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 Foster's Lager, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Wednesday, Sept. 4 - WV MetroNews
WVU coach Dana Holgerson wants his team to have a more balanced offensive attack, and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson discusses what to expect from the Sooners defense Saturday night.
Dana Holgorsen News Conference - WVU Athletics
Transcript and video here, video also embedded below
West Virgina's last trip to Norman put Jeff Hostetler in the spotlight - Oklahoman
Mountaineers QB carved up OU defense back in 1982.
Mountaineers Move Up to No. 9 - WVU Athletics
The Mountaineers (3-0-1), the highest-ranked Big 12 Conference team, moved ahead following their 2-0 showing this past weekend
Andy Bevin looking to take leadership role for WVU - Daily Athenaeum
“I wanted to come to America for the opportunity to study and play (competitive) soccer at the same time,” Bevin said.
Mark May is just making stuff up now - Awful Announcing
The act of May and Holtz isn't football analysis, it's performance art. It's taking a side and debating it, no matter if it's based in reality or not.
News of Note:
Trio to miss rest of the season - Charleston Daily Mail
Coach Dana Holgorsen said Tuesday that linebacker Dozie Ezemma suffered a broken foot and leg and is out for the season
Ezemma suffers career-ending break - WV MetroNews
Holgorsen reveals fifth-year senior suffered broken leg and foot against William & Mary.
OU, WVU Each Have Own QB Shuffle - BGN
Oklahoma and West Virginia are battling the same offensive demons heading into the head-to-head clash, namely a quarterback lacking solid game experience.
Higher recognition motive for Sooner's return - Charleston Daily Mail
Sooners defense has changed a lot since last year’s shootout - Charleston Gazette
Heartbreak lingers from 2012 shootout - WV MetroNews
The schemes have changed, but WVU defenders can't shake the bad memories of stops they didn't make against OU.
WVU defense shows signs of improvement - Daily Athenaeum
After last season’s misfortunes on the defensive side of the ball, all eyes were on West Virginia’s defense as it took the field for the first time in 2013 Saturday.
History: WVU can win - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
With the odds makers listing Oklahoma as a 19-point favorite for Saturday's 7 p.m. football game against West Virginia University, it's appears the Mountaineers have little chance of starting off the season 2-0.
Sooners still remember poor defensive effort against WVU - Norman Transcript via Register-Herald
Even though Oklahoma is coming off its first shutout in two and half seasons, it’s still impossible to forget what happened nine months ago in Morgantown.
WVU notebook: Holgorsen readying players for OU mania - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia almost certainly could have used an extra week or so or another game or two to prepare before having to travel to Norman, Okla., to face No. 16 Oklahoma Saturday night in the Big 12 opener.
Sooners’ home will be difficult venue for WVU - Register-Herald
“I’ve been there four or five times, and they’re hard to beat at home,” said Holgorsen, who coached against the Sooners while at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. “They’re hard to beat on the road. They’re a good football team, and they have been for the 15 years that (Stoops has) been there.
Young WVU gets early road test at Oklahoma - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“Second week, 12th week, I don't know if it matters,” he said. “The truth of the matter is I'd like to play them never because they're pretty good.”
Holgorsen cracks on run-pass split: ‘That’s embarrassing’ - WV MetroNews
“I’d like to throw the ball a lot more than we did,” the coach said. “Everybody says it’s an ‘Air Raid’ … and we’re talking about throwing the ball 30 percent of the time. That’s embarrassing.”
Early-season showdown; Stoops' new nickname - Charleston Gazette
If you're a Mountaineer fan wondering why WVU is playing Oklahoma at the beginning of September, it's understandable. Last season, West Virginia didn't play a conference game until a Sept. 29 contest against Baylor.
West Virginia escapes, now faces Oklahoma - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
There was only time for a quick sigh of relief after West Virginia escaped with a 24-17 come-from-behind victory in the season opener Saturday against William & Mary. In the next breath, it was on to Oklahoma.
