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 another tailgate staple, Budweiser.
It's game day and the weather doesn't look to be too nice tonight. Bring your rain gear, Gold if you can, for the Gold Rush. There's plenty to get you prepared for the game tonight inside. If you have any tips, suggestions or requests for content that you think is worth sharing, you can send them to me by email or Twitter and don't forget to "LIKE" the Smoking Musket main page on Facebook. Enjoy the game and see you after the jump...
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Report for Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
USF Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
Thursday Night Throwdown: USF at WVU - College Football News
Here's Why It's the University of South Florida - The Smoking Musket
Voodoo 5 kept his promise and stopped by to explain the name
Big East awards race update, Week 7 - ESPN
Men's Basketball: Priority Deadline Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com
Don't forget to re-new your season tickets.
WVU Women's Basketball Team Speaks With the Media - WVillustrated.com
Video interviews with Coach Carey, Liz Repella and Korinne Campbell
Mountaineers Blank Pitt - MSNsportsNET.Com
Men's Soccer, 2-0
Rifle: Hammond Wins Second Straight Gold - MSNsportsNET.Com
News of Note:
WVU tries to even Big East series vs South Florida - Miami Herald
Some gameday questions for you (and a chat reminder, too) - 'Eers to the Ground
Honeymoon was short for West Virginia's Stewart - PPG
WVU focused solely on South Florida - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU opens Big East play tonight - Times West Virginian
Mountaineers Ready to Meet Bulls - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
College Football: Noel Devine's journey from tragedy to promise to rewards - ESPN
Thanks to WVUDDS08...if you're an Insider (please don't post the content for copyright reasons)
WVU’s Stedman Bailey shows his caring side - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
The USF Game Means a Little More for WVU WR Stedman Bailey - WVillustrated.com
On defense, Leonard has become valuable asset - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU's struggles vs. USF defy logic - Charleston Gazette
USF defense has had its way with WVU - Inter-Mountain
Why Has USF Had WVU’s Number? - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
WVU corner wants revenge against South Florida - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mitch's matchups - Charleston Gazette
Ready For Action - BGN
Junior offensive lineman Josh Jenkins should be back in action tonight
USF a Tough Matchup - MSNsportsNET.Com
Willie Milhouse: Being B.J. Daniels - WVillustrated.com
Somebody has to play the part for the scout team
Stop That Bull - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Video Link
Video: Big East predictions - ESPN
Musings of a Mountain Man: Week 7 - WVillustrated.com
Fearless Picks: WVU vs USF - BGN
Wide Receiver Stedman Bailey - Mountaineer TV
Cornerback Brodrick Jenkins - Mountaineer TV
Tight End Tyler Urban - Mountaineer TV
Around the League (and Beyond):
USF passing game not up to snuff - Tampa Tribune
Holtz, USF challenged by difficult schedule - Charleston Gazette
USF looks to end Thursday jinx - Bradenton Herald
Bulls look for continued good fortune against Mountaineers - The Oracle
Despite his youth, freshman DeDe Lattimore plays a key role for the USF Bulls - St. Petersburg Times
USF Bulls prepare for West Virginia - St. Petersburg Times
Video Preview
Syracuse vs Pitt - Defense, Defense, Defense - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Pitt still missing finishing touch - PPG
Huskies Still Can Win Big East Football Title; How Bad Do They Want it? - Hartford Courant
For Rutgers linebacker Manny Abreu, breakout game was all in his head - Star Ledger
Former St. Xavier star Darius Ashley adjusts to defense with Louisville - Cincinnati Enquirer
Louisville tackle Scruggs needs to turn ‘orderly' to ornery - Courier-Journal
Michigan State’s Ode To ‘Big Sister’ - With Leather
A double dose of schadenfreude
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
South Florida Bulls vs. (25) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
7:30 pm EDT tonight from Mountaineer Field on ESPN. WVU is giving 10.5.
If you're in town for the game Thursday, stick around for Friday evening's banner raising festivities. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with an autograph session featuring selected men’s and women’s players at the Green and Gold gates. The on-court portion of the program will begin at 8:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Videos of Interest:
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
Grilled Salmon
Prep Time: 15 Min; Cook Time: 16 Min; Ready In: 2 Hrs 31 Min
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets
lemon pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
salt to taste
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oilDirections
1. Season salmon fillets with lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
2. In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, and vegetable oil until sugar is dissolved. Place fish in a large resealable plastic bag with the soy sauce mixture, seal, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. Preheat grill for medium heat.
4. Lightly oil grill grate. Place salmon on the preheated grill, and discard marinade. Cook salmon for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.Courtesy of Allrecipes.com
Video of (Dis)Interest:
John McClane stops by to spend time with everybody's favorite interviewer.
Sexy One Piece Gallery of the Week:
You ladies out there, try to control yourselves.
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is the future Mrs. Derek Jeter and she was just named Esquire magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive. Here's one of the stars of NBC's Friday Night Lights, Minka Kelly (the pic links to the gallery).
Budweiser image via www.didntyouhear.com