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 Santa's Private Reserve Ale.
Well, that certainly wasn't pretty. Huggs even resorted to calling the guys "ducks" afterward. Elsewhere, the women continue to roll and Champs Bowl prep is in semi-swing due to finals. Full swing will begin on the 18th. 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 didn't realize, clicking on "Like" on the individual articles just likes that particular article, but not our main page. Many thanks to those who "Like" us already. We passed our goal of 400 and now stand at 405!!!! We're still a long way from the 19000+ for our old page, but we're working on it. Our next goal is 500. Spread the word and see if we can get there by the end of 2010!! We can do it, but we need your help. Your morning dose is after the jump...
What You May Have Missed:
Bob Huggins: Postgame Press Conference - WVMetroNews.com
Huggins talks about why his team struggled against the Dukes, the role Jonnie West played in the game and why he is comparing his team to ducks.
Seems end is here for MU-WVU football series - Charleston Gazette
Yippee!!!
Bracketology - NCAA College Basketball Brackets and Predictions - ESPN
7 in SW
Football: Champs Sports Bowl Tickets - MSNsportsNET.Com
Football: Alumni Association Travel Packages - MSNsportsNET.Com
Champs Sports Bowl Fan Central
Info page, seating charts, merchandise, discount opportunities, etc.
Bowl Game 2010 | Leave the Team a Message - West Virginia University
Mountaineers can take advantage of fan activities at Champs Sports Bowl - WVU Today
News of Note:
Men's Basketball
West Virginia defeats Duquesne 64-61 - PPG
PoG: West Virginia vs Duquesne - BGN
Jonnie on the spot - Charleston Gazette
WVU basketball: Flowers, Mountaineers slip by Duquesne - Charleston Daily Mail
Saving the day - Times West Virginian
Flowers, West key rally in win over Dukes
West, Flowers Lift WVU - MSNsportsNET.Com
Listless Mountaineers aren't there yet - ESPN
WVU’s second-half comeback downs Dukes, 64-61 - Daily Athenaeum
WVU Basketball Game Recap: WVU 64 Duquesne 61 - WVillustrated.com
West Virginia Survives Duquesne - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Recap, video and gallery
West Virginia Survives Duquesne - WVMetroNews.com
The Mountaineers storm back in the second half to defeat Duquesne on Sunday 64-61. - Sights and Sounds Video
Duking It Out - BGN
Oh, the pun
West Virginia's unlikely source of offense helps to beat Dukes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
WVU Searching for Complete Game - WVillustrated.com
WVU Basketball Photos: WVU vs Duquesne - WVillustrated.com
VIDEO: Postgame Reaction from WVU's Win Over Duquesne - WVillustrated.com
Huggs, Flowers, Cam, Jonnie, Truck, Mazz and KJ
Joe Mazzulla: Duquesne Postgame - WVMetroNews.com
Mazzulla talks about trying to get the offense into a flow and John Flowers' performance.
Cam Thoroughman: Duquesne Postgame - WVMetroNews.com
Thoroughman talks about the minutes he played in the game and the struggles on offense.
Jonnie West: Duquesne Postgame - WVMetroNews.com
West talks about the ten points he scored and getting the Mountaineers' offense back on track against the Dukes.
Kevin Jones: Duquesne Postgame - WVMetroNews.com
Jones talks about the performance of John Flowers and why the team started out slow.
Ron Everhart: Duquesne Head Coach - WVMetroNews.com
Everhart talks about why his team wasn't able to pull off a win against a talented WVU team.
WVU men in need of consistency - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column - and this was published before yesterday's game, btw
At WVU, Who Takes the Last Shot? - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Bryant scoring more, eyeing leadership role for Mountaineers - Register-Herald
Mickey's Column
Basketball Notebook - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU Men's Basketball: Huggs Views 12/10 - WVillustrated.com
Flowers Blossoming Into a Goto Player for WVU - WVillustrated.com
Women's Basketball
WVU Women's Basketball: West Virginia's Offense Returns Against Panthers - WVillustrated.com
Ali, Repella Lead Mountaineers in Win - MSNsportsNET.Com
Mountaineers find gear in rout - Times West Virginian
WVU's 10-0 start school's best ever - Charleston Gazette
Women are rolling...
