Neal Brown has been under a lot of scrutiny and criticism for how the start of the WVU season has played out thus far. However, the backlash the head coach has received has never been higher than this point in his career after some questionable comments made during Monday’s press conference.
It does not come as a surprise to Brown who knows that this job naturally is going to come with a lot of hate, “If you’re going to play, if you’re going to coach, if you’re going to work at a high level in any given profession that you’re in public which this is a public profession, you’re going to get scrutinized.”
The Mountaineers have fallen short in their three biggest games so far this season. Penn State and Iowa State at home were what felt like uncompetitive games while another Backyard fourth quarter collapse in Pittsburgh haunts the teams and fans once again.
While each of WVU’s three losses to start the season have been to undefeated teams, it’s been home the games have played out that have fans upset towards the coaching staff for the season. However, Brown knows he has to avoid comments and thoughts from the basic fans.
“You got to be careful who you take criticism from. Like you don’t accept criticism from somebody you wouldn’t go to or advice. I try to live by that. I think I’ve said that here. I tell our players that quite a bit.”
Brown would go on to explain that during the season, he and most of the rest of the team is completely in a bubble excluded from the public.
“I live kind of in a bubble during the season. I basically am in this building starting on Sunday all the way until I go to my radio show on Thursday night. If Dax has a flag football game, I may be up in public for just a few minutes.”
It goes without saying that social media can take an ugly form and bring the worst out in some people. While coaches, players, and administrators might not be reading what is said on social media, Brown pointed out that family members of those affected have a much harder time avoiding the backlash.
“I’m in a bubble and it’s the same thing with all the coaches and players here. What’s hard about this from a coaching perspective in the family piece to it because your families are open to some of that scrutiny and they didn’t necessarily sign up for it. It’s not like one of my daughters is calling plays or calling defense or making special team decisions, but they have to deal with some of the side effects of it.”
This upcoming weekend against Kansas State is another opportunity for Neal Brown to win against a ranked opponent, something the head coach has struggled with during his tenure for the Mountaineers. It will be the second straight primetime night game for WVU on FOX against the 17th ranked Kansas State Wildcats.
