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The Shotgun/Throwdown (11/14/18): New approach has West Virginia in range of the College Football Playoff

This year’s team is the culmination of a shift in style and approach, changes the Mountaineers embraced amid a run of middling success from 2014-16 that have come to define the program in Holgorsen’s eighth season.

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NCAA Football: Texas Christian at West Virginia Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

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

Football

New approach on the field and off has West Virginia in range of the College Football Playoff | USA Today
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen doesn’t watch the “reality TV,” as he puts it, that is the weekly College Football Playoff rankings: “It doesn’t do me any good,” he said. “It doesn’t do our players any good."

WVU football: Mountaineers look to Askew-Henry for veteran leadership | Charleston Gazette-Mail
With West Virginia University set for a trip to play football at Oklahoma State this weekend, defensive back Dravon Askew-Henry has fond memories from a previous visit to play the Cowboys.

Even with increased catches, Trevon Wesco plays with block-first mentality | WV MetroNews
Though Will Grier hopes opposing defenses don’t take notice of what tight end Trevon Wesco is doing lately, he’s also not entirely optimistic. People tend to notice a 6-foot-5, 280-pound human who can run and catch as well as Wesco did against TCU.

Numbers do lie: Why coaches consider TCU game Will Grier’s best | WV MetroNews
Statistically speaking, Will Grier’s performance against TCU on Saturday did not jump off the page. Not by the lofty standards he’s established at West Virginia, at any rate.

Holgorsen believes David Long is nation’s top LB | WV MetroNews
Dana Holgorsen is stumping for his best defensive player to get more national recognition. While quarterback Will Grier is certainly the face of these Mountaineers, linebacker David Long represents the heart and soul of Holgorsen’s squad.

No. 9 West Virginia wary of Oklahoma State | The Oklahoma Star
A second straight week in which Oklahoma State attempts to play the roll of Big 12 spoiler will involve a visit Saturday from No. 9 West Virginia to Boone Pickens Stadium.

West Virginia Athletics

WVU Enters NCAA Tournament Ranked No. 18 | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University men's soccer team enters the NCAA Tournament at No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches national poll.

Mountaineers Again Rank No. 1 | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University rifle team moves up to No. 1 in this weeks College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Rankings.

WVU, TCU Square Off on Wednesday | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University volleyball team squares off with Big 12 foe TCU on Wednesday, Nov. 14. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum.

Around the Big 12

Mike Gundy’s been just as much of a ‘snowflake’ as the players he’s ranted about | SBNation
The Oklahoma State coach’s latest rant is loaded with hypocrisy.

Around the NCAA

Only 11 or so remaining games can shape the Playoff. Rank ‘em by OUTRAGE POWER | SBNation
New College Football Playoff rankings are here.

Mike MacIntyre not fired yet, Colorado says. If he is, here’s why | SBNation
The most obvious one is that MacIntyre’s on-field results were down for a while, then briefly way up, then down again. His handling of abuse allegations against a former assistant may play some role, too.

Maryland’s now up to 6 QB ACL tears in 7 years | SBNation
The Terps’ recent QB injury history continues to be brutal.

Who the hell is gonna win the Pac-12 South? | SBNation
Here’s what’s left in college football’s messiest division.

How Save The Crew kept a beloved soccer franchise from leaving Columbus | SBNation
The remarkable story of the Columbus Crew and a group of fans who never believed they couldn’t save their favorite team.

Is the Kevin Durant-Draymond Green shouting match a big deal? | SBNation
The Durant-Green argument spilled into the Warriors’ locker room after the game, but it goes deeper than their failed last-second possession.


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