Mountaineer Morning Links: Monday (6/29/15) Edition

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 Momma Rye IPA from Bridge Brew Works.

Howard, WVU on track to make a name for themselves | Times West Virginian
Circle the date Oct. 17 on your calendar. Everyone else has. It’s circled here in Morgantown, and, for sure, it’s circled in Waco, Texas.

Trust Leads to Comfort - and Confidence - for Shell | EerSports
Rushel Shell is trusting his teammates more than ever and feels that will lead to an even better year for him on the field.

FURFARI: Melenyzer played football, earned law degree at WVU  | Times West Virginian
Keith Melenyzer was one of the talented western Pennsylvania athletes to come to West Virginia University, and he played football in the early 1960s.

New Basketball Season Tickets On Sale - WVU Athletics
Men's basketball season tickets to go on sale Monday, June 29.

Source: Jets' QB race between Geno, Fitzpatrick a fluid situation | Metro
There will be competition, so says a team source about not just the quarterback situation for the New York Jets but all across the field for a team that is hoping to rebound from last year's 4-12 record. But truthfully, it is all about the quarterback competition.

Expansion might cost Big 12 schools a lot less money than you think - SBNation.com
But as Boren noted and Big 12 commish Bob Bowlsby confirmed, the Big 12's TV deal increases proportionally if the conference adds bodies. While TV's just one part, it's by far the biggest.

New Oklahoma OC Riley arrived, and quarterbacks are following | FOX Sports
Lincoln Riley might not exactly be the Pied Piper, but the Air Raid offense he's bringing back to Oklahoma is quickly attracting top-flight quarterback prospects.

OU, Texas in battle with triple threat from SEC for top RB recruit | FOX Sports
To secure highly touted running back Devwah Whaley, the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns are going to have to fend off a triple threat from the SEC.

Even with football's struggles, Texas paces Big 12 in Directors' Cup | FOX Sports
Even with football's struggles, Texas paces Big 12 in Directors' Cup

Boren's expansion comments strike familiar, unproductive tone | FOX Sports
Last week David Boren again promoted expansion, arguing the Big 12 was "psychologically disadvantaged" by having just 10 members and should "strive" to expand to 12.

WVU I'm still working on @BrendanFerns_5 don't worry, had some help today from @M_Ferns47 pic.twitter.com/3BGVHh3WmN

— Chase Harler (@ChaseHarler4) June 28, 2015

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Playboy Playmate of the Year, and really needs no introduction. CLICK HERE for Sara Jean Underwood's Instagram.

A photo posted by Sara Underwood (@saraunderwood) on Jun 25, 2015 at 2:59pm PDT