Photo by: Ken Inness/ZUMA Press
WVU’s Brown Visits With Media on Wednesday
May 13, 2020 02:04 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It's now been nine weeks since the last official team activity in the Milan Puskar Center on March 12.
It's also been eight weeks since the Mountaineer football staff has been operating remotely.
Earlier today, West Virginia coach Neal Brown indicated that his players are beginning to exhibit some cabin fever.
"The last two weeks have been tougher on our guys than probably the previous six," Brown said. "We're at a point where they need something to look forward to. So much of their days - and really their yearlong calendar is structured - and as we finished up last semester we're looking forward to a date and hopefully that's coming in the near future."
Brown said the spring semester finished last week, and he felt good about how his players performed academically. This Saturday, 18 Mountaineer players are expected to earn their West Virginia University degrees.
They are Chase Behrndt, Charlie Benton, Dante Bonamico, Mike Brown, Zach Davis, Lorenzo Dorr, Noah Drummond, Nate Green, Osman Kamara, Jake Long, Sean Mahone, Josh Norwood, Cody Saunders, Eric Sjostedt, Evan Staley, Logan Thimons, Tyler Thurman and Dylan Tonkerly.
Of course, a number of these players still have college eligibility remaining, but will be recognized along with the others.
"It won't be a normal graduation, but it's still a huge accomplishment nevertheless," Brown noted. "Congratulations to our guys. We are going to do several things on our social media platforms leading into Saturday to really commemorate those guys."
Brown said he has continued to maintain a consistent approach with his players focused on three areas: the health and wellness of the players, their regular routine and schedule and providing a culture of accountability.
"The things on that routine and schedule are academics, nutrition, meetings and things that are nonmandatory that we are hoping and encouraging them to do are workouts and position work," Brown said.
"I think the state of West Virginia, led by (Coronavirus Czar) Clay Marsh, has done a really good job with our reopening," Brown continued. "We're now waiting for the Big 12 Conference and the Football Oversight Committee, which we're fortunate that our athletic director Shane Lyons leads. We're looking for direction from them to provide guidelines."
Brown said discussions and preparations are underway to provide a safe environment for the players when they are allowed to return to campus and begin training.
This will be accomplished under the oversight and supervision of the team medical staff, led by Dr. A.J. Monseau and head athletic trainer Vince Blankenship.
"We're preparing – and we've been preparing – for the return for our players. Whenever we get the go-ahead we will be ready," Brown said. "I know the Big 12 is working with a group from Duke University, DICON (Duke Infection Control Outreach Network), so we will have procedures and guidelines for that return, whenever that is."
"I continue to be cautiously optimistic about playing football this fall," he concluded.
Click the icon in the image above to listen to Brown's news conference in its entirety.
It's also been eight weeks since the Mountaineer football staff has been operating remotely.
Earlier today, West Virginia coach Neal Brown indicated that his players are beginning to exhibit some cabin fever.
"The last two weeks have been tougher on our guys than probably the previous six," Brown said. "We're at a point where they need something to look forward to. So much of their days - and really their yearlong calendar is structured - and as we finished up last semester we're looking forward to a date and hopefully that's coming in the near future."
Brown said the spring semester finished last week, and he felt good about how his players performed academically. This Saturday, 18 Mountaineer players are expected to earn their West Virginia University degrees.
They are Chase Behrndt, Charlie Benton, Dante Bonamico, Mike Brown, Zach Davis, Lorenzo Dorr, Noah Drummond, Nate Green, Osman Kamara, Jake Long, Sean Mahone, Josh Norwood, Cody Saunders, Eric Sjostedt, Evan Staley, Logan Thimons, Tyler Thurman and Dylan Tonkerly.
Of course, a number of these players still have college eligibility remaining, but will be recognized along with the others.
"It won't be a normal graduation, but it's still a huge accomplishment nevertheless," Brown noted. "Congratulations to our guys. We are going to do several things on our social media platforms leading into Saturday to really commemorate those guys."
Brown said he has continued to maintain a consistent approach with his players focused on three areas: the health and wellness of the players, their regular routine and schedule and providing a culture of accountability.
"The things on that routine and schedule are academics, nutrition, meetings and things that are nonmandatory that we are hoping and encouraging them to do are workouts and position work," Brown said.
"I think the state of West Virginia, led by (Coronavirus Czar) Clay Marsh, has done a really good job with our reopening," Brown continued. "We're now waiting for the Big 12 Conference and the Football Oversight Committee, which we're fortunate that our athletic director Shane Lyons leads. We're looking for direction from them to provide guidelines."
Brown said discussions and preparations are underway to provide a safe environment for the players when they are allowed to return to campus and begin training.
This will be accomplished under the oversight and supervision of the team medical staff, led by Dr. A.J. Monseau and head athletic trainer Vince Blankenship.
"We're preparing – and we've been preparing – for the return for our players. Whenever we get the go-ahead we will be ready," Brown said. "I know the Big 12 is working with a group from Duke University, DICON (Duke Infection Control Outreach Network), so we will have procedures and guidelines for that return, whenever that is."
"I continue to be cautiously optimistic about playing football this fall," he concluded.
Click the icon in the image above to listen to Brown's news conference in its entirety.
Players Mentioned
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