Overview

• Rich Rodriguez, in his second stint as West Virginia's head football coach, has prohibited his players from dancing on TikTok but not from using the platform.
• Rodriguez stated that TikTok dancing undermines the 'hard edge' image he wants for the football program and promotes individualism over team unity.
• Critics argue that the ban could hinder players' ability to build personal brands in an era of name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities.
• Rodriguez emphasized the importance of focusing on winning games rather than creating social media content, aligning the ban with his vision for team discipline.
• The move has sparked a broader discussion about balancing traditional coaching values with modern trends in college athletics and athlete branding.