“Winning is everything!” And when almost isn’t enough, this is what happens. For Neal Brown, the architect of West Virginia’s gridiron dreams, the blueprint crumbled. His clock ran out before his vision could fully materialize. Once the maestro of Troy’s stunning upset over LSU, a feat that echoed through the halls of college football lore, Brown arrived in Morgantown with a reputation as an offensive wizard. He was a disciple of the Air Raid, molded by the legendary Hal Mumme and the pragmatic Tommy Tuberville, a pedigree that promised fireworks.
From 2019 on, Brown’s tenure at West Virginia was a symphony of fleeting highs and lingering lows. He was tasked with restoring the Mountaineers to their former glory, to recapture the magic that had seen them consistently contend in the Big 12. A 6-6 finish wasn’t enough to keep him on the sidelines. However, in six seasons, he showed flashes of promise but struggled with consistency. And his record? 37-35 overall, 25-28 in Big 12 play. As of now, only once did he break past six wins—a solid 9-4 run in 2023. But this wasn’t enough at a program that had 16 winning seasons in the last 17 years under a legacy forged by the likes of Rich Rodriguez and Dana Holgorsen.
However, he battled to hang on, but in the end, it was a fight he couldn’t win. Well, in November 2022, Neal Brown got a lifeline. Despite back-to-back losing seasons, he stayed on—the same day Wren Baker took over as West Virginia’s AD. But the pressure was mounting, and by 2024, the decision was made—Brown was out. Baker delivered the news, wishing Brown and his family “the very best” in their next chapter. The reality was Brown’s teams never contended for a Big 12 title or cracked the AP Top 25. On top of that, they lost nine straight to ranked opponents.
To be honest, a return to mediocrity and a pile of problems were just too much for Neal Brown to overcome. Look, WVU’s offense stalled, even with the return of dual-threat QB Garrett Greene and a solid backfield featuring C.J. Donaldson and Jahiem White. And the defense was a disaster. They ranked among the nation’s worst in passing yards allowed. Moreover, home-field advantage meant nothing—the Mountaineers lost four times in Morgantown. And when it mattered most, they faded. You know, in 10 of 12 games, they were outscored in the second half. So, the struggles were real, and in the end, they sealed Brown’s fate.
Brown’s $9.5 million buyout, a hefty sum for a failed experiment, underscored the cost of mediocrity. Every cloud has a silver lining, but for Brown, the clouds seemed to perpetually darken. After a disheartening loss to Texas Tech, his words echoed the sentiment of a man resigned to his fate. “Our record at the end wasn’t what we’d hoped for. I thought that over the course of the year, there were times when people were counting us out and our guys bounced back and did some good things,” Brown noted.
But in college football, effort only goes so far. However, without a conference title or major accolades, survival is tough. See, good gamedays and fun tailgates are great—but for fans, “winning is everything.” However, after his exit, Brown’s name popped up in coaching searches, including a potential homecoming at UMass. But instead of jumping back in, he hit the pause button. As of now, Neal Brown is stepping back, learning, and waiting for the right moment to make his next move.
Are there rumors connecting Neal Brown to a position in Texas?
The Texas Longhorns season ended with a tough CFP semifinal loss to OSU, but the shakeup was just beginning. And Steve Sarkisian’s staff took some major hits. RB coach Tashard Choice jumped to the Detroit Lions. Then, DB coach Terry Joseph joined the New Orleans Saints. On top of that, safeties coach Blake Gideon took a DC job at Georgia Tech. As of now, with gaps to fill, Texas is on the hunt. And their top target? Neal Brown. Safe to say, fresh off his WVU exit, he’s looking for his next chapter—and the Longhorns might be the perfect fit.
Oct 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and corner back Jahdae Barron (7) react after a pass interference call in the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images
However, the most intriguing part is that Neal Brown and Steve Sarkisian have squared off before, splitting their matchups 1-1. Yes, in 2021, Brown’s WVU squad handed Sarkisian a 31-23 loss in his first season at Texas. Now, the two might be joining forces. But what role would Brown take in Austin? That’s still up in the air. However, one thing is clear—he’s got plenty of experience on the offensive side of the ball. So, with Texas aiming for another deep playoff run, adding a seasoned mind like Brown could be a smart move.
Texas just grabbed WVU’s RB coach Chad Scott, and now they’re eyeing Brown? Guess Sark’s building a Mountaineer reunion. But hold on, West Virginia is still on the hook for Neal Brown’s paycheck. Well, under his contract, they owe him 75% of his remaining salary, which is about $9.5 M. But there’s a catch: if Brown lands a spot with Texas, that number takes a hit. So, the more he makes with the Longhorns, the less WVU has to pay.
Let’s be real: while for Brown, it’s a fresh start, for West Virginia, it’s an expensive goodbye. Now, the big question—where does the fired coach fit in at Texas? Sark better have a trick up his sleeve, and Brown’s experience could be the ace.
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