WVU’s Brown annoyed by ‘lazy’ call to finish last

ARLINGTON, Texas — West Virginia coach Neal Brown was on trip in Florida together with his household earlier this month when the Massive 12 preseason media ballot was launched and his Mountaineers had been chosen to complete final out of 14 groups.

His trip was ruined, and the prediction, he asserted, was incorrect.

“It actually form of pissed me off as a result of I actually suppose it is form of lazy reporting in some senses,” Brown instructed ESPN on Thursday. “We cannot end the place we’re predicted to complete.”

Brown, who conceded that he’s dealing with strain after final yr’s 5-7 end, pointed to a number of causes he believes his group will likely be higher, none larger than the 132 mixed begins returning on the offensive line. Brown known as working again CJ Donaldson a “budding celebrity” who had 4 100-yard speeding video games earlier than his 2022 season was minimize quick by a decrease leg damage.

The coach additionally famous that West Virginia is likely one of the few groups within the Massive 12 that has an all-conference defender at every stage.

“We did beat Oklahoma and Oklahoma Statethey usually’re ranked approach larger than us, and we beat them on the finish of the yr, so it wasn’t that way back,” Brown stated. “I do suppose we will be an improved soccer group. That is the most effective offensive unit we have had.”

West Virginia closed its season by beating Oklahoma 23-20 and Oklahoma State 24-19 in two of its closing three video games. The Sooners had been picked to complete third, with the Cowboys at No. 7. Each of these applications acquired not less than one first-place vote.

Texas was chosen to win the Massive 12 within the media ballot; reporters have chosen the proper convention champion 5 occasions up to now decade.

Brown stated he’ll resume calling performs this yr, one thing he relinquished final fall for the primary time in his head-coaching profession. Final yr, former offensive coordinator Graham Harrell known as the performs earlier than leaving for Purdue. All through spring follow, Brown and first-year offensive coordinator Chad Scott shared the playcalling duties.

“The choice goes again to, we’re in a yr the place we have to have success,” Brown stated. “That is not one thing I attempt to disguise from. … Actually, in a pivotal yr, you fall again to your strengths. Final yr did not go the best way we needed to. We underachieved, particularly on the offensive facet of the ball.”

Brown, who’s getting into his fifth season at West Virginia, has but to publish a seven-win season. The Mountaineers’ solely successful season beneath Brown was the coronavirus-shortened 2020 marketing campaign. The offense has constantly ranked within the decrease half of the Massive 12, and the protection allowed almost 33 factors per sport in 2022. Solely Kansas allowed extra.

He stated a part of the defensive drop-off might be attributed to the very fact the group misplaced six starters in a three-month interval.

“We went out and actually corrected what we thought was our evident weak point final yr, which was our secondary,” Brown stated. “So I believe we have now an opportunity to be probably the most improved. I am not saying we will go defensively into the highest a part of the nation, however I do suppose we will be vastly improved. I like our group. I am energized. Our guys are going to play with a chip on their shoulder.”