By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
As West Virginia prepares for their first road game of the season against the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday, head coach Rich Rodriguez made it abundantly clear during his press conference today that his team is not looking past their next opponent.
With the highly anticipated Backyard Brawl against Pitt looming on the horizon, the “trap game” label has been placed on this weekends game. However, Rodriguez swiftly shut down that narrative, reinforcing his team’s singular focus on the task at hand.
“That’s ridiculous,” Rodriguez said during the press conference. “If they’re thinking about anybody other than Ohio, they need to go somewhere else. It’s as simple as that. I don’t even want them thinking about Saturday. I want them thinking about how I get through Tuesday’s practice. That’s not going to be that difficult for us to manage, I don’t think.”
Ohio, who dominated the Mid-American Conference (MAC) last year, present a stiff test for WVU. The Bobcats, who are led by quarterback Parker Navarro, felt just short last weekend on the road againt Rutgers.
Rodriguez singled out Navarro as “one of the best in the country,” praising the player’s ability to turn broken plays into game-changing moments. “He’s really good, really talented. He can take the play that’s off and make something happen out of it,” Rodriguez noted.
