The Shotgun/Throwdown: Friday (10/23/09) Edition

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Old Milwaukee beer.  That's three in a row.

It's Homecoming tomorrow and I'm starting to get excited, despite the solemnity surrounding the game.  It's probably because I wasn't going to be able to attend tomorrow and now I can.  Regardless, this is a dangerous game for obvious reasons.  Cheer the Huskies as they enter the field and then cheer the Mountaineers on to victory.  Have a great weekend!  Send in your tips and requests and on with the show....

What You May Have Missed:

Colin Dunlap's WVU football chat transcript - PPG

Scouting Report: Connecticut - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Big East Round Two - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Big East picks, Week 8 - ESPN

2009 Big East Fearless Picks - Week 8 - Scout.com

College GameDay Kickoff: Week 8 preview - ESPN

Huggins' heroes not run-of-the-mill team - New York Post
"A national magazine recently published its preseason Top 25 college basketball rankings and the list is headed by the traditional powers -- Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina, West Virginia. Wait a second. West Virginia? "

News of Note:

UConn coach says everyone will play Saturday - Charleston Gazette

UConn-WVU more than a game - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU students making armbands to honor Howard - Martinsburg Journal (AP)

Like Marshall, UConn Has Never Beaten WVU - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Brown Says He’ll Go Full Speed Upon Return - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

WVU's Brown practices, status uncertain - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Smith ready in case Brown isn't for WVU - ESPN

QB Brown will be game-day decision - Register-Herald
Notebook

Smith Stood Tall When Brown Went Down - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Rolling Sevens With Geno - MSNsportsNET.Com

Heavy Hearts to Meet in Morgantown - EerSports.com

Player Perspectives: Playing Through The Pain - WVIllustrated.com
"WVU Players and coaches discuss balancing emotions and motivation going into Saturdays match-up with UConn."

Flattened QB says he'll bounce off the canvas - PPG

Three-point stance: State of play - ESPN

Hit on Brown missed by officials - Times West Virginian
Bob's a little late on this one.

Recruiting:

A Christian, some Lions and a little bit of Magic - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's notebook

'Eers Dip into Cali for Blue-Chip Linebacker - EerSports.com

Ford Puts WVU in Top 3 - WVIllustrated.com

Around the League (and Beyond):

Dixon's back as UConn's main man - Charleston Gazette

Bulls must maneuver through Big East powerhouses - Tampa Tribune

Pike's status remains unchanged - Cincinnati Enquirer

Syracuse University football team tackles third-down futility - syracuse.com

Dion Lewis is filling Wannstedt's model for a durable, punishing tailback - PPG
The kid is already kinda making them forget they miss McCoy.

Can Ohio State-Terrelle Pryor relationship be salvaged? - SI.com

Weis doesn't trust conference officials - Truth&Rumors/FanNation
Ok, you're one of a handful of independent schools out of 120.  Alright genius, who else is gonna do it?

What's On Tap:

Connecticut Huskies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers, October 24 2009 - ESPN
Noon Saturday on ESPNU if you can't make it in person for Homecoming.  The line has WVU by 7.5.

Men's Basketball: Ticket Information - MSNsportsNET.Com
Tickets for WVU men’s basketball non-conference home games in November and December will go on sale Monday, Oct. 26, at 9 a.m.

Rutgers vs. Army, 8 p.m., Michie Stadium, ESPN2 - Star Ledger
The line has Rutgers giving 10.5.

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Barbecue - courtesy of Celebrations.com

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoon Chili Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
• 1.5 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
• a Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
• 5 Lbs Boneless Pork Butt of Shoulder
• 2 Cup Barbecue, homemade or favorite store brand
• 10-12 Soft Hamburger-style Buns

Steps

• In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cayenne. Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the pork. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours and up to overnight.
• Place pork in a slow cooker. Set on low heat and cook for 10 hours. Transfer from the slow cooker to a roasting pan and shred with two forks, removing any large pieces of fat. Pour the broth into a heatproof pitcher or large fat separator, and skim off the fat. Put the pork back into the slow cooker. Combine the barbecue sauce and 3 cups of the skimmed broth. Stir into the pork and cook two hours. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pork from the slow cooker. Place the meat on a serving platter or on individual buns. Serve the remaining sauce alongside.

Video of Interest:

Courtesy of WVIllustrated.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Here's some help for degenerate gambling...ahem, picking the winner of the Penn State/Michigan game.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=7b13fac3-9aaf-4019-9fb7-d8fae44ce7df&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" mce_href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=7b13fac3-9aaf-4019-9fb7-d8fae44ce7df&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" target="_new" title="College Experiment: Pillow-Fighting Predictions">Video: College Experiment: Pillow-Fighting Predictions</a>

Cheerleader Gallery of the Week:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is exactly what Brian Wilson and Mike Love had in mind when they wrote the lyric "I wish they all could be California girls." This one is for you, 5YS.  I present, the ever spectacular, Marisa Miller.

Old Milwaukee image via www.glunzbeers.com