Rich Rodriguez recently made a bold promise during the 2025 Big 12 media days: “If we win a big game this year, my a** is burning a couch.” He added that he’s already prepared to pay any city ordinance fine—he “doesn’t care” too much about the cost .
This isn’t the first time WVU fans have celebrated big wins by burning couches—tradition dates back to at least 2007, when students burned a sofa after beating Pitt .
Here’s what you should know:
- What counts as a “big game”? Likely domestic signature wins at Mountaineer Field—Colorado State and Utah come to mind—or major wins on the road against teams like BYU or Texas Tech .
- Rodriguez’s tough‑guy culture: As a coach, Rich Rod is all about grit, discipline, and getting opponents physically worn out. He emphasizes building a “hard edge” culture where players show toughness every snap .
- Rebuilding the team: With just two returning starters and around 70–75 new faces, he’s aiming to return WVU to title contention by November—and if that success comes, the couch burning would be a theatrical celebration of defiance and victory .
Summary
- Coach Rodriguez: Ready to burn a couch if there’s a signature win in 2025, regardless of local ordinances.
- Long‑standing tradition: Couch burning is part of WVU fan culture.
- Big atmosphere booster: If it happens, it will vividly signal that the Mountaineers have arrived under his second tenure.
Let me know if you’d like more context on what constitutes a “big game,” his schedule, or WVU traditions around big wins.
