The numbers say that WVU will be 10-2, losing only to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. 8-4 if you don't count Texas (5-5) and Long Island (0-0 and barely a football school) as W's. If Neal Brown can’t pull that off then he’s not matching what’s normal for the Mountaineers against these 12 opponents.
Check the numbers:
Maryland 28-22-2
Long Island 0-0
Virginia Tech 28-22-1
Oklahoma 2-10
Texas Tech 6-4
Baylor 6-3
TCU 6-4
Iowa State 5-4
Oklahoma State 4-8
Kansas State 6-5
Texas 5-5
Kansas 9-1
Rich met or exceeded the 10-2 benchmark 3 straight seasons (2005, 2006, 2007) so the numbers say it isn’t that tough. And hit 8-4 or better 5 of his 7 seasons. So it can't be that difficult, right?
Rich's numbers:
3-8 in 2001
9-4 in 2002
8-5 in 2003
8-4 in 2004
11-1 in 2005
11-2 in 2006
10-2 in 2007
So, Neal Brown is .500 so far. Rich was 12-12 and .500 after 2 seasons so Rich was doing no better than Neal in his first 2 seasons at WVU. But then Rich went 48-14. Can Neal match that? Sure hope so. If not, WVU will go looking for someone else to be as good as Rich at coaching the Mountaineers.
I’m rooting for the numbers – and Neal – to just be “average.” You know, 10-2. Or, even, 8-4 although I really don't think Long Island is an L and Texas is a tossup, according to the numbers.
Don't yell at me. Yell at the numbers. WVU will have a schedule where they own 10 teams. Well 8 if you don't count Long Island (really? It's a payday game for Long Island) or Texas (5-5, at least a coin toss). So 8-4 minimum. Surely no one is putting Long Island in the L column.
Check the numbers:
Maryland 28-22-2
Long Island 0-0
Virginia Tech 28-22-1
Oklahoma 2-10
Texas Tech 6-4
Baylor 6-3
TCU 6-4
Iowa State 5-4
Oklahoma State 4-8
Kansas State 6-5
Texas 5-5
Kansas 9-1
Rich met or exceeded the 10-2 benchmark 3 straight seasons (2005, 2006, 2007) so the numbers say it isn’t that tough. And hit 8-4 or better 5 of his 7 seasons. So it can't be that difficult, right?
Rich's numbers:
3-8 in 2001
9-4 in 2002
8-5 in 2003
8-4 in 2004
11-1 in 2005
11-2 in 2006
10-2 in 2007
So, Neal Brown is .500 so far. Rich was 12-12 and .500 after 2 seasons so Rich was doing no better than Neal in his first 2 seasons at WVU. But then Rich went 48-14. Can Neal match that? Sure hope so. If not, WVU will go looking for someone else to be as good as Rich at coaching the Mountaineers.
I’m rooting for the numbers – and Neal – to just be “average.” You know, 10-2. Or, even, 8-4 although I really don't think Long Island is an L and Texas is a tossup, according to the numbers.
Don't yell at me. Yell at the numbers. WVU will have a schedule where they own 10 teams. Well 8 if you don't count Long Island (really? It's a payday game for Long Island) or Texas (5-5, at least a coin toss). So 8-4 minimum. Surely no one is putting Long Island in the L column.