A Little Know-Howe: Wait is Over as Neal Brown Era at WVU Begins with Question Marks on Every Corner
By Brad Howe on August 31, 2019 from A Little Know-Howe
No more waiting.
Seven months after Neal Brown was introduced as the 35th head football coach in Mountaineer history, we have a West Virginia University football game to watch.
The 2019 season begins very differently than 2018. Last season, WVU was in nearly every national conversation about college football. The hype was extensive. 
Will Grier was a legitimate Heisman candidate. Many national pundits were picking WVU as a dark house candidate to win the Big 12. Returning offensive players were plentiful - Sills, Jennings, Wesco, Cajuste to name a few. The defense was led by one of the best to every play on that side of the ball at WVU - David Long.
All of those guys are now on NFL rosters and that means the 2019 season opens with a very different feel.
Excitement? Certainly. A new head coach will provide that. But … the 2019 season begins with more questions than answers.
Start with the coaching staff.
Neal Brown has done everything right since taking the job back in January. Now we get our first look at how that organized, systematic approach translates to the field.
Offense … How good can Austin Kendall be? Who will become the go-to receiver? Can the offensive line be productive? 
Defense … How will the players adapt to a new scheme from defensive coordinator Vic Koening? How many true freshman will we see forced into action this year (as of today, four are listed on the two-deep depth chart at corner and safety combined).
How will WVU respond to one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Case in point …yes, WVU opens with an FCS opponent. That would generally mean a chance for tune-up game before the schedule really heats up with 11 consecutive power five conference opponents.
Not so fast … the schedule makers didn’t do any favors for Neal Brown in his first game wearing the gold and blue. James Madison enters the game today as the odds on favorite to win the FCS national title.*
The Dukes’ lineup features seven preseason All-Americans (Receiver Riley Stapleton will not play today while serving a three game suspension). JMU returns 19 starters PLUS gets back All-American corner Rashad Robinson who missed last year due to injury. The Dukes are led by WVU grad Curt Cignetti. Curt is the son of former West Virginia head coach Frank Cignetti.
Before arriving in Harrisonburg in December, Cignetti was a successful head coach at Division II Indiana, PA and at Elon after serving as 
an assistant at multiple FBS schools, including a stint with Nick Saban at Alabama from 2007-2010.
an assistant at multiple FBS schools, including a stint with Nick Saban at Alabama from 2007-2010.
(NOTE: Frank Cignetti is expected to be in attendance for today’s game. In case you missed our Citynet Statewide Sportsline interview with him earlier this week, you can listen to it HERE.)
The good news for Mountaineer fans…WVU has never lost to an FCS opponent. West Virginia is 2-0 all-time against James Madison, including a 45-10 win in Morgantown back in 2004. That James Madison team went on to win the national title that season.
What’s going to happen on the field today? Honest answer: I don’t know.
Heck, Neal Brown doesn’t know. And that’s part of the fun of a season opener like this one.
Some stars will emerge for WVU. It happens every year. But, this year, unlike last season, we just don’t know who they will be yet.
The start of a new era of Mountaineer football, a sold-out Milan Puskar Stadium and a sunny, 78 degree forecast … I’m not sure it gets much better than that.
The waiting is over. Enjoy the game, everyone.
EXTRA: If you would like to hear more about the James Madison - West Virginia game, I invite you to listen in to our 10 hours of pregame, in-game and postgame radio coverage beginning at 10 a.m.
You can listen on stations throughout the state or at wvmetronews.com
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Neal Brown from an earlier practice sessions, while quarterback Austin Kendall is shown in the second photo. Bottom picture is of BHS alum Dylan Tonkery. Top and bottom photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.
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