Dana Holgorsen waiting on the West Virginia Mountaineers to develop an identity

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

Football:

Holgorsen wants Mountaineers to develop identity | The Exponent Telegram
Last year's team took on a blue collar persona, so much so that a team that really wanted to throw the ball found out that its main weapon was Wendell Smallwood on the ground, developing more of a blue collar mentality.

Holgorsen almost finished tinkering with starting lineup for opener | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
With the season opener 10 days away, things are starting to get a little clearer for coach Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia football team.

Defense looks to surpass expectations | WVU | theet.com
MORGANTOWN — The word on the street has been ever since last season ended that West Virginia’s 2016 football team would be held back by its defense. But, as the team gathered for the non-game week before the home opener against Missouri on Sept. 3, Tony Gibson spoke optimistically about what he is expecting from this group of defenders.

No longer in utility futility, Jeremy Tyler fills WVU’s free safety void | WV MetroNews
Always good enough to compete for jobs yet never quite able to win them, Tyler seemed destined to spend his senior season in utility futility again. Then Askew-Henry’s knee ligament snapped during practice Aug. 10, and Tyler emerged as the team’s most valuable insurance policy.

WVU looks to plug hole in Pankey’s absence | Charleston Gazette-Mail
When WVU coach Dana Holgorsen announced on Tuesday left offensive guard Adam Pankey is "currently suspended," at least through the Missouri game, it might have caught some off-guard.

West Virginia Athletics:

Mountaineers No. 7 in NSCAA Poll | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University women’s soccer team sits at No. 7 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I Women’s Rankings.

Around The Big XII:

Mitt Romney reportedly pushing for BYU to get into the Big 12 - Vanquish The Foe
Perhaps BYU’s most famous alum is reportedly getting into the game

Breaking down the undecided quarterback battles in the Big 12 | ESPN
It's just over a week until Kickoff Week, but several Big 12 teams still have unsettled quarterback situations. This is where they stand right now.

Around The NCAA:

CFT 2016 Preseason Previews: Coaching Hot Seat | CollegeFootballTalk
Like death and taxes, another certainty in life is that, somewhere, a college coach’s backside is feeling a little toasty. Such is the case as we get set to embark on a sparkling new football season, with a handful of coaches feeling the heat from folks off the field for their collective failures on it

Former UCF Football Coach George O'Leary To Be Honored With Statue | Underdog Dynasty
George O'Leary, who coached the Knights from obscurity to success across multiple conferences, will be honored with a statue near Bright House Networks Stadium in 2017.

They're making a new sequel to The Ring...

So, what, next you're going to try to tell me they're making a new Blair Witch movie?

We truly have time travelled back to the 90s.

Today's Miss Throwdown is the winner of the 2016 Sports Illustrated model search, and will appear in the 2017 swimsuit edition. CLICK HERE for Mia Kang's Instagram.