The Shotgun/Throwdown (9/2/25): WVU golf shatters records, wins Island Resort Collegiate

Welcome to The Shotgun/Throwdown, your daily West Virginia sports roundup (that we didn’t already talk about in another article) with some sophomoric humor and daily distractions thrown in for good measure. And if there’s something we missed, be sure to talk about it in the comments.

RECORD SETTING START

WVU golf opened their fall season by rewriting the record book and bringing home a trophy. The Mountaineers won the Island Resort Collegiate in Michigan with a school-record 55-under team score, the 18th-best 54-hole

total in NCAA history.

Sophomore Ryan Leach led the charge, firing rounds of 63, 65, and 71 to finish at -17 and capture the individual title — his second collegiate win and the best score to par in program history. He was joined on the podium by senior Kaleb Wilson (-16) and sophomore Nick Turowski (-15), giving WVU a 1-2-3 sweep at the top of the leaderboard. Freshman Jack Michael added a top-20 finish in his collegiate debut at -7.

The Mountaineers beat Purdue by six shots to win the team crown, topping a field that included Big Ten programs Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska. It’s the latest sign of WVU’s rise under coach Sean Covich, and they’ll head to Minnesota next weekend looking to keep it rolling at The Gopher Invitational.

MOUNTAINEER ROUNDUP

Rich Rod used his second radio show to hit on fumbles, QBs, and more. He called Scotty Fox’s release one of the quickest I’ve ever seen and said the freshman will play plenty this year. He thinks Nicco Marchiol managed the game well, the O-line settled in after halftime, and Hammond Russell IV drew praise for his leadership. The secondary wasn’t tested vs. RMU, but Rodriguez warned they’ll face one of the MAC’s best QBs at Ohio.

MOUNTAINEER PROS

Austin Brinkman is set to make his NFL debut Sunday with the Houston Texans. The undrafted rookie signed a three-year deal after five years in Morgantown and now steps into the role once held by Pro Bowler Jon Weeks. Brinkman battled through a preseason oblique injury but has impressed coaches with his consistency and size, giving him a shot to anchor Houston’s special teams for years to come.
Kade Strowd kept his ERA sparkling with 1.2 scoreless frames out of Baltimore’s bullpen against the Giants on Sunday. The rookie’s strikeout-to-walk numbers aren’t pretty (9:8 in 17 innings), but he’s still sitting on a 1.59 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.
The Raiders SI site says Geno Smith could be the difference-maker in Las Vegas. After ranking near the bottom of the league in accuracy the last few years, the Raiders now get one of the NFL’s most precise passers.
Beanie Bishop isn’t hiding how he feels after getting cut by the Steelers — he’s pissed. Bishop cleared waivers and re-signed to Pittsburgh’s practice squad, where he says he’ll use the chance to prove he can play more than just slot corner. With Jalen Ramsey shifting all over the field, Bishop knows versatility is the key if he wants another shot at sticking on the 53.
Victor Scott II is back with the Cardinals after a left ankle sprain sidelined him for two weeks, though he wasn’t in Monday’s starting lineup against Oakland.

AROUND THE LEAGUE (AND BEYOND)

Mike Gundy decided to spice up Oklahoma State’s trip to Oregon by pointing out the Ducks’ spending power — saying they dropped close to $40 million on their roster last year while the Cowboys spent about $7 million over three seasons. Dan Lanning shot back that Oregon spends to win while some people save to have an excuse. Both sides threw in some compliments for each other, but with OSU heading to Eugene this weekend, the game’s got some extra heat built up.
TCU absolutely mauled UNC in Bill Belichick’s college debut, hanging 48–14 on the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. The Frogs ripped off 41 unanswered points, with a Bud Clark pick-six, a scoop-and-score, and a 75-yard touchdown run breaking it open.

VIDEO OF INTEREST

VIDEO OF (DIS)INTEREST

Better get used to The Stroke on kickoffs. It ain’t going anywhere, and we’re going to hear it A LOT.

Have any tips, suggestions or requests for what you want to see in The Shotgun/Throwdown? Drop it in the comments or holler at us on social media.

We’ll be back for more tomorrow.

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