Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Roth Brewing Company's Sex Viking Wheat Ale.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Tuesday, July 23 - WV MetroNews
In this edition of Gold and Blue Now, Tony Caridi and Allan Taylor break down the opener of Big 12 media days, and we hear from Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
Baseball Summer League Update #6 - WVU Athletics
This edition features updates through games on Sunday, July 21.
Fox Sports 1 will make a run at 'College GameDay' with Saturday morning pregame show - SBNation.com
Erin Andrews will host the presently untitled show, which will air at 10 a.m. ET on Saturdays. SB Nation's Steve Lepore takes an exclusive look at the new cast of FS1's college football pre-game show.
Furfari: Grant Wiley starts his musical career in NYC - Register-Herald
“We will be focusing on Electric Fusion music,” said Wiley, one of just 11 WVU consensus All-Americans.
Fanspeak's FREE 2013 College Football Preseason Guide - Fanspeak - Voice Your Passion!
There's a little bit of everything as you see below with detailed analysis and predictions.
News of Note:
WVU football: Turnover hasn't slowed Oklahoma State - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook
Hickman: Plenty of confidence on display - Charleston Gazette
Cleaning out a crowded notebook and a cluttered mind between Bob Bowlsby's scathing critique of the NCAA on Monday to start and West Virginia's appearance today to end what is almost certainly the most lavish and well-organized media day event this side of a Super Bowl
Tech's Kingsbury Raves About WVU RB Sims - WVillustrated
Former Houston assistant recalls working with Dana Holgorsen and Charles Sims as he begins first year with Red Raiders.
Kingsbury thinks Sims is great fit for WVU - WV MetroNews
Click the video to hear what a perfect fit Sims to to be for WVU’s offense.
Eddie George: Year of the running back - WV MetroNews
The Heisman Trophy winner, now working as an analyst for Fox Sports, also said he’ll be interested to see whether WVU regains the rushing attack that abandoned it at times last fall.
Media Days:
The State of the Big 12 Conference - WVU Athletics
Bowlsby touched on several issues that are on his radar screen heading into the 2013-14 season.
Video: Big 12 media days -- Day 1 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
David Ubben and Jake Trotter wrap Day 1 of Big 12 media days.
Big 12 commish sees change on NCAA horizon - Charleston Daily Mail
"I think we all have a sense that transformative change is going to have to happen," he said. "This is not a time when trimming around the edges is going to make very much difference."
5 Takeaways from Big 12 Media Days (Day 1) - Wide Right & Natty Lite
In which Bob Bowlsby talks some crap and Charlie Weis correctly identifies it
Big 12 blog: Cowboys confident - WV MetroNews
A rolling blog from the Omni Hotel deep in the heart (heat?) of Texas, where you can barely get through an interview without a Wildcats mascot hugging up on you …
Big 12 High Tech - BGN
Every school and conference across the college landscape has their digital media platforms in place, but the Big 12 has plans for even more innovative items in the tech world.
Coach Musings from Media Days - DA Sports Blog
Day one of Big 12 Media Days is in the books. Oklahoma State, TCU, Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech all participated in what was an eventful first day. Here are some of the things that grabbed my attention from today’s breakout session interviews.
Zimmerman Highlights Day 1 Players at Media Days - DA Sports Blog
Below are interviews with some players that spoke at Big 12 Media Days in Texas
Pro News:
Jets sign Geno Smith to a four-year deal - Green and White Report via BGN
After a lengthy negotiation process, rookie signal-caller Geno Smith signed on the dotted line Monday, just in time for the start of training camp.
Darius Reynaud making moves to return for Titans - Pros Report
Now, with some in-camp competition, Reynaud is making it hard for the Titans to replace him.
The Gyorko Diamond Review: 7-23 - Pros Report
Here's the breakdown of his week:
Around the League (and Beyond):
HERTZEL COLUMN: Big 12 is anyone’s to win - Times West Virginian
“I think it will be a very interesting year. Our champion — and many of you probably know this — but our champion the last two years was picked in the second division of our conference. I think they were both picked sixth, Kansas State and Oklahoma State,” he said.
2013 Preseason All-Big 12 Team - Sporting News
There may not be a tougher conference to project this season than the Big 12.
Baylor’s Seastrunk snares Big 12 Offensive POY award - Waco Tribune
How does Iowa State manage to compete against big spenders? - Des Moines Register
Strength coach Holsopple has Jayhawks hoppin’ - Lawrence Journal World
Kansas State will have to rebuild on defense - Wichita Eagle
Fiery Blake Bell invigorated by quarterback derby - Oklahoman
Texas Longhorns football: Pre-camp injury report - Burnt Orange Nation
Big 12 Media Days kick off TCU’s second season in the league - Dallas-Fort Worth Star Telegram
Linebackers seek big-play formula - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
What's On Tap:
Big 12 Media Days: Day Two - West Virginia to be featured at Noon today
Video of Interest:
About 90 West Virginia University football players visited southern West Virginia on July 19, 2013 as part of the Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative. It's just one example of WVU's service to West Virginia in connection with the 2013 National Scout Jamboree.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Roll Damn Holy Sh...
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is yet another lovely South African. CLICK HERE for today's gallery(which is actually a pair of videos, some stills and a gif) of Elbe van der Merwe.