Thomas Wolfe’s posthumously published 1940 novel “You Can’t Go Home Again†is a cautionary tale. A New York Times review of the book at the time summarized the story this way: “In the last analysis, it means, of course, that one must go forward in life, that there is no return to the things that were, however dear to us they may have been.â€
But are there exceptions? The answer to that question begins to unfold on Saturday when the West Virginia University Mountaineer football team begins the 2025 season with Rich Rodriguez as its head coach.
WVU fans do not forget or forgive easily. Rodriguez’ inelegant departure for Michigan in 2007 left fans fuming. The one-time favorite son was cast out into a Mountaineer Nation netherworld. He spent the next 17 years traveling the coaching world, with stops at six schools.
It seemed that would be his coaching life, stops near and far, but always an outsider to his home state. But a convergence of circumstances occurred. Director of Athletics Wren Baker, convinced that Rich Rod was appropriately remorseful about his decision to leave 17 years ago, made the controversial decision to bring him back.
I say controversial because there are still hard feelings among some Mountaineer fans, and perhaps there always will be. But the concept of second chances, especially for one of our own, is powerful. Who among us would not like an opportunity to correct a decision that changed the course of our lives for the worse?
Objectively, Rich Rod’s return is a fascinating story — and one that is garnering national attention. ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit picked Rodriguez over Bill Belichick and others as the best hire in the off season.
“We know what Rich Rod is going to do,†Herbstreit said. “He’s going to be a lot of fun. And, boy, they got a huge game in Week 3. They need to beat Ohio early, but Week 3, the Backyard Brawl against Pitt at home, I can only imagine what that scene will be like.â€
Herbstreit is right about the environment for the Pitt game, but there will also be myriad storylines. So much of how Rich Rod is perceived early, and what kind of season the Mountaineers will have, rests on the outcome of week three, especially since his last game as head coach here 17 years ago was a heartbreaking loss to the Panthers that kept WVU out of the national championship.
But I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
The story Saturday is not the Robert Morris game, but rather it is the implausible return of Rich Rodriguez to the Mountaineer sideline. True to Wolfe’s admonition, a lot has changed, especially with the game itself.
Mountaineer Nation has followed the ups and downs of their team through three subsequent head coaches. As for Rodriguez, he has maintained his hard-edge coaching style and gotten even better at winning the press conferences. He enjoys lighthearted give-and-take with the media and is charming with fans and donors. Rodriguez has repeatedly said he understands the opportunity he has been given to come back.
Rodriguez will be judged primarily by wins and losses, as it is with all coaches. Too many defeats and we will be reminded of Thomas Wolfe’s warning. However, if he has the kind of success he had in his first tenure, we will know that, in rare circumstances, you can go home.
Hoppy Kercheval is the retired host of "Talkline," on MetroNews.Â
