Robert Morris vs. West Virginia (Aug 30, 2025): Four Key Absences, Including New Head Coach, Due to Ongoing Investigation…
As the Robert Morris Colonials prepare to open their 2025 football season against the West Virginia Mountaineers on August 30, the program faces a major setback. Four individuals, including newly appointed head coach Marcus Calloway, will not be part of the game due to their involvement in an ongoing university and NCAA investigation. This development casts a shadow over what was expected to be a fresh chapter for the Colonials football team.
The investigation, which began quietly in late spring, centers on potential violations related to recruiting practices and impermissible benefits provided to prospective student-athletes during the offseason. According to university sources, preliminary findings raised enough concern to warrant placing multiple staff members and players on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Coach Marcus Calloway, who was hired in January 2025 to lead a revitalization of the program, is among those sidelined. A promising young coach with prior success as an offensive coordinator at a Division I school, Calloway was brought in with the hope of instilling discipline, modernizing the offense, and improving recruiting pipelines. His absence just days before the season opener presents a major disruption, not only to game preparation but to the overall morale and direction of the team.
Joining Calloway on the inactive list are three key players, each expected to play pivotal roles this season. Among them is sophomore quarterback Jalen Freeman, who was projected to start against West Virginia. Freeman impressed during spring practices and was seen as a dual-threat leader who could energize the offense. His removal from the lineup places a significant burden on the backup quarterback, redshirt freshman Trevor Malone, who will now be thrust into a high-pressure situation against a Power Five opponent.
The other two players involved have not been officially named by the university, citing privacy concerns during the ongoing review process. However, sources close to the program suggest they include a starting defensive back and a returning offensive lineman—both critical to the team’s competitiveness in the early weeks of the season.
In a brief statement released Monday, Robert Morris University’s Athletic Department confirmed the absences, stating:
“Robert Morris University has placed several individuals associated with its football program on temporary administrative leave while we conduct a thorough internal review of recent compliance concerns. The University is cooperating fully with the NCAA and remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in collegiate athletics.”
West Virginia, meanwhile, continues preparations as normal, though head coach Neal Brown expressed sympathy for his counterpart and the Robert Morris team, stating:
“These are never the kinds of situations you want to see, especially this close to a game. We wish Coach Calloway and his team the best as they work through it.”
The immediate impact is clear: the Colonials head into a challenging matchup against a top-tier opponent under interim leadership and without several key contributors. While the long-term ramifications of the investigation are yet to be determined, the short-term consequences are already reshaping what was once a highly anticipated season opener for Robert Morris.
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