Mountaineer Morning Links: Thursday (7/9/15) 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 Great Dismal Black IPA from O'Connor Brewing Company.

WVU 32nd on CBS Sports list | The Exponent Telegram
For the last three years CBS Sports has compiled a rating system to come up with the best athletic department in college sports, giving out the Best in College Sports Award and this past year West Virginia finished No. 32 on the list.

Leary and Stepney to Play Together Professionally | WVU Athletics
The duo, who graduated from WVU in May, signed contracts with Forssan Alku of Finland’s SM-sarja league. The pair leave for training camp in early September.

Finding answers on offense will be crucial for WVU | The Exponent Telegram
For the second time in three years, it looks as if it could be the Mountaineer offense that enters the season as the biggest question mark surrounding the team’s potential success in the future.

Early season upset alerts for Big 12 football teams in 2015 | WV MetroNews
West Virginia makes an appearance on the list of Big 12 teams who could be ambushed in the nonconference schedule.

Ranking the 5 best secondaries in college football for 2015 - SBNation
5. West Virginia

Carey upbeat about WVU women's basketball, entering his 15th season | Beckley Register-Herald
Mike Carey, entering his 15th year as West Virginia University’s successful women’s basketball coach, is loaded with confidence.

Photo Gallery: Juwan Staten's first day on the job with the Kings | College To Pro Sports
The Sacramento Kings held their first day of practices on Tuesday; Juwan Staten's first day on the job.

Jets linebacker Demario Davis says he is 'a big believer' in Geno Smith | NJ.com
Will Smith finally play consistently well this year?

Around The Big XII:

Predicting the 2015 Big 12 football season: Week 3 | ESPN
Can Texas Tech knock off Arkansas? Can Texas top Cal? A prediction of how things will shake out in Week 3 of the college football season.

Predicting the 2015 Big 12 season: Week 4 | ESPN
Over the next two weeks, we're making predictions for all 75 Big 12 games this season. We continue our predictions for the entire season with Week 4.

Predicting the 2015 Big 12 football season: Week 5 | ESPN
Will Baylor-Texas Tech be another shootout? A prediction of how things will shake out in Week 5 of the college football season.

Big 12's most disruptive defenses | ESPN
A look at the Big 12 rankings in sack percentage, turnover percentage and percentage of opponent rushes for negative or zero yardage since 2012.

Big 12 expansion could be easier than thought | Charleston Daily Mail
As inviting as it is to dismiss the new round of conference realignment and expansion rumors because we don’t have any idea what will happen, the reality isn’t nearly that accommodating.

Culture change taking hold at Texas under Strong | The Daily Athenaeum
When Charlie Strong took over as the head coach at Texas before the 2014 season, he took over a program that had lost its way.

Oklahoma is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma | SBNation
A brand new assistant coaching staff could make the Sooners serious contenders this fall ... or could make Bob Stoops' tenure crumble to the ground.

TCU's Trevone Boykin is Bovada's new 2015 Heisman Trophy favorite | SBNation
But Ohio State could have a lot to do with the top of the 2015 Heisman Trophy odds.

Around The NCAA:

Ex-Vandy coach to rely on 'eye test' when ranking teams for College Football Playoff | Sporting News
The newest member of the College Football Playoff committee already has a strong opinion on how to evaluate teams during the season.

Coolest thing of the day! WVU Varsity Club announces the 10 yr. Reunion of the 2006 Sugar Champs! Okl. State #HailWV pic.twitter.com/d9GuWmLZb0

— Wolfman (@Wolfley64) July 8, 2015

It's now official. On October 10, when WVU plays Oklahoma State for Homecoming, we will see a reunion of one of the greatest teams West Virginia has fielded.

Today's Miss Throwdown is absolutely scorching.  CLICK HERE for Devin Brugman's Instagram.