Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Great Lakes Brewing's Oktoberfest, because it still is.

Of course, the biggest news of the day is the two recruits that just committed to WVU and Huggs. 'Cuse prep is in full swing as well. I've got you covered regardless. If you have any tips, suggestions or requests for content that you think is worth sharing, you can send them to me by email or Twitter and don't forget to "LIKE" the Smoking Musket main page on Facebook. I appreciate the "Likes" on this posting, but we're really hoping to increase the "Likes/Fans" of the main page. Plus, if you do, you'll get the updates in your "News Feed," so you'll have that going for you...which is nice. See you after the jump...

What You May Have Missed:

Bill Stewart speaks to the media on the weekly Big East call - WVillustrated.com

Gold and Blue Report for Tuesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Huggins Expects Another Banner Year - MSNsportsNET.Com

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins, sister raise funds to fight cancer - Coshocton Tribune

Luck avoids disaster as league alignments are over temporarily - Charleston Daily Mail

BCS Rankings: West Virginia Tops In Region - SB Nation Pittsburgh

Big East Football Power Rankings Week 7 - The UConn Blog

P.S.R. 1-120: Week 8 Re-Ranking - Pre-Snap Read
#22 here

NCAA College Football Power Rankings Week 7 - ESPN
#21

Weekly BCS Briefing: Week Seven - Crimson And Cream Machine

Week 7 review/Week 8 preview - ESPN

WVU Varsity Sports Update - BGN

News of Note:

Syracuse can keep a punter busy - Charleston Gazette

WVU looks to set school record versus Syracuse - Charleston Daily Mail

Rushing productivity has slipped - Charleston Daily Mail

Concern over Devine's disappearance in running game is gaining traction in West Virginia - Post Standard

Are The Orange Back? - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and Video

Orange preps to face speedy WVU squad - The Daily Orange

Stewart happy with West Virginia’s defense - Inter-Mountain

Casteel lets defense speak for him - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Plenty of Positives Thus Far For Mountaineers - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

WVU football Q&A answers 10.19.10 - 'Eers to the Ground

Keith's A Cat - BGN

BIG EAST Weekly Football Honors: Oct. 18 - Big East

WVU's Smith impressive so far - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Lindamood key player for WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Julian Miller Feature - Mountaineer TV

Forward Cam Thoroughman - Mountaineer TV

Mountaineers will Look to Kevin Jones to Lead the Way - WVillustrated.com

Recruiting:

Double Play - BGN
West Virginia has received two verbal commitments for its basketball class of 2001.

Center, point guard commit to WVU - Charleston Gazette

Brunswick basketball standout Pat Forsythe headed to West Virginia University - cleveland.com

Pat Forsythe's Perfect Visit Landed Him at WVU - WVillustrated.com
I don't know what it is about their formatting issues

Boatright Commits to WVU - WVillustrated.com
...and here also

Around the League (and Beyond):

Syracuse University football tries to rebound from blowout loss against Big East leader - Post Standard

SU must be better to have a chance this week - Observer-Dispatch

Pitt's offensive line to feel the pressure - PPG

Pitt To Honor Injured Rutgers' Player Eric LeGrand - Cardiac Hill
Much as I hate to, gotta give 'em props for that, at least

Eric LeGrand, Paralyzed Rutgers DT, Begins Waiting Game - NCAAFB FanHouse

Rutgers cannot pass protect at all - On the Banks
I can't wait to sick BROOOCE and King Julian on them

Bulls notes: Mitchell gets look at receiver - Tampa Tribune

Charlie Strong: Louisville football players need attitude adjustment - Courier-Journal

Cincinnati, South Florida try to tackle turnovers - Cincinnati Enquirer

A few words about Jasper Howard - The UConn Blog

One Year Later, Howard's Words Live On - WVillustrated.com

College Football Player Fatally Shot by Police Outside Suburban New York Bar - NCAAFB FanHouse
Sad regardless, but even more so on the coincidence of timing

Another Successful Luck at Quarterback - WVillustrated.com

On The Mark: Week 6 - ESPN

Conference Power Rankings: Week 7 - ESPN

What computers say about the Big East - ESPN

Starting 11: Fire Steve Addazio Movement Gains Steam in Florida - NCAAFB FanHouse
Weekly roundup

What's On Tap:

Men's Soccer: WVU Set to Face No. 5 UConn - MSNsportsNET.Com
Tonight at 7:30 pm at the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn. on SNY.

Videos of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

At the risk of pissing off the Steeler fans among you...I don't care, this is hilarious.

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a sexy New Zealander. Here's Teresa Moore (pic links to a gallery).

Great Lakes Oktoberfest image via beereasy.com