MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia hasn’t found itself in a game like this in six years. The last time the Mountaineers played a game with no hope for a bowl game was the 2013 finale against Iowa State at Milan Puskar Stadium, and that game ended with a Cyclones’ win in triple overtime after WVU led 31-7.
West Virginia (4-7, 2-6 Big 12) is hoping to avoid a similar letdown Friday at TCU, and although their postseason hopes were dashed with last Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State, a few Mountaineers want to send out the 22 players who are playing their last game in a WVU uniform out with a win.
“Just doing it for the 22 seniors, those guys that won’t be with us next year,” wide receiver T.J. Simmons said. “We’re trying to let them leave off on a big note in their final game as a Mountaineer.”
This is an unusual position for coach Neal Brown, who won 10 games three-straight years at Troy before coming to West Virginia. The last (and only) time as a head coach Brown didn’t go to a bowl was in 2015, his first year with the Trojans.
Since it won’t have the extra 15 practices with bowl prep, this is the last time the 2019 version of the Mountaineers will get to play together, but those who are back next season get another chance to prove they belong.
“We’re trying to get better,” Brown said. “Most of our team’s back for multiple years. We’re trying to make steady improvement and finish the year right. I believe our guys will show up and play hard. I don’t know why this week would be any different. There’s two things from a motivational factor: Sending our seniors out in a positive manner, and then having a building block into the offseason, which is really important for us.”
While he won’t have to worry about bowl prep, that doesn’t mean Brown and the rest of the coaches can go on vacation just yet. With the early signing period, set to begin Dec. 18, there is work to do on the class of 2020. As of now, West Virginia has 14 commits in the class and Brown hopes to lock most of the remainder prior to the December date.
“We’ll be on the road full time starting on Sunday when the contact period begins,” Brown said. “We’ve had a couple of recent commitments that are important and I think we’ll have a couple more over the next week to 10 days. We need to finish strong. I like the guys we have committed and they continue to play well as either second-year junior college players or high school seniors. We follow them every week and we’re proud of the progress they’re making.”
Brown mentioned there needs to be a strong effort to add bodies along the offensive line and in the secondary, both major positions of need.
TCU, on the other hand, needs a win to become bowl eligible. The Horned Frogs (5-6, 3-5 Big 12), just like West Virginia, last missed a bowl game in 2013.
Raines enters portal
A day after Brown publicly questioned redshirt freshman Kwantel Raines’ future with the program, Raines entered the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday.
“Raines didn’t dress (against Oklahoma State), I think Raines is trying to figure out what he wants to do,” Brown said.
Raines, a former 4-star prospect from Aliquippa, Pa., has had a difficult time finding a role in West Virginia’s defensive scheme under coordinator Vic Koenning. Originally a safety, Raines has played some linebacker this season but has seen a decreased role over the last several weeks. He has nine tackles and a forced fumble this season.
