Unknowns Can Hinder Holgorsen And The WVU Football Program

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Football:

Unknowns can hinder Holgorsen, WVU football program | Charleston Gazette-Mail
For too long, the Mountaineers have had to work against the idea that Dana Holgorsen’s job as the football coach is in peril, if not in the short term, then in the long term. The odd part is the Mountaineers decided to extend Holgorsen beyond the 2017 season a while long ago. The time between then and now is the unknown, and it hurts.

West Virginia RB Smallwood heading to NFL | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Saying he will "forever be a Mountaineer," West Virginia running back Wendell Smallwood on Wednesday declared he is forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

WVU’s Smallwood skipping senior year | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The Big 12’s leading rusher is following a first-team all-conference cornerback from West Virginia’s campus to the NFL. Wendell Smallwood announced Wednesday he’s skipping his senior season in favor of a professional career.

Wendell Smallwood opts for NFL draft after all | WV MetroNews
Big 12 rushing champion Wendell Smallwood, riding the momentum from the fourth 1,500-yard season in West Virginia history, reversed course Wednesday night and announced he would enter the NFL draft.

How did those WVU football over/under predictions turn out? | WV MetroNews
It's accountability time as we rewind to Allan Taylor's football preseason column of Aug. 31.

Basketball:

Big Games on the Horizon at the Coliseum | WVU Athletics
While coach Bob Huggins and his 17th-ranked West Virginia University men’s basketball team is getting prepared for Saturday’s important Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at the WVU Coliseum, the rest of us can take a little peek at what’s on the horizon – a possible Tuesday night meeting against college basketball’s top-ranked team.

WVU-Marshall basketball game off for next season | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The annual men’s basketball showdown between West Virginia and Marshall at the Charleston Civic Center will not be on the 2016-17 schedule, according to sources at WVU and Marshall who asked not to be named.

Senator defends bill intervening in WVU-Marshall basketball game | WV MetroNews
Mike Woelfel says introducing bill is a last resort to save Capital Classic game he believes is good for the state.

Hot Shooting Mountaineers Down K-State | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University women’s basketball team used nine first half three-pointers to down Kansas State, 72-53, on Wednesday evening at Bramlage Coliseum.

WVU women top K-State | The Exponent Telegram
The West Virginia women’s basketball team used nine first half 3-pointers to down Kansas State, 72-53, on Wednesday evening at Bramlage Coliseum.

Around The Big XII:

The Big 12 wants to change conference championship rules, whether the Big Ten likes it or not | SBNation
If you're interested in the nuts and bolts of what could start the next round of conference realignment, you'll want to pay attention.

Bowl season was a missed opportunity for the Big 12 | ESPN
With a 3-4 record and a lackluster showing in other statistical categories, the conference did little to help its case as one of football's best.

The Lunch: How much underclassmen talent is leaving the Big 12? | WV MetroNews
Daryl Worley’s outta here and a few other West Virginia players have until the Jan. 18 deadline to change their minds about staying, but what about the opponents WVU faces in 2016? What underclassmen are they losing to the NFL draft?

OU-Kansas shows quality of Big 12 | The Exponent Telegram
After the nation watched West Virginia and TCU stumble through one of the uglier games since Dr. James Naismith was working at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Big 12 needed something to regain its reputation.

Around The NCAA:

Clemson's Deshaun Watson gives Nick Saban the ultimate dual-threat test | SBNation
Bama again has the country's best defense, but it's far from alone in being challenged by running QBs. Is Deshaun Watson up to the job?

Today's Miss Throwdown is no stranger to The Shotgun/Throwdown. CLICK HERE for Emily Ratajkowski's Instagram.