In just over a week, the world will see West Virginia in its FOX Big Noon kickoff against Penn State, but head coach Neal Brown knows that within the state, there are always eyes on the Mountaineers.
Making an appearance on ESPN’s SEC Network show Marty & McGee on Sunday, Brown discussed the extreme importance of WVU to the state and what expectations are on the Mountaineers this season.
“I don’t think there’s any other university that’s more closely linked to the state than West Virginia, and it’s important,” Brown said.
Entering his sixth year as West Virginia head coach, Brown has plenty of experience with the implications of his program’s importance. As a team so important to its fans, Brown explained, the Mountaineers have a responsibility to represent the state’s people properly.
“It probably took me a couple of years to fully understand that the makeup of our team and how we played and the culture and the identity of who we are really needed to match the people, and we’ve got to be a mentally and physically tough team because that’s who our people are,” Brown said.
During his tenure in Morgantown, Brown has built his Mountaineers closer to that identity, and it has paid off, bringing WVU to a 9-4 record and Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over North Carolina last season.
Now, the standard of WVU Football is only rising, with expectations at their highest point in recent history. With the title in a new-look Big 12 up for grabs, though, the Mountaineers cannot make room for any shortcomings.
“There’s probably upwards of 10 teams that can win (the Big 12),” Brown said. “There’s no doubt that this league is the most competitive.”
In that competitive conference, Brown pointed out that the Mountaineers were just one game out of a Big 12 Championship appearance last season, which could have been met with wins over Houston or Oklahoma State.
Brown acknowledged, though, that the Mountaineers “weren’t ready” to win those games last season. Now, he says the team is built ready, both defensively and offensively.
“Our pass coverage was our weakness last year. We feel like we went out and got two top-level corners, and we’re going to be better in coverage than we ever have been,” Brown said.
“Offensively, we’ve got a chance to be one of the better offenses in the country, and it starts with Garrett Greene, who I think is electric,” Brown said. “He’s under the radar, and I’m not sure why.”
Brown added that West Virginia is still a “run-first offense,” but that with growth in last year’s young receiver core, the Mountaineers will become less of a one-dimensional threat. That offense will run behind an offensive line that looks strong without Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier.
As for the immediate future, Brown- and Mountaineer fans everywhere- have sights set on a week one win at home.
“It’s going to be a special atmosphere two weeks from today right here,” Brown said. “Our fans are ready. If they’d open up the tailgate lots right now they’d be here.”
West Virginia revived its longstanding rivalry against Penn State last season in State College, Penn., but with 110,747 fans watching in Beaver Stadium, the Mountaineers fell convincingly, 38-15. The Penn State win moved the historically one-sided rivalry even further in the Nittany Lions’ favor, but West Virginia will look to match that win this season.
“There’s nobody that our fans would rather beat than Penn State,” Brown said.
On the field, Brown and his players will seek to match that high energy with just as much effort on the field.
“The challenge for our football team is to be at our best,” Brown said. “Penn State rolls in with all new coordinators with a lot of talent, probably as talented as anyone in the country.”
“It’s a challenge, but it’s a great opportunity for us,” Brown said.
The West Virginia Mountaineers will seek to meet the expectations of its fans across the state starting Aug. 31 at noon against Penn State. The game can be watched on FOX. Gates open at Milan Puskar Stadium at 10:30 a.m.
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
