Jacksonville, AL – With Rich Rodriguez’s stock increasing on the coaching industry Rich Rodriguez suggests a factor that could be the key to his ongoing satisfaction with Jax State. Also, he reveals that he is a part of the NCAA after denial of a transition waiver.
By Joe Medley
As Jacksonville State making FBS transition appear to be more of the continuation of FCS successes, director of football Rich Rodriguez on Saturday addressed the growing interest in him as a rising commodity in the market for coaching.
Rodriguez said that Jax State “a great place” and called the Jax State job “a great opportunity” and then hints at what will be a major factor in his decision-making.
“I’ve amassed a wonderful team and a great staff,” he said after the Gamecocks’ 56-17 win from Louisiana Tech. “I’m biased. I can’t think of an even better “Group of Five’ staff in the nation, and I’m keen to retain them.
“That’s an appeal right there at the institution. Keep me in touch with the coaches.”
Rodriguez has led Jax State’s shift into FCS into FBS. Jax State went 9-2 in the season, winning the ASUN Conference championship, in 2022. The team is currently 8-3 their first year as an FBS team as well as a Conference USA member.
Jax State has enough wins to be eligible for the first ever FBS bowl, but with the possibility of catching. The program is still in transition and may be chosen for a bowl only in the event that there aren’t enough qualified teams in the field to fill 82 seats within 41 bowls.
Jax State’s accomplishment under Rodriguez follows a 5-6 mark in 2021, which was the program’s final year of eligibility to play in the FCS playoffs.
Rodriguez stated that he’s “a hundred percent tuned into the process we’re using.”
As for talk in the media sphere, including mention’s by friend and punter-turned-personality Pat McAfee, Rodriguez shrugged it off as part of the territory.
“If someone mentions your name for a job in a positive way it’s a great thing, isn’t it?” Rodriguez said. “It indicates that your program is running smoothly. It’s not a good idea to turn around. I’ve been the other way before.”
For Jax State’s postseason prospects in an upcoming transition phase, Rodriguez panned the NCAA. This comes a few days following the NCAA Division I Board Administration Committee refused to hear waiver appeals filed by the transitioning schools James Madison, Jax State and Tarleton State (FCS) to have the full eligibility for postseason play.
In the case of JMU as well as Jax State, full eligibility will include the ability to play in the conference championships.
“The NCAA doesn’t have a amount of common sense in certain instances,” Rodriguez said. “They don’t have common sense legislation in this instance and this case is common sense legislation.
“If you’re doing all the things you’re supposed do, particularly during your second year in transition as we did like James Madison, you should be eligible to play in the bowl game. If we win enough games and we’re eligible, we’ll be able to participate at the championship of our conference.”
Rodriguez said Rodriguez is “hopeful” that not all fully eligible teams will meet the bowl-qualifying threshold that requires six victories.
“I believe that our seniors and the guys merit it,” he said. “We need to do our best to win and, at a minimum, be in the position to finish in the second position at the top of our league, in case we are able to beat the next week.”
Jax State plays at New Mexico State on November. 25.
