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It's game-day people. Unless you've been living under a rock, you are fully aware that WVU takes on the Wolfpack of N.C. State tonight in the Champs Sports Bowl. Game time is a bit early (6:30 pm), so don't be caught off guard. There are plenty of game previews inside and I have a couple links regarding game-watches as well.
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What You May Have Missed:
VIDEO: Bill Stewart and Tom O'Brien Pre-Bowl Press Conferences - WVillustrated.com
VIDEO: Champs Sports Bowl Special - WVillustrated.com
Broken down into several segments
West Virginia's bowl history - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia Lottery Bowl Report - Mountaineer TV
Mountaineers360 Champs Sports Bowl Special round table discussion with Coach Bill Stewart. Presented by the West Virginia Lottery.
United Bank Bowl Report - Mountaineer TV
MSN's Tony Caridi visits with Coach Bill Stewart prior to Tuesday's Champs Sports Bowl game against NC State. Presented by United Bank.
Northside Automotive Bowl Report - Mountaineer TV
2010 Champs Sports Bowl pregame report. Presented by Northside Automotive.
Mountaineers Back in Action - MSNsportsNET.Com
Basketball, that is
Numbers reflect Big East strength - Charleston Gazette
This is a BB article, as if you needed the disclaimer
Weekly Watch: Week 5 - ESPN
WVU is on the wrong side of the Upset Pick of the Week
NCAA College Basketball Polls - ESPN
6th out AP, 3rd out Coaches
Bracket Watch - Andy Glockner - SI.com
#8 East
Bubble Watch - Andy Glockner - SI.com
Reliving Memories - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Blurb and gallery - There was a big gathering of former Mountaineer football players the night before the Champs Sports Bowl at Legends Bar and Grill in downtown Orlando, Florida. The bar is owned by former WVU kicker Charlie Baumann and he invited many of his former teammates to the Alumni party at his establishment.
Devin Ebanks Assigned to Bakersfield Jam - Lakers.com
The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned forward Devin Ebanks to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League
News of Note:
Champs Sports Bowl Game Preview: WVU vs. N.C. State - WVillustrated.com
NC State-West Virginia 2010 Champs Sports Bowl preview - Andy Staples - SI.com
Champs Sports Bowl: W.V.U. vs. N.C.S.U. - Pre-Snap Read
Champs Sports Bowl: West Virginia (9-3) vs. NC State (8-4) - ESPN
NORTH CAROLINA STATE (8-4) VS WEST VIRGINIA (9-3) - Bowl Season
This site did a Q&A session with Steven of Backing The Pack and also with yours truly
Champs Sports Bowl Preview: West Virginia, NC State, and JAWS - Team Speed Kills
BTD Bowl Bash : Champs Sports, Insight - Building The Dam
Match-Ups: West Virginia vs N.C. State - BGN
WVU has tough test tonight - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewWVU has tough test tonight - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Final game for WVU seniors - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Hoppy's Commentary on the Game - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Don’t tell us it’s a minor bowl - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Bowl time - Times West Virginian
WVU football: Stewart wants to talk about only the bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
Stewart looks to keep WVU focused against NC State - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Distractions? Stew won't talk, but O'Brien will - Charleston Gazette
If you are Jeff Mullen, what do you do tonight? - 'Eers to the Ground
Mullen, Johnson to finish job with West Virginia - PPG
Offense looks to maintain consistency - Register-Herald
Maintain?...we're wayyyyy past maintain as an option, even past establish
Jobe will end his Mountaineer career the way he started - Register-Herald
WVU trying to avoid distractions - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Mountaineer Defense Prepping for Multi-Talented Quarterback - WVillustrated.com
Life on the Edge - MSNsportsNET.Com
Tandy and Miller are profiled
WVU football: Robert Sands weighing NFL Draft options - Charleston Daily Mail
Robert Sands: Stay or go? - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Bruce Irvin on right track: straight to the QB - ESPN
Big East vs. the ACC in bowls - ESPN
A 'Pack of challenges - Charleston Gazette
QB Wilson will test WVU ‘D’ - Register-Herald
The Wolfpack's Take - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Pack ready for a surprise - Raleigh News & Observer
NC State Coach Tom O'Brien No Stranger to Opponents' Coaching Changes - WVillustrated.com
There are plenty of places to kick back if you want company for the bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
Champs Sports Bowl Game Watches Across the Country - BGN
Recruiting:
JC Lineman Commits To The Mountaineers - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Around the League (and Beyond):
Pitt Vs. UConn Basketball: Panthers Steamroll Huskies, 78-63 - Cardiac Hill
No. 6 Pittsburgh Too Much For Fourth-Ranked UConn - Hartford Courant
Preston(!), Kuric post career highs as Louisville rolls - Card Chronicle
104-74 over Morgan St.
Orange Scouting Report: Providence vs. Syracuse - Post Standard
Orange Insider - Kansas State vs. Syracuse: Orange, Wildcats alike only in records - Post Standard
Mick Cronin's message sinking in - Cincinnati Enquirer
Rutgers looks to make tonight's series finale against North Carolina a memorable game - Star Ledger
Seton Hall Basketball: Richmond Review and USF Preview - South Orange Juice
He Gone: Reggie Smith Leaves Marquette. - Anonymous Eagle
Bulls Notebook: Joseph won't play in bowl - Tampa Tribune
Lions dismiss Paterno retirement rumors - St. Petersburg Times
But aren't the players usually the last to know?...really
Strong rumors this morning linking Michigan coach Roch [sic] Rodriguez to Maryland. - Testudo Times
The comments alone make this one worth the click
What's On Tap:
(22) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack - ESPN (Game preview link)
6:30 tonight from the Florida Citrus Bowl on ESPN. WVU is giving 3.
Providence Friars vs. (5) Syracuse Orange - ESPN
9:00 tonight from the Dome on ESPNU
Video of Interest:
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
Cajun Pork Ribs
Mix the following dry ingredients in a bowl:
2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika (regular if you don't have it)
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon thyme (dried)
1 teaspoon oregano (dried)
Mix the ingredients thoroughly and set aside. After trimming the ribs of extra fat, rinse and dry with paper towels. Using a pastry brush, spread a light coating of yellow mustard on both sides of the ribs (this sets up a nice moist crust on the ribs). Next, sprinkle the dry ingredients above lightly on both sides of the ribs. Cook the ribs in indirect heat (Not Grilling). This means placing the fire on one side of the pit and the ribs on the other. Cook for 4to 6 hours at 225 degrees or until the meat is tender. One way to tell this is that the meat will have pulled back from the ends of the bones and the bones will be blackened.Recipe courtesy of Perfect Entertaining
Video of (Dis)Interest:
This reminds me of conversations between me, Country Roads and 5YS after the UConn game earlier this year:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is THE Brazilian supermodel. Here's a lovely gallery and a couple videos of Gisele Bündchen.
Mountaineer Brewing Selection image via www.mountaineerbrewing.com