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 Lakefront Oktoberfest.
The off week rolls on and the team is focusing on focus, rhythm and execution while the coaching staff begins making recruiting trips. If you missed it yesterday, Coach Holgorsen had his weekly presser (we have video) and Hoppy went on the Finebaum show and gave the SEC listeners his best pitch for WVU (we have a link to the podcast). There's some more Big East "expansion" news as well. All this and more...
From Bill Connelly's weekly SB Nation Numerical:
10.9: Average yards per play generated by West Virginia over a six-drive span in which they seized control of their 43-16 win over Connecticut. As is quickly becoming their custom, the Mountaineers struggled for a little while, scoring just 10 points and averaging 4.8 yards per play over their first seven drives of the game. But when they got rolling, the points added up quickly. Receivers Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin and Ivan McCartney combined to catch 20 of 29 passes thrown their way for 383 yards and three touchdowns, and UConn's hit-or-miss offense just couldn't keep up.
What You May Have Missed:
Football: Coach Holgorsen News Conference - MSNsportsNET.Com
Transcript, video is embedded below
Gold And Blue Now: Wednesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Tony Caridi and Hoppy Kercheval discuss what the Big East Conference could look like in the future, Dana Holgorsen gives his thoughts on the crowd on Saturday and WVU head basketball coach Bob Huggins gives his take on conference expansion.
Hoppy Kercheval 10.11.2011 - Paul Finebaum Radio Network
Here's a podcast with Hoppy making a case for WVU to the SEC on what is essentially the SEC Radio Network
College Football | Coach of the Year | Presented by Liberty Mutual
You can help Coach Holgorsen win the 2011 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award
College Football Power Rankings - Andy Staples - SI.com
What food chain did Staples assign WVU at #13?
HERTZEL COLUMN: Painful loss still lingers for Kelchner - Times West Virginian
"It’s hard to swallow, even today," Kelchner said.
2011-12 Rifle Season Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
The 2011-12 West Virginia University rifle team certainly looks different
News of Note:
Holgorsen holding his praise despite offense's big numbers - PPG
Menendez's Notebook
Holgorsen looking for consistency - Inter-Mountain
"We don't need any more motivation than we already have," he added. "If we need any more, we can bring up the fact that Syracuse beat West Virginia last year in Morgantown, W.Va."
WVU is stressing focus during its bye week - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The most important thing Holgorsen is emphasizing during the off week is the offense maintaining its rhythm and timing.
Holgorsen: Smith not yet finished product - Times West Virginian
"I’ve got my hands full with the one I’m coaching right now," Holgorsen began. "He’s a daily challenge. He learned stuff again this past week. He gets so wrapped up in the game – which is a good thing – but it means so much to him that he wants to be successful on every play that he tries too hard at times."
WVU can’t afford any more slow starts - Register-Herald
Mickey's Column
West Virginia vs. SEC East 2001-2010 - THE d american football
Here's a layman's simple projection of how WVU would/could have fared in the SEC East the last 10 seasons
Football Interviews 10/11 - BGN
Coach Spavital, Stedman, Rader and Najee
WVU Football Interviews: Bye Week - WV Illustrated
Coach Spavital, Stedman, Coach Dawson, Bitancurt, Tandy, Julain and Rader
Recruiting:
WVU coaches hit the road - Register-Herald
Holgorsen and assistants begin a week of recruiting
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big East Conference struggling to retain its BCS AQ status - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
A Look at the Tentative Big East Football Divisions - Big East Coast Bias
Big East Football Power Rankings Week 7 - The UConn Blog
It's the king and the derps
Louisville football coach Strong sends strong message: Practice hard - Courier-Journal
Playing at PBS has its plusses - Cincinnati Enquirer
Rutgers offense looking to break out against Navy - Star Ledger
Is B.J. Daniels Having His Breakout Season? - Voodoo Five
The Straight Dope On Ryan Nassib - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Pitt Football: Will Mark Myers Get A Shot? Don't Hold Your Breath - Cardiac Hill
Reflections on Dave Gavitt, what he started and what he meant to UConn - The UConn Blog
George O'Leary: 'Everything in place' for UCF to join Big East - SI.com
Forde-Yard Dash - ESPN
WVU attendance situation gets the spotlight at #25
What's On Tap:
Men's Soccer: WVU Travels to Pitt - MSNsportsNET.Com
The No. 24 West Virginia men’s soccer team travels to Pitt for a BIG EAST match on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.
Video of Interest:
Part II is linked HERE
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Yes, I'm that immature (sometimes), h/t to @JimmyTraina once again
Hump Day Video of the Week:
Rosie and Candice...Oh, my!!
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is an American model who's done work for Victoria's Secret. Click on the picture for today's gallery of Chanel Iman.
Lakefront Oktoberfest image via www.beermelodies.com