Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Lefthand Brewing Co.'s Oktoberfest Märzen Lager.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold & Blue Now: Wednesday, Oct. 15 - WV MetroNews
Daryl Worley speaks to the media for the first time since his suspension. We also catch up with John Morris, the Baylor play-by-play analyst, as he breaks down this years Bears team in comparison to last years squad.
Price, Bedillion & Jackson Earn Soccer Awards - Big 12 Conference
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Cari Price, West Virginia, Jr., M, Sykesville, Md./Century
Furfari: Stroia of great WVU 1988 team is now top-ranked industry leader - Times West Virginian
John Stroia, who received All-America acclaim both on and off the football field at West Virginia University in 1988, now occupies top-ranking positions in U.S. industrial circles.
Hoops
2014 Men's Basketball Media Day - Big 12 Conference
Live coverage of the 2014 Big 12 Men's Basketball Media Day, from the Sprint Center in Kansas City.
3-point shot: A look at West Virginia, South Carolina and Miami - ESPN
Andy Katz gives updates on West Virginia, South Carolina and Miami.
Huggins believes WVU to be more athletic - Exponent Telegram
In the first of our two-part interview, Huggins breaks down what he sees from his players, as well as where each of the team’s newcomers fit in and how the returning players will continue to progress as the season gets under way.
News of Note:
Dana Holgorsen Media Conference: Baylor - WVU Athletics
video and transcript here, video also embedded below
Defense Has Right Mentality For "Big Challenge" - EerSports
West Virginia will welcome the No. 4 team in the nation, the Baylor Bears, to Morgantown on Saturday, and Head Coach Dana Holgorsen recognizes just how big of a game it is for the program, and is hoping the fans will be there to show their support.
The Pregame Huddle: Week 8 - FOX Sports
Can the West Virginia Mountaineers upset the Baylor Bears Saturday?
Holgorsen: Days of shutout defense are over - Register Herald
West Virginia’s 1996 defense finished first in the country, allowing just 217.5 yards per game and holding eight opponents to 14 or fewer points under Steve Dunlap.
WVU To Face No. 4 Baylor - News, Sports, Jobs - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Bears not talking championship yet
Third side of football important - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen constantly refers to "the three sides of the football.''
Worley, Defense Talk CBs Return, Baylor - BGN
Daryl Worley speaks to the media for the first time since his return at Texas Tech following legal issues, delving into his thoughts on the overall situation and his play. Position coach Brian Mitchell also details what he saw of Worley in the comeback, while linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski gets into the Xs and Os of the Baylor passing game.
Worley happy to be back after suspension - BGN
After one of the most stressful months of his life, Daryl Worley feels like he’s finally back home.
Worley on assault plea: ‘No one I could blame but myself’ - WV MetroNews
Cornerback and roommate Wendell Smallwood met with the media for the first time since legal troubles unfolded.
Worley Ready to Move Forward - EerSports
After that win against Maryland in Week Three, however, he found himself in some legal trouble that resulted in an indefinite suspension that put his entire career in jeopardy.
West Virginia sophomores face up to mistakes - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
West Virginia cornerback Daryl Worley and tailback Wendell Smallwood finally broke their silence Wednesday when the sophomores were made available to the media for the first time since returning from separate suspensions for legal troubles.
WVU’s Worley, Smallwood sorry for letting teammates down - Charleston Gazette
Daryl Worley and Wendell Smallwood both insist that the worst part of what they went through during separate legal entanglements and suspensions of late was that they let down their West Virginia teammates.
Worley cherishes return after two-game absence - Charleston Daily Mail
"I felt like in the beginning of the game I wasn’t playing with the level of confidence I left the Maryland game with."
Worley back in the mix for Mountaineers - Exponent Telegram
Cornerback leaned on roommate Smallwood during tough times
WVU's Smallwood, Worley embrace 2nd chance - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
there they were, fielding questions in the team meeting room at Milan Puskar Center on Tuesday.
