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 President's Spring Break Ale.
With Spring Break underway, football practice is also taking a break until next Tuesday, which means a likely slowdown in the WVU sports news cycle around here. We do have recaps from the final practice last week and a few player features to go with another spotlight on the new DL coach Erik Slaughter. Also, congratulations are in order to the WVU Gymnastics squad who won their EAGL league championship once again over the weekend. All of this and more...
What You May Have Missed:
New Weight Room Set to Mold Future of WVU Basketball - WVillustrated
Strength coach Andy Kettler guides us through his new digs in the WVU weight room as he prepares to whip the Mountaineers into shape in the coming months.
Aaric Murray Excited For His Chance To Play At WVU - WVillustrated
Feature article and video
Juwan Staten Waiting for Chance to Contribute at WVU - WVillustrated
WVU's guard transfer is eager to shed his warm-ups and actually get on the court to make a difference for the Mountaineers. Full video interview included.
WVU Wins 2012 EAGL Championship - MSNsportsNET.Com
In the lead the entire meet, the West Virginia University gymnastics team scored a season-best 196.475 and won its league-best seventh East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship today, at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House.
West Virginia excited to play games in Madrid, Barcelona during spring break - Daily Athenaeum
While many students will be heading to various destinations to enjoy spring break, the West Virginia women’s soccer team will be taking an overseas trip to Spain.
Bruce Irvin greets fans in Nitro - Charleston Daily Mail
Bruce Irvin, better known to Mountaineer football fans simply as "Bruuuce," greeted a gaggle of Kanawha Valley fans at Collectibles, Etc., over the weekend.
News of Note:
Coaches searching for consistency, depth at several positions - Daily Athenaeum
They’re trying to find guys capable of coming in and backing up the starters if they get tired, injured or just don’t perform well enough during games.
Spring Update - MSNsportsNET.Com
Six spring football practices are now in the books and Coach Dana Holgorsen has chosen to give the team a week off for spring break. The Mountaineers will reconvene on Tuesday, April 3, and will have eight more workouts leading into the Gold-Blue Spring Game on Saturday, April 21.
Arm-weary WVU QBs thankful for break - Charleston Gazette
there is the 12-day break in spring drills the Mountaineers just began following only six of the permitted 15 workouts.
WVU's Smith is a quick study - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
At 6 p.m. on a Friday before the start of West Virginia spring practice, quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital walked into his room at the Mountaineer football facility and saw a familiar sight.
WVU’s Austin most versatile - Martinsburg Journal
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior-to-be from Baltimore, Md., is listed in the media guide as an inside receiver. But Austin also sees action as a rusher, and kickoff and punt returner.
It's time for WVU's Woods to shine - Charleston Daily Mail
"If he's one of the best four receivers in our opinion and he's stuck behind two outside guys we'll give him a chance inside. Looking at our personnel, we felt J.D. had an opportunity to be the next best guy. Now we want to see if he can play it."
Looking To Become A 1,000 Yard Receiver - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Feature and video with Donte Campbell
Slaughter Bringing New Identity to WVU D-Line - WVillustrated
New defensive assistant has a tough act to follow, but is confident his philosophies will help the players and the team grow in the coming months.
New defensive scheme presents challenge, opportunity for WVU - Times West Virginian
“Definitely not,” Rigg said when asked if this figured to be a transition year defensively.
Time is flying by for WVU's Rigg - Register-Herald
Time has seemed to go swiftly since linebacker Doug Rigg enrolled as a freshman at West Virginia University.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Chestnut has learned to forgive - Times West Virginian
Like so many of today’s athletes, Chestnut’s background is troubling, but unlike so many of them he has learned to forgive, if not forget, and he sees that as what has allowed him to become a player who is in the mix as starter Pat Miller’s backup.
Making Morgantown Proud - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Feature and video with Tyler Anderson
HERTZEL COLUMN: Lucas listened to heart, came to West Virginia - Times West Virginian
“I knew in my heart the whole time I wanted to go to West Virginia,” he said. “I just didn’t know how to tell Rutgers.”
Veteran Corners Ready to Teach, Compete for Mountaineers - WVillustrated
Pat Miller and Brodrick Jenkins prepare for fourth season at WVU knowing the position room belongs to them.
Big 12 Loaded Once Again in 2012 - WVillustrated
With the Mountaineers' spring football practice in full swing, it's time to look ahead to some of the new challenges they'll face this fall in the reconstructed Big 12 Conference.
LB Jared Barber - Mountaineer TV
Jared Barber recaps the first five days of spring practice and talks about the new defensive scheme.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Manny Diaz's defense has Texas on brink of Big 12 contention - SI.com
Iowa State Football: Thoughts from an open spring practice - Cyclone Fanatic
Bill Byrne: It's All the Longhorn Network's Fault But It Won't Work Anyway - Barking Carnival
Red-Black Scrimmage Post Game Thoughts - Double-T Nation
TCU hopes to sell 30,000 season tickets for football - Star Telegram
Spring superlatives: Oklahoma - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Video of Interest:
In Monday's episode, one freshman is working to become a 1,000 yard receiver and MetroNews' Frank Giardina gives his take on the games WVU has dropped from its future schedule.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Warning: Strong Language
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is South African model Lorraine Van Wyk. Click on the picture for today's gallery.
via nextround.net
President's Spring Break Ale image via eater.com