West Virginia-Oklahoma Preview - AP via Yahoo! Sports
Last season's meeting between Oklahoma and West Virginia featured 99 points and more than 1,400 yards of total offense as players shattered school records on both sides.
Mountaineers prepare for hostile road game - Times West Virginian
But Oklahoma doesn’t drop many decisions in what is one of those cathedrals to college football around America, coach Bob Stoops producing an 82-5 record at home over 15 years.
WVU looking ahead to Oklahoma - Times West Virginian
Oklahoma is a completely different team than the one that beat WVU, 50-49, last season.
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU, Oklahoma more similar than what meets the eye - Times West Virginian
On the surface, people do not seem to compare what WVU’s Dana Holgorsen does with what Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops does offensively, yet they have plucked much of what’s fruitful in their offenses from the same tree.
New look at QB for both teams - Inter-Mountain
WVU, Oklahoma to battle Saturday in Big 12 opener
Cook: Just Another Game - EerSports
Despite all the hoopla surround West Virginia's Week Two matchup against Oklahoma, Darwin Cook says he's looking at it as just another game.
W&M Win Not 'Just Another Game' For Sims - BGN
On paper, Saturday’s win against William & Mary probably didn’t seem like much to West Virginia running back Charles Sims.
Furfari: It’s still wait-and-see on the Mountaineers - Register-Herald
It should be obvious to all concerned that a clear-cut judgment on this year’s West Virginia football team is yet to be determined.
The Takeaway: One down, now on to OU - WV MetroNews
Against the backdrop of extended highlights, MetroNews sports staffers Justin Hoff and Allan Taylor discuss WVU’s 24-17 win over William & Mary:
Oklahoma Football Opponent Watch - WVU Mountaineers - Crimson And Cream Machine
Charles Sims ran for 120 yards, and averaged 5.2 yards per carry, in his West Virginia debut
WATCH: WVU Coordinators Preview Oklahoma Match-Up - WVillustrated
Dawson, Patterson and DeForest
BGN Video: Offense and Specialists
O'Toole, Millard, Coaches Dawson & DeForest
WATCH: WVU Coordinators Preview Oklahoma Match-Up - WVillustrated
Dawson, Patterson and DeForest
WVSports.com TV: Player Interviews
Millard, Clarke & Eger
Football Player Quotes: Week 2 - WVU Athletics
Team members addressed the media on Tuesday evening.
CFB on FOX preview: WVU/OKLA - FOX Sports Video
Charles Davis looks ahead to Week 2 as the Mountaineers head to Norman to face the 16th-ranked Sooners.
Pro News:
WVUPros on NFL rosters going into Week 1 - ProsReport
In all, 18 WVUPros will be on NFL rosters in Week 1. Here they are
Around the League (and Beyond):
Senior Spotlight: DB Aaron Colvin - Crimson And Cream Machine
First Look: Baylor Bears vs. Buffalo Bulls - Our Daily Bears
Cyclones offense didn't do its job - Des Moines Register
Offensive lineman Pearce Slater hasn't returned to KU - Lawrence Journal World
K-State was overmatched on defense - Manhattan Mercury
J.W. Walsh earned starting quarterback job through offseason work - Oklahoman (autoplay)
Afternoon Coffee talks rankings, depth chart and injury news - Burnt Orange Nation
TCU’s offensive line held its own against LSU - Dallas-Fort Worth Star Telegram
What's On Tap:
WVU, Career Athletes to Host Career Forum - WVU Athletics
WVU, in partnership with Career Athletes, will host a Career Forum for WVU student-athletes.
Videos of Interest:
Dana Holgorsen previews the Oklahoma game during his weekly news on Tuesday at Milan Puskar Stadium.
QB Paul Millard knows Oklahoma's team has changed since WVU's narrow defeat in 2012, but he's looking forward to the challenge of heading into Norman this Saturday.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
*MUST WATCH IN 1080p AND USE HEADPHONES*
Hump Day Video of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a lovely lass from down under. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Genevieve Curran.