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 Boddington's Draught Bitter, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Wednesday, May 15 - WV MetroNews
Big 12 releases the SEC/Big 12 basketball schedule, top basketball prospect Andrew Wiggins signs with Kansas, and WVU’s athletic director Oliver Luck speaks with the media.
WVU's athletic debt not as bad as expected - Charleston Gazette
Oliver Luck is a firm believer that the financial ramifications of West Virginia's entrance into the Big 12 shouldn't be viewed through the narrow prism of a one-year balance sheet.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Can money buy WVU happiness as Big 12 member? - Times West Virginian
Financially, moving to the Big 12 was the right move for West Virginia University.
WVU reveals wish list in media rights deal - Charleston Daily Mail
West Virginia University again is seeking bids for the athletic departments multimedia rights
Deadline set for bids on WVU sports broadcasting - Charleston Gazette
Bidders for multimedia rights to certain West Virginia University athletic events will have until June 18 to respond to a newly issued request for proposals, the school announced Tuesday.
Marketing the Mountaineers - WVU Athletics
WVU experienced record-breaking crowds in several sports in 2013.
VIDEO: Former Mountaineer Jedd Gyorko Reflects on Rookie Year - WVillustrated
WVU star making a name for himself in rookie season with San Diego, see what he had to say about his first year in the majors.
Post-Draft/Pro News:
22 Mountaineers on NFL rosters following rookie camps - Pros Report
Here are the 22 Mountaineers on current rosters and other free-agents on the radar.
Geno Smith ready compete with Mark Sanchez on Jets - NFL.com (autoplay video)
Geno Smith calls New York Jets teammate Mark Sanchez a "pretty good quarterback," but that doesn't mean Smith isn't ready to compete for the starting job.
Ryan impressed by Smith's early performance - Green and White Report via BGN
Smith is putting the 'Diva' title behind him and is beginning to wow Rex Ryan and company with the way he can command an offense.
WVU receivers making a splash in 2013 draft class - Pros Report
Four, count 'em, four wideouts who proudly wore the Flying WV last season are now on NFL rosters.
Rams’ plan for Tavon Austin: Get him the ball as often as we can - ProFootballTalk
When the Rams traded up to take West Virginia's Tavon Austin with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft, the only question was what his primary role would be in St. Louis
NFL draft signals new era for WVU - Times West Virginian
Consider one man’s All-WVU NFL team
Julian Miller traded to the Utah Blaze - Pros Report
Well, Miller has had an interesting month and will join his third team within that time period this week. I'll explain.
News of Note:
WVU Falls to Marshall in Rubber Match - WVU Athletics
The WVU baseball team fell 6-5 to Marshall in front of 2,103 fans on Tuesday evening at Linda K. Epling Stadium.
VIDEO: WVU Baseball Interviews Following Loss to Marshall - WVillustrated
Watch postgame interviews with Coach Randy Mazey and LF Matt Frazer.
Musgrave Earns Second National Honor - WVU Athletics
Harrison Musgrave has been named the NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week.
No doubt about it, WVU-MU [baseball, ed.] series should continue - Register-Herald
Schedule needs some tweaking, and Beckley must be included
Huggins will fix problems - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
"Maybe style of play had more to do with it than anything." A flaw that Huggins and his veteran staff have looked to erase before the 2013-14 campaign.
WVU’s basketball team to play at Missouri - Times West Virginian
The Challenge includes five teams ranked in an early ESPN.com preseason top 25: No. 1 Kentucky, No. 5 Kansas, No. 7 Florida, No. 11 Oklahoma State and No. 19 Baylor. Two games will pit ranked teams against each other: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 19 Baylor and No. 5 Kansas at No. 7 Florida.
So Mizzou leaves you three - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
When last we met and talked basketball scheduling it was March and we highlighted how WVU had four openings left on the 2013-14 schedule and needed at least one home game.
Florida State transfer could become face of the Mountaineers - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Clint Trickett played in Florida State’s spring game, but he transferred to West Virginia and stepped right into the battle to be the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback.
Backyard Brawl renewal not within reach - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
At the ACC meetings in Florida on Tuesday, Pittsburgh AD Steve Pederson sounded optimistic about renewing a rivalry with Penn State, but the Panthers' biggest rivalry might continue to go unplayed for awhile.
Recruiting:
Wiggins signing changed Big 12 - Charleston Daily Mail
Of course, Andrew Wiggins isn't going to be a Mountaineer. The 6-foot-8 No. 1 overall recruit did, however, choose the Kansas Jayhawks at a small ceremony in Huntington on Tuesday afternoon, which means he'll make one return trip to his temporary Mountain State home to take on WVU in 2013-14.
Around the League (and Beyond):
As Big 12 maps bowl plans for playoff era, Alamo Bowl likely to ascend, Florida to appear in revised plans - Dallas Morning News
The Big 12 has created a broad outline of what it wants in its bowl partnerships for the 2014 season and beyond.
Baylor freshman point guard L.J. Rose to transfer - Our Daily Bears
Rutgers adds transfer guard Nkereuwem 'Kerwin' Okoro from Iowa State - Star Ledger
Kansas Basketball Recruiting: Andrew Wiggins Chooses Kansas - Rock Chalk Talk
K-State basketball to face Tulane in Brooklyn - Topeka Capital Journal
Former OSU player JamesOn Curry goes on random Twitter rant about Travis Ford - Oklahoman
Julien Lewis will transfer from the Texas Longhorns basketball program - Barking Carnival
TCU Football Head Coach Gary Patterson Made $3.1 Million in 2011 - Frogs O' War
Depth Charting and 2013 Outlook | The Quarterbacks - Viva The Matadors
What's On Tap:
Coaches Caravan stop in Martinsburg tonight
Video of Interest:
Harrison Musgrave led the Mountaineers to a 2-0 win against TCU with a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits in 9.0 innings. Musgrave struck out a career-high 14, walking just one, in the 143 pitch effort (104 strikes). His 14 strikeouts were a single-season high in the Big 12 this season. For the second time this season, the redshirt sophomore left-hander has been named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Pitcher of the Week.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Hump Day Video of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a lovely lady from the UK. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Lauren Budd.