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 Boulevard Bob's '47 Oktoberfest, because it still is.
The Basketball version of the Big East Media Day was yesterday and the coaches agreed with the beat writers and placed WVU 5th. I won't mention who they picked first, as to avoid making you sick to your stomach. On the football side of things, Coach Casteel is getting the love today. Plenty of other player interviews to peruse as well. 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 (follow this link, then hit "LIKE"). Thanks to those who have already and please spread the word. See you after the jump...
What You May Have Missed:
Syracuse vs. West Virginia: The Big East's Lost Rivalry - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Excellent piece by Nunes...but Scooter, damn man...no need to fire them up like that
WVU Football Team Report - WVillustrated.com
On the Line Saturday: The Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy - The Cuse Connection
Smith getting play-calling latitude - Charleston Gazette
WVU football Q&A answers 10.21.10 - 'Eers to the Ground
2010 Big East Fearless Picks: Oct 23 - College Football News
Colts Have a New Drunk Idiot Kicker - With Leather
I think Voodoo 5 set him up
McAfee's Future In Question? - WVMETRONEWS.COM
News of Note:
Football
Musings of a Mountain Man: WVU vs. Syracuse Week - WVillustrated.com
Unknown and Happy - MSNsportsNET.Com
Defense doing the talking for Jeff Casteel - ESPN
West Virginia's Casteel happily dodges spotlight - PPG
WVU earning defensive reputation - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Stewart talks about injured Rutgers player, Syracuse contest - Inter-Mountain
Decoding Bill Stewart - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Stewart: Screen is ‘very effective’ - Register-Herald
David Lockwood: Tough To Prepare For (Video) - WVMetroNews.com
WVU's cornerbacks coach talks about the challenge teams have to prepare for the Mountaineer defense and how Michigan transfer Justin Turner is doing
WVU's Jock Sanders not concerned with numbers, only wins - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU Receiving Corps is Clicking on All Cylinders - WVillustrated.com
Geno For Heisman??? - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Geno Smith: Big East Round Two (Video) - WVMetroNews.com
Smith talks about taking the season one game at a time and what he has seen on film from the Orange
'Eers maintain balance - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
WVU’s Garvin coming up big on defense - Times West Virginian
Tandy helps solidify West Virginia's defense - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Emotional week in Big East - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Syracuse University football coach Doug Marrone: Mountaineers a Top 10 talent - Post Standard
Saving the Big East - Martinsburg Journal
Big East predictions: Week 8 - ESPN
Big East stock report, Week 8 - ESPN
Big East awards race update, Week 8 - ESPN
Player Interview Videos - WVillustrated.com
Hogan, Neild, Jock, Madsen, JT, Scooter, Stedman and Tavon
Brandon Hogan and Brantwon Bowser - Mountaineer TV
Brantwon Bowser: Staying Injury Free (Video) - WVMetroNews.com
Bowser talks about the team staying injury free and the dramatic injury to Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand.
Paterno, Ditka offer solutions to dicey hits - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Meanwhile, West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said his school carefully monitors big hits by its players. "You get a letter of reprimand, a suspension and you can even get an ejection," he said. "I try my best to run a very clean program. I've been talking with (Big East) supervisor of officials Terry McAulay about the penalties and how to clean them up. If you err on the side of safety, and you continue to call it, then maybe we can help youngsters." - Thanks to Shawn for the find
Basketball
2010 Big East Media Day - ESPN
Men's Basketball: WVU Picked Fifth - MSNsportsNET.Com
Dapper Hug, 'Brett' West, Big East hoops notes - Charleston Gazette
Mountaineers picked to finish fifth in Big East basketball - Charleston Gazette
WVU fifth in Big East preseason basketball poll - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU picked 5th in Big East - Times West Virginian
Bob spends most of the article on Kevin Jones though
Men's Basketball: Jones Makes Preseason Team - MSNsportsNET.Com
Forward Kevin Jones - Mountaineer TV
Big East: 5 Things I Can't Wait To See - ESPN
Recruiting:
Keaton Miles commits to WVU basketball team - Charleston Gazette
From Texas To Morgantown - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Keaton Miles Talks about his Commitment to West Virginia - EerSports
Keaton Miles Picks WVU - WVillustrated.com
Four-star SF Keaton Miles commits to West Virginia - ESPN
Sources: Conference Commissioners Association votes to recommend eliminating July recruiting - ESPN
Around the League (and Beyond):
Syracuse vs. West Virginia: Moving On - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Memory loss: Syracuse football players turn attention to No. 20 West Virginia - Post Standard
Linebacker position suits Syracuse star - Charleston Daily Mail
Rutgers players say Eric LeGrand is providing the motivation for Pittsburgh matchup - Star Ledger
Players will wear helmets with "believe" sticker on them in tribute
DeCicco's move to nickle back improves Pitt's defense - PPG
Dontavia Bogan gives Bulls a spark - Tampa Tribune
Cincinnati WR Vidal Hazelton hopes for comeback this season - Cincinnati Enquirer
Bilal Powell and the Run Defense; A Series of Unfortunate Events - Down The Drive
Cody Endres of Connecicut Huskies suspended for rest of academic year - ESPN
One final thought on Cody Endres' suspension - The UConn Blog
Edsall won't stand for UConn's sense of entitlement - Connecticut Post
Back from coaching hiatus, Steve Lavin looking to re-energize St. John's program - Star Ledger
With No Post-Expansion Crowns, Big East May Be Too Big - NCAABB FanHouse
Big East Have-Nots Struggling to Become Haves, Make NCAA Tournament - NCAABB FanHouse
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
UCLA Bruins vs. (2) Oregon Ducks - ESPN
9 pm EDT tonight from Autzen Stadium on ESPN and ESPN3. Ducks are giving 24.5.
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Maybe he can't pull something like this off (although I wouldn't put it past him), but Huggs has enough connections to do better than what I witnessed last Friday.
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a former SI Swimsuit cover model and she's also done work for Victoria's Secret. Here's Czech beauty Daniela Pestova (pic links to gallery).
Boulevard Bob's '47 Oktoberfest image via i99.photobucket.com
