Rebuilding Special Teams Is Crucial For West Virginia

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Football:

Rebuilding special teams is crucial for WVU | The Daily Athenaeum
Winning the field position battle is always one of the most important tasks for any football team. Getting a shorter field than your opponent is often one of the factors that decides who wins and loses, and it often comes down to special teams. And despite having a less-than-explosive kick and punt return game, West Virginia finished with a net positive in field position last season: about two yards better than its opponents on average.

Gold-Blue Spring Game Rosters | WVU Athletics
With the Gold-Blue Spring Game this weekend, the rosters can be found below. The game is set to begin at noon on Saturday, April 23, at the The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

Ka’Raun White ready to harness bowl momentum, train against Kyzir | WV MetroNews
Allan Taylor's Gold & Blue Lunch Report spotlights the junior receiver who's seeking to build on a 116-yard performance in the Cactus Bowl

Molina finally gets shot as WVU’s kicker | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Even in the middle of a situation that was far from normal, all that Mike Molina could do was the usual. Same practice routine. Same swings of his right leg. Same obsessing over film from practice. Same stretches to ward off injury. And for five weeks and 10 practices, it was working as the redshirt junior settled into the role as West Virginia’s starting kicker while the Mountaineers went on without suspended Josh Lambert.

Dillon's Draft Dream Almost Reality | WV Illustrated
Since the moment his senior season ended, West Virginia safety KJ Dillon has been on a tour of the country, hopping from city to city, all in an effort to hear his name called early in next week’s NFL Draft.

New Coach Carrier an Asset to WRs | WVU Athletics
Whenever a new coach is hired, it’s quite common for the existing players on the team to do a little research on their new mentor. They will sometimes Google his name or go to the place where he last worked to read his biography on the Internet. In the case of new West Virginia University wide receivers coach Tyron Carrier, there’s quite a bit for them to investigate regarding his record-setting playing career at Houston.

Basketball:

Devin Williams signs with agent, closes door on WVU return | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Devin Williams, a second-team all-Big 12 pick this past season, will not return to West Virginia for his senior season.

West Virginia coaches figured Williams was gone; agent makes it official | WV MetroNews
Three weeks after announcing plans to enter the NBA draft, West Virginia junior forward Devin Williams fortified the move by signing with an agent and official canceling his final season of college eligibility.

Baseball:

Bats, Arms Power WVU to Midweek Win | WVU Athletics
A pair of big innings at the plate and a strong performance from five pitchers helped lead the West Virginia University baseball team to a 13-3 victory over Youngstown State on Tuesday evening.

Offensive erupts as WVU buries Youngstown State 13-3 | WV MetroNews
Freshmen Darius Hill and Cole Austin homered and West Virginia banged out nine extra-base hits during a 13-3 victory over Youngstown State on Tuesday night.

West Virginia Athletics:

Lyons Announces 2016 Slate | WVU Athletics
West Virginia University Director of Athletics Shane Lyons announced today the 2016 women’s soccer schedule.

Three Mountaineers honored by Big 12 for academic success | The Daily Athenaeum
This past week, three members of the West Virginia University men’s golf team were honored for their achievements off the golf course. Juniors Chris Williams and Alan Cooke and senior Mason Short were named to the Big 12’s All-Academic team for the 2015-16 season.

Around The Big XII:

Big 12 coaches express support for current conference format | ESPN
The majority of Big 12 coaches expressed support for the current conference model, which includes a round-robin schedule and no championship game.

Bob Stoops and Gary Patterson speak out against Big 12 expansion | FOX Sports
Think everyone is in favor of conference expansion? Think again.

Art Briles addresses latest Baylor football sexual assault allegations | FOX Sports
Baylor coach Art Briles spoke on Tuesday, for the first time since another former Bears' football player was arrested on charges related to sexual assault.

Surprising 2015 season could help Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2016 | ESPN
Oklahoma State was a bit ahead of schedule in 2015 but feels that a little more intensity could help it win the Big 12 this season.

Around The NCAA:

Georgia gave Ludacris $65,000, condoms and 2 bottles of his own Cognac to perform at the spring game | SBNation
Ludacris got some Real Good Lovin' from the University of Georgia.

PODCAST AIN'T PLAYED NOBODY: What should Louisville's annual expectations be? | SBNation
In the 34th installment of PAPN, Bill and Godfrey bicker about Bobby Petrino, implore everyone to desperately jump aboard the bandwagon of every spring football all-star, review the worst games on YouTube, and ask why Kentucky isn't any good.

At Oregon, Brady Hoke's pairing an old-school defense with a futuristic offense | SBNation
And the Ducks have some pieces to make this defensive line work right away.

Today's Miss Throwdown is an American model that has been featured in numerous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues. CLICK HERE for Samantha Hoopes' Instagram.