WVU Football Coach Bans His Players from Doing TikTok Dances: ‘Not the Image I Want’

Mar. 15, 2025

West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez.Photo:Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty

Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty

West Virginia football head coach Rich Rodriguez has banned his players from dancing on TikTok.The Mountaineers coach made the announcement on Monday, March 10, according to theAssociated PressandSports Illustrated, telling reporters that he won’t stop players from using the app, but is concerned about what they’re posting.“They’re going to be on it, so I’m not banning them from it,” Rodriguez, 61, said. “I’m just banning them from dancing on it.“Rodriguez said he sees dancing on the app as a threat to players' “hard edge” image. “It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ain’t quite the image of our program that I want."“I’m allowed to do that. I can have rules,” Rodriguez continued. “Twenty years from now, if they want to be sitting in their pajamas in the basement eating Cheetos and watching TikTok or whatever the hell, they can go at it, smoking cannabis, whatever. Knock yourself out.”The West Virginia Mountaineers run onto the field before the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl between the Memphis Tigers and the West Virginia Mountaineers on December 17, 2024 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The head coach, who was hired in December to return to West Virginia after coaching the Mountaineers from 2001-2007, emphasized that he hopes his players are focused on “winning football games” instead of making videos for social media.“How about let’s win the football game and not worry about winning the TikTok,” Rodriguez said on Monday.PerUPI.com, Rodriguez also said he sees dancing on TikTok as a distraction from developing team chemistry. “Everything today is about trying to make everybody individual. It’s all about the individual,” he explained.“Football is one of the last things that has got to be more about the team than the individual. So I banned dancing on TikTok. I guess I did that.“Contrary to Rodriguez’s concerns about dancing on TikTok, multiple college athletes have found success in their sport while posting dance videos, like 2024 Heisman Trophy winnerTravis Hunterand Philadelphia 76ers rookieJared McCain.

West Virginia football head coach Rich Rodriguez has banned his players from dancing on TikTok.

The Mountaineers coach made the announcement on Monday, March 10, according to theAssociated PressandSports Illustrated, telling reporters that he won’t stop players from using the app, but is concerned about what they’re posting.

“They’re going to be on it, so I’m not banning them from it,” Rodriguez, 61, said. “I’m just banning them from dancing on it.”

Rodriguez said he sees dancing on the app as a threat to players' “hard edge” image. “It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.”

“I’m allowed to do that. I can have rules,” Rodriguez continued. “Twenty years from now, if they want to be sitting in their pajamas in the basement eating Cheetos and watching TikTok or whatever the hell, they can go at it, smoking cannabis, whatever. Knock yourself out.”

The West Virginia Mountaineers run onto the field before the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl between the Memphis Tigers and the West Virginia Mountaineers on December 17, 2024 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The head coach, who was hired in December to return to West Virginia after coaching the Mountaineers from 2001-2007, emphasized that he hopes his players are focused on “winning football games” instead of making videos for social media.

“How about let’s win the football game and not worry about winning the TikTok,” Rodriguez said on Monday.

PerUPI.com, Rodriguez also said he sees dancing on TikTok as a distraction from developing team chemistry. “Everything today is about trying to make everybody individual. It’s all about the individual,” he explained.

“Football is one of the last things that has got to be more about the team than the individual. So I banned dancing on TikTok. I guess I did that.”

Contrary to Rodriguez’s concerns about dancing on TikTok, multiple college athletes have found success in their sport while posting dance videos, like 2024 Heisman Trophy winnerTravis Hunterand Philadelphia 76ers rookieJared McCain.

source: people.com