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 Warka, in honor of today's MIss Throwdown.
Today's edition is heavy on Mountaineers giving back. There are several benefits and camps organized by former players either underway or recently completed. In my opinion, this is the kind of stuff that needs and deserves recognition, even though that isn't what these Mountaineers are striving for. They want to help and if you contribute to the various causes they support, please do. There is also plenty of your standard football news to keep you occupied as most of the newest Mountaineers are on campus working out, a few more recruiting bits along with some interesting business statistics.
What You May Have Missed:
SB Nation Conference Re-Draft - Round Five Selection: West Virginia - Big East Coast Bias
West Virginia has 691 wins in football (we know, it's the most wins without a national title). Bob Huggins also has 691 career wins and no national title. Coincidence?
Which Football and Basketball Programs Produce the Largest Profits? - The Business of College Sports
#24 FB and #56 with BB (both are overall rankings which has FB and BB mixed together)
Carey: Foreign Trip Beneficial - MSNsportsNET.Com
In addition to the 3 games they'll get to play, they're also allowed an extra 10 practices before they depart
Rowe Joins Women's Hoop Staff - MSNsportsNET.Com
"Lester Rowe from Buffalo" is coming back as an assistant to Mike Carey
Carey’s Recruiting Class Nationally Ranked - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Of the five-player class, two players ranked in the top 100 as Stepney and Fields are 68th and 80th, respectively. - The rankings are from the ESPNU HoopGurlz Class of 2011 Team Basketball Recruiting Rankings
Former WVU Football Legends to Hold Free Camp - WVillustrated.com
Quincy Wilson is leading an effort to organize a camp and fund raising efforts in Chris Henry's memory. The camp will be held on July 12 in Morgantown.
Current and Former WVU Players Compete on the Golf Course - WVillustrated.com
21st annual Brian Jozwiak and Pepsi Celebrity Golf Tournament is a benefit for the WVU Children's Hospital
VIDEO: Brian Jozwiak and Pepsi Celebrity Golf Tournament Interviews - WVU Football Top Story - WVillustrated.com
Joz, Mike Lorello and Quincy Wilson
WVU Football and Childrens Hospital: A Dream Team - WVillustrated.com
There is a very special connection between the Mountaineer football program and the WVU Children's Hospital
VIDEO: WVU Children's Hospital on WVU Football - WVillustrated.com
Interview with the Director of WVU Children's Hospital, Cheryl Jones
Becht’s gridiron camp kicks off - Martinsburg Journal
The former WVU and pro TE is hosting a football camp for kids grades 1-8 in Martinsburg
Always a Mountaineer: Anthony Becht - WVillustrated.com
Becht is biding his time during the NFL lockout, hoping for another chance to play in 2011 (includes video)
VIDEO: Former Mountaineer Owen Schmitt Interview - WVillustrated.com
WVi spoke to Owen Schmitt about his camp, the NFL lockout and the drama that recently surrounded the WVU football program
A Legend Returns - MSNsportsNET.Com
Former Mountaineer and Cowboy great, Chuck Howley, returned to visit the University city last week and shared several stories from his playing career
News of Note:
New WVU grid coach comfortable - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column - "Mountaineer fans should be wishing him well" might be the first nice thing I've seen Mickey write about DH
Holgorsen keeping busy - Charleston Gazette
New coach celebrates 40th birthday, mulls final staff hire
Holgorsen will lead WVU to great success - Daily Athenaeum
This writer has clearly been drinking the Kool-Aid...and I like the way he's thinking
HERTZEL COLUMN: Smith’s star could shine under Holgorsen - Times West Virginian
This, in mid-summer, would appear to be Holgorsen’s team, maybe even his dream team, and Geno Smith’s team.
Fun Stat Nerd Tidbit: Tennessee - Ranking Linebackers - Football Study Hall
Still not sure of the Tennessee connection here, but see how well WVU's linebacker corps ranked last year
Tough Sledding - MSNsportsNET.Com
Here's a breakdown of which WVU football coaches faced the toughest schedules during their respective tenures
WVU offense could have big game against Bowling Green - Daily Athenaeum
The DA continues it's game-by-game previews
Big East position rankings: O-Line - Big East Blog - ESPN
WOW...all I'm gonna say
WVU Offensive Lineman Tyler Rader Earns Scholarship - WVillustrated.com
Four years as a walk-on and lots of work has paid off for the Cross Lanes native
WVU's Tandy leads defense by example - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column - Keith Tandy has established himself as a leader in West Virginia University’s defensive secondary.
Freshman Andrew Buie Makes Overnight Trip to Morgantown - WVillustrated.com
The incoming freshman RB is on campus and participating in summer workouts with the other team members
All but three WVU recruits in school, working out - Charleston Gazette
The only ones not in town as yet are offensive lineman Justin Johnson, linebacker Shaq Petteway and defensive lineman Ben Bradley
Strength coach happy with WVU workouts - Charleston Gazette
"I can tell you, as a group, I think we're doing good," he said. "As a defense, we're doing well. We have good leaders. I just can't talk about individuals."
Recruiting:
WVU, Holgorsen obtaining solid nucleus - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Program stockpiling verbal commitments
Mountaineers Commit Da'Quan Davis Feels Love at WV - WVillustrated.com
A 5-10, 172-pound cornerback
Around the League (and Beyond):
Top 25 Recipients of Student Activity Fees in BCS - Business of College Sports
Student fees are a big money generator for many athletic departments, including a couple of our BE brethren (WVU is not on this list, thankfully)
Rutgers athletic department needs fees, funds to stay afloat - USATODAY.com
Last year, Rutgers used nearly $27 million in university and student-fee money to balance its athletics budget. It was not unusual: Since 2006, Rutgers has spent more than $115 million to cover athletics spending, a USA TODAY analysis finds.
Why We're Optimistic About the Future of Big East Football - Big East Coast Bias
2010 was a disaster for Big East football, but all is not lost. Here are some reasons to be excited about the future of Big East football.
Big East in Texas - Big East Blog - ESPN
Adelson looks at the BE coaches with Texas ties
TCU Horned Frogs thrive in Dallas Cowboys market by going small - ESPN
Brandon Golson has left Louisville - Card Chronicle
Pre Camp Position Outlook: Quarterback - Down The Drive
From the Cinci blog
A Brief Summary Of Saturday's Jarvis Giles Excitement - Voodoo Five
There was a brief episode on Saturday involving USF and running back Jarvis Giles, late of South Carolina and apparently Louisville as well. Here's what happened... or didn't happen.
Hiring Steve Scarnecchia: Big Risk For Syracuse? - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Following SpyGate, it was assumed by many that Scarnecchia would never get a gig in football again. Those people must have been surprised to hear that Scarnecchia is now a member of the Syracuse Football coaching staff.
UConn Offensive Coordinator George DeLeone Will Attack Each Team Differently - Hartford Courant
No. 67: Connecticut - Pre-Snap Read: A College Football Blog
The latest BE member in the countdown
Former Wisconsin Running Back Zach Brown Transfers to Pittsburgh - Big East Coast Bias
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Here's the latest Captain America trailer:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Polish model Ewelina Olczak. Click on her picture for today's gallery.
Warka image via farm3.static.flickr.com