The Shotgun/Throwdown: Wednesday (4/20/11) 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 Shaftebury Four Twenty, in honor of...well, if you don't know, I ain't gonna tell ya.

Spring drills resume today and Coach Holgorsen is featured heavily in today's news.  He has a specific attitude he's looking for from his players and has even developed his own special sign language that he uses on the field.  OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh is encouraged with his charges, so far, but still expects to see needed improvement.  Did Coach Casteel have it easy last year, only to have to start anew this season?  Also, the first reports on season ticket sales pace are in and the results are encouraging.  If you haven't renewed yet, it's probably a good idea to do so soon.

What You May Have Missed:

WVU football season tickets a hot item - Charleston Gazette
Early numbers are, just that....early, but encouraging, especially given the drop off in sales the last 2 years

Once in a Lifetime Event - MSNsportsNET.Com
Nehlen and former Mountaineer coaches Jim Carlen, Bobby Bowden and Frank Cignetti will be at the Waterfront Place Hotel at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 29, to share their personal stories as part of a Coaches’ “Chalk Talk” Round Table event, in conjunction with the events surrounding the Gold/Blue Game.

No-beer zones at WVU? - Charleston Gazette
I wouldn't be opposed to this either

Time to welcome WVU staff - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
If you're in the Parkersburg area, the Coaches Caravan will be there next Thursday

New assistants have not signed contracts - Daily Athenaeum
"I really don't know. I'd have to check," Luck said. "The term sheets have been signed. There are no issues with that."

Full speed ahead in Pitt-West Virginia Backyard Brawl - Sporting News
This writer posits that the pure speed of this year's game should be entertaining with both teams running up-tempo offenses now

Bracketology - ESPN
WAAAAYYYYY too early edition.....#7 East

News of Note:

West Virginia's offense speaks a new language - PPG
Holgorsen has developed his own special sign language

Holgorsen: Things have to be corrected - Inter-Mountain
New coordinator says offense needs to work on negative plays, sacks

WVU football: Holgorsen looks for new attitude from Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
"It's not what we're looking for," Holgorsen said. "We want guys who have bounce and have energy and line up quick and are anxious and alert and ready to go out and make a play." - I know I've posted similar before, but this is a concept worth beating to death

OL coach Bedenbaugh: Line still has a lot to learn - Daily Athenaeum
"The biggest thing about this group is that they really have improved every day, and that's what you're looking for," Bedenbaugh said. "We're making pretty good progress, and if we continue to improve every day and continue to get better, then we'll have a chance to be pretty good."

HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU defense goes back to the basics - Times West Virginian
“We’re back to Square 1 with a lot of these kids, but it is what it is,” he said a day after viewing the film of his first full scrimmage."

Secondary Looking to Darwin Cook for Strong Sophomore Season - WVillustrated.com
Obviously, we're hoping for strong seasons from all of our DB's

WVU's Tallest Football Player Growing in First Spring - WVillustrated.com

WVU Football Photos: 2011 WVU Spring Practice - WVillustrated.com

Recruiting:

WVU gets OK State OC, OK State gets WVU target - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Huggs is still looking for an 8th member to complete this years recruiting class

Around the League (and Beyond):

West Virginia AD Oliver Luck Talks Big East Expansion & Villanova - The Nova Blog
Basically, he confirmed on Sportsline that WVU isn't in favor of 'Nova in the BE for football right now

The Most Important Question About USF Football In 2011 - Voodoo Five
This is a question I'm glad we don't have to ask

Collaros making bid to join Guidugli in UC record book - Cincinnati Enquirer

Pitt Football Spring Practice: Top Ten Developments - Cardiac Hill

Rutgers football players Scott Vallone, Jordan Thomas okay after scary injuries - Star Ledger

Cards' Ashley pleads guilty; License suspended, put on house arrest - Courier-Journal
Chalk one up for Fulmer Cup points

Antwon Bailey seems ready, right now, to begin the 2011 Syracuse University football season - Post Standard

Will Jim Calhoun retire? The reasons to leave - The UConn Blog
I'm betting no...so he probably will

UMass Moving Up To Football Bowl Subdivision - Hartford Courant
Good Lord, please let Marinatto not be considering them

NCAA to penalize North Dakota if it follows Fighting Sioux law - ESPN
People are stupid everywhere

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Hump Day Video of the Week:

This video has several newer, yet, well known models, including Chrissy Teigen and Kate Upton (OMG!! at the 1:05 mark):

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a veteran Victoria's Secret model who can now add SI Swimsuit model to her resume this year.  Here's the gorgeous Brazilian Izabel Goulart (click on her pic for the gallery).

Shaftebury Four Twenty image via images.askmen.com