Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Post Road Pumpkin Ale.

Today is Marvin Graves is a little bitch day here at the Throwdown.  So get your Orange hate on, send in your tips and enjoy the show...

What You May Have Missed:

Bill Stewart: Weekly Press Conference - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Stew's Views: Quick Transition - BlueGoldNews.com

Football: Selected Player Quotes - MSNsportsNET.Com

Berry expected back for Syracuse game - Big East - ESPN

2009 CFN Big East Week 6 Expert Picks - Scout.com
Title is misleading. Actually it's a roundup/recap.

Devine wanted the football against Buffaloes - Times West Virginian
This is a good read, IMHO.

Big East in the BCS computer rankings - Big East - ESPN
Sagarin has Louisville 121st out of 120 FBS teams.  That isn't a typo.

Big East stock report, Week 6 - Big East - ESPN

On The Mark: Week 5 - College Football - ESPN
Schlabach is still an ignorant slut.

Three-point stance: Devine, Gerhart, Locksley - ESPN
It's a few days old, but still relevant, see points 1 & 3

News of Note:

West Virginia's Stewart stews, but in private - PPG

Turnover bug bites Syracuse - The Charleston Gazette
All I ask for is a little creativity in your stories, not the same thing beaten to death day after day.

Turnovers will make or break Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
See what I mean, dead horse, let's beat it some more.

Perception vs. Reality - MSNsportsNET.Com
Caridi's article

Syracuse QB has seen WVU before...in NCAA Tournament - Charleston Daily Mail
Greg Paulus attempts to go 0 for 2 against the Mountaineers.

Syracuse quarterback concerns Stewart - Inter-Mountain

Stewart has decision to make against Syracuse - Times West Virginian

WVU’s ‘new’ punter Kozlowski a weapon - Register-Herald

Nutter, Lindamood love WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Thanks For Taking Care Of Our Schwartzwalder Trophy, West Virginia - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
A look back at many of the big games in the past of this series. BTW, the trophy is ours.

Orange Looking to Crush Mountaineers - Bleacher Report
Writer has a "keys to victory" list.

Initial Thoughts: Syracuse - WVIllustrated.com

Recruiting News:

WVU Makes Final Three for Virginia Star - eersports.com

Anderson Delays Decision, Plans WVU Visit - eersports.com

Odom Delays Decision, One School Eliminated - eersports.com

Around the League (and Beyond):

BIG EAST Slate: Week 6 - WVIllustrated.com

Syracuse Has More Loose Ends Than Tight Ends - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Syracuse will be without TEs Nick Provo and Cody Catalina this weekend. Backup Andrew Robinson's hand is in a cast as well.

Pitt Notebook: Hutchins' range led to fourth-down decision - PPG

Position switch working out for Rutgers offensive lineman Desmond Wynn - Star Ledger

Rutgers won't get much out of this week's game - Big East - ESPN
Of course not, their OOC schedule looks like something from the WVIAC.

USF hopes to reverse trend - Tamp Tribune
Oh, he means the trend of starting red-hot and fizzling like a dud bottle rocket.

Lutrus Watch, Day 29: By ’stop asking about it’ I mean probable - TheUConnBlog.com

UC could get Utah-ed - The Cincinnati Enquirer

It was all right until he lost consecutive theme games - Card Chronicle

Source: No Bowden decision by FSU until season's end - Tampa Tribune

Gators may use wildcat formation - Gainesville Sun

What's On Tap:

MLB playoffs start today.  Three games on tap starting at 2:37pm EDT.

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Preview - October 07, 2009 - ESPN
2:37pm EDT on TBS

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees - Preview - October 07, 2009 - ESPN
6:07pm EDT on TBS

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - Preview - October 07, 2009 - ESPN
9:37pm EDT on TBS

Trivia of the Day:

Can you name the Top 15 of Final BCS Standings each year since 1998? - sporcle
BCS Standings History Quiz - I got 160/165

Videos of Interest:

Author's of this site and WVU fans in general have a long standing LOATHING of Syracuse and Marvin Graves.  If you aren't already fired up for this game, this ought to do it.  A little back story to put these in context for those of you not in the know:

WVU was up 17-13 with not much time left.  Graves runs an option out of bounds and feels he was hit late.  He then proceeds to throw the ball into Tommy Orr's helmet, creating a bench clearing brawl.  Three key WVU defenders and a 3rd string punter for Syracuse are ejected.  Graves is somehow allowed to continue and leads the team down for a last minute TD and victory. 

Older fans may have older moments that solidified their hatred of the Orange.  This is what did it for me.  Sorry for the quality, but it's the only one I could find.

Gallery of the Day:

I don't know about you, but I need a nice gallery to calm me down after those videos.  I'm pretty sure rumplestiltskin is with me, based on his comments so far this week.

Miss Throwdown:

I must be in some kind of rut, but based on the last few days, this is a good rut to be in.  Today's Miss Throwdown is another Argentinian beauty.  If you don't like it, complain in the comments and send me your choice.  Meet Melina Pitra.

via i251.photobucket.com

Post Road Pumpkin Ale image via www.bruguru.com