Offense To Be West Virginia's Key Focus This Spring

Spring practice is finally upon us, a with it comes a new quarterback, a new offensive coordinator, and a the newly created position of offensive analyst.

By Michael Miller@uncle_drank Mar 3, 2017, 10:00am EST

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

Football:

Offense to be key focus of spring for the Mountaineers | The Exponent Telegram
As spring practice dawns on Dana Holgorsen’s seventh season as West Virginia football coach, it casts a different shadow as a new quarterback will emerge and he will have a new offensive coordinator, a new play caller and a "10th coach" manning the newly created position of offensive analyst.

Dana Holgorsen hands over WVU offense’s reins to Jake Spavital | Charleston Gazette-Mail
In an offseason that’s witnessed a list of changes, from the roster to the sideline and now even behind the scenes, none is greater than West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen handing off the offense’s biggest responsibility to his new offensive coordinator.

Basketball:

Carpet to Roll Out Last Time for Five Seniors | WVU Athletics
For West Virginia University’s five seniors it all comes down to this, one final regular season game against Iowa State on Friday night at the WVU Coliseum.

WVU men’s basketball finishes regular season vs. Iowa State | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Whatever happens next, beginning with Friday night’s regular-season finale against streaking Iowa State, depends on what’s happened already. How much did February take out of No. 10 West Virginia?

Current senior group base of turnaround for Huggins | The Exponent Telegram
As senior nights go, West Virginia will stage one of its more important ones, coming Friday night against a streaking Iowa State needing a victory to avoid going into the Big 12 Tournament off a two-game losing streak and most likely to avoid having to face No. 1 Kansas again before the final.

Cyclones’ mighty Morris vows ‘This time will definitely be different’ | WV MetroNews
January's 85-72 loss to West Virginia in Ames marked a turnaround point for Iowa State.

Baseball:

Kearns sharp as West Virginia’s streak hits six | WV MetroNews
Freshman Isaiah Kearns took a one-hitter into the sixth inning and Jackson Cramer cranked a two-run homer as West Virginia won its sixth consecutive game 8-1 at Nicholls State on Thursday night.

WVU Opens Roadtrip with Sixth Straight Win | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University baseball team opened a nine-game roadtrip with an 8-1 victory at Nicholls on Thursday night for its sixth consecutive win.

West Virginia Athletics:

Five Named to Academic All-Big 12 Teams | WVU Athletics
Five Mountaineers have been named to the 2017 Academic All-Big 12 Wrestling Teams, as announced by the league office on Thursday.

Holgorsen Details Recruiting Changes for WVU | EerSports - 247Sports
Major changes coming on the recruiting trail for WVU, too.

Around The Big 12:

Kliff Kingsbury is literally taking away Texas Tech’s logo after a 5-7 season | SBNation
"Until further notice," Texas Tech’s Double T is banned inside the Red Raiders’ football facility.

Must-win and trap games of 2017: Texas Tech Red Raiders | ESPN
A September matchup with Arizona State might seem early for a must-win game, but Texas Tech needs a win to restore confidence.

Around The NCAA:

How the hell did Marshall football fall apart so quickly, and when will it bounce back? | SBNation
After winning 33 games in three years, the Herd only won three last year. What’s next?

The greatest play in Northwestern history will finally get them into the NCAA tournament | SBNation
Of course Northwestern needed a Hail Mary buzzer-beater to break its infamous NCAA tournament drought.

Lane Kiffin to bring on dad Monte as FAU coaching aide, source says | The Sporting News
Florida Atlantic’s football program is becoming synonymous with a Kiffin family reunion. A source told Sporting News that defensive guru Monte Kiffin is expected to assist his son in some capacity as Lane Kiffin enters his first season as Owls head coach.