SB Nation - Texas Longhorns

Longhorn Nate Boyer: Big 12 Sportsman of The Year

Scipio Tex — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:19:42 -0000

While we all celebrate the joyful, but ultimately inconsequential, bread and circus of college athletics, Texas Longhorn football walk-on Nate Boyer is handling other tasks like defending the free world, preserving civilization, and fighting for the country.

All while perfecting his other passion: winging a tight spiral between his legs from 40 feet into the eye of a dragonfly in front of 100,000 screaming fans.

For those reasons, and many others, Nate Boyer was named the Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year.

Moved by the attacks on 9-11, Nate joined the military at age 20, busted his ass to earn selection to the United States Special Forces (he's a Green Beret), and served the country in a number of operating theaters - some known - Darfur, Iraq, Israel; others less so - earning a Bronze Star along the way.

While overseas, Nate became enamored of Texas Football, vowed to play for the Longhorns despite not having played high school football (his high school didn't field a team - California, man), and he eventually walked on at Texas at age 29 while earning his degree as a full-time student, still serving out his commitment in the reserves. After an assessment of his physical gifts, the 5-11, 190 pound Boyer decided that deep snapper was his best chance to get on the field and he spent his free time on deployment whipping footballs to puzzled fellow soldiers.

Boyer has since earned a scholarship, along with the affectionate nicknames Grandpa, America, Army, and Old Man from his teammates, and was selected to the Academic All-Big 12 Team after earning a 4.0 GPA (he graduated from Texas in May, missing his commencement while on active duty overseas).

Not surprisingly, when he was awarded the 2012 Disney Spirit Award at the Home Depot College Football Awards Banquet, he used his guest ticket allotment not for family or friends, but to bring soldiers from the Wounded Warriors Project to the ceremony.

And it that's not enough for you to like him, his favorite show is Eastbound and Down.

#37 will be proudly carrying the American flag in our home opener against New Mexico State.

Please do Nate, us, and yourself a favor by dropping Boyer a line on his Twitter account and offering your congratulations and thanks. For his service. For his sacrifice. For his generosity of spirit. For living outside the wire. For standing guard so that we can lead our lives and enjoy a college football Saturday.

Thank you, Nate. Hook 'em.

THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING

Mountaineer Morning Links: Tuesday (6/18/13) Edition

WVUIE97 — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:16:59 -0000

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 Saison Dupont.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now: Tuesday, June 18 - WV MetroNews
Jedd Gyorko talks about his first season of Major League Baseball and how is groin injury is progressing, Randy Mazey gives his opinion of the College World Series along with what he though of Big 12 baseball and Tony Gibson says the defense will surprise some people this year along with talking about how deep the Mountaineers are in the secondary.

Folks, we’re way beyond bump, set, spike - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
More explanation to go along with today's Video of Interest

Apps are changing the game - Charleston Daily Mail
Former WVU player Wellington Smith assisting in use of technology

Eight Earn Big 12 Academic Honor - WVU Athletics
The squad recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at Conference institutions that participate in sports outside of Big 12 competition. Six shooters from the WVU National Champion rifle team and two men’s soccer players were named to the first team.

News of Note:

Baseball Summer League Update #1 - WVU Athletics
An update on the summer league stats on WVU baseball players.

Athletics not affected by WVU's fiscal restraints - Charleston Gazette
And that's the point. The two entities are, at least from a financial standpoint, tied together in name only.

Huggins says WVU could be very good team - Register-Herald
“I think we weren’t prepared for the Big 12 last year,” Huggins said. “I coached in that conference (one season at Kansas State), and that was six years prior, and it was a totally different deal.”

HERTZEL COLUMN: Nehlen talks evolution of football - Times West Virginian
“I never saw football like the Big 12 plays,” said this man who won more football games as West Virginia’s coach than any other man, enough to get him into the College Football Hall of Fame. “I sit up in the stands and say, ‘What the hell is going on?’”

Local lineman commits to WVU - Times West Virginian
Notebook

Recruiting:

Watch: Video from WVU’s 7-on-7 event - WV MetroNews
Highlights feature several looks at prospects from Gateway (Pa.) High.

