The West Virginia Mountaineers Have Turned Their Attention To The Missouri Tigers

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

Football:

WVU Turns Its Attention To Missouri - WVU Athletics
Judging from some of the looks senior center Tyler Orlosky was giving the media yesterday having to answer the same questions over and over again, it’s clear he’s ready to move on to the Missouri Tigers, West Virginia University’s game one opponent here on Saturday, September 3, at Milan Puskar Stadium. Orlosky’s coach, Dana Holgorsen, said he’s beginning to familiarize himself with the Tigers as well.

Holgorsen impressed with RB progression | The Exponent Telegram
If everything had been as drawn up on the board as planned, West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen would be spending his late night’s Xing and Oing plans to keep feeding the football this season to a 1,500-yard rusher named Wendell Smallwood.

WVU football enjoying a number of offensive options | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There are occasions, even after five seasons and a sixth preseason with this West Virginia offense, when you have to rub your eyes. Did you see that right? We think we know Dana Holgorsen, but every now and then you put a finger to an ear. Did I just hear that?

Kickoff returns, coverage pivot on narrow margins | WV MetroNews
Special-teams coach Mark Scott shows players their best and worst from 2015 and wonders if the sport will soon outlaw kickoffs entirely.

West Virginia Athletics:

2016 WVU Men’s Soccer Season Preview | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University men’s soccer team is hungry. Hungry to improve upon a 7-12 season a year ago. Hungry to get back to its winning ways and be on the right side of the win-loss column.

Thrasher to be Honored at Missouri Game | WVU Athletics
Olympic Gold medalist and West Virginia University sophomore Ginny Thrasher will be honored in front of 60,000 fans at the WVU-Missouri Gold Rush game on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Milan Puskar Stadium.

2016 Promotional Slate Revealed | WVU Athletics
Multiple deals and celebrations for the No. 6-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team’s Aug. 26 home-season opener at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, including a Dollar Night special, highlight the Mountaineers’ 2016 promotional slate.

Around The Big XII:

2016 season preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys | ESPN
Mike Gundy returns for his 12th season in Stillwater, and the the Cowboys should be a threat to win 10 games behind a potent offense.

2016 season preview: Oklahoma Sooners | ESPN
How the receiving corps and the pass rush come together will determine whether the Sooners defend their Big 12 crown and return to the playoff.

2016 season preview: Kansas Jayhawks | ESPN
Coming off a winless season in 2015, there's nowhere to go but up for the Jayhawks, although they remain short on numbers and talent.

2016 season preview: Kansas State Wildcats | ESPN
Expectations are that Bill Snyder and K-State will bounce back from a 6-7 finish and avoid a second straight losing season.

2016 season preview: Iowa State Cyclones | ESPN
The Cyclones have some very good skill-position talent and a superb secondary, but new coach Matt Campbell faces a brutal schedule, especially early.

Baylor Bears 2016 college football season preview | ESPN
Interim coach Jim Grobe and the Bears are eager to put a tumultuous offseason behind them, but depth issues could be a problem at some point.

Around The NCAA:

Hugh Freeze created ‘funeral scene’ as motivational tool | SBNation
One of the stranger things heard this week in the college football world was from Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze, who said during a media session that he created a "funeral scene" as a motivational tool for the team.

What's your greatest dynasty story from EA Sports' 'NCAA Football?' These are ours. | SBNation
Madden came out this week, but it’s been three years since the last release of college football’s flagship video game. Let this be a memorial.

PODCAST AIN’T PLAYED NOBODY: We survived the offseason, you guys | SBNation
On the last offseason PAPN, Bill & Godfrey talk Charlie Strong, book promotion, book excerpts, Mizzou fandom, and any other loose ends they needed to tie up because THE OFFSEASON IS OVER.

HYPE HYPE HYPE

Today's Miss Throwdown is yet another one of Justin Bieber's conquests, and I'm seriously starting to get a little jealous of the guy. CLICK HERE for Sahara Ray's Instagram.