The Shotgun/Throwdown: West Virginia will be good under Neal Brown, the question is “when?”

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

Football

Tony’s Take: Mountaineers Will Be Good Under Brown ... The Question is When? | West Virginia University Athletics
As we enter our first game week of the 2019 season, the question is - just what will Neal Brown's inaugural team at WVU look like? Yes, preseason optimism exists, that's always the case, but it's multiplied this season because there's a new coach. And, everyone likes something when it's new.

Road more traveled: Only one school will log more miles than WVU in 2019 | WV MetroNews
As the Big 12's outlier, it will be a long season of travel for West Virginia in 2019. Only one Power Five program will log more miles on the road than the Mountaineers.

After eventful first year, West Virginia tight end O'Laughlin ready to play | WV MetroNews
Mike O'Laughlin has rehabbed his knee, bulked up and dipped his toes in the transfer portal. Now he's ready to play.

Brown ready to author new piece of program history | Times West Virginian
Bob Hertzel takes a look back at 10 of the most historic debuts in Mountaineer football history.

Cignetti back where it all began | The Morgantown News
Two head coaches will face off at Mountaineer Field on Aug. 31, each leading their respective programs into battle for the first time. For one, it will be his first game ever at West Virginia, new to the sights and sounds that accompany a Saturday in Morgantown. The other has been on the sidelines for hundreds of Mountaineer games and knows well the history and tradition of WVU football.

Basketball

Tynice Martin charged with domestic battery, cited for possession in separate incident | WV MetroNews
A West Virginia women’s basketball player who was suspended for a violation of team rules on Aug. 3 is charged with domestic battery.

West Virginia Athletics

No. 11 WVU Opens 2019 With A Win | West Virginia University Athletics
The No. 11-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team scored a goal in each half and the defense held Duquesne to zero shots as it opened the 2019 season with a 2-0 win on Friday, Aug. 23, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

No. 11 WVU Falls to No. 3 Stanford | West Virginia University Athletics
The No. 11-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team could not overcome a three-goal halftime deficit as it fell to No. 3 Stanford, 3-1, at Jeffrey Field on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Around the Big 12

OK State won't reveal starting QB before opener | ESPN
Oklahoma State hasn't announced a starting quarterback and coach Mike Gundy is not expected to reveal his plans for the position before the Cowboys' season opener next Friday night at Oregon State.

You can see Miles and Miles of Mileses in KU football program | FOX Sports
Coach Les Miles, sons Manny and Ben Miles, Miles Kendrick and freshman Miles Fallin are among the many people named Miles at Kansas.

Around the NCAA

The Top Whatever: the Playoff field after Week 0 | Banner Society
Let’s assume the 2019 regular season is ending after just one day of games, just in case. Here are the rankings.

Week 0 college football history: Every game ever, ranked | Banner Society
Over the decades, the season’s intro non-week has varied in importance and quality, to say the least.

Bowl games losing their meaning | Times West Virginian
Ten days ago, a story came out in Sports Illustrated that didn’t create much of ripple around here, even though it highlighted the sad state of college football and peripherally involved the state of West Virginia and, by natural extension, the Mountaineer football program. The story was centered upon two of WVU’s most bitter rivals — Virginia Tech and Marshall — and the “bowl game” that was at stake when the two teams played in last year’s final regular-season game.

Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck Gave Up Fame, Riches, and Football | The Ringer
Luck can be anything he wants now that he’s retired: an architect, a football coach, or a world traveler. At the age of 29, he made the courageous decision to leave the game behind.

Andrew Luck retired, and now the Colts are kinda screwed | SB Nation
One of the league’s best quarterbacks is walking away from the game at 29 years old.

The best breakout candidate for all 32 NFL teams in 2019 | SB Nation
All week, retired NFL defensive end Stephen White is rolling out his fifth annual "breakout players" series.

The Lakers Are Trying Again With Dwight Howard, As Long As He Stops Being an Ass | The Ringer
The Dwightmare returns, seven years after one tumultuous season in Los Angeles

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