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 Delirium Noel, a Belgian Ale.
Of course, the big news was Ollie's presser yesterday and the revelations from it and other news outlets regarding the hiring process. Elsewhere, there is bowl prep going on and Brandon Hogan is attempting to be able to play. Huggs has the men back in action tomorrow afternoon against an undefeated Cleveland St. team in a matchup that many of the major outlets are pointing to as a barometer for both teams. If you're going to the game tomorrow, there is a food drive happening, so bring a non-perishable food item with you please. Also, the #8 ranked WVU women are back in action at the Coliseum tomorrow night as well against St. Francis.
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. Another goal reached!!! We now stand at 525. We're still a long way from the 17000+ for our old page, but we're working on it. Our next goal is 600. Spread the word and see if we can get there by the end of 2010!! We can do it, but we need your help. Enjoy your weekend and see you on the Dark Side of the Jump...
What You May Have Missed:
Oliver Luck Press Conference - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia Mountaineers AD: We couldn't win title with Bill Stewart as coach - ESPN
Luck studied scripts of Wisconsin, Oregon - Charleston Gazette
Luck: BCS title not possible with Stewart - ESPN
Oliver Luck Addresses Holgorsen Hiring - WVillustrated.com
Includes Video
Timeline Of A Transition - BGN
Stewart met with Holgorsen before West Virginia's move - PPG
'Results matter' - Charleston Gazette
Stew knew his fate a month ago - Charleston Gazette
Stewart knew about West Virginia's plans to replace him - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Luck: Stewart’s fate sealed last month - Times West Virginian
WVU football: Luck got his man with Holgorsen - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU football chat transcript 12.16.2010 - 'Eers to the Ground
Pitt, West Virginia Coaching Situations Not Awkward At All - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
What does everyone make of this quote? - 'Eers to the Ground
Holgorsen's priority: new staff hires - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia job too good to pass up for Dana Holgorsen - Oklahoman
Some lessons are taught in pizza, others in pigskin - Charleston Daily Mail
Dominant Offense - MSNsportsNET.Com
Luck Has His Man - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Luck runs out for Stewart - Register-Herald
Again with the pun
Holgorsen hire will define Luck - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column - Ollie's smart enough to know that, don't you think?
Timing of scene at WVU the worst - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column - and you can probably guess....he's not happy
Five-Step Drop: Stewart Being Forced Out? - NCAAFB FanHouse
VIDEO: Thoughts on Holgorsen Hiring - WVillustrated.com
Smart Notes: Big 10, Holgorsen, Muschamp (12/14/2010) - Smart Football
Really good read here, breaks down the offense in detail
Dana Holgorsen and Kevin Sumlin Interviews - thegame
Thank you Tony Dobies (via his Twitter feed)
News of Note:
Varsity Sports: WVU 29th in Directors' Cup - MSNsportsNET.Com
Men's Basketball: Ticket Information - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU basketball: Cleveland State brings 12-0 record to Morgantown - Charleston Daily Mail
Changes abound after last year’s Final Four season - Times West Virginian
WVU women gunning for national title - Times West Virginian
Football
Football: Coach Kirelawich Receives Honors - MSNsportsNET.Com
On the spot in a bowl: West Virginia - ESPN
WVU football: Mountaineers, Wolfpack have dealt with adversity - Charleston Daily Mail
Country Foes Burnin': The West Virginia Defense - Backing The Pack
WVU's defense presents a huge challenge for a struggling NC State offense.
WVU football: Hogan will try to play in bowl despite injury - Charleston Daily Mail
Hogan’s status for bowl still unknown - Inter-Mountain
Champs Sports Bowl Info:
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
Around the League (and Beyond):
Holgorsen's OSU exit no cause for panic - ESPN
Haywood officially takes over Pitt - PPG
Pittsburgh Aims Small, Eying Potential - Pre-Snap Read
The Process Not the Hire Is the Problem - Pitt Blather
Pitt's Dixon wants less 'ratting' - PPG
UConn Is In Trouble - Victory Formation
To date UConn has sold 4,000 tickets to the New Years Day bowl, practically cementing the honor fewest in BCS history (Held by WVU who sold only 10,000 tickets to the Fiesta Bowl in 2007).
UConn's going to lose money on the Fiesta Bowl, you shouldn't be surprised - The UConn Blog
"It's not all UConn's fault either." - HUH?!?!!?
Bad or good, UConn can't avoid clause - Courier-Journal
Cards like Florida pipeline - Courier-Journal
Thomas: Attendance to rise - Cincinnati Enquirer
Experts cautious after news that Rutgers' Eric LeGrand has feeling in hands - Star Ledger
Ex-Armwood star Hadley plans to sign with USF if admitted - Tampa Tribune
The BIG EAST/SEC Challenge Is Expanding To 12 Games - The Nova Blog
Forde Yard Dash - ESPN
LOL @ #3
LSU cuts two football scholarships, limits recruiting visits - ESPN
BCS director doesn't back Mark Cuban's playoff plan - ESPN Dallas
DUH...that's in his job description: Try to squash any attempts at a playoff
NCAA to dedicate more staff to enforcement of football rules - USA Today
What's On Tap:
Cleveland State Vikings vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
2:00 Saturday from the Coliseum on MASN (SNY?) and ESPN3.
St. Francis (PA) Red Flash vs. (8) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
7:00 Saturday from the Coliseum
Loyola (MD) Greyhounds vs. (13) Georgetown Hoyas - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Phone Booth on ESPN3.
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs vs. (21) Louisville Cardinals - ESPN
3:30 Saturday from the Chicken Box on ESPN3.
Iona Gaels vs. (5) Syracuse Orange - ESPN
7:00 Saturday from the Dome on ESPN3.
Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks vs. (8) Pittsburgh Panthers - ESPN
7:00 Saturday from the Pete on ESPN3.
Delaware Fightin Blue Hens vs. (11) Villanova Wildcats - ESPN
7:30 Saturday from the Pavilion on ESPN3.
Stony Brook Seawolves vs. (23) Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ESPN
4:30 Sunday at the Joyce on ESPNU.
Videos of Interest:
Videos of (Dis)Interest:
You need to stick around for all of this one...kinda slow building, but it's worth it.
Here's your weekly Prestige:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is gorgeous Colombian Danielle Tamayo. An absolute "WOW" gallery is linked from the picture.
Delirium Noel image via www.realbeer.com
