Mountaineer Sunday Morning Roundup

News and Features:

West Virginia Mountaineers season preview - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Previewing the 2014 season for the West Virginia Mountaineers

Skywriters Tour: West Virginia Settled At QB - Big 12 Conference
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen believes that senior quarterback Clint Trickett plus more depth and experience will get the Mountaineers back in a bowl game.

Banks’ status unknown after senior cornerback misses scrimmage - WV MetroNews
West Virginia assistants defer to Holgorsen regarding last season's 12-game starter.

Mountaineers Conclude Camp - WVU Athletics (autoplay audio)
Overall, both offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson saw what they needed to see as they begin preparation for the season opener against second-ranked Alabama two weeks from today in Atlanta.

Scrimmage Closes Fall Camp - BGN
West Virginia’s fall camp closed with a final scrimmage today – and to say there were mixed results is an understatement.

First-team defense rules day in WVU’s final scrimmage - WV MetroNews
Chided for missing tackles in previous days, the unit surrendered only a field goal to the starting offense.

No guarantees, but Mountaineer offense at least on same page - Charleston Gazette
"I’m not ready to pat them on the back yet,’’ Dawson said. "We haven’t gotten a first down yet.’’

To pass or run, that is the question - Exponent Telegram
"We want to be able to do both," he said. "We couldn’t do either last year, but we want to be able to be both."

Questions loom as WVU camp ends - Charleston Gazette
In truth, Saturday’s camp-ending scrimmage perhaps raised more questions than it answered. For instance

WVU ready to turn attention to preparing to face Alabama - Register Herald
"My theory has been this way forever," said Holgorsen of the schedule. "At that point in time, the kids are excited about moving into their dorms and all the females running around campus. Camp breaks on Saturday, and we have an academic meeting Sunday night. Then Monday, they start school, and that is their off day. So we (the coaches) will sit in meetings for 15 hours and begin our initial preparation for Alabama."

Mixed Reviews - BGN
West Virginia's first-team offense moved well between the red zone - but hit the redline inside the 20, failing to record a touchdown against the first team defense.

Gibson pleased after Saturday - Register Herald
After two of the worst statistical seasons in school history the last two years, it’s clear that there needs to be some improvement from West Virginia University’s defense if the team is going to become a competitor in year No. 3 as a Big 12 member.

Improved pass rush highlights scrimmage - Exponent Telegram
WVU Football Notebook

WVU coaches making DL moves in search of pass rush - Charleston Gazette
If you want to know what WVU’s defense most needs to improve on this season, insert Jon Gruden voice here for effect. It needs a pass rush, man.

"Good, Solid" Defensive Line Has Depth - EerSports
"I feel like once we get everybody on a roll – on the right track – so we won’t have any more "MAs" – Missing Assignments – it will just make the team much better," said Brown.

Rose Trying to Help WVU Bounce Back - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Kyle Rose understands the tradition behind the West Virginia football program.

WVU entering season with lots of chemistry - Daily Athenaeum
"Chemistry": A word fairly common in the science world, but also a word used in the sports world to describe a bond formed among teammates.

College Football's Top 30 RB Units for 2014 - AthlonSports.com
1. Alabama 19. West Virginia

Campus Connection: RBs, RBs, RBs - WVU Athletics
This week's WVU sports notebook.

"There's Nothing The Kid Can't Do Right Now" - EerSports
One guy who is pushing to be the main back is Rushel Shell.

Starting running back competition heating up quickly - Daily Athenaeum
With the first two weeks of fall camp in the books for the West Virginia football team, the depth available at the running back position thus far has been tremendous, according to running backs coach JaJuan Seider.

Chart Opposites - BGN
Although rivals on the field for the starting position, quarterbacks Clint Trickett and Paul Millard still notice growth on the part of each since the opening of fall camp.

WVU quarterback Trickett ready to put experience to use - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
"It was a rough year to say the least," he said. "A long year. I'm ready to get past that."

WVU Coaches, Players: Shaquille Riddick a ‘Game Changer’ - WVillustrated
WVU fifth-year senior defensive end Shaquille Riddick has finally earned a shot at major Division-I college football, opening the eyes of players and coaches throughout the two weeks of fall camp.

Riddick key to an improved pass rush - Exponent Telegram
Standing 6-foot-6 and lean at 240 pounds, he drew Gibson’s attention immediately upon coming across him on the recruiting trail.

Dillon overcomes diabetes to excel at spur - Exponent Telegram
If there is a spot on the defense that must be in capable hands, it is the spur safety position, a position that turns a player into part linebacker, part safety, part corner.

Life Lessons - BGN
Both Michael Calicchio and Mark Glowinki have arrived much in the same place - fifth-year seniors along a line expected to be much improved. But their respective paths have been far different.

Lucas overcame tough upbringing to make it to WVU - Daily Athenaeum
Marquis Lucas probably never should have made it to Morgantown.

WVU’s schedule not kind - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Mountaineers face three preseason Top 10 opponents

Photos:

Photo Gallery 6: Fall Practice 2104 photos - WVSports.com

Video:

KJ Dillon - Fall Camp Update - WVU Athletics
Select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.

WATCH: WVU Football Player Interviews - WVillustrated
Nwachukwu, Kinsey, Shorts, Brown, Rose, Chestnut, Millard, Trickett & Glowinski

Assistant Coaches Press Conference - WVU Athletics
Select members of the West Virginia University football coaching staff met with the media on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.

Forward Steps - BGN
The time is now for players to seize starting positions for the opener. Here, cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell and receivers coach Lonnie Galloway delve into the merits of better quality numbers and what they would like to see over the next several weeks.

WVSports.com TV: Assistant Coaches - WVSports.com
Bradley, DeForest, Gibby, Seider & Mitchell

WATCH: The Dana Holgorsen Show - WVILLUSTRATED
In case you missed it on television, be sure to watch this week's episode of The Dana Holgorsen Show, in its entirety, on WVi.All eight segments are below.

What's On Tap:

Single Game Parking Passes Available - WVU Athletics
Parking passes in the Burgundy, Green, Gold, Purple and White Lots can be purchased in advance at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800-WVU GAME.

Single game tickets for the 2014 WVU football season are on sale now! Go to WVUGAME.COM or call 1-800-WVU GAME

Football Game Promotions Announced - WVU Athletics
Stripe the Stadium, Gold Rush and Family Day Promotions

Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Tickets on Sale - WVU Athletics
Tickets for West Virginia’s appearance in the 2014 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game are now on sale through the Mountaineer Ticket Office

BT Entertainment Presents WVU ATLANTA KICKOFF