New Name, New Attitude For Dravon Askew-Henry

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.

Football:

Hyphen’s not the only thing new for Mountaineers safety Askew-Henry | WV MetroNews
Around age 6, Dravon Askew became Dravon Henry to honor the step-father who stepped in and taught him so much. As a sophomore free safety at West Virginia, the name on back of his No. 6 jersey will read Askew-Henry, a reminder how much he loves Mom, too.

Henry's step father instrumental in his football success | The Exponent Telegram
It’s always a dramatic thing for a child when the man who is his father walks out of his life and when a new man comes in and takes part in it. Ask Dravon Henry

New WR group gives WVU added weapons | Beckley Register-Herald
West Virginia University head coach Dana Holgorsen has said it since the spring. He’s not worried about finding wide receivers to step in and replace the production lost from Kevin White and Mario Alford

WVU’s Myers turns Low Life into a positive message | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The same person who threw himself into an array of interests and crowds when he was younger as friends and strangers watched and wondered why, Myers decided to build his platform on a paradox. Nobody wants to be called a lowlife, but Myers thrives when he’s moving against the grain.

Lambert Looking For More in 2015 | WVU Athletics
It was a dreamlike 2014 season for second-year kicker Josh Lambert, as he was brilliant for the Mountaineers. But what is he going to do for an encore in 2015?

Dillon hopes to resolve WVU’s punt return dilemma | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There are still more than three weeks before West Virginia opens the season against Georgia Southern, but perhaps no amount of time will change what began as a lark and quickly seemed to become a solution to one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses last season. K.J. Dillon is, indeed, a punt returner.

Basketball:

Hot Second Quarter Propels WVU to Victory | WVU Athletics
West Virginia University women’s basketball posted 22-points in the second quarter en route to its third victory of the European tour with a, 66-53, win over Selecció Catalana at Pavelló Esportiu Municipal on Tuesday evening.

Experienced WVU team looks to get back to NCAA tournament | The Exponent Telegram
Since moving to the Mid-American Conference a few years ago, WVU has yet to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament and hasn’t gotten a chance to play for a conference title, but with five seniors and nine juniors who have been around the program for a while LeBlanc believes there’s a chance that could change.

Around The Big 12:

Eight steps to rehabbing the Big 12 image | ESPN
Baylor and TCU may be upper-tier programs and bring national exposure to the Big 12, but the conference has some problems. And they're issues only the league can fix.

Take Two: If Big 12 gets snubbed, should it add championship game? | ESPN
With the Big 12 facing a critical season after getting left out in Year 1 one of the College Football Playoff, we debate this question: Should the league implement a championship game if its gets snubbed from the playoff again this season?

Late addition Jonathan Banks aiming to win Kansas State QB job | ESPN
Because he showed up after spring ball, junior-college transfer Jonathan Banks had plenty of catching up to do to make an impact on Kansas State's four-way QB derby. But so far, he has impressed, suggesting he could actually make a run at the starting job despite learning the Wildcats' system on the fly.

College Football Identity Crisis: Kliff Kingsbury Doesn’t Want to Be a Sex Symbol — So Can He Be a Good Coach? | Grantland
This year, post-honeymoon phase, Kingsbury has deliberately shunned the viral frenzy in favor of a humbler, more businesslike persona that better suits the mood following an eighth-place finish at a school that hasn’t fared that poorly in the win column in 25 years, since the days of the Southwest Conference.

Is Ross the forgotten one at running back? | FOX Sports
It's clear the junior from Jenks, Okla. has some ability, but no one is talking much about him this season.

Around The NCAA:

College Football Playoff dark horses: 6 playoff sleepers | SI.com
College Football Playoff dark horses: These four teams could sneak into the top four

College football predictions: How will every new coach do? | SI.com
How will Jim Harbaugh's debut season go at Michigan? What about Jim McElwain's at Florida. Zac Ellis predicts 2015 records for every new coach.

Notre Dame, Showtime will debut 'Hard Knocks' type series Sept. 8 | Sporting News
The life and style of Notre Dame's fall football camp is coming to a screen near you. Showtime will televise the Fighting Irish in a college-based series similar to the all-access look at the NFL on HBO's "Hard Knocks," FootballScoop.com first reported and Showtime confirmed.

Tennessee left guard possibly out for season with undisclosed injury | Sporting News
Marcus Jackson might have to spend the entire 2015 season on the sideline. Jackson likely is out for most of the season after Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced Tuesday that the left guard sustained an undisclosed injury.

West Virginia Mountaineers in the NFL Training Camp Diary 8-12-15 | College To Pro Sports
In today's news and notes, we examine the situation leading to Geno Smith's broken jaw, Kevin White's injury, Bruce Irvin packing on pounds, Tavon Austin, and more.

Has Geno Smith played his last down for the Jets? | College to Pro Sports
The incident on Tuesday could mean that we've seen the last of Geno Smith as the starting quarterback in New York.

Pete Carroll on Bruce Irvin: 'He's playing with more power now' | FOX Sports
Bruce Irvin isn't satisfied. Especially not after the Seahawks declined to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. More than that, however, was his desire to just get better in the offseason.

You may recognize today's Miss Throwdown from NBC's 30 Rock and American Pie, she's an absolute knockout. CLICK HERE for Katrina Bowden's Instagram.