The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (10/22/09) Edition

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Lone Star beer, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.  We seem to have a two day streak of red/gold/white logos too.  How long can we keep the streak alive?

I think I'm over this flu thing and I'm back in the saddle.  It was BE Media Day in New York yesterday, so there's a few more BB stories today.  There's lots to cover, so I won't waste any time here.  Send in your requests and see you after the jump.

What You May Have Missed:

Connecticut Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com

Preview: WVU - UConn - BlueGoldNews.com

WVU looks for a second BIG EAST win in what promises to be an emotional game - WVIllustrated.com
Another preview

Second-half preview: West Virginia - ESPN

What to watch in the Big East, Week 8 - ESPN

Is Stewart the right man for the job? Q&A with Dunlap - PPG

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

News of Note:

Past burglary charge leads to arrest of WVU safety - Charleston Gazette

West Virginia QB Jarrett Brown feeling better after big hit - ESPN (AP)

WVU's Mullen insists that Brown slide - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU’s Brown may play, Berry won’t - Inter-Mountain

Brown on his way back  - Charleston Gazette

Freshman Geno Smith stays cool under pressure - WVIllustrated.com

Smith getting more than his 15 minutes - Times West Virginian

The return of Hogan’s Heroes - Register-Herald

WVU's Sands had bond with slain UConn player - Charleston Gazette

Basketball News:

Nova, WVU 1-2 In Preseason Hoops Poll - BlueGoldNews.com

WVU No. 2 in Big East preseason hoops poll - Charleston Gazette
...but you knew that already

Butler First Team All-Big East - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Rundown of the Pre-Season Conference awards.

West Virginia evidence of shift in league power - PPG

The truth on WVU's new shooting star - Charleston Gazette

Dick Vitale: Top 40 teams - ESPN
In the words of the Beatles: Number 9, Number 9, Number 9

Here are a couple bits from ESPN's Andy Katz:

• With five more first-place votes in the preseason coaches' poll, Villanova was tabbed to win the Big East over West Virginia. Connecticut got one first-place vote. After discussions with a number of coaches in the league, I would be more inclined to flip the top two, with West Virginia the favorite over Nova. The Wildcats might be deeper, but no team in the Big East has as talented a foursome returning as the Mountaineers do with Devin Ebanks, Da'Sean Butler, Joe Mazzulla and Darryl Bryant. That foursome can lead WVU to the Final Four.

Recruiting:

WVU Makes Florida DT Ford's Final Three - EerSports.com
"West Virginia joins Wake Forest and Oklahoma State in the final three for Pahokee (Fla.) lineman Antonio Ford."

Around the League (and Beyond):

BIG EAST Slate: Week 8 - WVIllustrated.com

Connecticut's Dixon finds his way in Huskies' backfield  - Charleston Daily Mail

Vigil for Jasper, and other news - TheUConnBlog.com

Greg Schiano wants Rutgers to reduce its 'unforced errors' - Star Ledger

Marrone shuffles Syracuse offensive line; White, Rosner scheduled for first starts - syracuse.com

Defensive stops coming more inside than out - PPG

Cincinnati fans picking up the trash talking of a team they have not played and will not play - Card Chronicle

Cards must prep for trio of QBs - Cincinnati Enquirer

SEC suspends Florida-Arkansas crew until Nov. 14 - SI.com
WOW!

Hatch seeks Justice probe of BCS - ESPN

BCS not solving problems - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

What's On Tap:

Florida State Seminoles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels - ESPN
Tonight at 8 pm EDT on ESPN. North Carolina is giving 2.5 points.

Video of Interest:

Once again courtesy of WVIllustrated.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

This guy used to do tailgate tour videos for SI and I've always found him funny.

This Week in Bodypainting:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Texas beauty.  What can I say?  I'm a sucker for blue eyed brunettes.  Here's Ardis Vanfossan.

via i252.photobucket.com

Don't bother adjusting your volume or checking your computer, this video has had the audio disabled for copyright reasons.

Lone Star image via www.twogroove.com