Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. Today we're honoring the U.S. Veterans, because they have sponsored us all. Thanks to all who have ever served!!!
Football is preparing for Cincinnati and there's several player interviews to peruse inside. The first day of the early signing period for basketball is behind us and WVU gathered up a total of nine commitments (5 men and 4 women). Will there be any more surprises before the period is over? We'll have to wait and see. We also have a good bit of basketball videos for you today as both men and women tip off the regular season tomorrow night. Don't forget about the parking situation at the Coliseum all day tomorrow, if you're going to be in the area (other events throughout the entire day are going on).
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"). If any of you don't realize, clicking on "Like" on the individual articles just likes that article, but not our main page. Many thanks to those who have already. We're back up to 298 right now (a far cry from the 19000+ for our old page). Let's set a goal to get to 400 by game time on Saturday. Spread the word!! Come on in...
What You May Have Missed:
A Heartfelt 'Thank-You' to WVU's Veterans - West Virginia University
Gold and Blue Report for Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Cincinnati Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
Big East predictions: Week 11 - ESPN
Cincinnati coach wants culture of Morgantown - PPG
"I like Butch, but I ain't going to like him when we play him," Stewart said, jokingly. "He can marry my sister, but I'll take him out back and punch him in the nose. Think that will make the news?"
Musings of a Mountain Man 11/11 - WVillustrated.com
Jerry West Gets Statue in L.A. - WVillustrated.com
It's about damn time
Bracketology - ESPN
#8 in the Southwest
News of Note:
Football
Decoding Bill Stewart - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
I’m without words - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Mountaineers Focused on Winning, Not Critics - WVillustrated.com
Smith ready to run smart - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia quarterback makes strides in offense - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Quarterback Geno Smith - Mountaineer TV
WVU football: Clarke still the guy on the goal line - Charleston Daily Mail
Clarke putting fumble behind him - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Sidney Glover: Team Morale (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Glover talks about how the team's morale has been after two conferences losses and the Bearcats.
Jock Sanders: No Criticism (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Sanders talks about how he has been dealing with the criticism against the team and the upcoming game against the Bearcats.
Don Barclay: Making Those Blocks (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Barclay talks about the drills linemen have been doing in the past two weeks and rebounding from two consecutive conference losses.
WVU football: Mountaineers have plenty of ties with Bearcats - Charleston Daily Mail
Basketball
VIDEO: WVi WVU Preseason Basketball Special - WVillustrated.com
Try the drinking game while watching these and take a drink every time "WVillustrated.com" is mentioned by name. Good times.
EXCLUSIVE: One-on-One Interviews with Huggins & Harrison - WVillustrated.com
WVU basketball: Record sale of hoop seats at Coliseum nothing new - Charleston Daily Mail
Must-see games for 2010-11 men's college basketball season - ESPN
Carey no stranger to managing expectations - Charleston Gazette
WVU women establish lofty goals - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
VIDEO: WVU Women's Basketball Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Coach C, Sarah Miles, and Madina Ali
Recruiting:
Men's Basketball: Huggins Lands Five - MSNsportsNET.Com
Huggins Announces Signing Class - WVillustrated.com
Huggins reloads with latest recruiting class - Charleston Gazette
The, um, backbone to WVU’s recruiting class - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Women's Basketball: Carey Inks Four - MSNsportsNET.Com
Carey Inks Four to 2011-12 - WVillustrated.com
Men's, Women's Hoops Classes Announced - BGN
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big East Expansion: Hi TCU! - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Big East awards race update, Week 11 - ESPN
Bearcats split practice time between fields - Cincinnati Enquirer
Panthers in position to put stranglehold on conference - PPG
Edsall Wants UConn Fans To Step Up When Pitt Visits - Hartford Courant
Louisville football's defense figuring it out now - Courier-Journal
Notebook: USF tries to snap streak - Tampa Tribune
Home sweet home? Rutgers Stadium has been somewhat sour for the Scarlet Knights - Star Ledger
Syracuse vs. Rutgers: Shoulder Chips A-Plenty - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Orange coach Doug Marrone tees up 'Caddyshack' quote - Post Standard
"Kind of like Caddyshack. No gambling allowed at Bushwood."
Pitt Vs. Illinois-Chicago: Panthers Steamroll UIC - Cardiac Hill
97 - 54
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
Hmm. Anything going on in college football this week?
Allegations cloud Cam Newton's chances for the Heisman Trophy - ESPN
"Just two months after Reggie Bush returned his Heisman, voters for college football's most famous player of the year award have more than yards and touchdowns to consider."
What's On Tap:
Reminder: Chat at 1 p.m. this afternoon - 'Eers to the Ground
Your live chat is 2 p.m. today [ed.] - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Connecticut Huskies - ESPN
7:30 tonight from the Rent on ESPN and ESPN3. Pitt is giving 5.
Ticket Information For Weekend Sporting Events - WVillustrated.com
Full slate of Volleyball, Women's Soccer, Women's and Men's Basketball, Swimming and Football this weekend, mostly on Friday (see the next link)
Men's Basketball: Coliseum Parking For Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com
With four sporting events and five games taking place on Friday, Nov. 12, at the Coliseum sports complex, the following information will assist WVU students, staff, faculty and the general public with parking arrangements at the Coliseum that day.
Videos of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Here's a WVU version of the video I posted yesterday (WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE):
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a gorgeous Colombian who's graced this section before. Here's a new gallery of Melissa Giraldo (click on the pic).
Veteran's Day image via 2.bp.blogspot.com