Rich Rodriguez stood on the sidelines, surveying his new team with a mix of excitement and curiosity. As the new head coach of West Virginia University, he knew he had his work cut out for him. But one thing that gave him a sense of comfort was the presence of familiar faces on the roster – former Jacksonville State players who had followed him to Morgantown.
Among them was quarterback JT Daniels, who had thrived under Rodriguez’s system at JSU. Daniels had been instrumental in helping the Gamecocks dominate the FCS, and Rodriguez had high hopes for him in the FBS. With Daniels at the helm, Rodriguez knew he had a quarterback who understood his offense inside and out.
As practice began, Rodriguez noticed how seamlessly the JSU transplants fit into the Mountaineers’ offense. They knew the plays, the terminology, and the tempo. They were like veterans, leading the newer players through the motions with ease.
One of those newer players was wide receiver CJ Donaldson, a talented freshman who was still learning the ropes. As he struggled to keep up with the pace of practice, Rodriguez called a timeout and summoned Daniels and another JSU alum, receiver Key’Ron “Auntie” Doyle, to his side.
“Guys, help him out,” Rodriguez said, nodding towards Donaldson. “Show him the way.”
Daniels and Doyle sprang into action, taking Donaldson through the routes, explaining the nuances of the offense, and offering words of encouragement. Before long, Donaldson’s confusion gave way to understanding, and he began to run the routes with more confidence.
As the days turned into weeks, the JSU contingent continued to play a vital role in helping their new teammates adjust to Rodriguez’s system. They were the vets, the leaders, and the mentors, and their presence eased the transition for everyone else.
Rodriguez couldn’t have been happier with the progress his team was making. The familiarity and camaraderie among the JSU players were contagious, spreading to the rest of the team. As they took the field for their first game, Rodriguez knew he had a good chance of getting off to a strong start.
The presence of those former Jacksonville State players had been a blessing, helping to smooth out the wrinkles in the transition. Now, all Rodriguez had to do was get his team to execute, and he was confident they would make him proud.
