Mountaineer Morning Links: Wednesday (7/22/15) 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 Cutaway IPA from Tennessee Brew Works.

Ouendeno Joins Women's Soccer - WVU Athletics
WVU women's soccer adds Dalanda Ouendeno.

Tennis Signs Five for 2015-16 Season - WVU Athletics
West Virginia University women’s tennis coach Miha Lisac announced five newcomers for the 2015-16 season.

National Champions ready to defend their title | The Daily Athenaeum
A rematch of last year’s National Championship highlights the West Virginia Mountaineers’ rifle schedule released last week. They will also face five of the top eight teams in the country this upcoming season.

Football:

Could 2015 be the Year of the West Virginia Mountaineers? | AthlonSports.com
The last two seasons have been tough on West Virginia fans with up-and-down success from the both football and basketball teams. But an unexpected Sweet 16 run by the latter has fans prepared for what could be the Mountaineers' best seasons on the gridiron and court since joining the Big 12 conference.

Big 12 media days: Holgorsen says Crest shouldn’t be limited to QB | Charleston Gazette-Mail
William Crest wasn’t one of the players West Virginia brought here to the Big 12’s annual football media days. And why should he have been? The redshirt freshman has played only a handful of snaps — not enough even to jeopardize that redshirt — and almost certainly will not win the starting quarterback job when WVU begins five weeks of preseason practice on Aug. 3.

WVU opponents, Game 7 — TCU | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Things have flipped completely for TCU, which now seems to have every necessary part on offense to contend for Big 12 and national championships if the defense can be rebuilt.

Holgorsen confident WVU will be surprise of the Big 12 | The Exponent Telegram
You cannot blame Dana Holgorsen for taking an optimistic outlook toward his 2015 football team as the season draws near.

Centers of attention in Dallas | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Back in 2012 — when West Virginia debuted in the Big 12 with preseason offensive player of the year Geno Smith, when the conference was savoring a rich quarterback tradition bolstered by Robert Griffin’s Heisman Trophy — the league came here for the conference’s media days with quarterbacks representing seven teams. This year, there were just three.

Big 12 players enjoy WVU’s atmosphere | The Dominion Post
David Glidden still can’t fathom it. The then-sophomore wide receiver for Oklahoma State’s 11th-ranked football team was making his first appearance at WVU’s Milan Puskar Stadium on the afternoon of Sept. 28, 2013. He recalls a wild, festive atmosphere in a game his Cowboys lost, 30-21, in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

WVU receiving corps looks to find their footing without White, Alford | The Daily Athenaeum
For many programs across the landscape of college football, losing two top flight receivers to the NFL Draft would be an insurmountable burden.

Big 12 Media Days: Mountaineer Michael Garcia | Scout
Scout caught up with West Virginia Mountaineer Michael Garcia at Monday's conference media days to discuss the upcoming season and what it means to represent his university.

Basketball:

Huggins wants Mountaineers to be special this season | The Exponent Telegram
As West Virginia began summer workouts leading up to its trip to the Bahamas in a few weeks, there was a simple message that Bob Huggins had for his Mountaineers as they are coming off their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2010.

Kuntz Named To Hoops Staff | WVU Athletics
Jay Kuntz, who has spent the last seven years with the Mountaineer basketball program, has been named Coordinator of Player Development, coach Bob Huggins announced today.

Around The Big XII:

Wrapping Big 12 Media Days | FOX Sports
Let's take a look at the week's highlights of Big 12 Media Days in Dallas.

Big 12 Restricts Live Contact Opportunities | WVU Athletics
The days of college football players beating on each other during practice are long gone. We were served another reminder of that Monday when the Big 12 Conference announced the league is restricting live contact opportunities to only two days a week during the regular season.

Baylor, TCU will keep commanding Big 12's spotlight | ESPN
Big 12 media days provided another dose of reality that Oklahoma and Texas, once the kings of the conference, are the undercard these days.

TCU, Baylor premier enemies in Big 12 | The Exponent Telegram
This year if you are WVU or Oklahoma or Texas, the enemies you must get to know are TCU and Baylor.

