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 Nutcracker Ale.
We finally have some bowl prep news to peruse today, but as one article states, the coaching shake up is still overshadowing the bowl by a large margin. The Wolfpack is focused, or so they claim... Elsewhere, your #6 ranked women's basketball team is in action tonight against North Carolina Central down in Durham. And the first Big East affiliated bowl game is tonight 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"). 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 now stand at 541. 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. See you after the jump...
What You May Have Missed:
Oliver Luck Defends Coaching Decision On MetroNews Talkline - WVMETRONEWS.COM
The Decision - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU actions stir up conspiracy theory - Charleston Gazette
Luck: No donor influence - Times West Virginian
Don't expect many details at Stewart's news conference - 'Eers to the Ground
Coaching talk tops bowl game - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
It's like he was watching me put this together
Champs Sports Bowl Report for Tuesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Champs Sports Bowl Report for Monday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Gold and Blue Report for Monday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Basketball: Share Your Campus Roar - MSNsportsNET.Com
Share why you love West Virginia basketball, in 35 characters or less. Submit your Campus Roar. It could be the next Nike T-Shirt representing your school.
NCAA College Basketball Polls - ESPN
5th out AP, 3rd out Coaches
2011 Women's College Basketball Rankings and Polls for Week 7 - ESPN
Up to 6th AP
Women's Basketball: Sixth-Ranked WVU Faces NCCU - MSNsportsNET.Com
Women's Basketball: Ali Named BIG EAST Honor Roll - MSNsportsNET.Com
Talkline Interview: Colin Dunlap - WVMetroNews.com
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Colin Dunlap talks on MetroNews Talkline about Bill Stewart and how he has dealt with the Dana Holgorsen situation.
Football: Kerin Honored by FootballScoop.com - MSNsportsNET.Com
Kent State hires former WVU assistant - Charleston Gazette
FanHouse Report: BCS Football Program Drug Policies Revealed - NCAAFB FanHouse
News of Note:
Football
Last Call for Devine - MSNsportsNET.Com
Pat Miller: Replacing Hogan - WVMetroNews.com
Miller talks about what it will be like playing without Brandon Hogan in the Champs Sports Bowl and his breakout game against Maryland back in September.
Robert Sands: Returning Home - WVMetroNews.com
Sands talks about playing in another Florida bowl game and what he expects to see from NC State's offense.
Tom O'Brien: Continuing Bowl Prep - WVMetroNews.com
O'Brien meets with the media for one of the final times before the Champs Sports Bowl and talks about how his team's practices and film session are going.
N.C. State is focused on bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
2010 Pack Is More Than 'Good Enough' - NC State University Wolfpack Official Athletic Site
Pack readies defense for bowl - Charlotte Observer
Basketball
The Bob Huggins TV Show Debuts This Week - WVillustrated.com
WVU Counting on Bench for Energy, Support - WVillustrated.com
Men's Basketball: Exhibition on Wednesday - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia University men’s basketball team will play its final exhibition game of the 2010-11 season on Wednesday, Dec. 22 against Walsh at the WVU Coliseum.
Bubble Watch - Andy Glockner - SI.com
Recruiting:
On The Recruiting Trails - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Pitino, Huggins to attend Ironton Classic - Ironton Tribune
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):
CFN Analysis: The Big New Coaching Changes - College Football News
State of the Big East: League searching for credibility - Sporting News
UConn Defeats Coppin State, 76-64 - Hartford Courant
Connecicut Huskies tiring of underdog label - ESPN
Syracuse 97 - Morgan State 55: Southerland Tales - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Corey Fisher Among Candidates for Bob Cousy Award - The Nova Blog
Five Reasons Michael Haywood Hire Can Work Out - Cardiac Hill
Tempers flare between Cards and Golden Eagles in St. Pete - Card Chronicle
Poise, passion of USF's Lattimore on full display - Tampa Tribune
Cincinnati returns to Millett for first time since 1993 - Cincinnati Enquirer
It's The Turnover Margin Stupid - Down The Drive
Ralph Friedgen Fired as Maryland Plans to Go From 'Good to Great' - NCAAFB FanHouse
Integrity a two-way street - Inside the Irish/NBC Sports
There is nothing straightforward about the circumstances surrounding the death of St. Mary's freshman Lizzy Seeberg, who committed suicide nine days after accusing an Irish football player of sexual assault.
What's On Tap:
(6) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. North Carolina Central Eagles - ESPN
6:00 tonight from McDougal-McLendon in Durham
Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl: Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Louisville Cardinals - ESPN
Tonight at 8 pm from Tropicana Field on ESPN and ESPN3. Cards are giving 3.
Videos of (Dis)Interest:
Here are two very good examples of why I claim sophomoric humor in the lead-in up top. (Warning: Naughty Words in the second one)
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is another reason to "wish they all could be California girls." Here's a lovely gallery of Nikki Gray.
Nutcracker Ale image via bp0.blogger.com
