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Mountaineer Morning Links: Thursday (4/23/15) Edition

Holgorsen clarifies comments & more football reports, Connor leaving hoops program, WVUPros updates, Big 12 roundup & more.

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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 Cold Spring Moonlight Ale.

What You May Have Missed:

A Busy Three Months - WVU Athletics
West Virginia University director of athletics Shane Lyons will regularly offer his views on different topics related to Mountaineer sports and intercollegiate athletics in general. All of his posts, along with links to related content, will be available on WVUsports.com.

Track to Compete at Penn Relays - WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University track and field team travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the 120th edition of the prestigious Penn Relays at Franklin Field from April 23-24.

Lyons Announces 2015 Women's Soccer Slate - WVU Athletics
The Mountaineers will face 10 opponents at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium this season.

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

THE READ OPTION: Jameis Winston crab legs story enters Day 359 - SBNation.com
Good morning! It's your daily roundup of college football stuff, slid to you piping hot by a friend in the seafood department.

News of Note:

Football

WVU cornerbacks get reps before others join fray - Charleston Daily Mail
In between Chestnut, an immense recruit years ago who hadn’t met the hype until last season, and the edgy Sharif are players who fit in just as well in Mitchell’s meeting room.

The Big 12 coaches seem to want something - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
And that something is a Big 12 championship game.

Holgorsen handling QB battle only way he knows how - WVillustrated
The head coach says he doesn't want any of the quarterbacks in his offense to think the competition is over with months left before the season opener.

Howard may be No. 1 now but QB job not locked up - Exponent Telegram
"I’m not going to say it’s over. I mentioned on Saturday that Skyler was clear cut No. 1 but it’s not over by any stretch of imagination," Holgorsen said

WVU counting on Shell for tough yards - Daily Athenaeum
Last season, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen added a new wrinkle to his Air Raid offense: A power running game.

WVU's Lambert hoping to build on big season - Beckley Register-Herald
After knocking through a couple of game winners last year — beating both Maryland and Texas Tech with last-second field goals — junior-to-be Josh Lambert joked that West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen had never even spoken to him.

Narduzzi embraces past rivalries, but new AD will decide about Backyard Brawl - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said the Panthers will "embrace future and past rivalries" but deferred further comment on possible resumption of the Pitt-West Virginia Backyard Brawl until Pitt hires an athletic director.

Backyard Brawl One Step Closer to Revival? - EerSports
Earlier this month, West Virginia Athletic Director Shane Lyons piqued the interest of college football fans when he stated that he hoped to renew the Backyard Brawl with nearby Pittsburgh.

Blue-Gold Spring Football Game set for Saturday - Inter-Mountain
West Virginia University is hosting its annual Gold-Blue Spring Football Game on Saturday at 1 p.m., at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Where will WVU’s Kevin White end up and who is his best fit? - College to Pro Sports
Ever since West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White played his final down as a Mountaineer, the speculation of where he would play his professional career ran wild.

Baseball

Living the dream - Exponent Telegram
The father is Randy Mazey, West Virginia’s baseball coach, and he’s playing catch with his son, Weston, who they call "Wammer."

Mid-week starters, bullpen vital to pitching staff - Daily Athenaeum
They say everybody’s working for the weekend, and that certainly goes for West Virginia’s mid-week starting pitchers and the bullpen that supports them.

Hoops

Chase Connor leaving WVU; destination unknown - Beckley Register-Herald
Chase Connor liked nothing better than being a Mountaineer. Playing for his home state and wearing the gold and blue was a dream come true for Shady Spring High School’s all-time leading scorer, and the support that he received from the West Virginia University fans in Raleigh County made him feel like a superhero at times.

Connor leaves WVU basketball team - Exponent Telegram
There was no indication of where Connor might transfer to but it is expected that he will transfer.

WVU walk-on Chase Connor will transfer in search of more playing time - WV MetroNews
Shady Spring High School product initially turned down several scholarship offers from mid-majors.

Recruiting:

Ahmad’s rise/fall and WVU recruiting - Charleston Gazette
As you know, Mountaineer coach Bob Huggins and his assistants, specifically in this case Ron Everhart, landed Esa Ahmad, the school’s highest-ranked recruit since Devin Ebanks in 2008.

Pro News:

2015 NFL Schedule: Key matchups to watch between Mountaineers in the NFL - College to Pro Sports
The NFL released their annual schedule on Tuesday night. Here are some matchups between WVUPros that we will be watching.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Baylor post-spring position battles: Young players pushing for playing time - Dallas Morning News

NOTEBOOK: Rhoads on title game deregulation, Knott's injury - Cyclone Fanatic

2015 Spring Football - Wide Receivers - Rock Chalk Talk

K-State spring football: Offensive line, receivers show improvement - Topeka Capital Journal

Bob Stoops says Lincoln Riley's new offense is 'player friendly' - Oklahoman

OKLAHOMA STATE FOOTBALL: Spring Assessment - Cowboys Ride For Free

Spring depth chart breakdown: Texas - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

TCU football notes: Boykin will be back from wrist surgery by end of May, Patterson says - Star Telegram

The Texas Tech QB Race & A Big 12 Title Game - Viva The Matadors

What's On Tap:

Football Spring Game Information - WVU Athletics
West Virginia University is hosting its annual Gold-Blue Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 25, at 1 p.m., at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

2015 Spring Game Parking Guidelines - WVU Athletics
The following information should assist the general public with parking arrangements surrounding the 2015 Gold-Blue Spring Game on Saturday, April 25, at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Football Season Ticket Renewal Deadline May 1 - WVU Athletics
With the priority deadline just two weeks away, WVU football season ticket holders are reminded to renew their 2015 season tickets online at WVUGAME.com.

Video of Interest:

WVU closer Blake Smith addresses the media following the Mountaineers' 3-2 win over Marshall on Tuesday, at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is an English model. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Lucy Mecklenburgh.