MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — West Virginia fans don’t need reminding of how frustrating the Neal Brown era was, but let’s play the “what if” game for just a moment. What if Brown was still roaming the sidelines in Morgantown this season? Would things look any different? Spoiler alert: yes—but only in the worst possible way.
The Cold Reality: 1–2
If Neal Brown were still the head coach, West Virginia would almost certainly be sitting at 1–2 right now. The lone victory would come against lowly Robert Morris, a paycheck game the Mountaineers could win even if they lined up with one shoe untied. But against real competition? The script would look painfully familiar.
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Loss to Ohio: We’ve seen this story too many times. Brown’s conservative play-calling, lack of urgency, and refusal to make adjustments would have been a perfect recipe for another embarrassing Group of Five loss. Ohio would’ve dominated time of possession, controlled the line of scrimmage, and left Mountaineer fans wondering how their Power Five program got bullied by the Bobcats.
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Loss to Pitt: This one is just as predictable. Against a rival, Brown would’ve tightened up, settled for field goals, and played not to lose. And as always, when it mattered most, the Mountaineers would have been out-coached and out-toughed. Pitt would’ve walked away with a win, and WVU fans would once again be muttering about “next year.”
Under Brown, Mountaineer football was defined by mediocrity and missed opportunities. His teams looked unprepared in big games, lacked offensive creativity, and consistently found ways to lose to inferior opponents. There’s no reason to believe 2025 would be any different.
Instead of momentum, excitement, and belief, West Virginia would be trudging through yet another disappointing start—fans checked out, stadium seats empty, and the national perception of WVU football in the gutter.
Speculating about Neal Brown’s hypothetical record isn’t just for fun. It’s a reminder of how far the program had fallen under his watch and why leadership finally had to make a change. A 1–2 start under Brown would’ve been met with excuses and clichés. With new leadership, Mountaineer football at least has hope, energy, and a direction forward.
