WVU football coach Neal Brown faces tough times head-on
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These are complicated times for West Virginia coach Neal Brown, but he appears unafraid to confront them.
First, two of his players — both asymptomatic — tested positive for the coronavirus, but neither had an opportunity to participate in the voluntary workouts that began earlier this month. Also, people who had come in contact with the first player were re-tested, and all were negative.
Overall, WVU administered 167 tests: 134 to players, 33 to staff members.
Also, in the midst of the pandemic, Brown participated in a peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration in Morgantown on June 2.
Be a Light pic.twitter.com/MsU0UiRayO
— Neal Brown (@NealBrown_WVU) May 30, 2020
“Racism and social injustice are major issues in our society. I support the Black Lives Matter,” he said, noting he was joined at the demonstration by several players. “We want to be part of change.
“I thought it was important for me to be in that downtown with them and support our players.”
The latest issue emerged Tuesday when WVU put defensive coordinator Vic Koenning on administrative leave after safety Kerry Martin Jr. charged him with inappropriate conduct and language in the presence of players.
The latter topic is one Brown mentioned briefly but largely tried to avoid Wednesday afternoon in his Zoom conference call with reporters.
“I care deeply about everyone involved,” he said in his opening remarks. “We have and will continue to build a culture that is relationship driven.
“We have to respect the university’s process. I’m confident it’s going to be a quick process.”
Later, he added, “We have an open policy. Our guys have a voice. I respect that voice. That’s their right. You continue to learn. You continue to get feedback. If that’s an area where we need to grow, we need to grow.”
In the midst of so much off-the-field activity, Brown must get his team ready for the start of the required conditioning period, freshly instituted by the NCAA this year, that starts July 13.
Brown said a “high percentage” of players are back in Morgantown and going through voluntary workouts with the strength staff — no coaches allowed — after being quarantined at home for three months. Brown’s new catch phrase: “Respect the virus.”
Brown acknowledged there will be nothing normal about this season in college football.
He said coaches might need to hold split practices and outdoor meetings while trying to keep the top two players at each position on the depth chart away from each other.
“Because you can lose them both and you’re down to your third,” he said. “It’s just about how you’re going to separate your guys.
“We don’t have control over our student-athletes 24 hours a day, nor do I want that. We try to educate them on the best practices and hope that they follow through.”
In spite of all the virus-induced turmoil, Brown is hopeful the product on Saturdays won’t be dramatically altered.
“You have experts in the coaching profession. You have athletes that are capable of playing at a high level,” he said. “Coaches that have maximized this virtual learning as much as possible.”
But he admitted, “I think you’re going to see a simpler product, maybe. Practice time will probably be at a premium. I don’t know if you’ll have as much good-on-good work, 1’s vs. 1’s, as you normally would.
“Will the product be as clean, especially early in the year? I’m not sure. Will the average fan be able to see that? I’m not sure.
“But I have faith in players playing at this level and coaches that it’s going to be a product that fans of college football will enjoy.”
Sometime in his busy schedule, Brown found the time to remember one date that matters as much to him as the first day of training camp: Wednesday was his 14th wedding anniversary with his wife, Brooke.
He mentioned it to reporters, adding, “I’m not even sure I’ve seen her today.”
Notes: Four players were named winners of the Iron Mountaineer Award for most outstanding performers in the WVU off-season strength and conditioning program: senior safety Dante Bonamico, junior safety Noah Guzman, sophomore offensive lineman James Gmiter (Bethel Park) and sophomore wide receiver Bryce Wheaton. … The winner of the Tommy Nickolich Award for the top walk-on is senior safety Osman Kamara.