WVU football seniors bought in to building some momentum for the program going forward

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Nov. 14—MORGANTOWN — In the middle of the Colorado game, West Virginia recognized the 2005 team for its victory over Georgia, 38-35, to win the Sugar Bowl. It was one of the major bowl wins in the Mountaineers' history. Most of them were there to celebrate, and their presence was felt in the stadium. There were kids on the sideline asking quarterback Pat White for autographs, Steve Slaton Houston Texans' jerseys spread about the stands, and they received a round of applause when recognized.

A bowl win means a lot to WVU. Fans enjoy it, it brings national attention to the team, and it helps the longevity of the program through recruiting and now NIL.

One of the goals for the first year under Rich Rodriguez was to be above.500 and make a bowl game. After a 2-6 start through eight games, the bowl game was an afterthought. Especially with the road ahead of No. 22 Houston, Arizona State and Texas Tech on the remaining schedule. WVU upset the Cougars and beat Colorado, and now sits at 4-6 with two games left. A bowl game is now a possibility.

It's not going to be easy. WVU faces the Sun Devils, who won the Big 12 last year, and then hosts the best team in the conference, Texas Tech, to close out the year.

"If we can really put it together and make a bowl game this year, and go and win it, I think that the vibes and everything around the building would be really great going into next year, " linebacker Reid Carrico said. "I think that's important."

This is Carrico's final year of eligibility. The next two games are his last. He hasn't been at WVU forever. Carrico transferred from Ohio State two years ago and is from Ohio.

There are a lot of seniors, like Carrico, on this year's team. Rodriguez built the roster to compete in his first year, while keeping in mind the future. Most of them, after the 2-6 start, could've called it quits and moved on with their lives, but from what Carrico said, it sounds like they're still competing because they know what a bowl game does for the program going forward.

That sentiment says a lot about the culture Rodriguez has built in a short amount of time. Whether that's the type of players he's recruited or the way he's coached them, they are thinking outwards, and not inwards.

"It is a big deal, " Rodriguez said. "Sometimes you be like, gosh, your seniors, you only had them for seven or eight months, or something like that."

Rodriguez said first and foremost, his priority is about winning, but it's also about making sure each student athlete enjoys playing. Those two things can go hand and hand, too. Usually, athletes who are enjoying their time on the field play better.

"I've always said, part of our responsibility and job is for every player to truly enjoy their experience while they're here, and for the seniors to have the best experience their senior year. Obviously, the more you win, the better your experience is going to be, right ? I truly believe that our job as coaches and our job as a program is for our players to enjoy the experience."

The team might not have had the best season so far, but there's still a real chance for great momentum heading into next year. Even if WVU doesn't make a bowl game, if it just wins one of the next two games, there'll definitely be some juice going into 2026. AD Wren Baker was looking for some positivity heading into the next year, and that'd provide it.

The team, even the seniors, know that's the goal in the last two games of the season, finishing it out strong.

"To me, that is a big deal that our seniors, " Rodriguez said. "It ain't always sunshine and rainbows and all that, but I want them to be happy that they played here in West Virginia, and happy that they were part of this program."

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