Mountaineer Morning Links: Christmas Eve (12/24/13) Edition

Football & basketball notes, recruiting notes, WVU Pros updates, Big 12 roundup & more.

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Dec 24, 2013, 10:11am 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 Goose Island's Christmas Ale.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now: Tuesday, Dec. 24 - WV MetroNews
Eron Harris and Devin Williams talk about moving forward after the Purdue loss with the holidays coming up.

Musgrave Earns Second Preseason All-America - WVU Athletics
Musgrave named Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American.

Lapper Joins WVU Men’s Soccer Staff - WVU Athletics
West Virginia University men’s soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc announced the hiring of Mike Lapper, an United States Olympian and World Cup participant, as an assistant coach on the Mountaineer staff.

News of Note:

Effort may be there, consistency isn't - Charleston Gazette
Or, more accurately, that they have the potential to be a pretty good basketball team.

HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU’s Williams having roller coaster freshman season - Times West Virginian
Such is life as a freshman playing big-time basketball.

FURFARI COLUMN: WVU lets game slip away after playing poorly - Times West Virginian
The West Virginia University men’s basketball team let one slip away in Sunday’s 73-70 upset loss to Purdue at the WVU Coliseum.

If more points was the point, the new rules are working - Charleston Daily Mail
According to NCAA statistical trends through the first quarter of the 2013-14 season, scoring has increased, shooting percentages are improved and turnovers have declined.

Autopsy Big 12 non-bowl teams Kansas TCU West Virginia Iowa State - ESPN
we wanted to examine the four teams that didn't qualify to go bowling.

WVU's Sims to Play in Senior Bowl - WVU Athletics
Sims continues WVU streak of Senior Bowl invitees.

Pricey assistants becoming the norm - Charleston Daily Mail
West Virginia University paid its nine assistants a combined $2.733 million this season, an average of $303,666.67 - or nearly $100,000 above the national average of $209,331.

Recruiting:

Two more trips scheduled for Thorpe - Scout.com via BGN
After a solid sophomore campaign, Highland DL Brandon Thorpe (6-5, 275) has turned his focus toward recruiting and, with just three official visit weekends available to him, he's filling up his itinerary and spoke with JCFootball.com about which two schools he will visit and when as well as when we can expect a decision on where he will play in 2014...

WVSports.com: Holiday Q&A - WVSports.com
The WVSports.com staff takes your questions and provides you with insight on Mountaineer sports and recruiting.

Pro News:

Stedman Bailey on the rise after Rams win - Pros Report
The Rams drafted Stedman Bailey in the 3rd Round of the 2013 NFL Draft before other teams had the chance. They knew what he was capable of, it just took most of the season for it to show on the field.

Josh Francis headed to the CFL - Pros Report
Another Mountaineer is going north of the border.

Eers in the NFL: Week 16 - EerSports
A look at former Mountaineers and how they fared during Week Sixteen of the NFL season.