In an alternate universe, Rich Rodriguez accepted the Alabama football head coach job in 2006 and Nick Saban never won six national championships in Tuscaloosa. Instead, Rodriguez turned down the Crimson Tide and after several coaching stops, ended up right back at West Virginia, leaving Jacksonville State to accept his old job this week.

Rodriguez, 61, who was named coach after spending three seasons at Jacksonville State, said he has grown both as a person and a coach throughout his long career, “and in particular in the 17 years since I made the mistake of leaving.

Now back at West Virginia, coach Rich Rodriguez says he shouldn't have left the Mountaineers for Michigan 17 years ago.