The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thanksgiving (11/24/11) 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 Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

What You May Have Missed:

Gold And Blue Now: Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
In a Thanksgiving edition of "Gold and Blue Now" Pitt head coach Todd Graham talks about how impressed he is with Geno Smith and Tavon Austin, WVU talks about the Pitt defense and the Mountaineer basketball team is confident heading into a tough portion of the schedule.

Upcoming games will define WVU basketball team - Charleston Daily Mail
Bob Huggins is going to learn a lot more about his West Virginia basketball team in the next four games than the Mountaineers' veteran coach did in the first four of the season.

WVU's Gary Browne Continues to Grow Under Father's Watchful Eye - WVillustrated
"I was so excited. It was good," Browne Sr. said after the game. "I expected him to play better, but he did his best. He probably was nervous as much as I was."

Williamson gets his shot in win - Times West Virginian
Basketball notebook

Senior Kevin Jones - Mountaineer TV
Senior forward Kevin Jones talks about Tuesday's win over Morehead State in Charleston.

Women's Basketball: WVU Travels to California - MSNsportsNET.Com
For the West Virginia women’s basketball team, Friday night’s 8 p.m. tipoff against No. 25 UCLA won’t mark the first meeting between the teams.

Week 13 F/+ Picks - Football Study Hall
WVU to win but not cover

News of Note:

Who named Backyard Brawl? - Martinsburg Journal
The fact is that no one familiar with the rivalry seems to know for certain who coined the term "Backyard Brawl."

A Different Ballgame - MSNsportsNET.Com
Oliver Luck didn’t really know much about the WVU-Pitt rivalry as a youngster growing up in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1970s. To him, Ohio State-Michigan was always the big deal.

Could this be final Backyard Brawl? - Big East Blog - ESPN
the question that has dominated this week has been whether this rivalry can be saved.

Holgorsen hopes Backyard Brawl continues - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
“We should play because of what it means to the community and the state and Pittsburgh,” Holgorsen said. “You want to play a lot of you non-conference games because the Big 12 is a broader conference. You have to travel a good distance away.

Backyard Brawl Notebook - MSNsportsNET.Com

Holgorsen: We owe seniors a victory against Pittsburgh - Register-Herald
Morrison's Notebook

Mixed memories - PPG
Mountaineers have been reminded of some classics in the series -- both good and bad

WVU, Pitt coaches focus on now, not then - Charleston Gazette
Dana Holgorsen didn't dip into whatever tape archives he might have this week to pull out old Tulsa games as a refresher course.

Smith not thinking milestones going into Brawl - Times West Virginian
“It does mean something to me, not for my ego, but just to have my name mentioned with the great quarterbacks who passed through here,” Smith said of the record. “To be tied to our athletic director Oliver Luck, he was one of the best.”

WVU QB Smith won't be passing on success - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"I think he's polishing himself into an all-round guy," Spavital said. "He can do the play actions. He can do the quick game. He's just growing as a quarterback."

'Backyard Brawl' can't undo friendship - Charleston Daily Mail
Dustin Garrison will be on West Virginia's sideline Friday night at Mountaineer Field and Trey Anderson will be on Pitt's sideline. The roots of their relationship would have it no other way.

Vance’s career at WVU winding down - Inter-Mountain
Seneca Rocks native to play in his final home game against Pittsburgh

Senior running back helps Pitt overcome loss of star - Charleston Daily Mail
Zach Brown, a senior transfer from Wisconsin, is replacing Graham. He's has rushed for 30, 54 and 86 yards in the past three games.

Video: Big East Game of the Week - Big East Blog - ESPN
Andrea Adelson looks at the Big East Game of the Week: Pitt vs. West Virginia.

Around the League (and Beyond):

UConn, Rutgers Could Still Join ACC - The Hub - SB Nation Boston
The Big East would then cease to exist as a football entity. - Again, thankful to be leaving

Graham quite familiar with WVU's 3-3-5 formula - PPG

A meal plan for all: Anna Grout educates Louisville football team, other athletes, on nutrition - Courier-Journal

Bulls' bowl game streak in serious jeopardy - Tampa Tribune

Legaux: ‘I have to be a better leader’ - Cincinnati Enquirer

Syracuse University football safeties Wilkes, Desir about to see the spotlight vs. Cincinnati - Post-Standard

Rutgers football concerned about Connecticut's multi-dimensional offense - Star Ledger
Huh?!?!

Only 11 of 13 UConn Seniors Can Play In Final Home Game - Hartford Courant

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

College GameDay Kickoff: Week 13 preview - ESPN

What's On Tap:

Turkey and football....enjoy yourselves!!!

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is another Brazilian (sorry, I know how these get old *sarcasm).  Here's today's gallery of Celine Brink (click on the picture).

Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale image via www.thebeerspot.com