West Virginia University: Football Coach Forbids Players from Dancing on TikTok

- What We Do
- What we defend
- Have your rights been violated?
  If you face retaliation over protected speech, reach out to FIREto learn more about how we can protect your rights.
  Submit a Case
- Make a difference
- Take Action
  Across the nation, free speech rights are under attack. Join us in defending this essential quality of liberty. Make your voice heard and join a campaign.
  Protect Free Speech
- FIREStudent Network
  ��ýapp�ٷ�’s 2022 College Free Speech Rankings are based on the voices of more than 44,000 currently enrolled students at 208 colleges and are designed to help parents and prospective students choose the right school.
  Build Your Network
- Resources
- College Free Speech Rankings
  Presented by FIREand College Pulse, the 2025 College Free Speech Rankings is the largest survey of campus free expression ever performed.
- National Speech Index
  The National Speech Index is a new quarterly component of America’s Political Pulse, an ongoing weekly survey that will allow researchers to track shifting free speech sentiment in America over time.
  Learn More
Colleges
News
Cases
About Us
Submit a Case

Home
Cases

West Virginia University: Football Coach Forbids Players from Dancing on TikTok

Cases

West Virginia University

Case Overview

On March 11, 2025, the Associated Press reported that West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez was banning his players from posting dancing videos on TikTok. “We try to have a hard edge,” said Rodriguez, “and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok, ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.” ��ýapp�ٷ� wrote WVU on March 17 explaining why Rodriguez’s directive violates his players’ First Amendment rights and asking the university to clarify to the team that such expression cannot be prohibited.

������ýapp�ٷ�

��ýapp�ٷ