Neal Brown and Team Ready For Impactful Game Against Texas

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia football program looks ahead to one of the most important games under the Neal Brown era, as they host Texas on Saturday.

The Mountaineers have put themselves in a tough situation following a loss to Kansas State on the road, last Saturday. Brown will have to coach his players to wins in two-straight weeks against Texas and Kansas in order to become bowl eligible.

Saturday’s game at Milan Puskar Stadium will include a lot of festivities as WVU looks to end their losing streak, including welcoming back the 2012 Orange Bowl team to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the team.

“We have ‘true blue’ on Saturday, senior day,” Brown said. “We bring back some of the Orange Bowl team, which will be cool to see. That’s short enough time ago that our players remember those guys. Those were people they watched when they were young.”

This game, for Texas, is also important, as the Longhorns are on a five-game losing streak, which includes a loss to Kansas last week. This is the longest losing streak for Texas since 1956.

Brown is going to ignore the noise that Texas is bringing in the media world and just focus on winning the game.

“When I watch the film, I don’t know what the media down there sees but I don’t see a football team that’s quit, they’re young,” Brown said.

Texas will be playing against the Mountaineers without star running back Bijan Robinson. Robinson was injured during the game against the Jayhawks, to which Brown was watching and realized the severity of the injury.

Brown has been dealing with some injury and depth problems with his team, as of late. A few weeks ago, CB NickTroy Fortune and TE Mike O’Laughlin were ruled out for the season. Other than some missed practices and games, here and there, no one else was missing the rest of the year, until LB Exree Loe. Loe injured his lower body and recently had surgery.

The redshirt junior will miss the rest of the season.

LB Lance Dixon is listed as questionable for Texas.

With all of the craziness that’s happened this season, Brown just wants to do one thing: win.

“Texas, respect them. Respect their program but it really is about us. We got to play quality football, outcomes take care of themselves but you got to play quality football. It gives you an opportunity to win.”

West Virginia and Texas will kick-off at noon, on Saturday, as both look to keep their bowl eligibility hopes alive. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2.

(Top Photo: Kelsie LeRose)