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 Yuengling. It may be America's oldest brewery, but since it's only been allowed in West Virginia legally since last year, it's a fairly new tailgate staple to Morgantown, but a staple it has become.
Big, big, BIG weekend for WVU sports fans starts today. There is the Women's Soccer NCAA Tournament at 6, a Women's and Men's Basketball Doubleheader starting at 7, Football against Cinci tomorrow and several other non-revenue sports as well. Most of it is at the Coliseum today (along with some other University events), so heed the parking guidelines. With all that's going on, it's a lot to cover inside, so I won't waste any more time with idle chatter here.
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 "Liked" us already. We're back up to 305 right now (a far cry from the 19000+ for our old page). We've set a goal to get to 400 by game time on Saturday. C'mon people, spread the word!! After the jump is where the fun is...
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Oakland Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
Game Preview: WVU vs. Oakland - WVillustrated.com
Game Preview: WVU vs. Cincinnati - WVillustrated.com
WVU football: Cincinnati-WVU matchups - Charleston Daily Mail
Go to WVU game, donate to good cause - Charleston Daily Mail
Ticket Information For Weekend Sporting Events - WVillustrated.com
Advance sales for WVU basketball doubleheader halted - Charleston Daily Mail
Men's Basketball: Coliseum Parking For Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com
Men's Basketball: Mini-Packages On Sale Monday - MSNsportsNET.Com
There will be two sets of ticket packages for purchase. The Gold package will include the Providence, USF, Pitt, Notre Dame and Connecticut games. The Blue package will include the St. John’s, Purdue, Seton Hall, DePaul and Louisville games. Each package is priced at $135.
College Basketball Power Rankings - Luke Winn - SI.com
He has the good guys at #29
Hero or villain? MAC leans toward latter - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
A little bit of Big East Texas Hold 'Em? - Charleston Gazette
Speaking From The Heart - WVMETRONEWS.COM
College soccer: No. 7 WVU women begin tourney play - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU women [soccer, ed.] open tournament tonight - Times West Virginian
Former WVU Fullback Owen Schmitt Checks In - WVillustrated.com
News of Note:
Basketball
Campus Connection - MSNsportsNET.Com
Head Coach Bob Huggins - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins talks about Friday's season opener against Oakland at the WVU Coliseum.
Bob Huggins: Pregame Press Conference (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Huggins talks about Oakland, Deniz Kilicli, his incoming recruiting class and beginning a new season.
A Bear Of A Season Opener - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU to deal with Benson in opener - Times West Virginian
WVU men still a team of mystery - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
VIDEO: WVU Men's Basketball Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Huggs, Mazz, KJ, Flowers and West
Kevin Jones: An Increased Role (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Jones talks about his role on this year's team and how they are going to defend the Grizzlies.
John Flowers: Dealing With The Bigs (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Flowers talks about dealing with all of the big forwards and centers on the Oakland basketball basketball team.
Joe Mazzulla: Stepping Up (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Mazzulla talks about the size of the Oakland basketball team and the importance of Dan Jennings and Deniz Kilicli.
Jonnie West: Ready For Game Time (video) - WVMetroNews.com
West talks about playing a game that counts on Friday and what he knows about the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.
Kevin Noreen: Class Speech (video)- WVMetroNews.com
Noreen talks about success and some of the most successful people in the world.
The 2010-2011 College Basketball Season: Twenty Guarantees - A Sea Of Blue
#1
WVU women set to open season against Loyola - Times West Virginian
Football
Bearcats coming to Morgantown - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
WVU football chat transcript 11.11.10 - 'Eers to the Ground
Must Win Football Game for the Mountaineers - WVillustrated.com
Mountaineers ready for a win - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
WVU knows Cincinnati presents a challenge - Times West Virginian
WVU football: Mountaineers, Bearcats have been hit by turnover bug - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU football: Turnovers have been lingering problem - Charleston Daily Mail
For West Virginia, it's hit 21 or bust - ESPN
What to watch in the Big East: Week 11 - ESPN
5 things to pay attention to during WVU-Cincinnati - 'Eers to the Ground
Mullen stands up to critics - Charleston Gazette
Stewart pulls the curtain back just a little - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
WVU football: Mountaineers want option back in the offense - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU Football: Game Scout by The Sports Xchange - WVillustrated.com
Mountaineers Have New Life - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Defending The Team - WVMETRONEWS.COM
From Stew's Statewide Sportsline show - article and video
West Virginia's Clarke carries burden of costly fumble - PPG
West Virginia players stand by coach Stewart - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
WVU football: Thomas says program doesn't listen to criticism - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU players ignore chatter - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Linebacker J.T. Thomas - MSNsportsNET.Com
J.T. Thomas talks about the importance of winning the upcoming game against Cincinnati on Saturday.
