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 Flying Dog's Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA (animated label).
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Friday, August 2 - WV MetroNews
head coach Dana Holgerson addresses the media after day 1 of fall camp, while Steve Lassen gives the national take on the quarterback battle taking place.
Mike Casazza: Luck preps schedule for future - Charleston Daily Mail
"Everyone seems to be moving down a path where a college schedule resembles much more of a NFL schedule than a college schedule," West Virginia Athletic Director Oliver Luck said. "When I say NFL schedule, I mean pretty much every game is a tough game. Hardly anybody is going to go undefeated anymore."
Dana Holgorsen Quotes - Practice 1 - WVU Athletics
Transcript here, video below
Season ticket sales down for WVU football - Charleston Daily Mail/AP
Sports marketing director Matt Wells says WVU has sold 33,100 season tickets. More than 37,400 were sold last season, the Mountaineers' first in the Big 12.
More Affiliates Join Radio Network - WVU Athletics
MSN from IMG Network continues to grow.
Committee changes bracketing guidelines for Division I tournament - NCAA.com
The Division I Men’s Basketball committee has altered the guidelines for placing teams in the bracket of the men’s basketball tournament. Check out what the committee will be able to do in 2014. 2013-14 Bracketing Principles and Procedures
News of Note:
Football Notebook - WVU Athletics
Holgorsen says the bidding for assistant coaches is becoming intense.
Video blog: Day one - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
On punt returns, tough guys, arrivals, absences, Nos. 5 and 10 and whatever else that happens on the first day of practice.
Quick Hits: WVU Football Camp Day 1 - WVillustrated
News, notes and video from the action on the first day of camp in Morgantown.
WVU Notebook: Transfer QB Trickett draws praise on Day 1 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
One position battle was cleared up Thursday when West Virginia opened training camp: place-kicker.
Holgorsen opens camp impressed - WV MetroNews
"I think our guys are in phenomenal shape," he said after WVU’s football team opened practice Thursday. "I like the way our team ‘looks.’
WVU Opens Camp - BGN
The West Virginia football team kicked off the 2013 season with the first day of fall camp on a sunny Thursday evening at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Fall practice report: Day One - WVSports.com
While Coach Shannon Dawson worked with quarterbacks in typical passing drills, the surrounding group was abuzz with the old gold and blue debut of Clint Trickett.
WVU opens 2013 football camp: [including] PHOTOS - Times West Virginian
“For three days, there will be no consequences for any actions on offense, good plays or bad. When we start getting into situational stuff I’ll start judging.”
Football season is here - Register-Herald
WVU takes the field for first practice
First Practice - The InterMountain
Holgorsen: Trickett a seasoned quarterback
Trickett takes field as a Mountaineer - Charleston Daily Mail
"He's good," Holgorsen said. "He's seasoned. He doesn't get nervous. You can tell he's got some game experience right now.
Trickett seems seasoned on Day 1 - WV MetroNews
Because Trickett had two months of seven-on-seven workouts to grow acclimated to WVU’s system, it’s no surprise he looked comfortable on opening day of fall camp.
Trickett Shows Experience in First WVU Practice - WVillustrated
Transfer quarterback trying to take advantage of opportunity to compete for starting position.
WVU QB call will take some time - Charleston Gazette
Last week at the Big 12's preseason football media days, Dana Holgorsen said that choosing the best quarterback for his West Virginia football team would be a process that could take anywhere from a day to 21/2 weeks.
Holgorsen Pleased With Trickett's Work - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
"For a guy who it's his very first practice here, he did good," the WVU head coach said.
Sims running fourth-string (wink, wink) - WV MetroNews (autoplay video)
The Big 12's most anticipated newcomer finds himself slotted way down on the depth chart he's sure to climb fast.
WVU stacked at running back as camp opens - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
The talented group of Charles Sims, Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison — among others — figures to have a spirited, season-long competition for touches.
Defensive upgrade is a WVU priority - Charleston Gazette
If it seems as if Will Clarke has been a part of West Virginia's football program a long, long time, well, it's because he has.
Opening camp: West Virginia Mountaineers - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Next up in our fall camp previews, the Big 12 sophomores from out east.
Breaking: Dana, Slim Thug have met - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
"I don’t know Slim Thug, but I’ve met Slim Thug," Holgorsen said. "He’s always around."
BGN Video: Look Inside Opening Day - BGN
A look inside West Virginia's opening practice of fall camp, including quick change, defensive and special teams drills - and the new gold helmets donned by the defense.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Crystal ball: WVU manages seven victories - Times West Virginian
since nothing really has happened just yet we thought it was time to predict the five key moments in the upcoming season.
Furfari: Media slighted at camp - Martinsburg Journal
While the Mountaineers have about 15 days of camp practice sessions, 10 will be closed to the media. And on those five days the camp is open, coach Holgorsen has allowed just a half hour from 5-5:30 p.m. (which happens to be my dinner time at Heritage Point Village).
Photo Gallery: WVU Fall Football Practice I - BGN
PHOTO GALLERY: 2013 WVU Football Training Camp Day 1 - WVillustrated
Photo Gallery 3: Opening practice 2013 photos - WVSports.com
Recruiting:
College football recruiting -- Uniforms a selling point for schools - ESPN
College coaches will embrace anything they think gives them an advantage on the trail -- which means the race for the coolest uniforms is only just beginning.
Pro News:
Geno Smith prepared to take over NY Jets offense - NY Daily News
Smith realizes that he must sharpen his footwork and improve basic principles such as his seven-step drops and play-action from under center, but it’s not overwhelming for him.
Rex Ryan on Geno Smith: "He can throw with probably anybody in the league" - Pros Report
As the days pass, and Smith gets more comfortable in the Jets' offense, the gap between the two quarterbacks is closing, and in some people's opinions, even fellow teammates, the rookie quarterback from West Virginia has already caught up with the fifth-year veteran.
Lance Frazier's CFL Insider Week 5 Recap - Pros Report
In the bittersweet win for Montreal this week over Edmonton both Noel Devine and Scooter Berry dealt with adversity as Devine fumbled twice and Berry was unfortunately lost for the season!
Stedman Bailey; praise for a guy who deserves it - Turf Show Times
He catches EVERYTHING.
Austin, Bailey get some tips from Isaac Bruce - Charleston Gazette/AP
St. Louis rookie wide receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey received the lesson of a lifetime Thursday night.
Sam Bradford: Tavon Austin is like a video game - NFL Videos (autoplay)
St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford discusses the team's outlook for 2013 as well as the dynamic play-making ability of rookie wide receiver Tavon Austin.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Baylor Football: Baylor Stadium Update - Masonry - YouTube
The evolution of Rodney Coe - Cyclone Fanatic
Jayhawks eager to open football camp - Lawrence Journal World
Sooner Quarterback Race Is Over: Kendal Thompson Out With Foot Fracture - Crimson And Cream Machine
Cowboys open camp in an unfamiliar position - Oklahoman
Texas Longhorns football: Three practices open to public - Burnt Orange Nation
Tayo Fabuluje Has Left The TCU Football Team For Personal Reasons - Frogs O' War
Percentage of Passing and Rushing Yards and Passing and Rushing Touchdowns - Viva The Matadors
Video of Interest:
An update from head coach Dana Holgorsen, as the Mountaineers took to the field for their first season practice on August 1.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a supermodel from Australia. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Sophie Turner.