Mountaineers Seek Rebound Vs. Towson
WVU looks to right the ship against FCS opponent
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MORGANTOWN -- Spirits are not high in Morgantown this week. That's what an 0-2 start to the season will do to a program and its fanbase, especially the way West Virginia's 0-2 start has gone.
A close loss to rival Pitt in the season-opener gave way for a bounce-back opportunity against perennial Big 12 also-ran Kansas in the Mountaineers' home-opener last week, but it was the Jayhawks (2-0) walking out of Mountaineer Field with a smile, winning 55-42 in overtime.
"Losing stinks," WVU coach Neal Brown said. "I don't think there's anything earth-shattering about that. When you invest time and energy into something and it doesn't go the way that you want it to go, it's hard.
"I'm frustrated, I'm disappointed and that same frustration and disappointment is with the staff and players as well."
The home loss to Kansas has the fanbase's confidence in Brown at an all-time low, such that athletic director Shane Lyons put out a statement regarding the fourth-year head coach and the state of the program.
"I know and deeply care that our fans are frustrated with the start of the football season, but so are our coaches and student-athletes," Lyons said in a statement to the Associated Press Monday. "Everyone involved knows that the on-field results have not met expectations and absolutely no one is satisfied. There are 10 games left in the season and the focus is still on getting the results that we all expect."
"There's only one way to get it fixed and there's only one group of people that are going to fix it," Brown said. "The only people that are going to fix it are inside this building and the only way it gets fixed is through work. Nobody feels sorry for us, we don't feel sorry for ourselves. We're not throwing in the towel, we're going back to work."
The Mountaineers kick off those remaining 10 games Saturday at 1 p.m. with FCS team Towson coming to town.
"They're well-coached and they're a quality FCS program," Brown said of the 2-0 Tigers. "They've got almost an entire new roster, 50-plus new players with several FBS transfers."
West Virginia is expected to roll over the Tigers, as a Power 5 team should versus an FCS school.
"The focus is on us this week," Brown said. "I say that with all respect to Towson. I very well understand the mentality that will be in that locker room when they come here. This is their opportunity on a national stage to show what they can do, but this is about us. It's about us getting better and improving and finding a way to get a win."
Transfer quarterback JT Daniels has played well for WVU with 569 yards and five touchdowns on 63.8 completion percentage. In both games, however, the former Georgia Bulldog has thrown late pick-sixes that led to defeat.
Daniels has flashed an early connection with receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who has made 20 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns already this year.
Defensively, Brown expects to make several personnel changes by Saturday, specifically citing the unit's poor showing against Kansas.
Brown singled out defensive end Sean Martin and defensive backs Mumu Bin-Wahad and Jacolby Spells as players who will have increased rolls this week. Cornerback Charles Woods will miss a second consecutive game with a lower body injury.
West Virginia University will hold its 32nd annual Sports Hall of Fame induction prior to the game Saturday.
Among the eight inductees are three former teammates from the football team -- quarterback Geno Smith and receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Former men's basketball star Kevin Jones will also be honored.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 1 p.m.