The Shotgun/Throwdown (10/17/18): Play Calling Not The Issue Against Iowa State, According To Holgorsen

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

Football

Holgorsen OK with play calling; calls out blocking and tackling against Iowa State | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There was a lot that went wrong for West Virginia University in its 30-14 loss at Iowa State last week. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital’s play calling, however, was not one of them, according to coach Dana Holgorsen.

No panic for the Mountaineers after ‘butt-whipping’ at Iowa State | WV MetroNews
Those “Keep Calm and Carry On” T-shirts that were popular a couple years ago could feasibly make a return around the West Virginia football facility this week. Perhaps they can even been customized with a WV logo, or a cut-out of Dana Holgorsen’s face.

HERTZEL COLUMN: Was Grier’s Heisman candidacy already dead before ISU loss? | Times West Virginian
Did the disaster that was a weekend in Ames, Iowa for West Virginia quarterback Will Grier cost him any chance at the Heisman Trophy in this, his senior season, or was it really already out of his reach heading into the game?

West Virginia DB Derrek Pitts injured, but Holgorsen optimistic on return | WV MetroNews
The Mountaineers bye week comes at an ideal time after speedy defensive back Derrek Pitts went down with a knee injury at Iowa State.

West Virginia Athletics

Mountaineers Move to No. 16 | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University women's soccer team moved up two spots to No. 16 in this week's United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's National Poll.

Piatczyc Earns Third MAC Player of the Week Award | West Virginia Athletics
For the third time this season, senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc of the West Virginia University men's soccer team has been named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday.

LeBlanc's Mountaineer Squad Looking For A Different Finish In 2018 | West Virginia Athletics
It's always nice reading the good things written about your team, that is unless you're West Virginia men's soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc.

Around the NCAA

Why Texas and these 6 other teams probably aren’t as good as their rankings | SBNation
Win games, and you’ll move up in the polls. But that doesn’t mean the advanced stats will trust you.

How to block a kick, explained in depth by coaches | SBNation
SB Nation spoke with three special teams coordinators about just how teams spring the block on opponents.

Drafting college football coaches we’d least want to fight | SBNation
And then it’s your turn in the comments.

This Louisiana high school is wearing ‘Waterboy’ uniforms for one night only | SBNation
This is beautiful.

Golden State Warriors’ bench is bad, but it probably won’t matter | SBNation
Their top-level talent is so good, but the rest of the roster is still an Achilles heel that’s worth watching.

The young Celtics aren’t afraid of Joel Embiid | SBNation
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier are ELECTRIC.

NFL Panic Index: The Rams are undefeated. That might be a curse | SBNation
Being 6-0 might not be all great. The Chiefs turned back into a pumpkin, the never-ending Eli Manning era and more frightening things that will have you chewing your nails off.

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