The Shotgun/Throwdown (11/16/18): Will Grier named finalist for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

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

Football

Grier Among Final Five for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | West Virginia Athletics
West Virginia University redshirt senior quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender Will Grier has been named as one of the final five candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as announced today by the organization.

WVU football: Mountaineers prep for reloaded Oklahoma State offense | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There are a lot of new faces in key positions on the Oklahoma State offense in 2018, but that hasn’t stopped the Cowboys from doing what they typically do — piling up yards and points while making big plays.

Men in the middle feeding off of David Long’s linebacker leadership | WV MetroNews
David Long’s impact on West Virginia’s linebackers is easy enough to measure on paper. The 84 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks tell that story.

HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU trying to conquer road woes vs. OK St. | Times West Virginian
You ask any West Virginia football player his favorite songs and he’s guaranteed to have John Denver singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in there. But you ask those same players for their least favorite songs and you can be just as sure that Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” is on their list.

Basketball

Smothering Defense Helps WVU Down Monmouth in Myrtle Beach | West Virginia Athletics
Esa Ahmad scored 16 points and Sagaba Konate added 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks to lead West Virginia to a 71-53 victory over winless Monmouth Thursday night at Coastal Carolina's HTC Center in Conway, South Carolina.

West Virginia punishes Monmouth with strong second half | WV MetroNews
The frustration was clear on Bob Huggins’ face Thursday, as yet another West Virginia pass intended for a teammate sailed out of bounds and into the crowd.

Derek Culver suspended, does not travel to Myrtle Beach event | WV MetroNews
West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins suspended freshman Derek Culver indefinitely Thursday for a violation of team rules, according to a release from the school.

WVU women smoke Bryant as Martin pours in 20 points | Times West Virginian
It was Education Day for West Virginia University’s women’s basketball team as about 8,000 school children in the crowd of 9,687 from around the area were treated to an early morning basketball game. But in the end, it was overmatched rival Bryant who was schooled.

West Virginia Athletics

WVU women’s soccer hosts Wake Forest in NCAA’s 2nd round | Times West Virginian
The No. 8-ranked and second-seeded West Virginia University women’s soccer team continues play in the 2018 NCAA Tournament with a second-round match against Wake Forest today at 6 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

Mountaineers Rally to Win NCAA First Round | West Virginia Athletics
Four unanswered goals lifted the No. 17 West Virginia University men's soccer team to a 4-2 victory over LIU Brooklyn in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Thursday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

WVU Opens Ohio State Invite | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened competition at the Ohio State Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.

Around the Big 12

Oklahoma State’s Wallace may be the best in deep Big 12 receiving class | WV MetroNews
The Big 12’s reputation for big-play receivers keeps growing.The last three Biletnikoff Award winners represented the conference. Since 2007, there has only been one season in which a Big 12 player was not one of the three finalists for the award annually presented to the nation’s top receiver.

Around the NCAA

S&P+ spread picks for every game in college football’s underrated Week 12 | SBNation
Yes, it’s SoCon Saturday. Yes, there’s still a lot of important action to follow.

Les Miles bet his LSU buyout on himself, but what’s next? | SBNation
More like Le$ Mile$.

More than a mustache: Gardner Minshew, Mike Leach’s star import | SBNation
Leach is known for plugging in air raid vets who immediately post big numbers. What if he gets the veteran from elsewhere, though?

Ed Oliver’s jacket, college football’s most provocative garment | SBNation
The Houston star got in trouble for wearing the wrong clothes, and it became a big thing.

Fighting The New Abnormal: STR Needs Your Help! | Sactown Royalty
Sactown Royalty is calling upon you to help give back to the victims of the Camp Fire in Paradise.

The 10 greatest long-term dynasties in NFL history | SBNation
New England’s current run of dominance is nearly unprecedented in NFL history. Nearly.

Carmelo Anthony will be waived by Rockets after just 10 games. How did this happen? | SBNation
Melo’s tenure in Houston was brief and unsuccessful. Nobody knows what’s next.

4 winners and 3 losers from another Packers-Seahawks classic | SBNation
It was a good night for Seahawks running backs, but a bad showing for Mike McCarthy.

Unionized athletes need to stop crossing picket lines and start supporting fellow workers | SBNation
Why pro sports teams have been crossing UNITE HERE hotel picket lines and how they can start showing solidarity instead.

‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin not quitting beer, he says on podcast | SI.com
Yes, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has stopped drinking beer but no, it’s not permanent.

---

Have any tips, suggestions or requests for what you want to see in The Shotgun/Throwdown? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or contact us on social media.

Follow us!
Twitter: @smokingmusket
Facebook:The Smoking Musket