The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (4/7/11) 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 Salopian Lemon Dream, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.

The reports from the first practice in pads are in and Stew isn't quite pleased.  The intensity and hitting is there, just not the wrapping up or finishing off plays/drills.  The search for the next running back continues, but who's to say it has to be a "featured back."  RB by committee has it's place now and again.  Plus, we still have two guys coming in August who may have a bit more to say about who gets the job.

What You May Have Missed:

Head Coach Bill Stewart - Mountaineer TV
Head coach Bill Stewart talks about Wednesday's practice.

Football: Bill Stewart Transcript - MSNsportsNET.Com
For those that can't watch the video

The Final Rankings Will Be ... No. 11-20 - College Football News
Early prediction for next year...#12

Early Top 25 - ACC Blog - ESPN
Some love from the ACC blogger

HERTZEL COLUMN: Bad decisions still haunting Brandon Hogan - Times West Virginian
Hogan's latest transgression comes on the heels of an NFL team inquiring about his character

Portsmouth Partnership Wins 80-75 in P.I.T. - College Basketball News
Casey Mitchell of West Virginia leads all scorers with 23 points as he made nine of 15 shots from the field and three of five from beyond the arc.

News of Note:

Finding Leaders - WVMETRONEWS.COM
It's a process that repeats itself almost every spring as players graduate and move on; this year is one of those springs.

Full Contact Begins - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and gallery

Protect Nothing - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Things always change a bit when the pads finally are put on

Intense But "Not Finishing" - BGN

Mountaineers get physical - Times West Virginian
Stewart: Intensity there but work on fundamentals needed

Casteel: Spring is important to defense - Register-Herald
"This is going to be a big spring for us defensively. Losing the caliber kids that we lost this year is big. When you look at who you lost and where at, it is spread throughout the defense."

First full pads practice leaves Stew unhappy - Daily Athenaeum
Dobies' Notebook

Thoughts from West Virginia - Big East Blog - ESPN
Bennett's Notebook

WVU line coach finds silver lining to absent players - Charleston Gazette
"That's not a bad thing totally,'' Bedenbaugh said. "Obviously you'd like those guys to be there because it is a new offense and [they need to be] getting reps and learning things. But what it does is it allows us to develop other guys. [Barclay and Braun] have played in a lot of big games against a lot of people.''

Catching On - MSNsportsNET.Com
Brad Starks is profiled

McCartney knows he'll get his chances - Charleston Gazette
I'm taking bets on the game he breaks out and the first Beatles pun is used in a headline

Holgorsen develops players for his offense - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU Running Backs Perform on First Day in Full Pads - WVillustrated.com

West Virginia trying to replace Devine - PPG

Hargrett leads group of versatile running backs in ’11 - Daily Athenaeum

Video: West Virginia QB Geno Smith - Big East Blog - ESPN
Brian Bennett talks with West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.

VIDEO: Spring Practice Day Four Interviews - WVillustrated.com
HCBS, Gillespie, Lockwood, Bedenbaugh and Dawson

WVU Football Photos: 2011 Spring Practice Day 4 - WVillustrated.com

Recruiting:

Top Football Recruits of 2012 - 247 Sports
Here's one service's list of football players

Around the League (and Beyond):

Expansion Apocalypse: What to expect when you are expecting (a decision) - VUhoops.com
At some point over the next two days, Father Peter Donohue and Trustees Chairman Terrence O’Toole will need to sit down and discuss their recommendations regarding the football program’s proposed upgrade.

Louisville football's Brandon Heath left big cleats to fill at linebacker - Courier-Journal

UC hopes Stewart gives lift to D-line - Cincinnati Enquirer

Syracuse Spring Football: Day 10 - The Home Stretch - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Former free safety Khaseem Greene switching to linebacker as part of Rutgers' search for more speed - Star Ledger

There is a very interesting provision in Jim Calhoun's contract that might impact his future - The UConn Blog

Seton Hall Basketball: Anali Okoloji to transfer - South Orange Juice

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown continues the fine tradition of British glamor models featured here.  Click on the picture for a four page gallery of Gemma Massey.

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