Two For Two - BGN
For the second time in two days, West Virginia University has nabbed a commitment from a local football standout.

Mountaineers nab local lineman - WVSports.com
Amanii Brown, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound offensive lineman from Morgantown High School selected the Mountaineers after receiving an offer Monday afternoon.

Oh, that 2015 class - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Sheesh, there’s still room in the 2013 class and a lot of room in the 2014 class, but WVU’s football team is getting to work on 2015.

Mohigans standouts ‘versatile, physically imposing’ - WV MetroNews
Morgantown's Stone Wolfley and Amanii Brown both will be future Mountaineers.

Morgantown High's Amanii Brown to WVU a "No-Brainer" - WVillustrated
"It's been a no-brainer for me," says Brown. "Ever since I was young, I've always known I wanted to go to WVU. I've always been a fan, ever since I actually started to like football."

Morgantown’s Brown jumps at offer - WV MetroNews
Mohigans standout offensive lineman commits to WVU's 2014 recruiting class.

Versatile Junior Has Camp Impact - BGN
Good Counsel (Md.) cornerback Drew Ashley made his second trip to West Virginia last Sunday, and had the opportunity to showcase his abilities at WVU's third one-day camp of the summer.

Battle Has WVU Atop List - BGN
Baltimore (Md.) standout Quantaye Battle had the opportunity to showcase his versatility this past weekend at West Virginia. The talented wide receiver/quarterback felt he impressed the Mountaineer coaches with his camp performance.

Pro News:

From the Bench: Despite Naysayers, Da'Sean Butler Not Ready to Throw in Towel on Pro Hoops Dream - Connect Bridgeport
Da’Sean Butler knows there are people out there telling him to call it a career. He knows there are those that think that after three surgeries on his knees after tearing his ACL that the best thing to do would be to move on.

Terence Garvin Discusses First NFL Experience - WVillustrated
Former WVU defender begins pro career with Pittsburgh, works to make the team this summer.

Geno Smith's daily routine revolves around the details - Star Ledger
A day in the life of the Jets' rookie quarterback

Pat White optimistic about his NFL future - ProFootballTalk
Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White was a major disappointment as a second-round draft pick of the Dolphins in 2009, and when he was cut at the end of training camp in 2010, it appeared that his NFL career had come to a quick end.

Gyorko keeping busy while on disabled list - Padres.com
There was good news to be had Saturday as rookie second baseman Jedd Gyorko hit in the cage for the first time since he landed on the disabled list. Then, he briefly took ground balls at second base during batting practice.

Gyorko eyes rehab assignment - WV MetroNews
Former WVU star had hit in 13 of last 14 games before going on 15-day DL with a groin strain.

WVUPro Lance Frazier analyzes Scooter Berry, Noel Devine and Jock Sanders in the CFL - Pros Report
With his playing days behind him, he will begin a new role as an in-studio CFL analyst for Global Regina.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Monday Poll: Year of the Bear vs. Year of the Cardinals - Our Daily Bears

College football countdown | No. 87: Iowa State - USA Today

College football countdown | No. 96: Kansas - USA Today

2013 Kansas State football's 10 things to know: Pros and cons - SBNation.com

STOOPS COACH B - Wide Right & Natty Lite

QB Wes Lunt picks Illinois over Louisville, according to report - SBNation.com

Rick Barnes Review: Evaluating Texas Basketball Recruiting, Part 1 - Burnt Orange Nation

A look at TCU's five biggest departures, and the players who should replace them - Dallas Morning News

#ATMO | You Kinda Need to Know About This - Viva The Matadors

What's On Tap:

2013-14 college football bowl projections: Alabama vs. Oregon and all 34 other games - SBNation.com
Nope, nowhere

Video of Interest:

WVU assistant coach Ted Wade describes the teams modest, yet valuable coaching tool used during practice. - From Casazza's DM Blog

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a lovely Dutch model. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Valerie van der Graaf.