JT Thomas: Dealing With The Loss (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Thomas talks about what he did after the UConn loss and facing some of his former teammates and coaches on Saturday.
Bruce Irvin: "We lost to UConn" (video) - WVMetroNews.com
Irvin talks about how the UConn loss still bugs him and the drills the defense is doing to force more turnovers.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Football: Big East Creates Bowl Website - MSNsportsNET.Com
Bearcats plan for worst, expect Devine at his best - Cincinnati Enquirer
Previewing West Virginia - Down The Drive
From Cinci's Blog
UConn Throws Big East Race Into Chaos - NCAAFB FanHouse
UConn Hands Pitt First Big East Loss - Hartford Courant
30-28
Pitt Vs. UConn: Turnovers And Miscues Kill The Panthers - Cardiac Hill
I love it when a plan comes together
Big East business on minds of ol' pals Holtz, Strong - Tampa Tribune
Freshman Wright starts new highlight reel for Louisville football - Courier-Journal
Ripened: SU's official mascot for 15 years, Otto the Orange has grown as university icon - The Daily Orange
Didn't realize he wasn't official before that...guess he was just a free-lance killer before
Missed tackles added to long list of issues plaguing the Rutgers football team - Star Ledger
College GameDay Kickoff: Week 11 preview - ESPN
Mountaineer Gameday: There are plenty of underrated college fan bases - Charleston Daily Mail
Breaking Down The Big East: Part One - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Enes Kanter ruled ineligible to play at Kentucky - Card Chronicle
There is justice after what Kilicli had to suffer last year.
What's On Tap:
All times listed are EST
Women's Soccer: NCAAs Begin Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com
Tonight at 6 pm against Morehead State at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
No. 11 Women to Open Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com
7 pm tonight at the Coliseum against Loyola, MD.
Oakland Golden Grizzlies vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Tonight at 9 pm (scheduled, will follow the women's game by approx. 30 min.) from the Coliseum.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Noon Saturday from Mountaineer Field on MASN, SNY, ESPN Gameplan and ESPN3. WVU is giving 5.5.
South Florida Bulls vs. Louisville Cardinals - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Pizza Box on ESPNU. Cards are giving 3.
Syracuse Orange vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - ESPN
3:30 Saturday from Rutgers Stadium on ESPNU. Cuse is giving 3.
College Football TV Schedule: Week 11 - NCAAFB FanHouse
Videos of Interest:
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
Cincinnati Chili
40 min prep and 25 min cook time
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
- Kosher salt
- 1 6-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons chopped unsweetened chocolate
- 1 tablespoon cider or red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- Freshly ground pepper
- 12 ounces cooked spaghetti
- 1 19-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 pound grated cheddar cheese
- Oyster crackers, for serving
Directions
Heat the oil in a medium Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add half the chopped onions and the garlic and cook until soft, stirring, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, allspice, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne and cloves. Cook, stirring, until fragrant. Add the beef and cook the mixture, stirring, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon salt.
Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaf and 1 1/2 cups water; simmer the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thicker. Add the chocolate, vinegar and Worcestershire and cook until the mixture is thickened but still soupy, about 15 more minutes.
Discard the bay leaf and season the chili with the freshly ground pepper. Divide the spaghetti among bowls and top with the chili, beans, remaining onion and cheddar. Serve with the oyster crackers.
Recipe courtesy of FoodNetwork.com
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Rosie is back again this week, this time spoofing the Old Spice commercials:
This Week in Bodypainting:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is fresh from the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show that's set to air next week (filmed on Wednesday). One of the hottest Brazilian supermodels around, here's a lovely gallery of Adriana Lima and two videos:
via www.djmick.co.uk
Yuengling image via www.yuengling.com