That worst stretch comment is rich considering they finally joined a real conference just 10 years ago. The only time they were really tested was in the early Big East days. For instance, WVUs best seasons, like 1975, they played two ranked team, one being Penn St where they lost 39-0. In 1988, they were undefeated, but played just two ranked teams all year, although Penn St was on the schedule too. Then in 2005, they beat ranked UL and lost to ranked VT as the only tough games on the schedule.
Brown hasn't been good until this year, but they should give him some credit due to being in a tougher conference (that's ironically getting much easier now)