Neal Brown’s Sales Pitch to WVU Fans: ‘Did They Have a Good Time?’

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With WVU fans frustrated and fed up, it’s now up to Neal Brown to get the Mountaineers on the right track and provide them a reason to trust him again. But with another important home game against a ranked opponent on deck, Brown was asked to provide a sales pitch to fans for why they should continue showing up to games.

“I get that they want to win. But what I would say is – did they have a good time? Did they enjoy it? It was a pretty good atmosphere. I’m assuming they had a pretty good time tailgating, so if they’re in the deal for enjoyment then I would come back. I looked at the weather and it’s going to be nice again,” argued Brown.

He then added that WVU needs the fans to give the team an advantage when at home. “It’s a night game. And we need them to provide a home-field advantage.”

Earlier in the season, Brown credited the fans being rowdy and loud when West Virginia mounted a comeback win over Kansas following a weather delay.

I asked WVU HC Neal Brown why fans should keep showing up and supporting despite the failures in big games etc.

"I get that they want to win. But what I would say is – did they have a good time? Did they enjoy it? It was a pretty good atmosphere. I’m assuming they had a pretty…

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) October 14, 2024

But while big games jam packed with promotions and hype are fun, Brown understands Mountaineer Nation wants to win above all else.

“I get they’re frustrated that we didn’t win. We’ve played a tough schedule. Everybody that’s beat us hasn’t lost. But that’s no excuse, that’s just the truth and the games in our league are going to come down to the fourth quarter and I don’t think this one on Saturday is going to be any different. We need them to help us. I do get their frustration.”

Sure, WVU’s three losses are to three undefeated ranked teams and West Virginia will once again play 11 Power Four opponents (one more than most programs), but the fans are also well aware that Brown’s tenure has been the worst six-year stretch for the program since the late 1970s.

And regardless of any excuse, legitimate or otherwise, and even the fun of proving doubters wrong in 2023, Brown is still only sitting on three ranked wins since arriving in Morgantown in 2019 and lacking statement victories in general as well. Brown’s resume just hasn’t reached the expectations people have for an historic program like the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Look, I think those who have followed my career no matter the outlet or whoever I’m covering know I’m always going to be honest and tell it like it is.

To that end, anyone saying WVU football has no shot at contending regardless whoever the coach is etc is just wrong. West…

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) October 13, 2024

Up next for Brown and the Mountaineers is an equally tough challenge in another night game against a ranked opponent with a quality defense. A win over Kansas State won’t make up for past opportunities squandered, but would do wonders to keep excitement alive and allow Brown to fans that can in fact beat a truly quality team, something he did accomplish at Troy.

West Virginia 3-3 (2-1, Big 12) and Kansas State 5-1 (2-1, Big 12) are scheduled to kickoff from Milan Puskar Stadium at 7:30 pm ET. The game will air nationally on Fox.

On Sunday, both DraftKings and FanDuel released their odds for the next slate of college football games and have the Mountaineers as a 2.5-point underdog at home to Kansas State.

For a related story, Neal Brown elaborated on WVU’s quarterback situation and what could lead to a change.