The Shotgun/Throwdown: Champs Sports Bowl Game-Day (12/28/10) 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 the entire selection of the Mountaineer Brewing Company.

It's game-day people.  Unless you've been living under a rock, you are fully aware that WVU takes on the Wolfpack of N.C. State tonight in the Champs Sports Bowl.  Game time is a bit early (6:30 pm), so don't be caught off guard.  There are plenty of game previews inside and I have a couple links regarding game-watches as well.

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What You May Have Missed:

VIDEO: Bill Stewart and Tom O'Brien Pre-Bowl Press Conferences - WVillustrated.com

VIDEO: Champs Sports Bowl Special - WVillustrated.com
Broken down into several segments

West Virginia's bowl history - Charleston Gazette

West Virginia Lottery Bowl Report - Mountaineer TV
Mountaineers360 Champs Sports Bowl Special round table discussion with Coach Bill Stewart. Presented by the West Virginia Lottery.

United Bank Bowl Report - Mountaineer TV
MSN's Tony Caridi visits with Coach Bill Stewart prior to Tuesday's Champs Sports Bowl game against NC State. Presented by United Bank.

Northside Automotive Bowl Report - Mountaineer TV
2010 Champs Sports Bowl pregame report. Presented by Northside Automotive.

Mountaineers Back in Action - MSNsportsNET.Com
Basketball, that is

Numbers reflect Big East strength - Charleston Gazette
This is a BB article, as if you needed the disclaimer

Weekly Watch: Week 5 - ESPN
WVU is on the wrong side of the Upset Pick of the Week

NCAA College Basketball Polls - ESPN
6th out AP, 3rd out Coaches

Bracket Watch - Andy Glockner - SI.com
#8 East

Bubble Watch - Andy Glockner - SI.com

Reliving Memories - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Blurb and gallery - There was a big gathering of former Mountaineer football players the night before the Champs Sports Bowl at Legends Bar and Grill in downtown Orlando, Florida. The bar is owned by former WVU kicker Charlie Baumann and he invited many of his former teammates to the Alumni party at his establishment.

Devin Ebanks Assigned to Bakersfield Jam - Lakers.com
The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned forward Devin Ebanks to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League

News of Note:

Champs Sports Bowl Game Preview: WVU vs. N.C. State - WVillustrated.com

NC State-West Virginia 2010 Champs Sports Bowl preview - Andy Staples - SI.com

Champs Sports Bowl: W.V.U. vs. N.C.S.U. - Pre-Snap Read

Champs Sports Bowl: West Virginia (9-3) vs. NC State (8-4) - ESPN

NORTH CAROLINA STATE (8-4) VS WEST VIRGINIA (9-3) - Bowl Season
This site did a Q&A session with Steven of Backing The Pack and also with yours truly

Champs Sports Bowl Preview: West Virginia, NC State, and JAWS - Team Speed Kills

BTD Bowl Bash : Champs Sports, Insight - Building The Dam

Match-Ups: West Virginia vs N.C. State - BGN

WVU has tough test tonight - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewWVU has tough test tonight - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Final game for WVU seniors - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Hoppy's Commentary on the Game - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Don’t tell us it’s a minor bowl - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Bowl time - Times West Virginian

WVU football: Stewart wants to talk about only the bowl - Charleston Daily Mail

Stewart looks to keep WVU focused against NC State - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Distractions? Stew won't talk, but O'Brien will - Charleston Gazette

If you are Jeff Mullen, what do you do tonight? - 'Eers to the Ground

Mullen, Johnson to finish job with West Virginia - PPG

Offense looks to maintain consistency - Register-Herald
Maintain?...we're wayyyyy past maintain as an option, even past establish

Jobe will end his Mountaineer career the way he started - Register-Herald

WVU trying to avoid distractions - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Mountaineer Defense Prepping for Multi-Talented Quarterback - WVillustrated.com

Life on the Edge - MSNsportsNET.Com
Tandy and Miller are profiled

WVU football: Robert Sands weighing NFL Draft options - Charleston Daily Mail

Robert Sands: Stay or go? - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

Bruce Irvin on right track: straight to the QB - ESPN

Big East vs. the ACC in bowls - ESPN

A 'Pack of challenges - Charleston Gazette

QB Wilson will test WVU ‘D’ - Register-Herald

The Wolfpack's Take - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Pack ready for a surprise - Raleigh News & Observer

NC State Coach Tom O'Brien No Stranger to Opponents' Coaching Changes - WVillustrated.com

There are plenty of places to kick back if you want company for the bowl - Charleston Daily Mail

Champs Sports Bowl Game Watches Across the Country - BGN

Recruiting:

JC Lineman Commits To The Mountaineers - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Around the League (and Beyond):

Pitt Vs. UConn Basketball: Panthers Steamroll Huskies, 78-63 - Cardiac Hill

No. 6 Pittsburgh Too Much For Fourth-Ranked UConn - Hartford Courant

Preston(!), Kuric post career highs as Louisville rolls - Card Chronicle
104-74 over Morgan St.

Orange Scouting Report: Providence vs. Syracuse - Post Standard

Orange Insider - Kansas State vs. Syracuse: Orange, Wildcats alike only in records - Post Standard

Mick Cronin's message sinking in - Cincinnati Enquirer

Rutgers looks to make tonight's series finale against North Carolina a memorable game - Star Ledger

Seton Hall Basketball: Richmond Review and USF Preview - South Orange Juice

He Gone: Reggie Smith Leaves Marquette. - Anonymous Eagle

Bulls Notebook: Joseph won't play in bowl - Tampa Tribune

Lions dismiss Paterno retirement rumors - St. Petersburg Times
But aren't the players usually the last to know?...really

Strong rumors this morning linking Michigan coach Roch [sic] Rodriguez to Maryland. - Testudo Times
The comments alone make this one worth the click

What's On Tap:

(22) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack - ESPN (Game preview link)
6:30 tonight from the Florida Citrus Bowl on ESPN.   WVU is giving 3.

Providence Friars vs. (5) Syracuse Orange - ESPN
9:00 tonight from the Dome on ESPNU

Video of Interest:

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

Cajun Pork Ribs

Mix the following dry ingredients in a bowl:

2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika (regular if you don't have it)
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon thyme (dried)
1 teaspoon oregano (dried)

Mix the ingredients thoroughly and set aside. After trimming the ribs of extra fat, rinse and dry with paper towels. Using a pastry brush, spread a light coating of yellow mustard on both sides of the ribs (this sets up a nice moist crust on the ribs). Next, sprinkle the dry ingredients above lightly on both sides of the ribs. Cook the ribs in indirect heat (Not Grilling). This means placing the fire on one side of the pit and the ribs on the other. Cook for 4to 6 hours at 225 degrees or until the meat is tender. One way to tell this is that the meat will have pulled back from the ends of the bones and the bones will be blackened.

Recipe courtesy of Perfect Entertaining

Video of (Dis)Interest:

This reminds me of conversations between me, Country Roads and 5YS after the UConn game earlier this year:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is THE Brazilian supermodel.  Here's a lovely gallery and a couple videos of Gisele Bündchen.

Mountaineer Brewing Selection image via www.mountaineerbrewing.com