Mountaineer Morning Links: Thursday (4/16/15) Edition

Football features, hoops & hardball notes, varsity news, new guard signs with Huggs, pro news, Big 12 roundup & more.

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Apr 16, 2015, 8:38am EDT

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 Stonehenge Ales' Sign of Spring.

What You May Have Missed:

FURFARI COLUMN: Lyons: ‘No say’ on WVU bid to join ACC when he was executive - Times West Virginian
No surprise here, but Mickey used this opportunity as a bitching session to Lyons' ear about everything Luck did "wrong."

Coastal Carolina transfers join West Virginia - Daily Athenaeum
Of the five men on the West Virginia University golf team, two are transfers from Coastal Carolina University, but they share different stories on how they ended up as Mountaineers.

Four players leave West Virginia in offseason after Kramer’s departure - Daily Athenaeum
This spring has been eventful for the West Virginia volleyball team. Along with the hiring of new head coach Reed Sunahara, the team is participating in spring tournaments without some of its strongest players.

Fan Shirt 2015 - West Virginia University
Vote once daily until April 23 for a chance to win the winning design.

News of Note:

Football

WVU Football Set for Inaugural Visit to The Greenbrier Resort - WVillustrated
The WVU football program will visit The Greenbrier Resort for the first time on Saturday, allowing fans to watch as the Mountaineers take part in their final open spring practice.

OL Coach Crook Developing Depth - WVU Athletics
In a perfect world, West Virginia University offensive line coach Ron Crook would love to have 10 guys who he could roll in and out just like the United Nations.

Tall happy to be 'home' at WVU - Exponent Telegram
Home is not always a physical place. If that’s all it were, it would be wrong to say that Tall is at home at all.

You Can Go Home Again - EerSports
It was Thomas Wolfe who once said, “You can’t go home again.” Don’t tell that to West Virginia’s Daikiel Shorts or Nick Kwiatkoski, though. The two were integral parts of the team last season, yet find themselves making a position change this spring, each back to the position in which they started their collegiate careers.

Ka’Raun’s coming - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Ka’Raun redshirted two seasons ago at Lackawanna and played last year (leading the conference in receptions), so he has three years left to play three seasons. But above all that, WVU doesn’t have someone like him, a 21-year-old who looks and plays like his older brother.

Running Backs Taking on More Diverse Role in WVU Offense - EerSports
Wendell Smallwood and Rushel Shell are being asked to take on a more diverse role in the West Virginia offense this year.

No changes in defense during spring practice - Daily Athenaeum
For the first time in three years, West Virginia’s defense isn’t learning a new scheme.

Rick Rumph Readies for Final Season with Mountaineers - WVillustrated
Three years have gone by in flash, now the rising senior is staring down the end of his career with plenty of motivation to make this fall count.

ESPN Sport Science Draft Combine: Kevin White & Amari Cooper - ESPN Video
The ESPN Sport Science team compares the top two receivers in the NFL draft. The "Sport Science Combine Special" airs April 27 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

West Virginia Mountaineer Pre-NFL Draft workout tracker - College To Pro Sports
Want to know what teams are showing interest in the West Virginia Mountaineers hoping to hear their names called in the upcoming draft? Find out here.

10 College Rivalries Killed by Conference Realignment - AthlonSports.com
Pittsburgh-West Virginia Last played: 2011

Baseball

Left-hander Ross Vance off to impressive start - Daily Athenaeum
The idea of the "crafty lefthander" is a common and perhaps overused trope in the game of baseball. But in junior starting pitcher Ross Vance, the West Virginia University baseball team has the genuine article.

Updated Parking/Shuttle Info for Baseball - WVU Athletics
The WVU baseball team has announced updated parking and shuttle info.

Hoops

Spring football observations and BillyDee’s departure - Charleston Gazette
Cleaning out a crowded notebook and a cluttered mind

Recruiting:

Myers makes it official with WVU - Exponent Telegram
West Virginia basketball commitment Teyvon Myers signed his letter of intent Wednesday afternoon, calling it “the best feeling I ever had.”

Top JUCO scorer Myers joins Mountaineers - Charleston Gazette
Teyvon Myers signed his letter of intent Wednesday afternoon at Williston State College in North Dakota. That’s where he averaged 25.1 points per game during his only season there.

WVU Offers Four-Star South Florida WR - EerSports
West Virginia has offered Miami Southridge (FL) wide receiver Rodney Scott, his coach tells 247Sports' Ryan Bartow.

Top247 2017 QB Davis Mills Has All The Tools - 247Sports
Louisville, Miami and West Virginia feel good about Mills too and have already offered a scholarship.

Pro News:

Jets reportedly not giving up on Geno Smith - 247Sports
A day after Bleacher Report's Jason Cole said the Jets "want to move on from Geno Smith," Kristian Dyer of Metro New York has a report to the contrary.

Padres' Jedd Gyorko continues to sit as Yangervis Solarte starts third straight game at second - UTSanDiego.com
Tuesday, second baseman Jedd Gyorko, off to a 3-for-21 start, was on the bench for the third consecutive game.