Incremental Gains In Big 12 Might Not Be Enough For Dana Holgorsen

West Virginia's head coach is certain the Mountaineers are developing into a Big 12 contender, but he knows 2016 is the time exhibit the gains made.

By Michael Miller@yall_walker Apr 12, 2016, 9:03am EDT

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

Football:

Incremental gains in Big 12 might not be enough for Dana Holgorsen | ESPN
West Virginia's head coach is certain the Mountaineers are developing into a Big 12 contender, but he knows 2016 is the time exhibit the gains made.

Florida transfer Grier could propel WVU to new heights in 2017 | The Daily Athenaeum
Grier led Florida to its first 6-0 start since 2012 before receiving the one-year suspension, with the Gators going 4-4 in his absence. While he was the starting quarterback, Florida’s offense averaged 32 points per game compared to 18.9 points when Treon Harris took over.

WVU’s Tyler, Grier, Holmes and Talley | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Many times coaches won’t tip their hands to the media, but most starting jobs have been won by this time in spring drills for next football season. At WVU, however, there are a few interesting battles to watch.

Heart says QB, but Sills’ path seems locked in at receiver | WV MetroNews
In the Gold & Blue Lunch Report, columnist Allan Taylor ponders the future of David Sills, who's currently the No. 4 quarterback with Will Grier coming aboard next season.

Sills strives for QB, but just wants to help | Exponent Telegram
Back in the seventh grade, David Sills made history by committing to Lane Kiffin at USC to play quarterback. Yes, seventh grade. Sills had that much potential. In the end, he wound up coming to West Virginia to play quarterback.

Baseball:

WVU Hosts Backyard Brawl vs. Pitt | WVU Athletics
The Backyard Brawl resumes on the diamond when the West Virginia University baseball team hosts Pitt on Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Gray Earns Big 12 Freshman of the Week Honors | WVU Athletics
After leading the team with a .750 slugging percentage and six hits last week, freshman Kyle Gray has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week.

Wheeling native Grove takes mound for WVU in Backyard Brawl | The Daily Athenaeum
While the West Virginia University baseball team escaped with a win this past weekend against Furman, the Mountaineers will reignite their most valued rivalry tonight. West Virginia will take on the Pittsburgh Panthers (14-13) in the first "Backyard Brawl" game of the season at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

WVU needs turnaround to boost NCAA Tournament hopes | The Daily Athenaeum
When the West Virginia University baseball team hired Randy Mazey as head coach in 2013, it was with the hope that he would lead the Mountaineers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly two decades, just as he did at Charleston Southern and East Carolina.

West Virginia Athletics:

From the AD's Desk: Construction Work Moving Along | WVU Athletics
A spring update from WVU Director of Athletics Shane Lyons.

Mountaineers Take 15th at Robert Kepler | WVU Athletics
Playing eight rounds of tournament golf in less than 10 days proved to be too much for the West Virginia University golf team as the Mountaineers stumbled in round two of the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate, taking 15th place on Sunday afternoon at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.

Around The Big XII:

400-pound Baylor TE LaQuan McGowan wants to be a pro wrestler after the NFL | SBNation
LaQuan McGowan is trying to make the most of his football shot. Once it's all over, he knows what he wants to do.

Vincent Taylor ready for expanded role in Oklahoma State's defense | ESPN
Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor performed admirably in 2015, but he must produce more and lead more for the Cowboys after losses on the line.

Oklahoma spring game: What we learned | ESPN
The Austin Kendall-Kyler Murray quarterback battle at Oklahoma should be fascinating to watch once Baker Mayfield departs.

Kansas spring game: What we learned | ESPN
The defense outplayed the offense, apparent in the four interceptions thrown by Jayhawks quarterbacks and an anemic running game.

Around The NCAA:

2016 MAC football previews, from Eastern Michigan to Bowling Green | SBNation
Bill Connelly's 128-team preview series moves on to the MAC. Tune in every weekday!

How Lovie Smith's pro-style experiment makes Illinois worth watching | SBNation
College-friendly pro schemes on both sides of the ball, and a big local name overseeing all of it? Here's how this could work.

Georgia politicians think restricting access to public records will help UGA football. That's stupid. | SBNation
This isn't the first time a state's tried to make a law in the name of football, but it is an especially silly idea.

Georgia's lieutenant governor thinks the silliest possible thing about football | SBNation
Priorities are good.

Jim Harbaugh's doing the commencement at a high school that happens to have elite recruits | SBNation
There's not a rule the NCAA could make to prevent Harbaugh from getting an edge.

Players are finally getting paid for old 'NCAA Football' games. Now please make new ones. | SBNation
It's still far from a slam dunk for the game to come back, though.

What makes Karl Joseph the type of safety Cowboys have been missing for years | SportsDay
There is quite a list of exciting things as he makes plays. Lots of them. Interceptions are there with fine reactions, ball skills and the interest in jumping routes. Tackles for loss and sacks are found with blitzing with fine speed and purpose. Forced fumbles are there as he hits as hard as any player in this draft. And he is a tackling machine.