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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
Veteran Addae Now One of the Leaders of the Mountaineer Defense
West Virginia’s Alonzo Addae started 10 games last year at free safety and finished second on the team with 66 total tackles, while his 6.6 tackles-per-game average ranked 12th in the Big 12. Now Addae is one of the older players on a Mountaineer defense and the team will need him to step up as a leader.
A piece of Alonzo Addae’s past is now present in Morgantown
When Alonzo Addae joined the Mountaineers in 2019, his older cousin Jahmile Addae was on the defensive staff. Although Jahmile is now coaching at Georgia, Alonzo still has someone he considers family on the team and that is WVU’s new linebacker Deshawn Stevens.
Former Gridder Named Assistant Director of Player Relations/Transition Coordinator
Former Mountaineer Osman Kamara has joined the West Virginia football program’s administrative staff as the assistant director of player relations/transition coordinator.
Brown announces staff addition
West Virginia head football coach Neal Brown has announced that David Faulkner has joined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the special assistant to the head coach.
Mahone named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-America Football Team
West Virginia senior safety Sean Mahone has been named Academic All-America second team presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Basketball
Huggins Facing College Basketball’s Challenging New Reality
West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins has seen quite a bit of changes since his college basketball coaching career began in 1981. One of the biggest changes Huggins is now facing is the mentality of young players transferring when things don’t go their way and the dwindling attitude of winning games for the fans and the team.
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Best Virginia overcomes sluggish start, defeats Underground Kings 77-63 in final exhibition
While West Virginia’s men’s basketball alumni team rolled by Southern Elite in Beckley, Friday’s game against the Underground Kings played out in far different fashion. Underground Kings jumped out to an 11-0 lead and led by eight points after the first quarter, before Best Virginia’s defense turned the game in its favor, allowing it to pull away for a 77-63 victory.
Manoah fans nine in 8th MLB start
Former West Virginia pitcher Alek Manoah started in his eighth game for the Blue Jays on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Toronto rookie struck out nine batters and only gave up three hits in 3.2 innings. He now has a total of 52 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched this season, with an ERA of 2.9.
Mountaineers in the WNBA: July 12th Update
Former West Virginia women’s basketball player Bria Holmes has started in five of 17 games for the Los Angeles Sparks this season and is currently averaging 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Former Mountaineer Kysre Gondrezick is averaging 1.9 points per game for the Indiana Fever.
Payne invited to World Cup qualifier training camp with Nigeria
Sophomore Nicole Payne of the West Virginia women’s soccer team has been invited to join the Nigeria Women’s National Team when it participates in a World Cup qualifier training camp.
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Around the Big 12
A former Kansas football player says the university offered him more than $50,000 in benefits if he left the program and stayed quiet about harassment he experienced from four other players on the team.
Sooners Picked First in Football Preseason Poll for Sixth Straight Year
The Oklahoma football team was chosen to win the conference title in the Big 12 Football Preseason Poll for the sixth straight year.
K-State’s Wicks and UT’s Madden Selected in MLB Draft First Round
Kansas State’s Jordan Wicks and Texas’ Ty Madden were taken in the opening round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Around the NCAA
Offensive lineman Dare Rosenthal transfers from LSU Tigers to Kentucky Wildcats
Former LSU left tackle Dare Rosenthal has announced that he will transfer to play football at Kentucky.
Five-star DE Jeremiah Alexander commits to Alabama football team over Clemson
Alabama beat Clemson on the recruiting trail for five-star defensive end Jeremiah Alexander.
Former Georgia Bulldogs receiver Demetris Robertson transferring to SEC rival Auburn Tigers
Former Georgia receiver Demetris Robertson has announced that he will transfer to Auburn.
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Bucks blowout: Giannis has 41, Suns’ NBA Finals lead now 2-1
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 41 points and 13 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 120-100 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Antetokounmpo’s back-to-back 40-point, 10-rebound games put him with Shaquille O’Neal as the only two players in NBA history to achieve that stat line in The Finals.
Stanley Cup dented amid Tampa Bay Lightning’s second boat parade in 10 months
The Stanley Cup was dented during the Tampa Bay Lightning’s championship celebration.
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