The Shotgun/Throwdown: Monday (12/20/10) Edition

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 Corsendonk Christmas Ale.

The news is still DH/ADOL/HCBS and a bit of basketball.  It's interesting watching almost the exact same thing as we witnessed here still in progress over at Maryland.  I also have lot's of BB news/results from around the league.  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 (follow this link, then hit "LIKE").  If any of you didn't realize, clicking on "Like" on the individual articles just likes that particular article, but not our main page.  Many thanks to those who "Like" us already.  We now stand at 538.  We're still a long way from the 17000+ for our old page, but we're working on it.  Our next goal is 600.  Spread the word and see if we can get there by the end of 2010!!  We can do it, but we need your help.  Enjoy your Monday and see you after the jump...

What You May Have Missed:

Luck’s goal is to win national title - Inter-Mountain

Champs Sports Bowl ticket sales have been poor - Charleston Daily Mail
Notebook, including an injury update on Hogan

Mullen Loses Out On Kent State Job - WVMETRONEWS.COM
I do honestly wish him success where ever he may land

WVU is Still Working on Rotations - WVillustrated.com

WVU basketball: Success hinges on roles for Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU’s numbers similar to last year - Times West Virginian
Basketball stats breakdown

Huggins: No Update on Cottrill - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Major Harris Named 2010 Legend Of The Sun Bowl - MSNsportsNET.Com

Devin Ebanks Growing in Young NBA Career - WVillustrated.com

Jeremy Johnson Transfers to Lamar University - WVillustrated.com

QB Says Goodbye - WVMETRONEWS.COM

News of Note:

Getting to Know Dana Holgorsen - MSNsportsNET.Com

Op-Ed: Welcome to Morgantown, Dana Holgorsen's Hangover - Every Day Should Be Saturday

Grading the Pitt, West Virginia hires - ESPN

Genesis of an Aerial Empire - TheSignalCaller.com
"Admit it. When you saw "Genesis" in the headline to this story you were probably expecting a Phil Collins wisecrack."
it's not like we would ever stoop to such a thing

Holgorsen radio interview is revealing - Register-Herald

Oliver Luck on Decision Makers - WVillustrated.com
Approx 50 min of video interview footage, in 7 segments

Oliver Luck's Leaked Secret: Dana Holgorsen - WVillustrated.com

Luck has hitched his wagon to football guru - Register-Herald

Luck Handled Stewart Situation Poorly - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Since more facts have been revealed....I don't agree

WVU AD Luck has gone all in - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

WVU move about more than football - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column - "One suspects there’s a large segment of the population that would advise WVU to proceed with caution, but the fact of the matter is that each day it appears Luck was brought in by university President Jim Clements to make just such a gamble to put WVU among the nation’s elite."

Oklahoma St. QB predicts Holgorsen success at WVU - 'Eers to the Ground

Friday finality - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

At WVU, with change comes drama - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Unanswered Questions Facing Stewart - WVillustrated.com

Hoppy's Commentary on Stewart Firing - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Stewart likely faced ultimatum - Charleston Gazette
Pending NCAA investigation gave WVU leverage needed to convince coach to sign revised contract

Game Scout by the Sports Xchange: West Virginia vs. North Carolina State - WVillustrated.com

Geno Smith: Returning Home - WVMetroNews.com
Smith talks about the NC State defense and what it will be like to return to his home state for the second year in-a-row for a bowl game.

WVU’s defense one of the best - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column

Pack readies defense for bowl - Raleigh News & Observer

ACC Now - N.C. State bowl sales top 8,500 - Raleigh News & Observer

This Marshall thing is strange sometimes - 'Eers to the Ground
Colin, (*in my best Scar voice) "you have no idea" - #randomlionkingreference

Around the League (and Beyond):

Cincinnati Bearcats answer critics, stay undefeated by beating Oklahoma - Cincinnati Enquirer
66-56

Knowles, Dieng lead Louisville past Gardner-Webb - Card Chronicle
78-49

USF's Daniels progressing as Holtz weighs options - Tampa Tribune

Bulls drop 'unacceptable loss' to James Madison - Tampa Tribune
66-61

Pitt Basketball: Panthers Win Big Over Maryland Eastern Shore - Cardiac Hill
97-64

SU shoots 59 percent in its 83-77 win over Iona - Post Standard

Marquette 81, Centenary 52. - Anonymous Eagle

postGame: Villanova 78, Delaware 59 - The Nova Blog

Scott perfect in Irish win - South Bend Tribune
88-62 over Stony Brook

Connecticut Huskies women match UCLA Bruins streak in typical convincing fashion - SI.com
I don't like the dude, but respect what he's built up there.

Agent: Maryland hasn't contacted Leach - Truth & Rumors/FanNation
but again....everybody is lying, remember?

Twitter Rumor: Sean Salisbury to be Leach's Offensive Coordinator at Maryland? - Testudo Times

Randy Edsall Wants Maryland Job? - Testudo Times
HUH?!?!?

What's On Tap:

Coppin State Eagles vs. (4) Connecticut Huskies - ESPN
7:00 tonight at the XL Center.

Morgan State Bears vs. (5) Syracuse Orange - ESPN
7:00 tonight from the Dome on ESPN3.

Champs Sports Bowl Info:

Football: Champs Sports Bowl Tickets - MSNsportsNET.Com

Football: Alumni Association Travel Packages - MSNsportsNET.Com

Champs Sports Bowl Fan Central
Info page, seating charts, merchandise, discount opportunities, etc.

Bowl Game 2010 | Leave the Team a Message - West Virginia University

Mountaineers can take advantage of fan activities at Champs Sports Bowl - WVU Today

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

With the hiring of Dana Holgorsen, our offense isn't in Kansas, er Texas, er Oklahoma anymore:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is British hottie Danica Thrall.  A gallery awaits you if you dare to click on the picture below.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale image via brouette-de-bieres.com