Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information and a few distractions.  Today we're being brought to you by Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale.

It's Christmas Eve and Huggs and the men gave us an early present last night.  I sincerely wish you all the best Christmas and hope you all get to spend it with family and friends.  Be safe if you're traveling.  I will have a small edition up tomorrow.  Merry Christmas everyone!!  (Tips, suggestions and requests can be submitted here)  Ho Ho Ho...

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Report for Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Smith Shoots Down Ole Miss - MSNsportsNET.Com
76-66

Kansas, Texas, Kentucky top three in College Hoops Power Rankings - Luke Winn - SI.com
#7

News of Note (FB):

Best case/Worst case rewind: West Virginia - ESPN

Get your Gator Bowl pregame plan ready - Charleston Daily Mail

Kirkland tackling new role in WVU offense - Charleston Daily Mail

Football: Brown to Play in East-West Shrine - MSNsportsNET.Com

Gorman: 'Backyard Brawl' altered college football landscape - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

News of Note (BB):

Night at the improv - Charleston Gazette

Smith gives WVU fans early present - Charleston Gazette

WVU Goes To The Wells For Win - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Includes a gallery, article and audio of Huggs.

First Test Passed - BlueGoldNews.com

West Virginia pulls away from Mississippi - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Bench a great motivator - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Huggs’ Message Sent, Received - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Big East early season review - ESPN

What's On Tap:

No games scheduled...just my favorite holiday.

Around the League (and Beyond):

USF's Pierre-Paul has choice to make - Tampa Tribune

Gruder visits old stomping grounds - PPG

Quinn juggling Cincinnati, Buffalo jobs - Cincinnati Enquirer

Jimmy Dean would sing: 'Wide at the shoulder, narrow at the hip. That's Rick. Big, bad Rick.' - syracuse.com

Wright scores career-high 34 to lead No. 13 Georgetown - ESPN
86-70

Reynolds' 22 points help No. 8 Villanova cruise past Delaware - ESPN
97-63

Forbes: Texas reigns as most valuable college - azcentral.com

Video of Interest:

Thanks to WVIllustrated.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

This is my favorite version of this song and these are great clips to go along with it.

Christmas Gallery of the Day:

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is yet another Brazilian beauty and a Victoria's Secret Angel.  Oh, to be Tom Brady.  Here's Gisele Bündchen.  Merry Christmas everybody!!!!!

via www.vivagoal.com

Celebration Ale image via www.bruguru.com