Daily Round Up: Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A. J. Hooper — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:00:06 -0000

Mack is living on borrowed time. [Dallas Morning News]

Men's track coach Bubba Thornton is retiring. [Dallas Morning News]

Tarell Brown gives back to his hometown. [Daily Texan]

Big 12

The Big 12 is still in second place. [ESPN Big 12 Blog]

Gary Patterson thinks it is a dumb idea to offer an eighth grader a scholarship. [Ft. Worth Star-Telegram]

The Horned Frog defense just got more bad news. [ESPN]

Sooner pitcher Dillon Overton had a choice tweet for his former coach. [Dallas Morning News]

Open Range

Is Johnny Football ready to leave College Station? [ESPN]

Reveille wants a Twitter account. [The Eagle]

NC P Corbin Daly commits to the Texas Longhorns

Wescott Eberts — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:55:28 -0000

The trend for the Texas Longhorns ever since deciding to offer scholarships to kickers and punters some years ago has been to take a scholarship player there every other year. With sophomore Nick Jordan the last take in the 2012 class, it was time for the 'Horns to take another kicker in the 2014 class and after a strong camp performance late last week, Texas offered and received a commitment from Charlotte (NC) Ardrey Kell punter Corbin Daly on Friday.

Being able to play for this man in 2014, couldn't think of a better one pic.twitter.com/wOIAxzl5GN
— corbin daly (@corbin_daly) June 15, 2013

Graduate transfer Alex King was excellent last season after coming to Texas from Duke, but he exhausted his eligibility last season, leaving Anthony Fera, Will Russ, and Jordan battling for the job. But Fera wasn't very good in the spring game, averaging 32.5 yards per attempt on two punts, Russ missed the spring, and Jordan is more of a natural place-kicker than a punter. In other words, the punting situation is full of question marks at this time and Fera only has one more season of eligibility remaining.

Enter Daly, who is ranked as a consensus two-star prospect, which is good enough to rate as one of the top three punters in the country by the 247Sports composite rankings. However, he didn't hold any other offers when he committed to Texas and with spots becoming increasingly scarce in the 2014 class, the move was a bit surprising given the recent failures of scholarship kickers like Russ and Trevor Gerland.

The good news is that Daly averaged 47 yards per punt last season and performed well enough in a camp setting to earn his offer. Still, the pressure is on for him to walk on to campus and win the job because he'll be expected to contribute right away.

2013 Texas Basketball Transfers - Sheldon McCLellan to Miami; Joseph Young to Texas?

Scipio Tex — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:34:54 -0000

Sheldon McClellan has made official his long-rumored transfer to Miami, where I'm sure he'll find focus for his game on the sands of South Beach. I'm very curious to see how Sheldon does as a part of Jim Larranega's transfer-rich Hurricane team. If he flourishes, it can only reflect poorly on the case for Rick Barnes. If he doesn't, I'm sure the Texas staff will offer Larranega their sympathies.

However, there is the chance that the Longhorns could pull out a win in transfer musical chairs with the news that standout junior-to-be shooting guard Joseph Young of Houston is considering the Longhorns after his father, Michael, was reassigned within the Cougar athletic department. The elder Young objected and bolted, the younger Young followed, and now they're testing the transfer waters.

Together.

Implied in the transfer is the possibility that the recipient program would need to make provisions for the elder Young somewhere in their basketball staff. And the primary competition for Young appears to be Baylor, where Scott Drew has demonstrated a willingness to hire just about anyone to raise the talent level in Waco.

Dwon Clifton agrees.

It may be worth it, though.

Young is a pure shooting guard with a legitimate stroke out to 23 feet, is deceptively quick, an instant starter, if not a potential star, wherever he lands. A 6-3 athlete who averaged 18 a game last year while shooting 42% from the 3 point line and 87% from the free throw stripe. And his game grew markedly from his freshman to sophomore year after a redshirt season.

Texas fans saw Young show his wares against the Longhorns in the Grand Olde CBI tournament to the tune of 18 points, 5 assists, 1 turnover in only 29 minutes of play. And there's no doubt that a defense heavy 2014-2015 Longhorn basketball team could use an efficient potential 18-20 ppg scorer on the roster.

Rick Barnes Review: Evaluating Texas Basketball Recruiting, Part 1

Peter Bean & Jeff Haley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:19 -0000

This will cover the penultimate topic in the series reviewing the state of the program under Rick Barnes, as we'll wrap things up after this with a post summarizing our conclusions.

