The Shotgun/Throwdown: Wednesday (9/14/11) 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 Gordon Biersch Marzen.

Based on some of the articles clipped today and some of the fans that I sit near in the stadium, people seem to have expected this offense to light up the scoreboard early, often and ALWAYS.  There is no doubt that WVU has gotten off to a slow start so far this year.  Maybe I'm in the minority, but I think it was good to get the struggles out early and against clearly inferior opponents.  The second half last week was a good indication that the team is responding and will continue to do so (let's all hope).

Today we have coverage from Coach Holgorsen's presser along with a podcast he did with ESPN's (and Maryland alum) Scott Van Pelt.  There's also the requisite player profiles, including one on Vernard Roberts and the many Mountaineers heading back to their home DC/Metro area.  There are player interview videos and plenty more as well.  And you can see my answers to the SB Nation Maryland (Testudo Times)) blog's questions about our Mountaineers heading into this week's game.  We'll post their answers to mine later today.

What You May Have Missed:

Head Coach Dana Holgorsen - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen's Tuesday afternoon news conference at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Football: Coach Holgorsen News Conference - MSNsportsNET.Com
Transcript

Podcast: West Virginia's Dana Holgorsen - ESPN
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen dishes on the West Virginia Mountaineers' win over Norfolk State, his offensive system, Geno Smith, Bruce Irvin, Bill Stewart and more on The Scott Van Pelt Show.

Gold And Blue Now: Wednesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
In today's episode, former WVU and Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden talks about surviving prostate cancer, Tony Caridi breaks down Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien and Dana Holgorsen talks about what he's seen from the Terrapins.

McMurphy's Law: Report cards for new coaches - CBSSports.com
Check out the grades for HCDH and several coaches on this year's schedule too

Oklahoma, LSU top Best Picture-themed college Power Rankings - Andy Staples - SI.com
WVU gets the only rated X movie ever to win an Oscar

CFN Prediction: West Virginia at Maryland - College Football News
Week 3 CFN Fearless Prediction & Game Story - West Virginia at Maryland

WVU, Maryland ADs discuss fans' behavior, dress - Newsday.com
Maryland's fans don't have the best rep either

Behind Enemy Lines: Talking Terps-West Virgina With Mountaineers Blog The Smoking Musket - Testudo Times
We talk about Dana Holgorsen's offense, the running game struggles for the 'eers, and more in this week's Behind Enemy Lines.

News of Note:

Holgorsen will only talk about injured players who are out - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook

Holgorsen wants constant improvement - Daily Athenaeum
As an Industrial Engineer, I concur

Mountaineers preparing to leave home for 1st time - PPG
"Yeah, I'm excited. We'll talk about it all week.  You've got to play a bunch of road games and put yourself in hostile situations if you're going to have success," said Holgorsen.  "I like road games.  The routine typically is the same as a home game.  You go to the locker room at the same time, put your stuff on the same way and go out there and play."

Roberts’ friends with several Maryland players, not letting that distract from winning game - Daily Athenaeum
This year will be no different, as the Mountaineers have plenty of players who grew up not far from College Park, Md.

WVU in need of a fast start - Register-Herald
Mountaineers visit Maryland Saturday

Adversity is positive going forward - Daily Athenaeum
I have to agree...I'd rather have that adversity wake the guys up against a Norfolk St. than to have to face it for the first time on the road against Maryland.

Will the real WVU stand up? - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
I think a lot of people are pressing the panic button WAAAYYYY too early

Expectations a bit high? - Charleston Gazette
"Do I think we're pressing a little bit offensively?  Yes,'' Holgorsen said.  "Do I think my expectations are probably bigger than your expectations?  Probably so.  But our players can't be like that.  They need to just understand what their job is, try to get better at it every day and not press.''

Slow starts common so far for WVU - Times West Virginian
“We weren’t ready to play in the first half,” Holgorsen admitted during Monday’s Big East Conference call.  “You can come up with a lot of excuses ... not respecting the opponent, coming off an emotion game against an in-state rival, and a short week of practice probably had something to do with it.”

WVU looks for consistency in ground game - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
West Virginia, ranked No. 18 in this week's AP poll, is still looking for an efficient rushing attack to keep defenses honest.

WVU football: On special teams, Level on a ‘different level’ - Charleston Daily Mail
"Watch the kickoffs," WVU Coach Dana Holgorsen said.  "He was about 15 yards ahead of everybody else on our kickoff team.  It takes a situation like that to notice things.  He ran down on kickoffs about seven times and was clearly playing at a different level than some of the others."

Advice from cousin has helped McCartney in 2011 - Daily Athenaeum
West Virginia wide receiver Ivan McCartney has the benefit of being able to go to his cousin, New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

Millard Show Flashes in First WVU Action - WV Illustrated
"We came out and we played our kind of ball [in the second half], so I was very fortunate to get in the game," says Millard.

Running Back Dustin Garrison - Mountaineer TV
Dustin Garrison talks about the progress he's making, and looks ahead to this weekend's game at Maryland.

Video: Football Interviews 9/13 - BGN
Sticks, Coach Bedenbaugh, Garrison and Coach Casteel

VIDEO: WVU Pre-Maryland Interviews - WVMETRONEWS.COM
HCDH, Coach Bedenbaugh, Geno, Ryan Clarke, Garrison, Bruce, Garvin, Vernard and Devon Brown

WVU Football Interviews: Maryland Week - WV Illustrated
Eain Smith, Bruce, Tandy, Coach Casteel, Garrison, Coach Gillespie and Geno

Around the League (and Beyond):

Report: Big 12 is Done, Texas Has Been Talking to ACC - Team Speed Kills

Report: The Big XII Done - Implications For The Big East - Big East Coast Bias
The Big XII is about to fall apart. What will this mean for the Big East's hopes of adding three more members and getting to 12 football teams?

Current Cardinal Will Stein and his former Wildcat dad are both '99 percent want-to' - Courier-Journal

UC's defense must get better - Cincinnati Enquirer

Vital roles, little fanfare for special teamers - Tampa Tribune

Syracuse vs. USC: It's About Pos-A-Tiv-A-Tee - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Who should start for UConn on Friday? - The UConn Blog

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano mulling major shake-up on offensive line - Star Ledger

Notebook: Gonzalez returns as H-back - PPG

A stats-eye view of TCU's revival - Frogs O' War

Forde Yard Dash - ESPN

What's On Tap:

Football: WVU to Recognize Talley - MSNsportsNET.Com
Friday, Sept.23, at noon at the Waterfront Hotel.  The luncheon features an outstanding group of speakers, including former Mountaineer head coach and Hall of Famer Don Nehlen, former head coach Frank Cignetti and assistant coach Bob Simmons.  Former Talley teammates from both Buffalo (Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Cornelius Bennett) and from WVU also will be present.

Richmond Preview - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia battles Richmond Friday night at Dick Dlesk Stadium, produced by WVU men's soccer.

Video of Interest:

I showed you Bruce's video against Maryland the other day...here's Tavon's:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Here's my one of my favorite comedians honoring the late, great George Carlin (WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE)

Hump Day Video of the Week:

Here's a Musket favorite (based on your comments), Belen Rodriguez:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is French babe, Jennifer Lamiraqui.  Her gallery is linked through the picture.

via www.pulsarwallpapers.com

Gordon Biersch Marzen image via www.classiccitybrew.com