WVU HC Neal Brown Doesn’t Hold Back in Response to Pat Narduzzi

PITTSBURGH – Emotions were high following WVU’s 38-34 loss to Pitt in the 2024 Backyard Brawl. And some of those emotions boiled over when West Virginia head coach Neal Brown was asked about what his counterpart said after the game.

“We beat West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl and we beat the officials, too,” said Narduzzi while being interviewed on the field as his players celebrated their big win. And to say Brown disagrees with that statement would be an understatement.

When asked for his reaction to what Narduzzi said, Brown couldn’t hold back. “That’s bull****,” said a frustrated Brown. He then added “we’re the one that got a long touchdown called back” for good measure.

I asked WVU HC Neal Brown about Pat Narduzzi saying Pitt beat West Virginia and the officials. Brown gave a “that’s bullshit” and added “we’re the one that got a long TD called back.”

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

Brown, of course, was referring to a long pass play from Garrett Greene to Hudson Clement that would’ve scored a big touchdown and was instead called back due to a holding call on Wyatt Milum.

But regardless how the game was officiated, West Virginia still blew a 10-point lead. Brown started his press conference even literally saying, “you should never lose a game when you’re up 10 late.”

Narduzzi declined to get into the officiating in his postgame press conference, half an hour after the game concluded, but said that he wanted to watch the videotape of some of the penalties throughout the game.

Pitt was flagged 12 times for 112 yards while West Virginia was flagged seven times for 67 yards. There were some questionable calls on both sides of the ball, but the game wasn’t decided by the officials.

Pitt erased a 10-point deficit with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. West Virginia wasn’t able to stop Eli Holstein and the Pitt offense after limiting the Panthers to just four yards in the second half prior.

A 1-yard touchdown dive by Derrick Davis Jr. with just over 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, with Holstein on the sideline after having his helmet ripped off, clinched the win for the Panthers.

Up next for WVU is a return home to open Big 12 play against Kansas.