Jeff and I have analyzed and presented a lot of data in this series, some of which suggests Texas would be wise to retain its head coach, and some suggesting that it's time to draw Barnes' tenure to a close. Of all the material we've brought to light for this review, perhaps none is as important as the topic of this two-part post: recruiting.

Both Jeff and I view the ability to recruit at a high level as a make-or-break quality for Rick Barnes -- with it, Texas basketball is going to be in a position to succeed (although there may be room to debate how high the ceiling is); without it, the case for retaining Rick Barnes dissolves. And with the increased volume in recent years of elite recruits who hail from the state of Texas, the question is more important than ever. In Part 1 of this post, we'll take a look at Barnes' overall track record as a recruiter in Austin, before turning in Part 2 to a critical evaluation of hoops talent in the Lone Start State and Rick Barnes' ability to bring the state's best to Austin.

Rick Barnes' Recruiting Resume

Before trying to gauge Barnes' present standing with respect to in-state recruiting, it's helpful to start by taking a holistic, high-level view of his track record in Austin. At least until recently, no one questioned Barnes' ability to fill the tops of his classes with elite talent, and the data bears that out.

The Recruiting Services Consensus Index conveniently includes consensus recruiting rankings for each class back through 1998, Rick Barnes first year in Austin. The chart below lists the number of Top 10, Top 50, and Top 100 recruits that each college has signed since 1998.

Particularly given the challenges Barnes faced taking over the program in 1998 and 1999 -- he didn't sign his first Top 100 recruit at Texas until inking Brian Boddicker (#40), Brandon Mouton (#50), and James Thomas (#67) in the class of 2000 -- his total of 31 Top 100 recruits signed since 1998 is impressive. Of those 31, 19 have been Top 50 recruits, with 3 players being consensus Top 10 recruits (Kevin Durant, Avery Bradley, Tristan Thompson).

Notwithstanding that success recruiting Top 100 players, critics complained that Barnes was (1) not doing a good job with respect to recruiting complementary, four-year program players, and (2) recruiting the wrong kinds of players to Texas, as evidenced by the paucity of top recruits staying in Austin for four years.

Roster Management

There is some merit in both charges, but perhaps more the first than second. To help illuminate how Barnes has struggled to fill out the remaining roster around the core of Top 100 players, we've compiled a roster grid for the team for every season beginning in 1998 (click this link or the preview image at right for the full roster grid). As you can see from the table, of the 54 freshmen that Barnes has brought to Texas, a full 31 have been RSCI Top 100 recruits, a very healthy percentage. Among the 23 signees outside the Top 100, the results have been mixed, with some weaker talents like Chris Ogden and Matt Hill but more solid multi-year contributors like Royal Ivey, Connor Atchley, and Ioannis Papapetrou. On the whole, that aspect of the critique seems a bit overstated.

But the roster grid also makes clear the ways Barnes' roster management has been subpotimal. Texas has had a season with 9 scholarship players as many times as it's had a roster using the maximum of 13 (three times). After some early success using transfer players like Chris Owens and Maurice Evans to bolster the Longhorns roster, Barnes has retreated from the practice in recent years (when the team has badly needed more players) and the few he has brought in have been low-impact contributors like JD Lewis and Craig Winder.

Although certain aspects of player turnover make roster management an imprecise art, they don't account for many of the shortcomings from which Texas has suffered. There is absolutely no reason, for example, that the 2010 Longhorns-- a damn good team that was almost great -- had to run out of steam down the stretch, in part because Texas had just 9 scholarship players. Barnes knew he was losing four players from the 2009 team to graduation and if there was anything surprising about losing a player early to the NBA, it was that there wasn't more than one. The transfers of Shawn Williams and Varez Ward were potentially unexpected, but even assuming Barnes didn't have a sense that they weren't going to stick around, projecting roster attrition should have accounted for at least one of the two lost spots.

