Rodriguez has embraced West Virginia University’s rich history and has been using Mountaineer football’s tradition to benefit the present. Earlier this week, the veteran coach announced at his Tuesday afternoon news conference that he is dipping into the past once again by having honorary team captains at each home game.
This week’s honorary captains are Rich Braham, Jerry Holmes and Undra Johnson.
“I actually got the idea from another school when we played on the road last year of having honorary captains for each of the home games,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve never done that and I simply hadn’t thought about it. We wanted to start that tradition ourselves starting with the East Carolina game.”
Braham and Holmes are returning to Morgantown this week as members of the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame class of 2007 induction ceremonies. Undra Johnson, a four-year letterman and a teammate of Rodriguez’s, is a successful businessman living in Clarksburg.
“All three kind of played in different eras and obviously had outstanding careers here,” Rodriguez said. “They were leaders while they were here and have gone on to be successful whether in the professional ranks or in their personal lives.
“I wish we had more games so we can honor more guys because there are hundreds that are certainly deserving (of the recognition) - and hopefully I’ll be the coach here long enough to get everybody honored,” Rodriguez said.
For those coming to the game on Saturday be sure to give these three great Mountaineers a loud ovation for the contributions they have made to West Virginia University. Be sure, too, to salute Rich Rodriguez for having the vision to recognize them.
