Even though West Virginia defeated UCF at home on Saturday, Neal Brown shared a somber moment with his family on the field after what could be his final college football game as head coach. The Mountaineers are likely going to move on from the 44-year-old at the conclusion of this season with fan interest in the program on a steady decline.
It was an emotional scene in Morgantown as Brown soaked up his last sing-a-long of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads.’
West Virginia began the college football season with legitimate Big 12 title hopes after going 9-4 in 2023. Unfortunately, the Mountaineers dropped their season-opener at Penn State and lost to Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Kansas State and Baylor. They are guaranteed to make a bowl game after notching their sixth win of the year over the weekend, but it will not be the College Football Playoff like everybody hoped.
Neal Brown is self-aware.
Although a 6-6 or 7-5 college football season could be worse, it was not the expectation. Neal Brown was supposed to lead his most talented roster to new heights. Instead, he will finish with at least five losses for the fourth time in six years.
As a result of the stagnancy, the Mountaineers are expected to change course. There is a good chance they choose to fire their head coach in the next few weeks and he seems to know his fate. Brown showed a lot of emotion while gathered with his family on the field for what could be the last time.
Neal Brown and family take in Country Roads after WVU's 31-21 win over UCF.
— John Lowe (@JohnLoweTV) November 24, 2024
The Mountaineers reach bowl eligibility for the fourth time in five seasons. @GoldAndBlueNtn #HailWV pic.twitter.com/7inlHP4zNe
West Virginia fans love Neal Brown as a person. He is impossible to dislike. Unfortunately, the team is not winning games so fan support is at a low.
The university announced an attendance of 40,000 on Saturday, which represents approximately 66% of the maximum capacity at Milan Puskar Stadium. That number seemed to be much higher than reality— and the crowd would’ve been even smaller if it was not Senior Day. They showed up for their guys.
I expected a smaller crowd. pic.twitter.com/ExFMdSgSYU
— WVU on the MON (@MonRiverShakes) November 23, 2024
Despite the surprisingly large attendance for the game, fans did not show up for game day like normal. The famous blue lot tailgate was a ghost town.
I’m dead center of it… people are giving away blue lot passes… we’re dead pic.twitter.com/4dvjGhM8SL
— Dyllan Johnson (@AlmostHvn) November 23, 2024
Neal Brown’s days as the head football coach at West Virginia University are numbered.