Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Almus, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.
Things are getting back to normal here at the S/T. WVU completed week 3 of spring drills with an officiated scrimmage on Saturday. The defense wasn't quite ready for the three-back look that was given to them on a day with weather not so conducive to passing the ball. The big news of the day is the announcement of Jeff Casteel signing a 3 year contract extension to stay the DC at WVU with a nice raise. Also, @JFlow41 was named the basketball team MVP for this past season over the weekend. Let's get to it...
What You May Have Missed:
WVU football: Casteel has new deal, new lineup - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU's Jeff Casteel agreed to a three-year contract with the Mountaineers worth $400,000 annually remain the team's defensive coordinator.
Saturday Scrimmage Recap - MSNsportsNET.Com
Scrimmage Recap - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article, video and gallery
Stew's Review - MSNsportsNET.Com
Video of HCBS's post-scrimmage interview
WVU scrimmage hit hard by wind, rain - Times West Virginian
Variety rules in WVU's first spring scrimmage - Charleston Gazette
Quick Hits: News and Notes from WVU's First Scrimmage - WVillustrated.com
Coyle's Notebook
Series of Rule Changes Approved for College Football - WVillustrated.com
Can't say I disagree with any of these
Flowers Named MVP - MSNsportsNET.Com
Congratulations, JFlow!!
News of Note:
WVU Coaches and Players Gaining Familiarity with Each Other - WVillustrated.com
West Virginia still learning new offense - PPG
WVU football: Players say new offense 'easy to learn' - Charleston Daily Mail
Unorthodox WVU Offense Presents Problems for Defenders - WVillustrated.com
Run game brightens rainy day - Daily Athenaeum
"They ran the ball more than we expected," said WVU linebacker Najee Goode. "(The defense) started off good, but we fell off toward the end."
Three Back Set Drives WVU Defense Crazy - WVillustrated.com
WVU offense shows promise in scrimmage - The Daily Athenaeum - Sports
If there was ever a day to show off West Virginia's new offense, Saturday was not it. The sky opened up, and rain poured down on Morgantown and Milan Puskar Stadium as the team started its first spring scrimmage with its new offense.
Offensive Line Hopes to Find Consistency for Mountaineers - WVillustrated.com
New WVU system is Smith's to orchestrate - Charleston Gazette
The Gillespie Connection - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Additional Role - BGN
More pass protection is being asked of the RB's now...thankfully
Ryan Clarke Tries to Hold onto Ball for WVU - WVillustrated.com
DH already went on record saying if he keeps dropping it, he won't play
McCartney inspired by late brother - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Receiver McCartney on his way to reaching potential - Register-Herald
“Ivan (McCartney) is tough,” Williams said. “I feel like I’m getting better after I face guys like him. I’m not knocking any of the receivers, they’re all very good, but Ivan is fantastic."
Bitancurt stronger, ready to bounce back - Charleston Gazette
The Players' Take - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Players opinions after practice #8
WVU Cornerback Avery Williams Adjusting to College Level - WVillustrated.com
Cornerback Avery Williams - Mountaineer TV
Freshman cornerback Avery Williams talks about what he's learning from secondary coach David Lockwood.
Urban Continues to Progress for WVU - WVillustrated.com
Inside Receiver Tyler Urban - Mountaineer TV
Tyler Urban talks about Saturday afternoon's scrimmage.
Defensive Back Keith Tandy - Mountaineer TV
Keith Tandy talks about Saturday afternoon's scrimmage, and what the defense needs to improve on.
VIDEO: Spring Practice Day Nine (Scrimmage) Interviews - WVillustrated.com
HCBS, the Tandy, Goode, Geno, and Urban
Recruiting:
Peterson emerges at Passing Camp - BGN
Includes video of the WR
Report: Murray Down To WVU And Kansas - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Please, let us not finish 2nd in this race...again
Around the League (and Beyond):
Villanova's March Football Pitch To Big East Didn't Go Well - The Nova Blog
Louisville Spring Game Recap - Card Chronicle
UC defense shows positive signs in spring game - Cincinnati Enquirer
...or did the offense suck?
USF Football Depth Chart: Your New Starting Flanker Is... Terrence Mitchell? - Voodoo Five
2011 Pitt Football Spring Game Recap: Blue Romps Gold, 48-13 - Cardiac Hill
Some thoughts on the Spring Game that I didn't watch because UConn is not good at letting fans see things - The UConn Blog
to quote Shawn Courchesne: "By my count, really, I counted, there's about 780 people at the UConn Blue-White spring scrimmage at Rentschler Field."
Syracuse Spring Football: The Spring Game - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Rutgers' Scott Vallone, Jordan Thomas suffer serious injuries in scrimmage - Star Ledger
At Oklahoma State, the student became the teacher this spring - SI.com
QB Brandon Weeden has been teaching offense to new hire Todd Monken
Videos of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is the gorgeous Bulgarian, Silvia Dimitrova. Click on her picture to get to today's gallery.
Almus image via catalog.bg