Watch: WVU HC Neal Brown Reflects on Backyard Brawl, Offers Rallying Cry

West Virginia head football coach Neal Brown addressed the Mountaineer Nation with a video posted to his Twitter account on Sunday evening.

Brown spoke of his reactions following the Backyard Brawl, saying it has been a long two days of reflection since Thursday night’s 38-31 loss against Pittsburgh in front of a record-setting crowd at Acrisure Stadium.

This team will continue to fight. See you Saturday, #MountaineerNation! pic.twitter.com/LjHJSghP2y

— Neal Brown (@NealBrown_WVU) September 4, 2022

“It hurts, it still hurts,” Brown said. “It hurts because our investment level was so high from our players and our staff, but it also hurts because we are well aware of what this game means to our fan base.

“To all the Mountaineers who were there on Thursday night, thank you. You helped create one of the best college football atmospheres I have ever been a part of.”

Brown went on to say he will never forget in between the third and fourth quarter, when the West Virginia fans were the loudest within the stadium crowd of over 70,000 people.

He also added that there were no excuses for his team, saying the Mountaineers played tough and physical while being resilient, all the way up until the last play of the game, referring to quarterback JT Daniels’ pass to Mike O’Laughlin that was originally ruled a catch on the field, but was reversed to an incomplete pass after a video review.

This pass would’ve given West Virginia, who trailed by seven points near the end of the fourth quarter, the ball at the one-yard line with a chance to tie the game. Instead, the Mountaineers turned the ball over on downs, prior to Pittsburgh kneeling out the clock.

“The game didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” Brown said. “But, I’m proud of our staff, proud of our players. We played the game the right way. Mountaineer fans, I just urge you, don’t give up on this team. Continue to support. They have the spirit of West Virginia. They’re fighters, and they will respond.”

West Virginia began preparation Sunday for its Week 2 contest against Kansas, which will be the first Big 12 contest of the season and the home opener for the Mountaineers.

The 6 p.m. kickoff on Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium will also mark the first night game in four years for West Virginia.