Neal Brown and West Virginia travel to face Dana Holgorsen and Houston this week.
For Brown, he’s not ignoring the fact that Holgorsen is his predecessor and the emotions that might bring to Thursday night’s game.
“I know a lot is going to be made about West Virginia playing Dana. I get it. I think what doesn’t get talked about is Dana did a good job here. I’m reminded because everyday I drive into this parking lot I see a picture of him and the Orange Bowl team. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that, he did a really good job,” Brown said.
As far as carryover players, there is not anyone left from the 2018 roster, and also not many that Holgorsen and his staff recruited.
“Malachi Ruffin is really the only player that played under the previous staff. I think we had three guys that were recruited by the previous staff. Then they have four of our former players,” Brown said. “The game will have some emotions to it. We know that, we’re preparing our guys for that.”
This past offseason, the Mountaineers saw two offensive pieces transfer to Houston in Tony Mathis and Mike O’Laughlin. Mathis was WVU’s leading rusher last year, while O’Laughlin contributed throughout his career despite dealing with two season-ending injuries.
“Mike O’Lauhglin and Tony Mathis did everything we asked them to do. Made solid contributions, they graduated, did a good job on and off the field here. I get it and wish them the best,” Brown said.
Houston’s Noah Guzman as well as Samuel Brown were at WVU under Brown’s tenure as well.
“Guzman wanted a different role and then Sam’s playing at a very high level,” Brown said. I hope he (Brown) continues to have a good year just not on Thursday night.”
Brown said the matchup against Holgorsen would have been a different intensity if he wasn’t five years removed from being the Mountaineer head coach.
“I think if it happened sooner, I think the buildup around it probably would have been bigger. I think when Dana comes back here for the first time that will probably be a little bit bigger deal,” Brown said. “Time heals a lot of things. It’s been five years. I think it would be probably perceived different if we had a lot of guys that were here in 2018, we just don’t.”
Brown said no one at WVU will have any bad feelings heading to Houston, and that Mountaineer fans should
“I think our fanbase needs to understand, I pull in, I see his face. They won the Orange Bowl and I think he’s won 10 games twice here and did a nice job. There’s not ill will for I think anybody in this building going down there,” Brown said.
