Howard-to-Gibson: West Virginia's Next Dangerous Duo?

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Football:

Howard-to-Gibson might become West Virginia’s next big-play connection | WV MetroNews
With the Fort Worth summer in full-broil, Skyler Howard kept rifling deep throws to Shelton Gibson. Practicing on his old high school field, Howard claimed to be acclimated to the 117-degree heat index. Then again, he was only making the throws. Gibson was the receiver chasing them.

WVU’s Gibson, Howard forging strong bond | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The pair have formed a strong bond, which is one of the reasons for optimism about West Virginia’s passing game this season even in the face of working in a relatively new quarterback — Howard has just 2 1/2 games of experience — and replacing NFL-caliber wide receivers Kevin White and Mario Alford.

In a scramble, not a bind when Howard is on the move | The Dominion Post
Shelton Gibson didn’t know how to interpret the peculiar behavior displayed by the new face under center. He looked around and saw his befuddled reaction mirrored in the faces of nearby teammates.

WVU is the real WRU | The Exponent Telegram
It hasn’t happened by accident. Coach Dana Holgorsen has made a career out of finding and developing top line wide receivers, players like the aforementioned four and a guy named Dez Bryant and so many others over his career.

West Virginia 2015 Fall Camp Preview and Key Position Battles to Watch | AthlonSports.com
West Virginia enters the 2015 season with its deepest roster since joining the Big 12. More than 50 players have Big 12 experience and head coach Dana Holgorsen has not hidden his excitement about the upcoming season.

Dana Holgorsen hopes to fix West Virginia Mountaineers' punt game | ESPN
Dana Holgorsen knows how to get West Virginia into the College Football Playoff: Get better on punts.

Comfortable at guard, Pankey open to any lineup that represents WVU’s best 5 | WV MetroNews
After playing 21 college games at left tackle, Adam Pankey transitioned to left guard during spring drills. Yet he recognizes there’s potential for a move back to tackle should certain circumstances dictate.

Defense knows it now has to back up the hype | The Exponent Telegram
Much has been said about West Virginia’s defense for the coming season. Maybe too much.

Barber Bounces Back Stronger Than Ever | EerSports
Senior linebacker Jared Barber is bouncing back stronger than ever from last year's knee injury.

Nwachukwu continues to make a name for himself | Charleston Gazette-Mail
If there’s anyone on West Virginia’s football roster who doesn’t need to go out of his way to make a name for himself, it’s the team’s 6-foot-2, 271-pound starting defensive end. Noble Nwachukwu already has a mouthful as far as names are concerned.

FURFARI: 'Pappy' Lewis coached tremendous teams in 1952-55 | Beckley Register-Herald
Art ‘Pappy’ Lewis had just 40 players, mostly home-grown with talent also from Western Pennsylvania and two from Ohio, that might well have been West Virginia’s very best of that era.

Basketball:

WVU Hoops Set for Second Charity Softball Game | WVIllustrated
For the second year, the hoops coaches will face the players in a charity softball game and fans are encouraged to pack the ballpark in an effort to raise money for the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment Fund.

Mountaineers await decisions from top prospects | Charleston Gazette-Mail
For most casual fans, it’s already a big week for West Virginia football. Fall camp has started, everyone’s healthy, almost everyone from the last class is on campus and practicing, and the Mountaineers have high hopes for a solid season. Things could get even better this week — and the next couple weeks — as some of the Mountaineers’ top targets are poised to make their college decisions before the start of the football season.

Around The Big 12:

Is Charlie Strong Enough For Texas? | AthlonSports.com
The hardest thing to do in this world is change. Change bad habits. Change jobs. Change locations. Change from one strategy to another. The hardest part about change is convincing everyone to do it, when NO ONE believes it is necessary or that it will even work.

TCU Horned Frogs embracing enormous expectations | ESPN
TCU opened No. 2 in the coaches poll, and coach Gary Patterson is embracing the preseason hype.

Around The NCAA:

College Football Playoff to pay for players' families to attend semifinals | Sporting News
The College Football Playoff announced Tuesday it will expand the travel expense stipend for families to $2,500 per player to the semifinals, in addition to the national championship game.

Cincinnati favorites to win first AAC championship game | Sporting News
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the preseason favorite to win the first inaugural American Athletic Conference championship.

Irish RB Greg Bryant academically ineligible for season | Sporting News
Greg Bryant's once-promising career at Notre Dame has taken another hit. The junior running back is academically ineligible, Irish Illustrated reported Tuesday.

West Virginia Mountaineers in the NFL Training Camp Diary 8-5-15 | College to Pro Sports
Today’s NFL Training Camp Diary brings you some bad news on Shaq Riddick, a Charles Sims position battle update, Geno Smith breaking a streak, Kevin White injury update and much, much more.

Geno Smith confident he'll cut down turnovers | Newsday
There was nowhere for Geno Smith to go. The pressure was coming, and before the Jets quarterback could even react, he felt the ball slip from his fingers. After four turnover-free days during team drills, Smith held onto the football for far too long and was strip-sacked by lineman Leger Douzable late in Tuesday's practice.

Nice start for Jets QB Geno Smith, but it's too early for testimonials | ESPN
A Geno Smith narrative already has emerged at New York Jets training camp: The new Geno.

Today's Miss Throwdown is a model and professional surfer.  CLICK HERE for Alana Blanchard's Instagram.