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Mountaineer Morning Links: Wednesday (8/20/14) Edition

Football news & notes, recruiting update, WVU Pros updates, Big 12 roundup & more.

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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 Grain Belt Beer.


What You May Have Missed:

Gold & Blue Now: Aug. 20 - WV MetroNews
Jerry Palm, CBSSports.com, compares the Big 12 football conference against the rest of the power 5 conferences. Also, WVU running back coach JuJuan Seider gives his take on the 2014 preseason football camp as a whole.

Women's Soccer 2014 Preview - WVU Athletics
The WVU women's soccer team opens its 2014 season opens this Friday.

PHOTO GALLERY: WVU Women's Football 101 - WVillustrated
View our photo gallery from one of the most entertaining nights of the summer...WVU Women's Football 101

Bobby Bowden talks WVU, Backyard Brawl in Reddit AMA session - WVUPros
Former West Virginia and Florida State coach Bobby Bowden talked how important the 1970 Backyard Brawl was during his coaching career in Reddit AMA session

WVU has sold more than 22,000 tickets for Alabama game - Register Herald
Matt Wells, associate athletic director for external affairs, reveled those figures on ticket sales exclusively on Tuesday. He also said the number of Mountaineer fans cheering for the team will round out at slightly over 22,000 in Atlanta that afternoon.

WVU football ticket sales on decline - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
"We had a huge spike after the 2011 season," athletic director Oliver Luck said. "Between 2011 and 2012, I think we generated an additional $4 million in ticket sales. "People were excited. It was great, but I also knew it was not sustainable.

News of Note:

Assistant coach Bradley gets comfortable in new role - Charleston Daily Mail
Fake help was still help because this has not been easy for Bradley, and won’t pretend it didn’t challenge his emotions or test what he’d come to know in his college football life spent exclusively at Penn State.

With a tip from foes, WVU has plenty to fix - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
So while the talk of improvement is probably true and fairly based on the wealth of experienced players, it’s important to remember this thing isn’t fully fixed. Far from it, in fact.

The grass practice field has to go - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
I thought it was odd and eventually discovered why it happened. WVU fled the grass practice field that day because it was in horrible shape and kind of dangerous.

Your 2014 All-Camp team! - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
So, no, this is NOT a regular-season depth chart. This is the 2014 All-Camp team, a listing of the West Virginia players who made the most of, who helped themselves the most during, who were the talk of the 17 days of preseason camp.

Key Position Battles Present Big Decisions for WVU Coaching Staff - WVillustrated
Dana Holgorsen has kept the media up to speed with which position battles are still ongoing, which continues to play itself out less than two weeks from the season opener against Alabama.

Embarrassment of Riches at Running Back - EerSports
As the Mountaineers wrapped up their camp with an inter-squad scrimmage, the running back position continues to impress. There were a number of backs to pay attention to on Saturday as some played great, and made a push for some real playing time when the season begins in two weeks.

WVU has offense filled with young talent - Daily Athenaeum
For the last year and a half, West Virginia has been trying to replace the trio of Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.

Secretive Holgorsen eases up a bit, lets media see some of last scrimmage - Register Herald: College Sports
After allowing media types to attend only the first 30 minutes of just five of West Virginia’s 15 practices, head coach Dana Holgorsen had a slight change of heart.

Non-conference slate crucial to WVU's success - BGN
It's been a long time since West Virginia has gone into a season with a group of challenges similar to the ones it will get in its non-conference schedule this season.

WVU’s Holgorsen keeps Alabama’s strength in perspective - Charleston Gazette
"Don’t forget,’’ the Mountaineer’ fourth-year head coach said, "we play a lot of good teams in the Big 12.’’

Vingle: WVU, TCU might be Big 12 surprises - Charleston Gazette
Notebook

Quinton’s Mission: Left Guard on Track to Join List of WVU Pros - WVUPros
The Mountaineer’s redshirt senior left guard has his sights set on playing at the next level, but knows this season is a crucial one.

Hurting no more, Chestnut hopes to turn corner on injury-riddled career - WV MetroNews
After shoulder and knee injuries, the junior is trying to deliver on promise he carried as a four-star recruit in 2011.

Chestnut looks to step up play in secondary - Exponent Telegram
"There’s five guys who could go out there and be productive," Mitchell said. "We’re going 90 to 95 plays a game because of tempo. We’re going to need fresh bodies, especially for the long run, when you’re playing 12 games."

Junior Kyle Rose spearheads WVU run defense, pass rush on defensive line - Daily Athenaeum
Kyle Rose isn't a hard guy to find.

Special teams’ bond goes far beyond playing field - Daily Athenaeum
"(Just a year of being) together as a unit and getting to know each other and their work habits and their work ethics – just sort of gelling as a group now," DeForest said.

College Football's Top 50 Breakout Players for 2014 - AthlonSports.com
Daryl Worley, CB, West Virginia

Recruiting:

Mountaineers extend 2 offers to 2016 prospects - Charleston Gazette
The coaches have spent all of their time discussing depth charts, injuries, redshirts and more. Once camp ended, though, they wasted no time getting back to recruiting.

Pro News:

NFL Preseason Week 2 Recap: J.T. Thomas and Terence Garvin step up on defense - WVUPros
Here is a recap of what went down in NFL Preseason Week 2 action among your favorite Mountaineers.

Former Mountaineers shining in NFL preseason games - Register Herald: Sports Columns
The second week of the preseason for the former Mountaineers trying to make it in the NFL ended on Monday night — just after Johnny Manziel made one of his phalanges more famous than the others. Here is a recap of what went down in NFL Preseason Week 2 action among the former WVU stars.

CFL Week 8 Recap: Pat White’s Wheels Helps the Esks’ Win in Ottawa - WVUPros
It was truly a strange week for a few WVU alum in Week eight of the 2014 CFL regular season.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Meet McLane Stadium, the Most High-Tech College Sports Venue Yet - Our Daily Bears

Camp Unit Preview: Running Backs - Wide Right & Natty Lite

Bourbon and Cox suffer season-ending injuries - Rock Chalk Talk

2014 K-State Position Condition: Defensive Backs - Bring On The Cats

2014 Oklahoma Sooners Football Preview | Running Backs - Crimson And Cream Machine

Position battle update: Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterbacks - ESPN

Texas Longhorns falling behind in in-state football facility arms race - Burnt Orange Nation

The Great Quarterback Debate: Matt Joeckel vs. Trevone Boykin - Frogs O' War

Tech football notes: Atoe moves inside, fighting for spot - Lubbock Avalanche Journal

2014 Big 12 Preview Podcast - The Solid Verbal

Holly Anderson: 2014 College Football Preview: The Big 12 - Grantland

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

WVU’s Countdown to Kickoff: Day 10 Steve Slaton - WVUPros
Continuing on with our 100 day countdown to WVU’s season opener against the Alabama Crimson Tide, we have reached day 10 the number once worn by WVU running back, Steve Slaton.

Video of Interest:

WVU Tight End and state native Cody Clay knows what it means to "Be A Mountaineer."

Video of (Dis)Interest:


Hump Day Video of the Week:


Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is an Australian model best known for her work as a VS Angel. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Miranda Kerr.