Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.
Football:
WVU not intimidated by atmosphere in Norman | The Exponent Telegram
As a weekend destination, Las Vegas or Nassau are far more desirable than Norman, Oklahoma — unless you are a West Virginia football player. To the Mountaineers, that’s where the action is this weekend and they are not about to be intimidated by going there.
Big 12 title hopefuls Oklahoma, West Virginia clash in Norman | ESPN
Both No. 23 West Virginia and No. 15 Oklahoma open Big 12 play with conference title aspirations. The Mountaineers have yet to beat OU since joining the Big 12. The Sooners, however, lost the last time both sides were ranked, in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
Big 12 Week 5 game picks: Upset brewing in Norman? | ESPN
The first week of conference play brought the controversial in Austin and the heart-pounding and thrilling in Lubbock. Week 5 brings a full slate of conference games with West Virginia bringing the league's top defense to Norman to face OU and another potential shootout building in Arlington where Texas Tech will face Baylor.
WVU hopes to prevent Perine from having his way again | The Exponent Telegram
They hadn’t seen anything like it at Mountaineer Field since Syracuse’s Larry Csonka powered his way 216 yards closer to the College Football Hall of Fame back in November of 1965. A third-string running back — or so the depth chart told us — named Samaje Perine, a true freshman playing only because two players ahead of him were injured, tore West Virginia’s defense to shreds when Oklahoma came to Morgantown last season.
West Virginia Mountaineers winning games with their defense | Campus Rush
Known for their offense, West Virginia Mountaineers are 3-0 thanks to a stout defense
BANG or BUST? West Virginia Is The Best Team In The Big 12 | Land Grant Gauntlet
West Virginia has mounted an impressive start to the season, but are they the the best team in the Big 12?
October brings opportunity for West Virginia Mountaineers | ESPN
West Virginia has a chance to send a message in Norman, Oklahoma on Saturday. Throughout the offseason, the Mountaineers remembered their performance as they beat Baylor and as they took TCU to the final minutes in 2014. In the halls of the Milan Puskar Center, there is an undeniable belief that Dana Holgorsen's program is ready to win its first Big 12 title.
W.Va. native Wellman is key for WVU in red zone | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The man in the middle is playing defense, and like so many others have lately, he sees Elijah Wellman coming.
Basketball:
Tickets for JMU Game on Sale Monday | WVU Athletics
Tickets for the WVU-James Madison men’s basketball game will go on sale Monday, Oct. 5 at the Mountaineer Ticket Office. The game will be played at the Charleston Civic Center on Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Game Times Set | WVU Athletics
West Virginia University announced home game times for the 2015-16 women’s basketball season today. The Mountaineers host one exhibition, six non-conference games and nine Big 12 Conference contests.
West Virginia Athletics:
Public Defender | WVU Athletics
WVU’s soccer sensation (and first-generation college student) defends the net on field and wants to help defend society off the pitch.
Abam Wants to Score Early, Often | WVU Athletics
If sophomore forward Michaela Abam could script each match for the No. 3/4 West Virginia University women’s soccer team, the Mountaineers would score within the first five minutes. If the goal came off her foot – even better.
Steadman is steadfast security blanket in goal | The Daily Athenaeum
As the No. 3 ranked team in the nation, there is sure to be a target on your back. The West Virginia University women’s soccer team entered conference play on a nine-match shutout streak, and after a 2-0 victory over Texas on Sept. 25, the Mountaineers’ streak continues.
WVU earns individual, team academic awards | The Daily Athenaeum
Last year could be considered one of the more individually successful years for the West Virginia University men’s soccer program, as Joey Piatczyc was named MAC Freshman of the Year, Jamie Merriam was named First Team All-MAC and Andy Bevin took home MAC Player of the Year.
Son inspires WVU’s Renwick on course | The Daily Athenaeum
West Virginia University men’s golf team senior captain Easton Renwick has not had the typical journey one would expect for a collegiate athlete. The DuBois, Pennsylvania native has a special source of inspiration for when he’s competing out on the golf course: his two-and-a-half-year-old son Jackson, whom Renwick calls, "the best thing to ever happen to me."
WVU Suffers Setback to TCU | WVU Athletics
Morgan Montgomery and Mia Swanegan combined for 27 of the team’s 50 kills as the West Virginia University volleyball team dropped a 3-1 match to TCU in Big 12 action on Wednesday. TCU took the match in set scores of 25-15, 25-22, 19-25 and 25-22.
WVU takes two of three from Oswego, Mercyhurst | The Daily Athenaeum
West Virginia Club Division 1 men’s hockey took two out of three games against Oswego State and Mercyhurst over the past weekend to improve their season record to 4-3-0.
Around The Big 12:
Mayfield off to hot start at Oklahoma | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Oklahoma defeated Tulsa 52-38 the last time it played, and the team's website had fun with the headline atop the story about the game: “Baker's Half Dozen Fuels Sooners' Win.” Quarterback Baker Mayfield's third start was one for the record books as he established a school standard with 572 total yards and six touchdowns. He completed 32 of 38 passes for 487 yards and four touchdowns and ran 13 times for 85 yards and two scores.
Will new-look Sooners continue to ride Perine against Mountaineers? | WV MetroNews
Oklahoma's new offensive coordinator was hired to liven up the pass game, but his hard-charging running back is too good to ignore.
Baylor Bears getting edge back in time for Big 12 run | ESPN
Art Briles talks constantly about “being the standard.” It’s become perhaps the favorite motto of Baylor’s still-rising program. And now that his Bears are entering Big 12 play this weekend against Texas Tech, he’s setting the bar even higher.
No answers from Big 12 means no closure in Texas penalty controversy | ESPN
The great Texas penalty controversy of 2015 is still missing two important things: an official title (Flag-gate?) and a bunch of unknowable answers.
Around The NCAA:
T.W.I.S., where totally unhinged Texas fans overwhelm everyone else's anger | SBNation
Welcome to This Week In Schadenfreude, your weekly roundup of the angriest college football fans, from sea to shining s-/BIG TWELVE OFFICIALS SOLD BEVO TO THE RUSSIANS.
RANDY EDSALL GOES TO THE MOVIES | Every Day Should Be Saturday
HE'S NEVER SEEN A MOVIE
SHUTDOWN FULLCAST 3.22: THE GREAT TEXAS OFFICIATING CONSPIRACY | Every Day Should Be Saturday
CONSPIRACIES ARE MORE OF AN AGGIE THING, FRANKLY
NCAA loses massive O'Bannon trial, but not by much. Full ruling here | SBNation
The decision went against the NCAA in what could be a major step for college athletics reform. So what's next, and what exactly does this mean?
Michigan State isn't playing like the No. 2 team yet, but there’s time | SBNation
They can't run the ball. They can't stop opponents from throwing the ball. And they are No. 2. Kudos to Mark Dantonio for creating a fearsome reputation that can survive average performances.
There are two things that let me know this guy is a little insane. First of all, he's going 207 MPH on a bicycle. Secondly, CHECK HIS HAIRSTYLE.
Today's Miss Throwdown is a pro golfer, and the winner of the Golf Channel's Big Break: Dominican Republic. CLICK HERE for Blair O'Neal's Instagram.