The Shotgun/Throwdown: Friday (7/2/10) 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 Red, White and Blue Beer, in honor of our country's upcoming 234th birthday.

I'm kinda rushed right now, but all the usual stuff is inside, including lots of recruiting news on several fronts.  Have a wonderful and safe long holiday weekend!!!  If you have any tips, suggestions or requests, you can send them to me by email or Tweet me.  See you after the jump...

What You May Have Missed:

WVU Finishes 37th In Directors’ Cup - MSNsportsNET.Com

First Day On The Job - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and audio link

WVU Adds Kevin Noreen for 2010: Mountaineer Assistant Larry Harrison says Huggins was deciding factor - WVillustrated.com

WVU athletics get a nice payday - Charleston Daily Mail

Men's Soccer: Drake Joins Mountaineers - MSNsportsNET.Com

2010 Blue Ribbon Preview: West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
...if you're an "insider."   And, I sincerely appreciate the thought of posting these in the Fan Shot/Post areas, but please don't...legal departments frown on that.

News of Note:

WVU future looks bright - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

WVU athletics in control - Charleston Daily Mail
Evidently there was some hidden issues with the BB Practice Facility

Devine relishes seniority - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column

The Hit Maker - MSNsportsNET.Com

The Heart Of The Defense - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Video

Big Expectations - MSNsportsNET.Com

Following the Leader: Mountaineers Leaders Stepping Up In Summer Workouts - WVillustrated.com

Expect to see Austin kick it into a higher gear - Charleston Gazette

Who are the league's top triplets? - ESPN

30 Most Unforgettable Games - MSNsportsNET.Com
No. 30: Rutgers, 2001 (includes video)

Two Coaches Guide Noreen to WVU: Al Skinner's praise for Huggins helped Kevin Noreen pick Mountaineers - WVillustrated.com

Noreen fell right into Huggins' lap - Charleston Gazette

An Easy Comparison - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Da`Sean Butler and new Mountaineer signee Kevin Noreen

What I learned on my summer vacation - Charleston Gazette
"What I also watched, however, was former West Virginia University basketball star Da'Sean Butler."

Large football tailgates becoming a concern for city - Daily Athenaeum

Recruiting:

Roberts Brothers Commit to WVU, Plan for Early Enroll in January - WVillustrated.com

WVU football lands 4-star cornerback - Charleston Gazette

Overcoming The Odds - WVMETRONEWS.COM

WVU has more than one recruit - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Video interview with Kadetrix Marcus - Scout.com

Mountaineer recruiting, updates and great at 48 - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's Notebook

Giant Sim Bhullar steals show at FIBA Americas U18 tournament - SI.com
He seems to have an interest (at least) in WVU

Around the League (and Beyond):

Big East still faces big revenue gap - ESPN

Aiken, Generett gone from UConn - ESPN

Rutgers Scarlet Knights planning to sell naming right to football, basketball facilities - ESPN New York (AP)

Bigger, smarter Mohamed Sanu ready to give Rutgers football even more - Star Ledger

Will Syracuse Ever Play A Good Non-Conference Opponent In The Dome Again? - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Doug Marrone and co. sow the seeds of an Orange future - Post-Standard

New digs for Butch Jones - Cincinnati Enquirer

Louisville football defensive tackle Tim High drops 50 pounds to improve game - Courier-Journal

USF's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week - Voodoo Five

Tuberville sees short Big 12 future - Rivals.com

Duke Basketball Makes Good Use of a Budget Suitable for Football - NCAABB FanHouse

USC parts ways with running backs coach Todd McNair - LA Times
"He is first staff member to lose job in aftermath of major sanctions levied by NCAA against football program. NCAA had found McNair 'knew or should have known' about violations involving Reggie Bush."

Henderson dumping USC for Miami? - Rumors/FanNation/SI.com

The problem with measuring net athletic revenue - On the Banks

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

Video of Interest:

What's On Tap:

I've marked this to start at the appropriate spot.

Happy 4th of July everybody!!!!!

Videos of (Dis)Interest:

Warning:  Strong Language...but like Craig Ferguson says, "Sometimes, only a cuss word will do."

I've never seen any of The Wire, but from what I've heard, it's pretty awesome.  This is still pretty good, even if you haven't seen it.

Tour de France Gallery of the Week:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is another English lass who rose to fame on the UK version of Big Brother.  She's since moved on to WAG, then ex-WAG status (though, she is currently carrying the ex's baby).  Here are 4 pages worth of Chanelle Hayes:

Red, White and Blue Beer image via i17.photobucket.com, Flag Bikini Girl image via dspl.files.wordpress.com