West Virginia Looking For Huge Turnaround In Punt Return Game

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Football:

West Virginia's punt-return unit looks for huge, fast turnaround | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
After a miserable 2014 season, West Virginia’s punt-return unit is determined to improve.

West Virginia's Holgorsen fine with curbing contact practices | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Coach Dana Holgorsen never has scheduled more than one full-contact practice each week to prepare for a game since he arrived at West Virginia before the 2011 season. That already is in line with a new Big 12 rule that limits teams to two days of contact each week during the regular season.

Rapid reaction to West Virginia’s newly released depth chart | WV MetroNews
West Virginia released its first updated depth chart of the preseason Tuesday, a lineup made more conclusive because it comes 72 hours after the team’s first scrimmage of fall camp.

WVU Football Depth Chart: Philosophy Change | Blue Gold News
West Virginia's newly-released depth chart is notable not for any major surprises (although there are a couple of attention-getters), but rather for its reflection of the change in philosophy of the Mountaineer offense.

Freshman wideouts high on initial depth chart | The Exponent Telegram
As hoped for, West Virginia’s concentration on wide receivers in recruiting appears to have made a huge impact on the Mountaineer offense as they look to replace Kevin White and Mario Alford.

Standing Tall | WVU Athletics
Dana Holgorsen may be watching his defensive linemen from the other side of the football, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been paying attention to what Bruce Tall’s guys are doing. And he certainly likes what he's seen so far.

Basketball:

West Virginia goes 4-0 during overseas tour | The Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia women’s basketball team recently traveled to Europe for an international tour in which they played teams from London and Spain. With a successful 4-0 run, the Mountaineers returned home undefeated from their tour, which is the second time the women’s program has done so, after going undefeated in their trip to Australia in 2007.

West Virginia Athletics:

Around The Big 12:

Big 12 football preview: Can Baylor, TCU make playoff? | SI.com
Everything you need to know to get ready for the 2015 Big 12 football season, with projected standings, players to watch and more.

How Baylor's Art Briles will use Bears OL LaQuan McGowan | SI.com
How Baylor's Art Briles plans to use 390-pound lineman LaQuan McGowan in the Bears' offense.

The Audible: Why Oklahoma is a great sleeper pick to win Big 12 | FOX Sports
FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt joins Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel on a new episode of The Audible to discuss why the Oklahoma Sooners are his darkhorse pick to win the Big 12 in 2015.

Why Baylor can win the playoff: Nasty defense, tons of firepower | FOX Sports
The Bears will be disruptive on D and are loaded on offense. If they can win some crucial games on the road, they'll be sitting pretty.

Why TCU can win the playoff: High-octane offense now boasts experience | FOX Sports
Horned Frogs won't forget how to post prolific numbers, and as long as QB Trevone Boykin stays healthy, the sky's the limit.

Around The NCAA:

WHERE'S THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR OVERREACTION IN WEEK 1? | Every Day Should Be Saturday
A statistical measure of future wrongness

What's so crazy about a hook-and-lateral as a base play? | Football Study Hall
Chad Peltier interviews Pulaski Academy head coach Kevin Kelley on laterals as part of your base offense.

Restocking secondary a primary concern for Mountaineers | Charleston Gazette-Mail
After West Virginia announced its 2015 signing class, the coaching staff had a fairly concrete idea about which positions would be a focus in 2016.

Tavon Austin's big play draws rave reviews | Scout
The St. Louis Rams didn’t have many highlights in their preseason-opening 18-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Friday, but third-year wide receiver Tavon Austin certainly provided one.

Jets GM says Geno Smith unlikely to go on short-term IR | Yahoo Sports
Geno Smith might be able to avoid the short-term injured reserve list. The New York Jets quarterback had his jaw broken by a punch from then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali last Tuesday, and had surgery two days later to have metal plates and screws inserted. Smith is expected to miss six to 10 weeks, leaving his availability uncertain for the regular season.

Brandon Marshall declines to elaborate on support for Geno Smith | ProFootballTalk
Jets receiver Brandon Marshall recently said that Geno Smith "did nothing wrong" in connection with the incident that resulted in Smith being punched in the face and having his jaw broken.

Chris Neild helping the Texans to step up their beard game | College to Pro Sports
Ryan Fitzpatrick may be gone, but the Texans have some signature facial hair again, serious scruff worthy of the Rockets’ James Harden and the Astros’ Dallas

The Dana Holgorsen Television Show Returns This Saturday | WV Illustrated
For the fifth year, The Dana Holgorsen Television Show will return to your favorite West Virginia Media Holdings station. Check your local listings for Saturday, August 22nd at 9am.

Today's Miss Throwdown is an Australian beauty . CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Jessica Gomes.