MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – I have yet to see a football coach lose his first press conference. I've watched four of these at West Virginia University now, dating back to Rich Rodriguez's first one here 18 years ago in 2000.
 
Rich Rod said all of the right things that morning, just as Bill Stewart did seven and a half years later in that hotel ballroom out in Scottsdale, Arizona – the day after the Mountaineers' stunning 48-28 victory over third-ranked Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
 
That one was a little bit tense considering the circumstances, but not quite as tense as the next one that took place in December, 2010, when Dana Holgorsen was named West Virginia's "head coach in waiting."
 
Holgorsen, too, struck the right chord that day when he was announced as Stewart's future replacement in what was one of the more awkward presentations ever put on by West Virginia University. Stewart, the man Holgorsen was replacing, even stuck around afterward to pin the Flying WV on Holgorsen's jacket lapel at the conclusion of the news conference.
 
Nine years later, it still seems a little bizarre, I know.
 
But nothing of the sort took place this morning inside the team room at the Milan Puskar Center when Troy's Neal Brown was officially introduced to Mountaineer Nation. 
 
Everything today was scripted, from where the media was supposed to sit right down to veteran play-by-play man Tony Caridi doing his usual bang-up job as master of ceremonies.
 
The only thing a little bit off was the start of things with the presser getting underway about five minutes late. Who gets to push the sled up on the practice field for Coach Brown has yet to be determined? 
 
We'll look into that later.
 
Nevertheless, Brown, decked out in a patterned blue suit with the Flying WV attached to his lapel, white shirt and solid gold tie, spoke from prepared remarks. Nothing he said was off the cuff.
 
He thanked WVU President E. Gordon Gee, Director of Athletics Shane Lyons and Deputy Director of Athletics Keli Zinn. 
 
"Dr. Gee, your vision for this University is crystal clear, and it's invigorating," Brown said.
 
He mentioned his family, including those who couldn't be here today. He also thanked the media for being present.
 
"What an honor and what a privilege it is to stand before you today as the head football coach at West Virginia University," he said.
 
Brown alluded to West Virginia University's great tradition of success as the 14^th-winningest football program in NCAA history. He referenced Don Nehlen and the brief meeting he had with the Mountaineers' Hall of Fame coach earlier this week.
 
"I think about Coach Nehlen and the incredible legacy he left here, over two decades of success, and I appreciate the time he spent welcoming me to town and this University," Brown said.
 
He talked about West Virginia's blue-collar heritage and how that closely matches his Danville, Kentucky, upbringing.
 
He discussed some of the great Mountaineer players of the past such as Jeff Hostetler, particularly noting the Hoss' continued involvement with WVU Medicine Children's. He mentioned the welcoming tweet that he received from former Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger, and he also brought up legendary Mountaineer names Major Harris, Pat White, Tavon Austin, Bruce Irvin and Darryl Talley.
 
"I want all former Mountaineer players to know that you all can come see us. Please be a part of what's going to be the next chapter of Mountaineer football," he said.
 
Brown talked about the meaning of the Flying WV to West Virginians everywhere and he also made reference to the Mountaineer Anthem – "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
 
He said he was from a family of educators and explained that his wife, Brooke, here with their children Adalyn, Anslee and Dax, will be very active and visible in the community.
 
Brown said recruiting West Virginia will be important to him. If there is a player from the state good enough to play for the Mountaineers he's going to make it hard for him to leave. He's also going to heavily recruit all of the states attached to West Virginia and focus on the Southeast, an area he knows well.
 
"We have a tremendous product to sell here, and our staff will be expected to work extremely hard to evaluate, build relationships and close on the best prospects that fit our program," he said.
 
The new coach talked about the three primary things that he plans to do for the Mountaineer football program – the same thing he told the players: develop young men, graduate them and win football games.
 
He revealed that veteran coach Vic Koenning will be in charge of his defense, and he discussed briefly his football philosophy and the type of football team he plans to put out on the field.
 
Brown said it will be fast and fun.
 
"Offensively, you know my background," he said. "That's why I'm here. We're not changing that. We'll be a fast-paced, attacking offense. We're going to get playmakers in space and put points on the board. We're a get-it-done offense, by any means necessary to win the game.
 
"On defense, we'll be aggressive, playing fundamentally-sound football with one goal of getting the ball back. We want our players reacting, not thinking," he said.
 
What Brown wisely didn't do was back himself into a corner with lots of specifics. There is plenty of time later to do that once things settle down.
 
This clearly demonstrates the meticulous planning and impressive preparation Brown, just 38, has done to get to this point in his professional career. He had the right answer for every question posed to him today, just as he had the right answer for almost everything opposing teams threw at him during his four years at Troy.
 
Indeed, today was a big, big victory for Dr. Gee, Shane Lyons and West Virginia University.
 
Now, Mountaineer fans from Weirton to Welch, Martinsburg to Matewan and all points in between (and beyond) are anxious to start watching some winning football.
 
Brown's proven track record of success at Troy indicates that it's going to happen, most likely sooner rather than later.
 
Speaking of sooner, or those Sooners, Brown will get his first crack at them next October in Norman.
 
To borrow a phrase that he used to conclude his press conference, "Cue Country Roads!"