Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information and daily distractions. Today we're being brought to you by Stampede Light Plus, in honor of Miss Throwdown (Who else finds that slogan above completely ironic?).

It's the end of another calendar year.  Please be safe if you're going out tonight (drinking or not...the other guy may have been).  Gator Bowl and a HUGE BB game tomorrow (I'll be here with more coverage).  Plenty to keep you occupied inside.  I just wanted to thank Charley and the guys for asking me to do this.  It's been more fun than I thought it would be.  Oh, and thank you to all of the readers for the kind words.  The tips, suggestions and requests help tremendously as well.  Sorry for the delay this morning.  Here we go...

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Report for Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl preview - ESPN

Gator Bowl Practice Gallery - WVIllustrated.com

Mountaineers prepare for Gator Bowl matchup - WVUToday

(18) West Virginia (9-3) vs. Florida State (6-6) - MiamiHerald.com

Jacksonville Station WJSJ to Air Purdue Game - MSNsportsNET.Com
Listening options for the basketball game, which is on at the same time as the Gator Bowl (if you hadn't noticed).

Baseball: West Virginia Picked Sixth - MSNsportsNET.Com

News of Note (FB):

Stew's Road Show - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Includes article and gallery

Bill Stewart: That West Virginia Connection - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Includes video and gallery

Williams wrapping up career - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

The Replacements - MSNsportsNET.Com

Additional Practices A Plus - MSNsportsNET.Com

Thomas: ‘I’m a Mountaineer’ - Register-Herald

J.T. Thomas, Gator notebook - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

A chance for Brown to cement his legacy - Register-Herald

Florida State coaches familiar with Mountaineers' 3-3-5 Defense - Charleston Gazette

Stewart has already been to big dance with a Bowden - Register-Herald

Guard remains on watch for Florida State's Bowden - PPG

WVU's Dunlap recalls playing for Bowden - Charleston Gazette

Bowden's final FSU practice arrives - Martinsburg Journal (AP)

Bobby Bowden and Life After Football - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Hoppy's Commentary

'Meant To Be' - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Coach Bowden's last practice. Includes article, gallery and video.

Colin Dunlap's West Virginia football/Gator Bowl chat - PPG

West Virginia enters into enemy territory - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Right Mentality - WVIllustrated.com

The Florida Connection - WVIllustrated.com

Seminoles' kick return man will test Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail

Ready For Action - BlueGoldNews.com

News of Note (BB):

Early Warnings List reveals contenders, pretenders to watch - SI.com

WVU seeking improvement as Purdue looms - Charleston Gazette

No. 4 Men's Basketball Set For New Year's Day Showdown With No. 6 West Virginia - Purdue Official Athletic Site

Purdue coach sees WVU as familiar foe - Charleston Daily Mail

Women's Basketball: WVU Storms Past Santa Clara - MSNsportsNET.Com

Mike Gansey Podcast: Back To U.S. After Challenging Stint Overseas - LostLettermen.com

What's On Tap:

St. John's Red Storm vs. Georgetown Hoyas - Preview - December 31, 2009 - ESPN
Tonight at 8 pm from the Phone Booth in DC. ESPN2 has the coverage. Georgetown is giving 10.

One big Gator Bowl party - Charleston Gazette
Charleston Civic Center is playing host to a game watching party tomorrow. "For $12, attendees can opt for an upscale, all-you-can-eat tailgate feast by Distinctive Gourmet, with hot and cold food. Beverages, including beer, are an added cost."

Around the League (and Beyond):

UC clips No. 10 UConn in 71-69 thriller - Cincinnati Enquirer
Now we know why UConn was only a 1 point favorite.

'D' gave up points, aims to make one - Cincinnati Enquirer

Tomy Pike and Zach Collaros are equally responsible for Cincinnati's success - ESPN

This dome is different for Bulls - Tampa Tribune

USF no match for Louisville - Tampa Tribune

Louisville basketball downs South Florida 73-52 and can now focus on rival Wildcats - Courier-Journal

Pitt preparing for early Big East tests - Charleston Daily Mail (AP)

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

Texas Tech Red Raiders fire Mike Leach - ESPN

Urban Meyer, Mike Leach sagas impacting schools' recruits - SI.com

Report: Admissions exemptions benefit athletes at top football schools, according to AP review - ESPN

Video of Interest: 

From WVIllustrated.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

If you grew up a fan of both of these (like I did) you will find this completely awesome!!!

Celebrity Gallery of the Week:

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is dumb as a rock and has seen better days, but she could rock it at one point not too long ago.  Here's Miss Jessica Simpson.

via images.starpulse.com

Stampede Light image via www.gunaxin.com