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 Corona Extra, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Thursday, August 8 - WV MetroNews
we talk with Shannon Dawson about Junior College transfer, Kevin White. Also, Jared Barber talks about the teams toughness coming into the year.
Huggins family donates $100,000 to WVU’s CPASS - WVU Athletics
These funds will be used to create an endowment for undergraduate athletic coaching education students and to provide support for CPASS’ new building, which is currently under construction.
Women’s Basketball Big 12 Slate Announced - WVU Athletics
Baylor, defending Big 12 Champions, will be WVU’s first league opponent to come to the Coliseum, on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Mountaineers begin preseason camp - WVU Athletics
18th-year coach Nikki Izzo-Brown is seeking out the team's 4th consecutive conference championship.
VIDEO: WVU Women's Soccer Interviews - WVillustrated
Watch video interviews with WVU Women's Soccer Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown and her players on the first day of preparation for the Mountaineer's 2013 season.
College football players give anonymous answers to tough questions - ESPN The Magazine - ESPN
In ESPN The Magazine's College Football Preview, 92 NCF players give answers to the Mag's toughest questions.
8 Need-to-Know Rules Changes for 2013 Season - National Football Foundation
NFF and CFO team up to highlight the changes designed to protect players and increase safety.
Furfari: Playing for Nehlen ‘dream-come-true’ for Shearer - Register-Herald
Dan Shearer IV of Morgantown was an outstanding defensive back in 1986-87-88 at West Virginia University.
News of Note:
West Virginia season preview - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Today we kick off the Big 12 preview by examining West Virginia, which aims to surprise after a disappointing Big 12 debut.
WVU Defense Looks To Improve - AP via BGN
"By no stretch are we where we want to be," said Patterson, who began retooling the defense in January. "But thank God we're not where we used to be."
White continues to impress - Charleston Daily Mail
Receiver in the mix for spot in starting lineup
Can White become Julio FitzMarshall? - WV MetroNews
Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson says junior college transfer must learn to be THE guy.
Sims stays quiet, just like Devine - Charleston Gazette
Here's a comparison that perhaps no one ever thought to make when Charles Sims arrived at West Virginia this summer.
Sims comfortable at WVU - BGN
Once the 2012 season came to a close, former Houston running back Charles Sims had quite a decision to make.
WVU’s Sims heads into season unnoticed - Times West Virginian
They say he can run and he can catch, not necessarily touting him as the next Tavon Austin but as the closest thing the West Virginia University Mountaineers have this year, but don’t ask him to go bragging on himself.
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU’s Clay eager to ‘go out and play’ - Times West Virginian
“I think the future of offense is more personnel related,” the coach said. “It’s getting guys like Cody Clay, who can play slot, tight end and backfield stuff, to try to do something different and try to gain an advantage on the defense from a matchup or tempo standpoint.”
McCartney Happy to be Back - WVU Athletics
"My biggest goal is to help this team in every aspect in where we want to go," McCartney said. "Big 12 Championship. National Championship. That’s my biggest goal right now."
Wolf's Huddle: The Sky is Not Falling! - WVU Athletics
Wolf says he loves Ron Crook's old-school coaching principles with WVU's O-line.
Spain a leader on WVU line - Inter-Mountain
Quinton Spain, with his mammoth size, has always looked like a man among boys, even against the backdrop of college linemen.
Marquis Lucas Growing at Guard for WVU - WVillustrated
Sophomore offensive lineman pushed his way to a starting role in camp, now he hopes to keep it come fall.
Barber claims change is evident for WVU’s defense - WV MetroNews
“We didn’t have really good communication last year,” he said. “We kind of just played by the seat of our pants.”
Position Change for WVU’s Rumph - DA Sports Blog
“He’s playing a little bit of safety right now,” said Gibson, “We’re doing a little bit with him in our nickel package.”
Special-teams work now full-time gig for WVU's DeForest - Charleston Gazette
By his estimation, Joe DeForest is one of only a dozen FBS college football assistant coaches across the country with his job description.
WVU seeks new punter and kicker - Register-Herald
Notebook
BGN Video: Assistant Coaches 8/7/13 - BGN
DeForest, Slaughter & Patterson
VIDEO: WVU Football Assistant Coach Interviews - WVillustrated
Dawson, Patterson, Mitchell, DeForest & Slaughter
WVSports.com TV: Crook and Dawson - WVSports.com
Pro News:
NFL Training Camp update 8/6 - Pros Report
Here's a look at what happened in training camp practices on Tuesday.
NFL Training Camp Update 8/7 - Pros Report
As preseason games are about to kickoff for every other team in the NFL, here's some training camp updates from your favorite WVU players who are at the next level.
WVUPros NFL Preseason Week 1 Viewers Guide - Pros Report
Without further ado, here's the schedule of your favorite Mountaineers in action for Week 1 of the Preseason:
Bruce Irvin to miss Seattle's first preseason game - Pros Report
After missing two straight practices, it was confirmed today that Irvin would be sidelined for the Seahawks first game of the preseason with a groin injury.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big 12 stats: Baylor will score points; Texas tries to prevent them - Sporting News
Can one stat define an entire season for a college football team?
Baylor Football 2013 Position Previews: Running Backs - Our Daily Bears
CFTV: Wally Burnham praises defense on day one - Cyclone Fanatic
Jayhawks’ first football drills to offer peek at progress - Lawrence Journal World
Behind veteran line, Kansas State’s Hubert ready for bigger things - Wichita Eagle
Bob Stoops Reveals The Loss Of Two Defensive Ends on Consecutive Days - Crimson And Cream Machine
Consistency key for Oklahoma State cornerback Kevin Peterson - Oklahoman
Texas Longhorns football: Defense needs to force more turnovers - Burnt Orange Nation
TCU loses its third player just six days into camp - Dallas-Fort Worth Star Telegram
Play Without Thinking | Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech - Viva The Matadors
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
Football Fan Day Set For Aug. 11 - WVU Athletics
Sunday, August 11, at 1 p.m., in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility.
Videos of Interest:
Running backs coach JaJuan Sieder discusses the competition at the position, as well as Houston transfer Charles Sims.
Wide Receiver KJ Myers is looking to separate himself this preseason from the other 16 wide receivers the Mountaineers have on their roster.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a lovely model from Mexico. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Vanessa Huppenkothen.