The Shotgun/Throwdown: Tuesday (5/24/11) 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 Ill Tempered Gnome Winter Ale (I know it's almost summer, but I thought the name was cool).

If you didn't know, the Big East Athletic Administrators are in the midst of their annual meetings, of which the two biggest issues facing the league at the moment are the soon to be expired TV contract and football expansion.  Most of the rest of today's edition is dedicated to former Mountaineer players and a couple coaches.  There was the announcement of the 2011 WVU Sports Hall of Fame class to go with a features on several other players and their lives after suiting up for WVU.  There is also a bit of recruiting bits to pass along.  Let's not waste any more time dawdling...

What You May Have Missed:

Hall of Fame Class of 2011 - MSNsportsNET.Com
The Athletic Dept. announced it's latest HOF class over the weekend and will induct: Warren Baker, Canute Curtis, Joseph Harrick, Jim Heise, Pat Itanyi Williams and Steve Newberry. Congratulations to all!!!

Women's Basketball Sets Attendance Mark - MSNsportsNET.Com
Totaling 49,648 fans at the WVU Coliseum, the West Virginia women’s basketball team set a school record for total and average home attendance during the 2011 season - good for fourth in the BE

Hahn says Huggins is a Hall of Fame guy - Register-Herald
Can anyone explain to me why this is even an debate at this point?  Yes, I know I'm biased, but still...

Luck Hoping Patience Pays Off for Big East in TV Deal - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Here's the biggest reason of all to wait:  "We are not able to talk with other parties other than ESPN until September of 2012," Luck said.

News of Note:

WVU is taking a script from past - Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia
Mickey's Column - After a strong start to the season and struggling late, WVU's baseball team managed a #4 seed in the BE tournament

Spring breakout players: West Virginia - Big East Blog - ESPN
Bennett offers up 3 who could emerge as stars after spring football drills

HERTZEL COLUMN: Ford finds his calling, home here - Times West Virginian
Offered to join Coach Schwartzwalder at Syracuse and the famous #44 to wear, Garrett Ford chose WVU because of the people (not the ones depicted in that awful movie) and found a home.

Braham has come along way - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column - Rich Braham went from invited walk-on tight end to NFL starting center for 10 years (with 12 yrs in the NFL total)

Always a Mountaineer: Marc Magro - WVillustrated.com
Marc Magro may not have been a superstar, but, in my mind at least, he epitomizes what a Mountaineer is and should be.

VIDEO: Rich Rodriguez Interview on Decision Makers, Final Parts III-VII - WVillustrated.com
For the curious among you (also includes links to parts I & II)

Recruiting:

Potential Mountaineers On Display - WVMETRONEWS.COM
A few potential Mountaineers were in action this weekend at the Nike Training Camp in Columbus, Ohio (article, gallery and video)

Another Quarterback On WVU's Radar - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Lima Central Catholic’s (Ohio) Tyler O’Connor is being targeted by the good guys (article and video)

Class of 2011 Look Back - Scout.com
Here's an interesting breakdown of state populations vs. D1 football players produced.  It's really strange seeing NY and WV that close together.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Bigger Big East will take away best non-conference schedule - Sporting News
I think I'm gonna have a heart attack...somebody is praising BE football about something

Big East hopes for television upgrade - Charleston Daily Mail
Fun stat of the day - BE's current contract is for $36 million...total, while the new Big 10 (11,12...whatever) contract is worth $21 million...per school.

Big East: Gettin’ Paper - VUhoops.com
The first offer that the Big East rejected would have paid the conference over $100 million less than the Pac-12 negotiated annually.  How much of that gap can they bridge?

Big East Expansion: Is Villanova A Red Herring? - Voodoo Five
Don't look now, but Mr. Luck is looking more and more influential around this league as the days tick by

CBS: Big East Football Coaches Favor Expansion to 12 Teams - Big East Coast Bias
The coaches prefer the league either stay at nine or go all the way to 12 members

Big East Coaches Torn On Villanova, Not So Torn On Expansion - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

TCU joining Big East meetings for first time - Charleston Daily Mail
The Horned Frogs, who will officially join the Big East July 1, 2012, won't have any votes in any matters that might require one.  Truth be told, there might not be many decisions to be made.

Gary Patterson talks Big East - Big East Blog - ESPN

Holtz questions 'sense' of 10 Big East football teams - St. Petersburg Times
He wants 12, including his old ECU program

When A Staff Lands A Recruit Everyone Gets Credit But... - Hartford Courant
UConn is putting a lot of eggs in the NJ recruiting basket

Pitt Football Recruiting: Todd Graham Behind Early On - Cardiac Hill
Wait, isn't his recruiting coordinator...

Former WVU Assistant Tony Gibson is Now at Pitt - WVillustrated.com
Another for the curious....there is a definite part of me that is glad this one is at Pitt

Luke Hancock will transfer to Louisville - Card Chronicle
Former George Mason forward Luke Hancock announced Saturday that he intends to transfer and play basketball at the University of Louisville.

Polee’s transfer places onus St. John’s nine newcomers - Beyond the Arc
This leaves last year's surprise darling of the BE with only one returning letterman

Villanova Basketball Announces Summer European Tour - The Nova Blog
Looks like Nova will be heading across the pond like WVU this summer

No. 97: Marshall - Pre-Snap Read: A College Football Blog
Pretty sure the "low point" they list from last year isn't the one their fans would pick

Video of Interest:

I apologize for the lack of content here, but it's getting harder to find relevant videos for this section now that WVi has disabled embedding of their videos.  I really could use help with these, so please email or Tweet me @WVUIE97 if you have any suggestions.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Call me what you will, but I get sentimental when these guys come around (stick around for the end):

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is an old personal favorite.  Here's a video and gallery (click on the picture) of Wales's Imogen Thomas.

Ill Tempered Gnome Winter Ale image via www.ratebeer.com