Mountaineer Nation has patiently awaited Neal Brown’s first signature win with the Mountaineers. Though the team had an upset win over Kansas State in 2019, the team’s lack of success last season watered down the victory. However, fast forward one season later and Brown’s Mountaineers did it against Kansas State again. This time with a little more at stake.
West Virginia’s 37-10 win over the 16th ranked Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday showed just how far this program has come under Neal Brown. Only a week after suffering what could easily be considered the worst loss of his tenure, the team showed resiliency and pounded a nationally ranked squad. For the time being it has kept them alive in the Big 12 title race, and has helped their status when it comes to bowl season. When everything could have started to fall apart for the Mountaineers, Brown gathered his troops and they pushed forward.
It may still be rather early in his tenure, but Neal Brown earned a contract extension on Saturday. According to MetroNews, Brown’s contract currently runs through the end of the 2024 season. Year six of his initial six year deal. I am not sure about anybody else, but I hope to have Neal Brown around Morgantown much longer than just four more years. He has the potential to be one of the greatest long-tenured coaches in the school’s history, and it is up to the athletic department to show their commitment to him.
Saturday’s victory should be more than enough for WVU to pledge their commitment to Brown as their head football coach. If you would have told me last season that the Mountaineers would have one of the top defenses in the nation, and a blowout win over a top 20 opponent at this point in year two, I would have taken it in heartbeat. Recruiting is solid, and now the play on the field is coming together. Brown continues to hold this team together when things could go south – showing just what a solid leader he really is. Shane Lyons appears to have hit a homerun bringing Brown to town, and West Virginia needs him as their leader for many years to come.
