The Shotgun/Throwdown (2/26/18): Holgorsen and Spavital Searching For West Virginia’s Future Quarterback

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

Kiess named 65th Mountaineer mascot | West Virginia Illustrated
Before the end of No. 21 West Virginia’s 85-70 win over Iowa State, the university named its next Mountaineer mascot.

WVU Falls in Extras in Tournament Opener | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University baseball team lost the opening game of the Brittain Resorts Invitational, 6-2 in 11 innings, to VCU on Friday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

Brophy’s Three Home Runs Power WVU | West Virginia Athletics
Sophomore first baseman Kevin Brophy hit three home runs, including a sixth-inning grand slam, to propel the West Virginia University baseball team to a 10-8 victory over Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina.

WVU Falls in Saturday’s Second Game | West Virginia Athletics
Playing its second game of the day, the West Virginia University baseball team lost to VCU, 8-5 on Saturday evening in Conway, South Carolina.

Rally Falls Short in Finale | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University baseball team rallied with a two-run seventh inning and loaded the bases in the ninth, but lost its final game of the Brittain Resorts Invitational, 5-2 at Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

WVU Wins 2018 GARC Championship! | West Virginia Athletics
The No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team shot 2366 air rifle this afternoon at the 2018 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range, pushing its aggregate total to 4699 and giving the Mountaineers their ninth straight championship title.

Football:

Hologorsen, Spavital continue search for WVU's future quarterback | Charleston Gazette-Mail
More than any other position in recruiting, quarterback is the one that college coaches know they have to fill early. There are only a select few elite signal callers in the country, and there’s only one spot — typically — at each school. That means that with each commitment, there is a ripple effect with a dozen other programs and their quarterback board. The same holds true with West Virginia, where the Mountaineers currently only have four offers out for the 2019 class.

5 Newcomers to Watch for the West Virginia Mountaineers | Athlon Sports
Despite the disappointing three-game, season-ending losing streak it endured in 2017, West Virginia will likely enter the upcoming college football season with high expectations. And with that in mind, we take a look at five new West Virginia football players to watch in 2018.

Basketball:

Carter, Miles Walk The Carpet One Final Time Monday Night | West Virginia Athletics
One came here with his eyes wide open, the other with his mouth never shut, and both are going to leave as two of the most unforgettable players in school history.

WVU's Huggins says investigation won't touch Mountaineers | Charleston Gazette-Mail
For the second time since a federal investigation began into the “underbelly” of college basketball, WVU coach Bob Huggins spoke to the media about the topic. And for the second time, he said Mountaineer fans have no reason to worry.

Baseball:

Mazey calls 2-5 Mountaineers ‘a good team that’s not playing well right now’ | WV MetroNews
Though a 2-5 start wasn’t what Randy Mazey envisioned, the West Virginia baseball coach knows February frustrations haven’t defined his previous clubs.

Around The NCAA:

History of cheating in college sports goes back to literal beginning | SBNation
A boat race in 1852 began what we now know as intercollegiate competition. They were cheating then, and they’re cheating now.

College basketball scandal: It’s OK to stop caring about NCAA rules | SBNation
The NCAA is the problem, not $64 lunches.

Honda Classic results: Tiger Woods looks back and Justin Thomas wins | SBNation
Tiger Woods put on a show this weekend at PGA National and we should all be feeling more comfortable about this comeback with the Masters bearing down on the schedule.

NASCAR at Atlanta results: Kevin Harvick scores dominant victory | SBNation
There was no stopping Kevin Harvick on Sunday, as the Stewart-Haas Racing driver cruised to the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

How LeBron Can Finish His Fairy Tale Better Than MJ | The Ringer
In the battle for GOAT supremacy, Michael Jordan is still way out front. But the next big free-agency decision for LeBron James could determine whether he’ll ever have a chance to pass MJ.

What Board Game Causes the Deepest Rifts? | The Ringer
We all know Hasbro and those evil Parker Brothers were sadists determined to tear families apart

(6) Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. (21) West Virginia Mountaineers
Tonight at 9:00PM on ESPN2. The Mountaineer Revenge Tour concludes when the Red Raiders visit Morgantown. The winner will clinch the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Conference tournament.

Texas Longhorns vs. (8) Kansas Jayhawks
Tonight at 9:00PM on ESPN. The Jayhawks take a victory lap against the Longhorns.

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