The Shotgun/Throwdown (10/30/18): Will Grier Named Semifinalist for the Maxwell Award

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

Football

Grier Named Maxwell Award Semifinalist - West Virginia Athletics
West Virginia redshirt senior quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender Will Grier was named as a semifinalist Maxwell Award, which honors the nation’s Collegiate Player of the Year. The semifinalists list is comprised of the top 20 players in the country.

WV MetroNews – Holgorsen: WVU LB Quondarius Qualls ready to return from ACL tear
WVU linebacker Quandarius Qualls, who was expected to start before a spring knee injury, is ready to play again according to Dana Holgorsen.

David Long advances to Butkus Award semifinals - The Smoking Musket
West Virginia’s star linebacker continues to receive national recognition.

WVU football notebook: Mountaineers blocking better, now Holgorsen wants consistency | WVU Gameday | wvgazettemail.com
The blocking and tackling has improved for the Mountaineers, but coach Holgorsen wants to see the team keep up the solid performances every week.

WV MetroNews – Three Guys Before The Game – Pre Texas
On this episode Tony Caridi and the crew reveal some surprising statistics that no one would have predicted before the season began.

Monday Football Notebook - West Virginia Athletics
Listen to what Dana Holgorsen had to say in this week's Big 12 Teleconference.

Texas game time decided, TCU start time TBD - The Smoking Musket
As Big 12 conference play heats up, scheduling becomes more important for the Mountaineers.

WV MetroNews – Big 12 notebook: Holgorsen praises blocking as key to blowout of Baylor
See what Dana Holgorsen had to say about West Virginia’s blockers, plus other notes from around the Big 12 this week.

Basketball

WVU to Host West Liberty in Haunted Hoops - West Virginia Athletics
Mountaineer fans can get their first look at the West Virginia women's basketball team on Tuesday when WVU hosts West Liberty in an exhibition as part of Haunted Hoops tonight at the WVU Coliseum.

West Virginia Athletics

Mountaineers Rank No. 1 - West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia rifle team moves up to the top spot in this week's College Rifle Coaches Association Rankings.

Mountaineers in the NFL: Week 8
See how pro Mountaineers performed in the NFL this week.

Around the Big 12

KU football alternate uniforms to honor World War II veterans | KUsports.com
Kansas will be wearing special alternate uniforms this week to honor World War II veterans.

Around the NCAA

Power 5 conference power rankings Week 9
These rankings are all about rating teams against their conference opponents, but they also are ranking the conferences against each other.

2018 College Football Playoff committee members can’t discuss these teams - SBNation.com
Here is the updated list of 2018 committee members, including which teams they must recuse themselves from ranking.

Here's how Notre Dame football can make the College Football Playoff | NCAA.com
There are four things the Irish need to happen in order to make the CFP.

Urban Meyer parting with Ohio State wouldn’t be shocking - SBNation.com
This isn’t about overreacting and firing Meyer due to one loss. It’s not necessarily about firing Meyer at all.

USC fires line coach 1 day after Clay Helton said no big changes yet - SBNation.com
Things are not going well for the USC Trojans.

Browns fire head coach Hue Jackson halfway through 2018 season - SBNation.com
The Cleveland Browns announced yesterday that they have fired head coach Hue Jackson halfway through his third season with the team.

Tyronn Lue fired by Cleveland Cavaliers just 6 games into 2018-19 NBA season - SBNation.com
The first head coach firing of the season came early this year. Ty Lue, who delivered Cleveland its first title, is out after six games.

Rick Pitino to the NBA: ranking teams that could fall for the disgraced coach - SBNation.com
Rick Pitino dreams of coaching in the NBA again. Will any team hire him?

DeAndre Jordan is suddenly making all his free throws now - SBNation.com
Plus, three other surprising new trends to watch, including Point DeMar and the return of Zach LaVine.

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