In other words, even a conservative projection should have told Barnes he'd have 3 to 4 open scholarships in 2010, and he knew with absolute certainty that his frontcourt consisting of an incoming freshman (Tristan Thompson) and two redshirt juniors with substantial limitations (Wangmene and Chapman) needed bolstering. Barnes would have done well to try to land either Michael Cobbins or Keith Davis -- two Top 100 frontcourt recruits hailing from Texas -- and it would have been a perfect year to take a transfer or two, such as Kenton Thomas (Creighton) or Emmanuel Negedu (Tennessee), two high impact frontcourt players who transferred for the 2010-11 season.

Recruiting Five Stars to Austin

Turning now to the second charge -- that Barnes was shooting himself in the foot bringing in the wrong kinds of elite players to Texas -- the chart on the right shows each of Barnes' 31 Top 100 recruits at Texas, alongside the number of seasons that each played for the Longhorns. Ridley, Ibeh, Holmes, Felix, and Yancy-Harris could all still be four-year players, but outside those five current players, just nine of the remaining 26 have been four-year players for Barnes at Texas, with five leaving early via transfer and 12 departing early to enter the NBA Draft.

In fact, if you add up all the potential years that Texas' 31 Top 100 players could have played in Austin (adjusted for current returning players) and compare that to the number of years that they actually played in Austin, Texas has received just 76 out of the 113 possible seasons (67.3%) that its best recruits could have contributed. Curious how that compared with some other top programs, we compiled the same numbers for Florida, Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke, and UK -- thanks to the recent binge of early entrants who have played for Calipari -- is the only other program to have received a comparably low percentage of potential years from its Top 100 recruits (and across the pre-Calipari years between 1998 and 2009, Kentucky received 82% of the available years from its Top 100 recruits). Part of the reason Mike Krzyzewski (82%) and Bill Self (84%) are two of the game's best coaches is the astounding success they have keeping their Top 100 recruits three or four seasons. For his part, Billy Donovan is north of the 75% mark, as well, and is the owner of two national title rings instead of just one thanks to the stars from his '06 championship team sticking around for a repeat run in '07.

Sometimes he doesn't know the difference between pushing a team or player to be their best and pushing too hard.

So the complaints that Barnes was getting fewer years out of his top players are not without basis. What should we make of that? For starters, it's hard not to ask how much of the blame to attribute to Barnes' coaching style, which can be extremely grating. DJ Augustin was described to me by a source as "miserable" by the end of his sophomore season. And as one former player told me, "I personally like Coach Barnes, but sometimes he doesn't know the difference between pushing a team or player to be their best and pushing too hard."

In fairness to Barnes, though, it's also hard not to ask how someone managed to turn a program that had recruited one McDonald's All-American in its entire history into one that secured commitments from 31 Top 100 recruits, including 13 hamburger all-stars.

Part of the answer is that Barnes quickly began recruiting the state's growing pool of elite talent better than any of his predecessors ever had, but seven of those 13 McDonald's All-Americans came to Austin from outside the Lone Star State. Interestingly, of those seven players, four left after a single season (Durant, Bradley, Thompson, Joseph), another two left after their sophomore seasons (Augustin, Kabongo), and one transferred (Mike Williams). Jordan Hamilton (California) wasn't eligible to be a McDonald's All-American, but he would have been under normal circumstances and fits into this group, as well.

It seems to me that the elite out-of-state recruits who've come to Texas are essentially the result of Barnes' navigation of a trade off. In order to attract nationally elite recruits, Barnes had to sell Texas as an outstanding program to prepare for an NBA career. Why? Why not sell the program's other virtues. Well, because there effectively aren't any -- not compared with the blue blood schools with whom you're competing for the nation's top talent. Schools like Duke and Kansas can sell their programs to recruits as an ideal destination for four years -- the absolute pinnacle of college hoops prestige and experience. Texas has to offer a recruit something, but the experience of playing at the Erwin Center isn't exactly something a player dreams about. Although, it was somewhere Julius Randle could start dreaming.