WVU notebook: Defensive line still unsettled - Charleston Gazette
Part of the puzzle is whether backup nose tackle Christian Brown will be reinstated after being suspended for the ambiguous "violation of team rules.’’ Another is the health of end Dontrill Hyman, who has missed the past two games with a knee injury after starting the first four.
Vingle: Baylor-WVU, hoops recruiting and wine - Charleston Gazette
Ye olde notebook
Player/Coaches Media Session: Baylor - WVU Athletics
Players and assistant coaches addressed the media Tuesday afternoon.
WATCH: WVU Football Players, Coaches Shift Focus to No. 4 Baylor - WVillustrated
Gibby, Seider, Crook, Dawson, Chestnut, Tonkery, Alford, Kwiatkoski, Lambert, Dillon, Trickett, Worley & Smallwood
WVSports.com TV: Assistant Coach & Player Interviews - WVSports.com
Dawson, Gibby, DeForest, Mitchell, Worley, Riddick, Chestnut, Kwiatkoski & Squirt
ESPN.com midseason All-Big 12 team - ESPN
We're halfway through the season, which means it's time for our midseason All-Big 12 team.
Big 12 college football midseason overview - ESPN
Halfway through the season and this much is already clear: The Big 12 title chase will be a fascinating one
College Football's Post-Week 7 Bowl Projections - AthlonSports.com
Texas Bowl: West Virginia vs. LSU
College Football 2014 Midseason Awards and Recap - AthlonSports.com
Breakout Player: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Most-Improved Player: 3. Clint Trickett
Baylor's roadshow ready for 'funky' trip to West Virginia, site of offensive showcase 2 years ago - Dallas Morning News
Baylor’s "Payback 2014" tour pulls into West Virginia on Saturday. The Bears’ road show is playing to better reviews.
Briles can coach and talk with the best of 'em - Exponent Telegram
His game, at least on the offensive side, has been light years ahead of the pack since he arrived in Waco and turned the Bears from sour to power.
Recruiting:
Another big recruiting weekend for Mountaineers - Charleston Gazette
With a sellout crowd on hand, it should be quite the atmosphere, or at least the coaches are hoping for it to be, as they host numerous top prospects this weekend.
Pro News:
CFL Week 16 Recap: Slaton Helps Argos To Another Last Second Victory; White Runs For Score in Thanksgiving Day Blowout - WVU Pros
this week’s CFL recap
Around the League (and Beyond):
Baylor, West Virginia meet again in potential shootout - Waco Tribune
Is Iowa State's up-tempo offense here to stay? - Des Moines Register (autoplay)
Kansas Football Depth Chart: Michael Cummings Officially Starting Quarterback - Rock Chalk Talk
Planning for success: Kansas State - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Oklahoma Sooners Defensive End Chuka Ndulue Has Fun On Twitter - Crimson And Cream Machine
Turnovers drying up for Texas Longhorns defense - Burnt Orange Nation
Kliff Kingsbury Should Channel His Inner Serbian - Viva The Matadors
Forde-Yard Dash: Which teams have best chance at College Football Playoff? - Yahoo Sports (autoplay)
What's On Tap:
Baylor Game Information - WVU Athletics
Game day information for the WVU-Baylor Oct. 18 game.
Volleyball Prepped for Kansas - WVU Athletics
Wednesday at the WVU Coliseum. The match is set for 6:30 p.m.
W.Soccer Match Set for ROOT SPORTS Pittsburgh - WVU Athletics
The WVU-OU women's soccer game on Oct. 26 will air on ROOT SPORTS Pittsburgh
Women's Hoops Game Time Versus Baylor Altered - WVU Athletics
West Virginia’s women’s basketball game time against Baylor on Saturday, Jan. 10 has changed to 3 p.m. The game had been previously set for noon.
Video of Interest:
Video courtesy of BGN
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Hump Day Video of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is one of the ladies that the Beach Boys were talking about when they sang "I wish they could all be California Girls." CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Mariah Bevacqua.