The Shotgun/Throwdown: Friday (6/1/12) Edition

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Jun 1, 2012, 10:38am EDT

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 Nebraska Brewing's Brunette Nut Brown Ale (you can insert your own sophomoric joke here).

Today we get a heavy dose of baseball program updates. We have several updates on the proposed stadium and the ongoing coaching search, which, it seems, won't be completed today as previously hoped. Plenty of ongoing outlooks for football and a couple of opponent previews/school intros, and a couple hoops notes too, to go through as well. The Big 12 meetings are rolling along, with public denials of being interested in expansion (for what that's worth). We have other news from around the league and updates on KJ and Bruce as well. Have a great weekend everyone!!

What You May Have Missed:

Gold And Blue Now: Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
In Friday's show, we talk the future of the Big 12 and if it's possible Florida State will join the Big 12 Conference.

2012 West Virginia Preview: The Big Move - College Football News
Congratulations, West Virginia. You made the big move up to a bigger, better conference. Now win it.

Can West Virginia win national title in 2012? - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Our ESPN.com series marched on this week, looking at the 20 teams who could win the national title this season.

What A Difference A Year Makes - WVillustrated
One year ago WVU was fully supportive of the Big East. Now it is preparing to officially join the Big 12.

Blog: Campus Connection - MSNsportsNET.com
Antonik's notebook covering a plethora of sports and topics

Hawley Field Reviews, West Virginia Mountaineers - Stadium Journey
Reviews and information about (the soon to be replaced) Hawley Field

WVU baseball: Monongalia County approves plans for new stadium - Charleston Daily Mail
The plans for a new West Virginia University baseball stadium rounded second base Wednesday and appeared headed toward home.

Questions remain on WVU baseball stadium financing - Charleston Gazette
Those plans are progressing, but with some major questions to be answered.

Commissioners Set Public Hearing for Ballpark Project - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck has been pushing for the stadium ever since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12.

Update: WVU Interviews More Candidates - WVMETRONEWS.COM
UPDATE: WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck may take more time on the search for a new baseball coach than he originally anticipated. According to multiple sources, Luck first wanted to make his decision by the end of the week, but now may take more time.

WVU baseball: Van Zant expects many hurdles for next coach - Charleston Daily Mail
Someone sounds bitter

Seattle Seahawks Turn Bruce Irvin Loose At OTA's - WVU Pros
This season, Irvin is expected to fill the role vacated by Raheem Brock. That is, as a backup at defensive end and a regular on passing third-downs.

Kevin Jones Enjoying The 'Grind' Of Being An NBA Prospect - WVillustrated
Jones is traveling all over the country to workout for NBA teams

News of Note:

Season tickets sales now over 30,000 - Daily Athenaeum
It’s amazing what a BCS bowl victory and a move to a new conference can do to get fans excited for the next season.

Big 12 focus of WVU athletics - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
It is a new adventure, a new opportunity for WVU athletics and most of the focus is on the football program and head coach Dana Holgorsen.

Previewing 2012 WVU Football Opponents: Texas - WVillustrated
Our look at the upcoming 2012 WVU football season continues with a look at the Texas Longhorns

Is WVU the Boise of BCS level? - Charleston Gazette
Really, for the past seven or eight years, since Miami and then Virginia Tech left the Big East and went off WVU's schedule, have the Mountaineers been a kind of BCS-level Boise State?

HERTZEL COLUMN: Brawl needs place in new landscape - Times West Virginian
There are no dirty words, for example, that rhyme with Texas or Oklahoma.

Injuries wounded WVU in 1988 - Martinsburg Journal
Not only did quarterback Major Harris injure his shoulder on the game's third offensive play, but both Stroia and All-America offensive tackle Rick Philips got hurt early and missed considerable time as the Mountaineers took on coach Lou Holtz's Fighting Irish squad.

Athlon: WVU Cover Highest Selling - WVMETRONEWS.COM
"The West Virginia cover has been the best-selling cover we’ve had this year," Athlon writer Steven Lasson

The Big 12's 1,000-yard receivers in 2012 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
We already broke down the Big 12's 3,000-yard quarterbacks earlier this month, and it's time to tackle the guys catching those balls.

Huggins honored for giving back - Times West Virginian
Huggins has been selected by his alma mater and the school that employs him as the Outstanding Volunteer Philanthropist of 2012.

Huggins Excited About New Mountaineers - WVillustrated
Three new Mountaineers are expected to join the team this summer

WVU Women's Basketball Team Enjoys Offseason Improvements - WVillustrated
Despite mostly familiar faces, there will be some subtle changes for Mike Carey's team in 2012-2013

Recruiting:

WVU Targeting 2013 Basketball Prospects - WVMETRONEWS.COM
"We’re really excited about bringing in the recruits for this year," said WVU associate head coach Larry Harrison.