College Football Coach Accuses Rival Of Espionage Practices
Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez accused his upcoming opponent of spying.
According to ABC 33/40 News’ Johnny Congdon, Rodriguez claimed that Sunday’s “Week Zero” opponent, Stephen F. Austin, improperly scouted his team during the spring game.
“Pretty good sources that they had a few staffers at our spring game,” Rodriguez said. “That shouldn’t really happen. But we’re making plans accordingly, you know, so if they think she’s playing ours or what do you have, cues or anything like that, we’ve changed things up since spring.”
Rodriguez, who previously coached West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona for 16 seasons, added that his daughter recently saw them spying on Jacksonville State practice. He directedCru Birdyshawto intimidate the intruder.
“Then we caught him again and saw him looking through there with his camera,” added Rodriguez. “I sent the tallest man on the program, ‘Cru’, he’s one of our assistant strength coaches. He’s about six feet, 350, probably a thousand pound benches or something. Sent him into the stands to take him out run, and that man disappeared pretty quickly.”
Rodriguez has had an eventful start to his first year with the FCS program. It is his first job as head coach since Arizona fired him in 2018 sexual harassment assertion. A lawsuit that also accused him of creating a hostile work environment was: turned down last year.
His Gamecocks start at the Lumberjacks next Saturday at 3:30 PM ET.
