Day two of the Big 12 Media Days was the day fans around the state of West Virginia have been waiting for. It was time for WVU to take their time behind the microphone and answer all the questions the media had to ask.
Day two was following up a very interesting day one that saw the Big 12 Commissioner talk more conference expansion and Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy justify a DUI.
The Mountaineers did not bring any of that sort of theatrical performance to the stage. Neal Brown and his players were very straight forward as normal. Once again, their preseason Big 12 standings did not sit right with them.
The Mountaineers were picked to finish seventh in the conference this year. One season after being the team to picked last. ’14’ became the teams rally cry and this year, Aubrey Burks doesn’t see that ranking any more satisfying.
“My mom always told me if you’re not number one, you’re last. So that seven to me is just like that fourteen.”
Neal Brown had quite a bit to say when taking the podium Wednesday afternoon. His approch towards the Penn State game coming up was surely interesting.
“It’s not just a big game for West Virginia. It’s a big game for our league. It’s an opportunity for our league in this new Big 12, without a couple of schools that have been a part of the Big 12 for a long time in that first weekend on a marquee stage to show what kind of football that we play in this league.”
Brown also answered questions from WVU’s NIL and how it’s incorporated into his recruiting to how the team will continue to rush to the level they achieved last season.
In terms of the NIL Brown said, “There’s some that are really interested in NIL. There’s some that are really interested in in facilities, and you got to figure out which people to go to… there’s definitely a fundraising piece to the NIL that I don’t know if anybody’s arrived at it, but we feel like were in a better rhythm.”
After having one of the most successful rushing attacks in all of the nation last season, WVU will return most key peices that contributed to that success.
“CJ Donaldson was kind of beat up last year, he’s a big powerful running back. I really think he’ll go back and… remind our fan base and college football fans across the country what he showed as a freshman in the type of potential he has. And then Garrett Greene’s an elite runner. We also have some receivers who get involved with (running) too, Rodney Gallagher, who we used quite a bit last year… so there’s going to be those be enough touches to go around, but that’s part of the game plan. You got to figure out how to get your best people to ball and get them in a situation in space where they can make plays.”
Despite the fantastic end of the season that QB Garrett Greene put together, he hears the critiques about his short game. According to him, that has been his focus all offseason.
“The big (weakness) was the short intermediate throws,” Greene said. “Really the last two or three months, you know working a lot with David Morris down at QB Country, really honing in on my feet and kind of the small mechanics that lead to big jumps in that.”
On a less serious football notes, the WVU players got to get an early access to the highly anticipated EA Sports NCAA College Football video game this is set to release on July 19. After the top 100 player ratings have been released and WVU had Wyatt Milum reach the top 100 at a 90 overall, the players got to experience their team in the video game just over a week before its drop date.
Media Days for WVU were certainly a success, without any controversy or hot topics as other teams faces, the Mountaineers got to talk a lot of football and motivation. While more expansion to the Big 12 seems more likely than ever again, the upcoming season is sure to be must-see TV.