Football
WVU Begins to Prepare for Champs Sports Bowl - WVillustrated.com
Football: Coach Bill Stewart and Player Quotes - MSNsportsNET.Com
Stewart keeps bowl preparations light during finals - Daily Athenaeum
Bill Stewart: Bowl Prep Continues - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Includes video
Tis the season - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Stewart tries to handle distractions - Times West Virginian
Stewart focuses on positives - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
WVU Defensive Back Brandon Hogan Suffered Torn ACL - WVillustrated.com
Hogan's status for bowl uncertain - Charleston Gazette
WVU football: Hogan's status is up in air for bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
Sands' time running out? - Charleston Gazette
WVU football: Using legs, Geno gives Mountaineers extra dimension - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU’s Smith putting his tools to use - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Mullen Focused On Bowl Game - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Includes video
OC Mullen stays quiet on possible departure - Daily Athenaeum
Mum's The Word - BGN
"I’m going to keep my focus on N.C. State," Mullen said in response. "I really appreciate your concern."
VIDEO: WVU Football Interviews - WVillustrated.com
HCBS, Mullen, Geno, Noel, J.T. and Pat Miller
Nose Tackle Chris Neild - Mountaineer TV
Nose tackle Chris Neild talks about his hamstring and West Virginia's first day of prep for the Champs Sports Bowl.
Update on Brunetti Departure - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Includes audio with his former HS coach
The Duel - MSNsportsNET.Com
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 1975 Peach Bowl in Atlanta when West Virginia defeated North Carolina State 13-10. It was the third meeting in a blossoming rivalry between Bobby Bowden and Lou Holtz, two of college football’s all-time great coaches. Fittingly, the two teams will meet once again in the 2010 Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla. on Dec. 28.
Recruiting:
Maurice Aniefiok Sees "Destiny" at WVU - WVillustrated.com
Around the League (and Beyond):
Rashad Bishop leads Cincinnati over Utah Valley 92-72 - Cincinnati Enquirer
USF's McClain grasps the big picture on defense - Tampa Tribune
Tennessee beat Pitt at its own game, 83-76 - PPG
Pitt Recruiting: Panthers Report Violations - Cardiac Hill
Syracuse 100, Colgate 43: Hoodoo'd - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Cater arraigned, held on bail for South Campus burglaries - Daily Orange
Fiesta-Bound UConn (8-4) Hearing It From Critics - Hartford Courant
Louisville tops UNLV 77-69 behind Kuric, Smith, Knowles - Courier-Journal
Dane Miller leads the way for Rutgers in 63-54 win over Auburn, scoring 17 points - Star Ledger
Seton Hall uses balanced scoring to ease past Massachusetts - Star Ledger
104-79
That Was Easy. Georgetown Handles Appalachian State 89-60. - Casual Hoya
postGame: Villanova 84, La Salle 81 - The Nova Blog
Wisconsin 69, Marquette 64: I Hate Everything and Everyone Recap - Anonymous Eagle
Notre Dame men's basketball: Irish side-step Gonzaga - South Bend Tribune
83-79
Fordham Overcomes 21-Point Deficit, Upsets St. John's - NCAABB FanHouse
Hawaii Joins Mountain West Conference for Football, Big West for Other Sports - NCAAFB FanHouse
Cam Newton Has Heisman Trophy, But for How Long? - NCAAFB FanHouse
Cam Newton's awkward Heisman Trophy ceremony epitomizes his Auburn legacy - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
Coaching Carousel
Will Muschamp Named Florida Gators Football Coach - NCAAFB FanHouse
Head coach-in waiting? Texas never should have agreed to risky setup - Austin American-Statesman
Al Golden Reportedly New Football Coach of Miami Hurricanes - NCAAFB FanHouse
BREAKING: Malzahn to Accept Vanderbilt Head Coaching Position - Anchor Of Gold
Report: Gus Malzahn Offered Vanderbilt Coaching Job - NCAAFB FanHouse
SB Nation Pittsburgh Top Five: Reasons Dave Wannstedt Was Fired - SB Nation Pittsburgh
Oklahoma State coordinator leading candidate for Pitt position - PPG
Al Golden To Coach at Miami, Is Holgorsen the Best Option? - Cardiac Hill
KNWA TV Report: Petrino Has 'Signed Contract Extension' With Arkansas - ArkansasSports360.com
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Crazy!!! Looks like something from a movie.
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Manuela Saadeh (click on the pic for a gallery).
Santa's Private Reserve Ale image via beerme.com
