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Welcome, By-Godders, to The Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU’s best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.
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Football
Mountaineer legend Steve Slaton to be inducted into Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame
Former West Virginia All-American Steve Slaton will be inducted to the All State Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame along with six other college football legends. Slaton left his mark on the 2006 Sugar Bowl when he set a Sugar Bowl record with 206 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in WVU’s win over Georgia.
Signing day recap: West Virginia’s 2020 football recruiting class
Neal Brown’s first true signing class at West Virginia came into shape on Wednesday as 18 players sent their letters of intent to WVU. The 2020 recruiting class for the Mountaineers featured some pleasant surprises, and coach Brown stuck to his word by signing the Mountain State’s top prospects. This class will also have a handful of early enrollees.
Neal Brown gets what he’s looking for in first WVU signing class
By design, Neal Brown got off to a late start with his first recruiting class at West Virginia, but that didn’t stop him from making improvements on the WVU roster. Coach Brown made strides with this recruiting class to improve the Mountaineers’ offensive line and rebuild WVU’s defensive secondary.
Brown Returning WVU to its Recruiting Sweet Spots
West Virginia’s Neal Brown is having his coaching staff focus on key areas for recruiting, such as in-state, within the Appalachian region, and historically Mountaineer-friendly recruiting areas in the northeast and deep south.
OL Josh Sills Enters Transfer Portal
West Virginia junior offensive lineman Josh Sills has just entered the NCAA transfer portal. Sills missed most of the 2019 season with a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Basketball
The buzz is growing around the #25 West Virginia men’s basketball team. Now, the Mountaineer Ticket Office has announced that WVU’s home game against #24 Texas Tech on January 11 is a sellout.
West Virginia Ranks No. 25 in Coaches Poll
The West Virginia women’s basketball team remains at #25 in the latest USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The Mountaineers are currently 7-1.
West Virginia Athletics
Thrasher named an NCAA Today’s Top 10 honoree
Former West Virginia rifle standout Ginny Thrasher has been selected as one of 10 NCAA student-athletes across all sports and all divisions to be honored as the 2020 Today’s Top 10 Award winners.
Smith Making the Most of his Second Chance
Check out this inspiring story about redshirt senior Austin Smith of the West Virginia men’s swimming and diving team, and his comeback after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia.
Mountaineers Visit WVU Medicine Children’s
The West Virginia baseball team joined Mountaineer alumnus and current Major Leaguer Jedd Gyorko, as well as WVU alum Jimmy Galusky, to help pass out teddy bears at WVU Medicine Children’s on Tuesday afternoon.
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Will Grier is starting for the Panthers, and the timing couldn’t be worse
This isn’t a bad move, but it needed to happen weeks ago. Rookie quarterback Will Grier would get the start for the Carolina Panthers against the Colts in Week 16, a move somehow both too early and too late, while highlighting just how indecisive the franchise is — all at a time when clear vision is needed.
Mountaineers in the NFL: Week 15
Here are the former Mountaineers who had the biggest impact for their NFL teams over the weekend. Nick Kwiatkoski had five total tackles to go along with one sack for the Chicago Bears, and Tavon Auston had a 59-yard touchdown reception for the Dallas Cowboys.
Mountaineers in the Pros: Week 15
Check out this recap of how all the former West Virginia football players in the NFL performed for their teams this week. Highlights include Tavon Austin getting his 15th career touchdown reception, and Bruce Irvin and Nick Kwiatkoski each getting sacks.
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Around the Big 12
Baseball Trio Named Preseason All-Americans
A trio of Big 12 baseball student-athletes have been named 2020 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-Americans. Texas Tech’s Brian Klein was a second team choice, while Baylor’s Nick Loftin and Oklahoma’s Jason Ruffcorn were third team selections.
Around the NCAA
The 6 biggest lessons of the Early Signing Period era
The introduction of a December signing period has crunched the recruiting calendar and created competing incentives.
9 maps and charts that explain where college football players come from
College football players come from all over, but not every region is equal in how many players it produces.
The 11 undefeated women’s college basketball teams, ranked
Here is a ranking of the 11 undefeated women’s college basketball teams with an attempt to account for strength of schedule and how much teams with easier matchups have been flexing on their opponents.
Alternate history: Everything that happens if USC hires Ed Orgeron
In 2013, the USC Trojans passed on hiring their beloved interim coach. That changed the arc of at least a half-dozen major programs.
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The 7 worst snubs for the 2020 Pro Bowl
Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, and a couple of veteran stars from the league’s top defense all stand out.
The 5 most fireable NFL coaches heading into Week 16
The Cleveland Browns are falling apart, and that could be it for head coach Freddie Kitchens.
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