Mountaineer Morning Links: Wednesday (7/1/15) Edition

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. It's now officially July, America's birth month, so to celebrate our patriotism we're being brought to you today by Brew Free! or Die IPA from 21st Amendment Brewery.

Women’s Swimming & Diving Garners Academic Honor | WVU Athletics
WVU women's swimming garner Scholar All-America team accolades.

Football:

Florida State - WVU in 2018? | EerSports
Could West Virginia take on Florida State to open the 2018 season? If Seminoles Head Coach Jimbo Fisher gets his way, yes.

Skyler Howard Takes Workmanlike Approach to QB Position - WV Illustrated
Skyler Howard enters the summer as the favorite to land WVU's starting quarterback job, a feat that seemed very unlikely only a few years prior to arriving in Morgantown.

WVU additions could push receiving corps ‘over top’ | The Charleston Gazette
Those in the Mountain State have been debating whether the Mountaineers will have success in 2015. But gone is first-round draft pick Kevin White. Gone is seventh-round draft pick Mario Alford. What’s left is a largely unproven bunch.

Summer Workouts Not Ideal, But Coaches Like What They See | EerSports
The coaching staff is still limited by what they can do in the summer, but just being able to see the players has given the Mountaineer coaches confidence.

Next stop Charlotte: Buie transferring to C-USA program | WV MetroNews
The restart of summer school sessions meant decision time for many graduate transfers, and former West Virginia running back Andrew Buie selected Charlotte.

FURFARI: Dennis Fowlkes No. 3 WVU all-time tackles leader | Times West Virginian
Dennis Fowlkes, of Columbus, Ohio, earned a letter as a hard-hitting linebacker under coach Frank Cignetti in 1979 as a freshman, then excelled and lettered in 1980-82 in Don Nehlen’s first three seasons at the West Virginia helm.

An RB decision; in-state QB emerges at WVU camp | The Charleston Gazette
Shortly after the final seconds ticked off the clock in the championship of the 7-on-7 tournament at West Virginia this past Friday, the Mountaineer coaching staff hit the road, heading home to spend time with their families. The vacations line up perfectly with the newly instituted "dead period" that runs until July 12.

Bruce Irvin: Seahawks have moved past the Super Bowl loss | Field Gulls
Seahawks LB Bruce Irvin discusses what Seattle needs to do to reach a third straight Super Bowl, his future in Seattle and QB Russell Wilson's contract situation.

Around The Big XII:

Examining the Over/Under 2015 Win Totals for the Big 12 Conference | AthlonSports.com
The Big 12 is going to be a hotly contested conference this season. Last year there were five teams within three games of first place Baylor and TCU.

Kansas football won't win many games, but it'll get exercise and fresh air | SBNation
If David Beaty can bring top-40 recruiting and solid organization to Lawrence, he could maybe eventually thrive, but with almost a complete reset on the first string, immediate success is a long shot, to put it kindly.

If Iowa State football has any underdog magic left, now's the time | SBNation
Paul Rhoads pulled off a series of big wins and improbable feats early in his tenure at Iowa State, but after a two-year collapse, he'll need his biggest feat of all to get the Cyclones back on track.

Rick Barnes dispels report of cheating at Texas | Sporting News
Current Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes made clear his feelings about the report of academic cheating that was rumored to have occurred during his 17-year tenure at Texas.

Take Two: Should the league be worried about David Boren, Oklahoma? | ESPN
Recent comments by the school's president raise questions anew about Big 12 expansion.

Big 12 expansion is not just a possibility, but an inevitability | ESPN
The Big 12 can survive in the short-term without a 13th game, but its chances of long-term survival are slim without expansion.

TCU Horned Frogs: Dream and nightmare scenarios | ESPN
Imagine a season in which every single possible domino fell into place for TCU. And likewise, if all that could go wrong did.

Heard Not Taking The Starting Job From Swoopes? | Burnt Orange Nation
If Jerrod Heard wants the starting quarterback job, he'll have to show more.

Around The NCAA:

Ohio State football: Barrett's dad says Braxton Miller should start | SI.com
As Ohio State prepares for a three-way battle at quarterback in fall camp, J.T. Barrett’s father says Braxton Miller should regain his starting job.

Laremy Tunsil arrest: Stepfather said Ole Miss OL was with agents | SI.com
The stepfather of Ole Miss offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil told police Tunsil was "riding around with football agents" before the incident that led to Tunsil’s arrest last week.

Oregon set to play Auburn in 2019 opener | Sporting News
Oregon and Auburn are set to meet in the 2019 season opener at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of the AdvoCare Classic series, 247 Sports reported Tuesday.

Maryland Terrapins coach Randy Edsall gets 3-year extension | ESPN
Maryland coach Randy Edsall has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension after guiding the Terrapins to consecutive winning seasons and back-to-back bowl bids.

Warrant issued for suspended Florida State Seminoes QB De'Andre Johnson | ESPN
The state attorney's office in Tallahassee has issued a notice-to-appear warrant for suspended FSU QB De'Andre Johnson, who is accused of punching a woman in a bar.

Just when you start to think summer can't get any hotter, today's Miss Throwdown graces us with her presence. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Emily DiDonato.