Mountaineer Morning Links: Friday (7/24/15) 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 Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA.

A New Future | WVU Athletics
It all started with a dog named Mocha. Amanda Hill met Mocha two years ago. Looking to take advantage of the wide variety of classes offered at West Virginia University, the senior defensive center midfielder for the WVU women’s soccer team went out on a limb and enrolled for a service dog training class in 2013. It was in that class that Hill was paired with Mocha, a young puppy looking for guidance. Little did she know that Mocha was about to completely alter her own life, too.

Prediger Up for NCAA Woman of the Year Award | WVU Athletics
West Virginia University graduate Maren Prediger has been selected as a conference honoree for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Swimming and Diving Unveils 2015-16 Schedule | WVU Athletics
West Virginia University Director of Athletics Shane Lyons announced today the 2015-16 schedule for the WVU swimming and diving squad.

Football:

Mountaineer Insider Podcast | WVU Athletics
This week's Mountaineer Insider features exclusive interviews with West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen and college football expert Phil Steele as preseason camp is just days away from getting under way.

WVU opponents, Game 8 — Texas Tech | Charleston Gazette-Mail
It’s probably not enough of a sample size to say that Texas Tech is headed in the wrong direction. After all, give Kliff Kingsbury more than just two years to see what he can do.

WVU's Gibson Donates to BMH Project | WVU Athletics
Some people give with their head and some people give with their heart. West Virginia University defensive coordinator Tony Gibson recently did both.

WVU has had an impressive string of head coaches | The Exponent Telegram
West Virginia has never been looked upon as the "Cradle of Coaches" in football, but it may be time to take a look at the Mountaineers coaching history for they currently can boast of a string of three consecutive coaches who have earned Hall of Fame honors, have another nominated this year who could give them four in a row and before another’s career is over it could grow to five in a row.

Basketball:

Pairings Announced for Las Vegas | WVU Athletics
The Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational has announced the pairings for this year’s event, to be held November 26-27, 2015 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas semifinals: WVU matched up with dangerous Richmond | WV MetroNews
The Mountaineers will face the A-10's Spiders on Nov. 26 with a next-day date against either San Diego State or Cal.

FURFARI: Meador observes 30th year as coordinator of athletic training | Times West Virginian
Randy Meador, a native of Oxford, Ohio, is observing his 30th anniversary as the coordinator of athletic training for men’s basketball.

Around The Big XII:

Some Big 12 issues to ponder while waiting for season | Times West Virginian
TCU has gone from Big 12 newcomer to preseason favorite after only three seasons, eight-time champion Oklahoma has an unprecedented title drought for coach Bob Stoops and West Virginia finally feels experienced in the conference.

Big 12 coaches expand recruiting horizons | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There’s a recruiting reality much of the Big 12 simply has to live and deal with, no matter how advantageous it is to the competition within the conference.

WVU’s Gee now key Big 12 expansion figure | Charleston Gazette-Mail
WVU president E. Gordon Gee was once such a staunch advocate of the old college football BCS structure he made headlines by saying "they’ll have to wrench a playoff system from my cold, dead hands." That was in 2007. Gee was the president of Ohio State. Some at the time said he was the only person standing in the way of a playoff. Fast-forward eight years. The College Football Playoff is in place. Gee is alive and well. Not only that, he remains a key figure in college football’s landscape.

Why TCU Will or Won't Make the College Football Playoff in 2015 | Athlon Sports
TCU enters the 2015 season with possibly the best team in school history. Led by Heisman candidate Trevone Boykin the Horned Frogs return multiple offensive weapons from a team that was only three points away from going undefeated last season.

Talented youngsters could help Texas return to spotlight | ESPN
The Longhorns weren't the center of attention at Big 12 media days, but Charlie Strong is restocking the roster and building slowly.

DeAndre Washington brings a constant to Texas Tech's offense | ESPN
Texas Tech's DeAndre Washington heads into his senior season as one of the Big 12's top running backs.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder wants son Sean to be his replacement | SI.com
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder would like to see his son Sean be named his successor whenever he chooses to retire, Snyder said during a visit to ESPN on Wednesday.

Iowa State Leaning on Senior Leadership from Quarterback Sam Richardson in 2015 | Heartland College Sports
Unlike in years past when quarterbacks headlined the player list for the Big 12 Conference Media Days, this year’s list of quarterbacks in attendance were limited. Only three of the ten Big 12 teams brought a signal caller to Dallas for the annual event. Out of those three, the most experienced donned the cardinal and gold of Iowa State.

Around The NCAA:

10 First-Year Starting QBs Who Could Win College Football's National Title in 2015 | AthlonSports.com
Projecting the outcome of a college football season, playoff teams and national champion is no easy task. Several factors go into predictions, including the schedule, coaching changes, returning starters, in-depth statistics, results from the previous year, breakout players and recruiting – just to name a few.

Braxton Miller says he is switching from quarterback to receiver | Sporting News
Braxton Miller is returning to Ohio State for the 2015 season. We knew this. But what we didn't know is whether he would be the starting quarterback or whether he would even be a quarterback.

Former FSU quarterback De’Andre Johnson explores JUCO possibility | Sporting News
De’Andre Johnson hopes to continue playing football after being dismissed by Florida State for striking a woman at a Tallahassee bar.

Why Steve Spurrier has to keep saying he's not retiring soon | SBNation
The short answer: recruiting.

Joe Madsen signs with the Cleveland Browns | College to Pro Sports
The Browns added another depth piece for the offensive line on Wednesday. If you have an extra roster spot, why not use it on a local product?

Breakout year coming for Tavon Austin? | FOX Sports
Breakout year coming for Tavon Austin?

Former #WVU RB Noel Devine runs camps for kids now. Told me he wants to be a mentor, like Deion Sanders was for him pic.twitter.com/UwkZm7puyl

— Chelsa Messinger (@ChelsaMessinger) July 23, 2015

Today's Miss Throwdown is one of the beautiful girls of the UFC octagon. CLICK HERE for Kristie Pearson's Instagram.

A photo posted by Kristie J Pearson UFC® (@kristiejpearson) on Jul 22, 2015 at 10:08am PDT