Whether or not Barnes deserves any blame for his strategy (I personally thought it was perfectly fine, with the need for improvement being Barnes' work completing the rest of the roster), Barnes himself appears to have reached the same conclusion as his critics, pivoting away from recruiting elite out-of-state players whose primary reason for choosing Texas over a real basketball school would be NBA preparation, and focusing attention on a recruiting strategy focused on compiling a roster of players who are likely to stay in Austin for 3-4 years. It's a sound strategy, but in order to be optimized for the highest level of success, it also requires Barnes to take advantage of the growing pool of elite players from the state of Texas -- players who UT, as the flagship university of their home state, actually has something viable to offer.

But recently, Rick Barnes' ability to do that has been a source of growing concern.

Still to come in Part 2: "Recruiting the State of Texas."

JUCO TE John Thomas commits to the Texas Longhorns

Wescott Eberts — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:05:30 -0000

The Texas Longhorns continued their momentum in the 2014 class on Saturday evening with the unexpected pledge of Trinity Valley Community College tight end John Thomas, a prospect not previously known to be on the Texas radar.

The 'Horns desperately needed at least one if not two tight ends in the 2014 class, but entering the weekend had only extended an offer to California's Tyler Luatua, the top prospect at the position in the class. Then Texas offered the 6'6, 255-pound, a native of Bossier City, Louisiana who failed to qualify in the 2012 class after signing with LSU over offers from Arizona and Missouri. A four-star prospect at the time, he was one of the top-10 tight ends nationally in that class. Prior to his commitment to Texas, he held an offer from Auburn.

As with any junior-college prospect, the concern at this time is that he needs to have a successful upcoming academic year to stay on track to enroll at Texas, but the coaching staff apparently feels that he is on pace to do so and the dire need at tight end may have helped Thomas' case.

If 2013 Notre Dame signee Durham Smythe, the longtime Texas commit, was the best dual-threat tight end Texas had received a commitment from out of high school in a decade or so, Thomas also fits into that mold. With listed 4.77 speed in the 40 coming out of high school, he's not a burner, but he's also not a high school wide receiver. More importantly, he has in-line blocking experience, an attribute that is increasingly harder to find with many big-bodied receivers used primarily as pass-catchers in high school.

John Thomas Highlights (via 247SportsStudio)

In limited highlights from his senior season, Thomas doesn't exactly look like 2015 pledge Maea Teuhema putting opponents on their back, but he is capable of getting some movement and does a solid job of walling off and sealing opponents. Having spent two years in Trinity Valley's strength and conditioning program by the time he arrives at Texas should help Thomas gain more functional strength to win battles.

Athletically, Thomas is a solid athlete who is more remarkable for his pure size and ability to present a tall target than any exceptional quickness either in short areas or on the top end, though he does run away from opponents at times when he gets into the open field and does a nice job in the redzone of beating defenders on pivot routes. He probably won't be a guy who can stretch the seam vertically in college like Smythe, but he should be a decent asset in the passing game.

The hope is that Thomas can step onto campus and immediately contribute as an attached tight end capable of adding some value in the passing game while holding his own against similarly-sized defensive ends. Right now, it's a solid bet that will happen given his skill set, as long as the Louisiana native keeps his grades in order.

Boston College Football Recruiting: S Kevin Bletzer Commits To Boston College

Brian Favat — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:08 -0000

Boston College football's latest commitment is Catholic Memorial safety Kevin Bletzer. Like Kam Moore and Troy Flutie, Bletzer wasn't being followed by any of the major recruiting services but received a scholarship offer after camping at BC. Bletzer is a three sport varsity athlete out of Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury. The 6-foot-1, 183 pound safety was recruited by Kevin Lempa.

Bletzer's commitment brings the total number of Massachusetts players in the 2014 class to seven. The CM safety joins Millis OL Jon Baker, Roxbury Latin LB Kevin Cohee, Natick WR Troy Flutie, Dexter OL James Hendren, St. Sebastian's LB Connor Strachan and Doherty Memorial DB Isaac Yiadom in the 2014 class.

A few have questioned the coaching staff's strategy of offering unheralded recruits this early in the recruiting cycle. I personally don't have an issue with Addazio and staff offering scholarships to players they get to evaluate coming out of camp. As far as BC classes go, 2014 will be one of the largest in recent memory and not every recruit will be nationally ranked. The fact that Bletzer comes out of CM can only help the program rebuild some goodwill locally.

