Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3813264/News-Of-Note.0.png)
Football:
Campus Connection: WVU Eyeing More Points in 2016 | WVU Athletics
Senior quarterback Skyler Howard said earlier this spring that the Mountaineers have gone from emphasizing/limiting turnovers last year to putting a greater emphasis on scoring more points this season.
West Virginia Football Preview 2016: Keys To Success, Prediction - CampusInsiders
West Virginia football preview for 2016, including keys to success for the Mountaineers, best players and season prediction.
Top 10 West Virginia Football Players For 2016 - CampusInsiders
The top 10 West Virginia football players you need to know for 2016. These are the stars to watch out for on the Mountaineers.
West Virginia Mountaineers 2016 Preview and Prediction | AthlonSports.com
Is 2016 a make-or-break year for coach Dana Holgorsen? It certainly seems that way. Provided quarterback Skyler Howard picks up where he left off in the bowl game, the Mountaineers should have one of the Big 12's top offenses. However, there's concern on defense with a revamped back seven. A new-look secondary will be tested in the offensive-minded Big 12. West Virginia has the talent to push for eight wins, but if this team gets off to a slow start, will the coaching uncertainty impact the Mountaineers?
Baseball:
WVU Survives and Advances to Big 12 Semifinal | WVU Athletics
For a second consecutive game, the No. 4-seed West Virginia University baseball team overcame an early exit from its starting pitcher and the Mountaineer offense propelled WVU to a 9-4 victory over regular-season champion Texas Tech to advance to the semifinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Championship on Thursday evening at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Another unconventional win as WVU takes down Tech | WV MetroNews
Overcoming a premature exit by its starting pitcher for a second consecutive day, West Virginia surprised regular-season champion Texas Tech 9-4 to stay unbeaten at the Big 12 conference tournament on Thursday night.
WVU baseball wins again, advances to Big 12 semis | Charleston Gazette-Mail
For the second time in as many games, West Virginia’s baseball team lost a starting pitcher early in a Big 12 tournament game. For the second time in as many games, it didn’t matter.
Davis leads WVU past Texas Tech, 9-4 | Exponent Telegram
Much was expected of Kyle Davis when this season started, having put together a spectacular freshman season in 2015 that included a .353 average with four homers and 31 RBIs. But something was amiss, his average lingering around .250 as the team struggled. He was surrounded by freshmen who were feeling their way and the other veterans hadn’t gotten hot yet, so when opponents could pitch around him, they did. No more. The freshmen have arrived, the veterans are smoking and Davis is now carrying the Mountaineers’ offense.
West Virginia Athletics:
Andy Wright Returns to WVU as Assistant Coach | WVU Athletics
Former West Virginia University men’s soccer All-America standout Andy Wright will return to his alma mater as an assistant coach, WVU head coach Marlon LeBlanc announced on Thursday.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3813270/Around-The-League.0.png)
Around The Big XII:
Briles' firing marks new era in college football | ESPN
Mark this day down. Turn the corner of this page in the college football family bible. Someone in the gridiron-industrial complex stood up and said some standards are more important than winning.
Timeline: The rise and fall of Baylor's Art Briles | ESPN
On Nov. 28, 2007, Baylor introduced Art Briles as its new head coach. The offensive genius from West Texas had his work cut out for him, taking over a program that had gone 35-101 in the Big 12 era, with zero bowl game appearances since 1994.
5 Coaching Candidates to Replace Art Briles at Baylor in 2017 | AthlonSports.com
Art Briles’ tenure at Baylor ended on Thursday, as the 60-year-old coach was fired as a result of the findings from the Pepper Hamilton investigation into football program and athletic department. With Briles out, defensive coordinator Phil Bennett will serve as the program’s head coach for the 2016 season. While Bennett has previous head coaching experience and is a veteran assistant, it’s unlikely the program will keep this current staff in place after this season. Instead, a full house cleaning of the staff is likely in order.
Baylor's coaches met with sexual assault victims, then failed to report allegations | SBNation
The school's official report on its scandal includes descriptions of everything from flawed processes to astounding breaches of protocol.
Were Nebraska's Feelings About Leaving The Big 12 Validated With A Simple Book Excerpt? | Corn Nation
In a book excerpt, the former Kansas State President talks about how seemingly one man wanted to ruin Nebraska in both academics and athletics.
Big 12 expansion: Every conference wants its network to be must-see TV | Hookem.com
Last fall, Oklahoma president David Boren started pushing for the Big 12 to expand by at least two teams. He also wanted ESPN to dissolve Texas’ Longhorn Network and add one focused on the whole conference.
Big 12 Expansion Q&A: The Case for Cincinnati | Bring On The Cats
In our penultimate installment, we delve into the case for a school everyone sort of seems okay with.
Big 12 Expansion: Why NOT Cincinnati | Bring On The Cats
I mean, that chili is reason enough, but there's more.
Around The NCAA:
The Solid Verbal: Yogi Roth takes you deep into the QB brain | SBNation
So much more than gripping and ripping (though that's part of it).
'Rival mascots' are supporting LSU's Mike the Tiger in his battle against cancer | SBNation
Or their handlers are. Close enough!
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3813278/Video-Of-Interest.0.png)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3813282/Video-Of-Disinterest.0.png)
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3813284/Miss-Throwdown.0.png)
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Bellator MMA ring girl and 2010 Miss Supercross. CLICK HERE for Mercedes Terrell's Instagram.