Mountaineers Now

Only Two Other Schools Compare to WVU in Neal Brown's Eyes

West Virginia University is a one of a kind place.

Schuyler Callihan

Christopher Hall - West Virginia on SI
In this story:

West Virginian's know how much WVU football, basketball, and really the entire athletics program mean to the state. No one has to explain the importance of it to the people from the state. But for those on the outside, they really don't have a clue.

During a recent guest appearance on the Marty & McGee show on ESPN, WVU head football coach explained the how much the school means to the state and mentioned how it's only one of three schools in the country that have a similar backing.

“I think there’s two other programs that are similar in the country and that’s it. Arkansas and Nebraska. Those are the only other two programs that really in my mind represent an entire state. At West Virginia, there’s no other Power Four schools, there’s not any professional organizations at the highest level. We’re 1.8 million strong and we’re all Mountaineers. I don’t think there’s any other university that’s as closely linked to the state than West Virginia. It’s important. And this probably took me a little bit of time to fully understand and I’m from central Kentucky. I grew up around very similar people, but it probably took me a couple years to understand that the make up of our team and how we play and the culture and identity of who we are really needed to match the people. We’ve got to be a physcially and mentally tough team because that’s who our people are.”

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI

West Virginia Might Have Found Its Next Shutdown Corner

Under the Radar WVU Freshman is 'Making a Move'

Neal Brown Wasn't Fired Up About WVU's Second Scrimmage

Steelers Sit Beanie Bishop in Second Preseason Game

Published |Modified
Schuyler Callihan
SCHUYLER CALLIHAN

Publisher of Mountaineers Now on FanNation/Sports Illustrated. Lead recruiting expert and co-host of Between the Eers, Walk Thru GameDay Show, Mountaineers Now Postgame Show, and In the Gun Podcast.

Home/Football