clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

West Virginia Players Don't Mind Flying Under The Radar

It doesn't bother the Mountaineers one bit that no one across the nation was paying much attention to a growing football giant in West Virginia

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

News Of Note

Football:

WVU players don't mind flying under the radar | The Exponent Telegram
Somewhere around midday Sunday one of Saturday’s West Virginia heroes, and there were many in a rather confounding 34-10 victory over TCU before 61,780 fans at Milan Puskar Stadium, took to Twitter to let his feelings ... and those of his teammates ... be known.

Unbeaten WVU climbing polls, gaining respect | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Sunday was a good day for WVU’s football team. Early, it was deemed to be the nation’s No. 9 team by the Amway Coaches poll. Later, the Associated Press writers poll placed the Mountaineers at No. 10. A look at history showed WVU is 6-0 for the first time since 2006. It is 3-0 in the Big 12 for the first time ever. And this is the Mountaineers’ first foray into the Top 10 since Oct. 7, 2012, when the team reached No. 5 before collapsing. Perhaps the most important note, however, is this: West Virginia is now squarely in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth at the team’s halfway point.

Targeting rule has Mountaineers befuddled | The Exponent Telegram
Cornerback Elijah Battle became the second West Virginia cornerback in as many weeks to be ejected on a targeting call during the TCU game and after the contestMountaineer coach Dana Holgorsen was asked if he got an explanation of the call.

Like Hill and Mahomes, we never saw this West Virginia defense coming | WV MetroNews
Allan Taylor's column gives it up to the Mountaineers' defense in the wake of consecutive choke-outs on TCU and Texas Tech.

WVU Offense Aiding Defense's Success | WVU Athletics
Hogging the football has helped WVU's defense thrive of late.

West Virginia Athletics:

No. 1 Mountaineers Outlast Longhorns | WVU Athletics
An absolute banger of a shot from junior midfielder Carla Portillo with less than 12 minutes remaining in regulation pushed the No. 1-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team to a hard-fought 1-0 win at Texas, tonight, inside Mike A. Myers Stadium.

No. 2 Mountaineers End Weekend Victoriously | WVU Athletics
The No. 2-ranked West Virginia University rifle team earned its second win of the weekend and fourth straight victory of the season with a 4721-4670 showing at No. 7 Ohio State, this morning, inside the Lt. Hugh W. Wylie Range in Columbus, Ohio.

Recruiting

Recruits impressed by atmosphere, performance | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Another week, another dominating victory for West Virginia, as the Mountaineers cruised to a 34-10 win over visiting TCU. The win not only impressed voters — who put WVU back in the Top 10 for the first time since 2012 — but also the many recruits who were in attendance. That includes prized defense end Brendan Bordner.

Around The League

Around The Big XII:

Big 12 Week 8 Power Rankings: West Virginia Mountaineers move to No. 1 | ESPN
Now 6-0 and with five victories against Power 5 opponents, West Virginia climbs into the top spot this week in the Big 12 Power Rankings.

Big 12 Week 8 bowl projections: West Virginia moves into Sugar | ESPN
After the Mountaineers' convincing 34-10 win over TCU, we're projecting West Virginia to represent the Big 12 in a New Year's Six bowl.

Big 12 Week 8 helmet stickers: OU, Tech steal spotlight in shootout | ESPN
The Sooners and Red Raiders had a record-setting night, combining to set new marks for the most yardage and passing yardage in a game.

Road leads to more trouble for Charlie Strong, Texas | ESPN
This is Texas after eight weeks, overmatched and outplayed again by lesser talent and growing more lost with each trip away from Austin.

'Unacceptable' defense now defines Oklahoma Sooners | ESPN
After getting torched by Texas Tech, the Sooners' defenseless defense has become a punchline.

Around The NCAA:

I think your conference is actually bad: Week 8 college football power rankings | SBNation
Your league is trash, and I’m only here to find out which one is the least trash.

Fully updated 2016 bowl projections: Who wants Bama in the College Football Playoff? | SBNation
Hey, let's guess who'll be in every 2016 college football bowl game!

The Solid Verbal: Recapping an unexpectedly weird Week 8 | SBNation
Block out the noise and enjoy the college football season while it lasts. (Check out those ReVerbs, btw.)

SHUTDOWN FULLCAST 4.46: LEONARD FOURNETTE REMAINS AT LARGE | Every Day Should Be Saturday
ALSO GOOD GOD ARKANSAS DO YOU NEED A WARM TOWEL AND A HUG

Jim Harbaugh’s teams keep doing the most ruthless stuff late in blowout wins | SBNation
The Michigan coach doesn’t know how to stop competing, and that’s a pretty useful thing.

3 reasons Auburn’s suddenly looked awesome in 2016 | SBNation
Auburn destroyed Arkansas on Saturday, but the Tigers have been looking really good for a while now.

Video Of Interest

Video Of (Dis)Interest

Miss Throwdown

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Canadian model that may be featured in the 2017 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. CLICK HERE for Rachelle Goulding's Instagram.