Mountaineer Morning Links: Thursday (11/15/12) Edition

Sooner previews, homegrown player features, Smith finalist, Sugar Bowl, Big 12 roundup & more

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Nov 15, 2012, 9:08am EST

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 Oklahoma Suks Amber Ale, in preparation of this week's opponent.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now: Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
defensive coordinator Joe DeForest and receiver Connor Arlia talk about the upcoming Oklahoma game, and WVU basketball commitment Nathan Adrian discusses how his game has improved.

Smith named Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist - WVU Athletics
Geno is one of five finalists for the award.

ESPN Reaches 12-Year Agreement with SEC and Big 12 for Sugar Bowl - ESPN MediaZone

News of Note:

Clay, Arlia fill critical positions - Charleston Daily Mail
"Those were three of the most disappointed kids in our locker room after the game," he said. "We need more of that to exist."

Homegrown Players Step Up - WVMETRONEWS.COM
The in-state kid sure proved he could play last Saturday at Oklahoma State, capitalizing on his rapid promotion after the departures of freshman receiver Travares Copeland and junior Ivan McCartney.

Running game a 'huge issue' - Charleston Daily Mail
"We did a poor job of establishing the line of scrimmage," Holgorsen said.

Good time for WVU to get ground game going - Charleston Gazette
Oklahoma defense designed to shut down passing attacks

HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU close to running on empty - Times West Virginian
“That is combination of just not controlling the line of scrimmage up front and not having good enough running backs to be able to get the yards that we need,” he said.

West Virginia looking to find balance on offense, find success on ground - Daily Athenaeum
"(The defense’s) goal is to make offenses one dimensional; they feel like if they can get you one dimensional, they have you where they want you, so running the ball is important," he said.

Special teams latest debacle for WVU - Charleston Gazette
Several gaffes on special teams have diverted some attention away from weekly breakdowns on defense during what has become the Mountaineers' longest losing streak in 11 years.

Bitancurt looks to put past behind - Times West Virginian
“It’s very disappointing and frustrating, when one side of the ball makes mistakes and you get them fixed and the other side isn’t focused.”

Sooners toughest test yet for WVU - Register-Herald
The Sooners, ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press poll, have been installed as 10-point favorites.

Like MU, all WVU can do now is make bowl game - Herald Dispatch
"We just want to make sure we get to a bowl game," said redshirt junior wide receiver Stedman Bailey.

Rolling the Dice on 4th Down - WVU Athletics
Dana Holgorsen has gone for it 29 times so far this year.

Video: On the Spot - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
David Ubben is putting Oklahoma's secondary on the spot this week against West Virginia.

Video: Oklahoma-WVU preview - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
No. 12 Oklahoma heads to West Virginia this week to face the Mountaineers, losers of four straight games.