Bletzer brings Addazio's 2014 class up to 16 commitments. Only three programs -- Texas (19), Baylor (17) and Kentucky (17) -- have more at this point in the 2014 recruiting sesason.

Welcome to the Heights, Kevin!

Mountaineer Morning Links: Monday (6/17/13) Edition

WVUIE97 — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:29:59 -0000

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now: Monday, June 17 - WV MetroNews
Greg Hunter gives an update on WVU’s first recruit for the 2015 recruiting class and Randy Mazey talks about summer baseball and how his players will benefit from playing around the country.

WVU tennis coach leaving for Wisconsin job - Charleston Gazette
Samara has been at WVU for the last three seasons. The Mountaineers finished 8-14 in her first year, then 4-16 and 4-17 the last two spring seasons.

Program big help for Mountaineers volleyball - Charleston Daily Mail
She wanted the statistical program that tracks and records every touch and every outcome during a match and gives players and coaches greater insight into how to scout opponents and how opponents scout WVU.

Here’s something that makes no sense - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
RWG-11-3-B has been widely panned as ridiculous and unnecessary because it bans live scouting

Ranking the Big 12's College Football Stadiums - AthlonSports.com
#4

News of Note:

WVU Weight Room Renovation Presses Forward - WVillustrated
Mountaineers take to the indoor practice facility as work to build state-of-the-art weight room progresses.

This will raise a debate - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
there’s a rather sizable money problem at the University right now, the byproduct of a $13 million cut in state funding and some aggressive planning and execution.

HERTZEL COLUMN: Independent study of WVU finances needed - Times West Virginian
Now it’s true that technically the athletic budget is separate from the school’s budget … sort of, although it’s hard to imagine WVU’s expense item for scholarship money paid as a cost when it is paying it to the school, which lists it as income.

Crucial Days - BGN
For a lot of coaches, the first few weeks on the job are some of the most crucial days of their career.

Recruiting:

Photo Gallery: WVU Football Camp II - BGN

WVU 7-on-7 Camp 6-14-13 photos - WVSports.com

Gridiron Ready? - WVSports.com
Levi Cook has already made his mark on the basketball court at Liberty-Raleigh High School, committing to West Virginia before his sophomore season and earning first-team Class AA all-state honors while putting in a nightly double-double.

Recruiting, scouting Oklahoma on mind of WVU’s Gibson - WV MetroNews
WVU safeties coach Tony Gibson with a recruiting update on the MetroNews Statewide Sportsline.

First 2015 commit has family ties - WV MetroNews
Morgantown High junior Stone Wolfley plans to follow dad, uncle to WVU.

Pro News:

Geno Smith says he'll attend 'Jets West' camp after all - USA Today
Rookie says there's no rift between the two quarterbacks

WATCH: Kevin Jones Reflects on First Year in NBA - WVillustrated
Former WVU basketball star hosts camps throughout the state as he looks forward to his second season of pro ball.

WATCH: Truck Bryant Looks Ahead to Pro Future - WVillustrated
Former WVU guard is helping out with Kevin Jones' camp before he travels to play in Austria later this year.

J.D. Woods Greets Fans as a Pittsburgh Steeler - WVillustrated
Former WVU receiver speaks from autograph signing as he continues his rookie NFL summer.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Defensive tackle commit ‘truly green and gold’ - Waco Tribune

What the APR Means to Iowa State - Wide Right & Natty Lite

Andrew Wiggins arrives in Lawrence, will begin summer school this week - Lawrence Journal World

Wichita Catbackers hear football optimism - Wichita Eagle

OU Baseball | Sunny Golloway Accepts Auburn Head Coaching Job - Crimson And Cream Machine

What Mike Gundy looks for when filling coaching vacancies - Oklahoman

2014 Texas Longhorns Football Recruiting Overview - Barking Carnival

TCU Cornerback David Jenkins Dismissed From The Team - Frogs O' War

Recruiting on the South Plains | 2014 OL Robert Castaneda Commits to Texas Tech - Viva The Matadors

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is an aspiring model from Florida. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Jaquie Ohh.