Morgantown, West Virginia – Sometimes, starting over completely is exactly what a football program needs to do.
The West Virginia Mountaineers (2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference) are in dead last place in the Big 12 Conference. The Kansas Jayhawks, on the other hand, are 5-0 and in first place in the conference in only the team’s second year under new head Lance Leipold.
If Kansas can start from scratch and be successful, so can West Virginia!
Only two years ago, Kansas was 0-9. Last season, in Leipold’s first season with the team, they went 2-10. This season, they are 5-0, have a Heisman front-runner in Jalon Daniels, is selling out their stadium and they have completely turned around their football program in less than 2 years.
A common concern for Neal Brown-apologists is “if we fired Neal Brown, we will have to start all over and who is going to replace him?”
1.) Yes, West Virginia would have to start over with a clean slate, and that’s a good thing. Nothing built over the past 3 and 1/2 years is meaningful. Brown’s recruiting classes have been above average, but it hasn’t translated on the field. Replacing Brown would be an easy transition for the potential new head coach.
2.) Many outstanding head coaches would love to come to West Virginia to lead the Mountaineers. West Virginia has a tremendous tradition and one of the very best fanbases in the entire country. The West Virginia head coaching position would be extremely attractive to potential replacements and Shane Lyons, or whoever the new athletic director will be, would have a long line of coaches hoping to take over for Brown.
In short, starting over can often be a very good thing for a football program, particularly when a football program has faced multiple years of mediocrity like West Virginia has. If you are skeptical, look no further than the Kansas Jayhawks who have completely transformed their football program in two years.
For those concerned with “starting over” after Neal Brown is fired: WVU is in dead last place in the Big 12. Kansas is undefeated at 5-0 and in 1st place in the second year under their new head coach Lance Leipold. Sometimes starting over completely is a very good thing.
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) October 3, 2022
