Program Temperature Check: A Mountaineer Cautionary Tale

On3 image — MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Neal Brown of the West Virginia Mountaineers watches the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountaineer Field on October 29, 2022 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Well, it's cheaper to keep her may not be the most romantic reason for continuing a marriage, but that phrase has punctuated more than a few deep pulls off of the bottle after a deep sigh. At West Virginia, the bottle holds more resignation than sweet moonshine as they puzzle through their faded honeymoon with head coach Neal Brown. A marriage whose continuance is now borne more of economic necessity and Brown's lack of options and suitors than enduring love. In 2023, their best hope is mutual tolerance until the inevitable painful parting. The hard facts of the relationship? If West Virginia parted ways with Brown before 2023, they owed him just over 20 million dollars. After January 1st, 2023? 16.7 million dollars. West Virginia can't afford either price, particularly with the cost of paying the dowry for a new bride.