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

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior WriterJul 13, 2023, 11:46 AM ET

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  • College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

ARLINGTON, Texas– West Virginia coach Neal Brown was on vacation in Florida with his family earlier this month when the Big 12 preseason media survey was launched and his Mountaineers were chosen to finish last out of 14 teams.His vacation was messed up, and the forecast, he asserted, was wrong.

“It really sort of pissed me off due to the fact that I really think it’s sort of lazy reporting in some senses,” Brown informed ESPN on Thursday. “We won’t end up where we’re predicted to end up.”

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Brown, who conceded that he is dealing with pressure after in 2015’s 5-7 surface, pointed to a number of reasons he believes his group will be better, none larger than the 132 combined starts returning on the offending line. Brown called running back CJ Donaldson a “budding super star” who had 4 100-yard rushing games prior to his 2022 season was cut short by a lower leg injury.The coach likewise noted that West Virginia is among the couple of groups in the Big 12 that has an all-conference defender at each level.” We did beat Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and they’re ranked method greater than us, and we beat them at the end of the year, so it wasn’t that long back,” Brown said. “I do believe we’re going to be a better football team. This is the very best offending unit we have actually had.” West Virginia closed its season by beating Oklahoma 23-20 and Oklahoma State 24-19 in two of its final three games. The Sooners were picked to end up third, with the Cowboys at No. 7. Both of those programs received at least one first-place vote.Texas was selected to win the Huge 12 in the media poll; reporters have actually selected the right conference champion 5 times in the past decade.Brown stated he will resume calling plays this year, something he gave up last succumb to the first time in his head-coaching career. Last year, former offending coordinator Graham Harrell called the plays prior to leaving for Purdue. Throughout spring practice, Brown and first-year offensive planner Chad Scott shared the playcalling responsibilities. “The decision goes back to, we remain in a year where we require to have success, “Brown said.”That’s not something I attempt to hide from. … Truly, in a critical year, you fall back to your strengths. Last year didn’t go the method we wanted to. We underachieved, particularly on the offending side of the ball.”Brown, who is entering his fifth season at West Virginia, has yet to post a seven-win season. The Mountaineers ‘only winning season under Brown was the coronavirus-shortened 2020 project. The offense has actually regularly ranked in the lower half of the Huge 12, and the defense allowed almost 33 points per game in 2022. Only Kansas permitted more.He stated part of the protective drop-off could be credited to the truth the group lost six beginners in a three-month duration.

“We went out and really fixed what we believed was our glaring weakness in 2015, which was our secondary,”Brown stated.”So I think we have a

opportunity to be the most enhanced. I’m not saying we’re going to go defensively into the top part of the nation, however I do believe we’re going to be greatly enhanced. I like our group. I’m stimulated. Our people are going to play with a chip on their shoulder.”