Iowa State confident Sam B. Richardson is right man for the job | ESPN
Sam B. Richardson is the second-most experienced quarterback in the Big 12, with 21 starts.

Quarterback battle set to continue for Oklahoma Sooners | ESPN
With preseason camp just over the horizon, Bob Stoops insists the quarterback position is wide open at Oklahoma.

Tyrone Swoopes is Texas' No. 1 QB entering fall camp | ESPN
Texas will enter fall practice with Tyrone Swoopes as its first-string quarterback, coach Charlie Strong told reporters Tuesday.

Longhorns’ Gray among RBs that torched WVU in 2014 | WV MetroNews
Six players surpassed the 100-yard mark against the Mountaineers, who need to hold up better this fall.

Baylor Bears still pursuing Australia game for 2016 | ESPN
Baylor's quest to play a nonconference game in Australia next season is still alive.

Art Briles: 'We win 12 games, we're going to be in the final four' | ESPN
Baylor coach Art Briles believes there is no doubt his team will be in the College Football Playoff if the Bears go undefeated.

Briles shines during conference media days | The Exponent Telegram
This and that at the just concluded Big 12 Media Days in Dallas

Oakman unmasked: Baylor star playfully laments NCAA fashion bans | WV MetroNews
Without the Bane-style helmet and crop-top jersey, the Bears' defensive end will sport new look this season.

Bill Hancock commends Big 12 for caution on adding title game | ESPN
The Big 12 is right to be smart and calculating. That was the general message from College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock.

Bob Stoops: Sooners QB competition still open | FOX Sports
Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops wasn't about to tip his quarterback hand Tuesday at Big 12 media days.

The Audible: Why Oklahoma State can stun TCU, Baylor and win Big 12 | FOX Sports
The Cowboys are a great sleeper pick.

Big 12 expansion: Why adding teams will be a major headache | FOX Sports
Where are the good options?

Around The NCAA:

Jimbo Fisher welcomes Everett Golson, but doesn't guarantee he'll start | Sporting News
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher had no problems welcoming graduate transfer Everett Golson to the program.

Pitt DE Rori Blair charged with DUI, clocked at 117 mph | Sporting News
Pittsburgh defensive end Rori Blair was charged Monday with driving under the influence, driving at an unsafe speed and other violations stemming from a March incident in which he was clocked at 117 mph in a 55-mph zone.

Steve Spurrier flies on Gator plane, outlines S.C.'s 'three pots and you're out' policy | Sporting News
When you're Steve Spurrier, you can get away with almost anything. Like flying on a rival school's team plane. Or using his folksy, colorful vocabulary and style to address disciplinary issues with college athletes.

UAB football set for 2017 return | Sporting News
UAB announced Tuesday that its football program will return as a full FBS member in 2017.

Notre Dame's first year with ACC a success; coaches call for full membership | Sporting News
Notre Dame loves its football independence. The rest of college football wishes the Irish would join a conference.

2 big recruiting events for WVU this weekend in Morgantown | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Just over a week ago, the NCAA-mandated dead period for football recruiting was lifted, and it didn’t take long for college coaches to begin hosting prospects again. On Saturday, dozens of players will flock to Morgantown for two separate events.

White Talks Recruiting And Possible Visits | Scout
Lackawanna S Kyzir White (6-2, 210) has a new suitor and updated JCFootball.com recently on possible official visits.

Bears training camp primer: Wide receivers | Chicago Tribune
The Bears' restocked receiving corps headlines what could be one of the most diverse and dangerous groups of skill-position players in the NFL.

NFLN: Kevin White Virtual Rookie Card | NFL.com
Find out everything you've ever needed to know about Kevin White.

Geno Smith voted worst QB in NFL for second-straight year | FOX Sports
Geno Smith voted worst QB in NFL for second-straight year

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Playboy Playmate whose Instagram account has been getting a lot of attention lately. CLICK HERE for Carly Laruen's Instagram.