On Tuesday, things felt like they started to start trending upwards for WVU football as they landed an absolutely massive commitment from four-start Class of 2026 offensive tackle prospect Tim Brown, and while Brown had nothing but good things to say about the current state of West Virginia's program, he was less impressed with how things have been run during his childhood under those who were in charge after Rich Rodriguez's first stint with the program ended.
Rodriguez, currently in his first season on his second go-round in Morgantown, had a connection to Brown which helped on the recruiting trail, as he coached the 2026 prospect's father Tim Brown at WVU in the 2000s. That meant that the younger Brown, located just a few hours from Morgantown in Harrisonburg, Pa., followed the program closely growing up. Once Rodriguez and then his former assistant coach and successor, Bill Stewart, had both left the program though, Kevin Brown wasn't impressed with what he saw.
It started during the Dana Holgorsen era, during which Brown was a younger kid. He told a story about how his father, as a program alum, attempted to attend a practice while Holgorsen was coach, a trip on which Kevin was present. What happened next left a bad taste in the future star prospect's mouth.
"It was not the West Virginia culture we know today. We went to a practice one day and they kicked me out. Not a good feeling," Brown said after announcing his commitment live on The Pat McAfee Show.
But he also had some negative experiences as a recruit while the Neal Brown regime was in place for the Mountaineers. He recalls making an unofficial visit to Morgantown as a sophomore, and walking away feeling unwanted and unimpressed. A dynamic which had completely flipped by this past summer once Rodriguez had returned.
"Then, my sophomore year, I went to West Virginia on a visit, and the O-line coach didn't even watch my film," Brown said.
"I took my official visit this summer, and holy cow, totally changed. I went to Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn. And West Virginia's coaches, facilities, everything, it was just elite."