It’s now just a few days shy of 10 months since Rich Rodriguez walked onto a stage inside the now Hope Coliseum to be introduced as WVU’s football coach.

Gold and blue balloons decorated the arena. The school’s pep band blared out the fight song. The Mountaineer mascot fired up the crowd.

You probably remember the day well.

Dozens of points and quotable messages were made that day, either by Rodriguez himself or by WVU athletic director Wren Baker.

None, maybe, stood out quite as much as this: “My promise, not just to the folks who are upset, but to everybody here and everybody that’s been very, very supportive, I will earn your support,” Rodriguez said. “We will earn your support and your trust back. I’m committed to that, and I’ve thought about that even before this opportunity.”

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