The Shotgun/Throwdown: Rutgers Pre-Game (12/3/10) Edition

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Dec 3, 2010, 10:15am EST

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 a slightly stronger tailgate staple in Morgantown, Wild Turkey.

Tomorrow is Senior Day at Mountaineer Field as 20 football players suit up for the last time in front of the home crowd. Thanks to all of those who have suited up for the Mountaineers. Just about all of us know the situation, what's at stake and what needs to happen for a shot at a big bowl. WVU has to win and UConn has to lose. Wish it was simpler, but it isn't. 5YS put it best earlier in the week when he said that if WVU beats Rutgers, there will be more people in West By God concerned with the UConn game than in Connecticut. Sad but true. It promises to be a cold one, so bundle up if you're coming to the game. Elsewhere, in basketball news, the women took care of Elon last night and the men travel to sunny Miami for a BE/ACC clash tomorrow afternoon.

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 made another nice jump to 373 (still a far cry from the 19000+ for our old page, but baby steps people...baby steps). Our next goal to get to 400. C'mon people, spread the word!! The fun starts after the jump. Enjoy your weekend, the games and...

Let's GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What You May Have Missed:

Ali, Bussie Lead Mountaineers Past Elon - MSNsportsNET.Com
90-51

WVU Women's Basketball: Mountaineers Destroy Elon - WVillustrated.com

WVU women stomp Elon, 90-51 - Times West Virginian

Nine victories puts Mountaineers in big-time company - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU football: Mountaineers have been steady, consistent for Big East - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU football chat transcript 12.2.2010 - 'Eers to the Ground

WVU Bowl Scenarios - WVillustrated.com

Geno Smith Named First Team All BIG EAST - WVillustrated.com

21 Mountaineers On Writer's All-Big East Team - WVMETRONEWS.COM

WVU basketball: In second season, Kilicli making progress - Charleston Daily Mail

Casey Mitchell: Are you convinced or not? - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

American Highlights - Mountaineer TV
Highlights from West Virginia's 71-50 victory over American Wednesday night at the Coliseum.

WVU Basketball Photos: WVU vs American III - WVillustrated.com

College Hoops Power Rankings - Luke Winn - SI.com
#23

NCAA College Basketball Power Rankings - ESPN
First out...#26

Mountaineer Athletic Club: West Virginia University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
Official Site of the MAC in re-designed form.

Mountaineer Gameday: Here's my list of favorite college football venues - Charleston Daily Mail

Women's Player of the Year 2010 - Soccer News Net
Vote for the WVU's Bri Rodriguez as the 2010 Soccer News Net Women's College Soccer Player of the Year

News of Note:

Game Scout by The Sports Xchange: WVU vs. Rutgers - WVillustrated.com

WVU Football Game Preview: WVU vs. Rutgers - WVillustrated.com

Preview: WVU vs Rutgers - BGN

5 things to pay attention to during WVU-Rutgers game - 'Eers to the Ground

West Virginia hooks up with Scarlet Knights - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Rutgers and West Virginia clash in Big East battle - SB Nation

Much on the line for Mountaineers - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

West Virginia’s Stewart says Rutgers will be a tough matchup - Inter-Mountain

WVU Knows Rutgers is a Dangerous Opponent - WVillustrated.com

Super Seniors - WVMETRONEWS.COM

West Virginia bids farewell to graduating seniors - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Stewart salutes senior class - Register-Herald
Morrison's Notebook

WVU football: 'Mountains' speech has put Mountaineers in line for title - Charleston Daily Mail

Finishing On Top - WVMETRONEWS.COM

West Virginia hoping for some help - ESPN

West Virginia eyes Big East title, BCS bowl bid - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

At WVU, no one is immune - Register-Herald

Jeff Mullen: The Player-Coach Relationship - WVMetroNews.com
Mullen talks about his relationship with his players and ending the Mountaineers' season against the Rutgers Scarlett Knights.

Eu [Geno, ed.] makes a provocative point - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

Geno Smith: Ready For The BCS - WVMetroNews.com
The sophomore quarterback talks about his team's BCS chances and what he has seen on film from the Rutgers defense.

Rutgers: Scarlet Knights hard to figure - Charleston Gazette

WVU football: Big East title 'would mean a lot' to Devine - Charleston Daily Mail

Noel speaks! Says of Saturday: ‘It’s going down’ - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

Noel Devine: The Final Run - WVMetroNews.com
Devine talks about playing in his final game at Mountaineer Field and why he hasn't been out to talk to the media in over a month.

Running Back Noel Devine - Mountaineer TV
Noel Devine talks about the injuries he's faced this season, and his senior game against Rutgers on Saturday.

Jock Sanders: The Last Game - WVMetroNews.com
Sanders talks about senior day on Saturday and what to expect from Rutgers.

Straight as a Country Road - MSNsportsNET.Com
Brandon Hogan is profiled

Hogan finishing career with no regrets - Charleston Gazette

West Virginia's Stewart taught Hogan tough lesson - PPG

Hogan puts troubles behind, becomes star - Times West Virginian

Reserve back fills Devine role for West Virginia - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Weston hopes for one chance - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

What to watch in the Big East: Week 14 - ESPN

Week 14: Did you know? - ESPN

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes - ESPN
4 pm Saturday from the BankUnited Center on the Big East Network (MASN is not covering, btw).

Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Nip on ESPN and ESPN3. Cinci is giving 2.

Connecticut Huskies vs. South Florida Bulls - ESPN
8 pm Saturday from Ray Jay on ESPN2 and ESPN3. Bulls are giving 2.

College Football TV Schedule: Week 14 - NCAAFB FanHouse

Videos of Interest:

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

With the cold weather called for tomorrow, here's another standby:

Hot Toddy

Warm and toasty and just in time for winter, the Hot Toddy is a classic hot drink. Feel free to experiment with your favorite types of tea or skip it all together and use hot water alone. Most black and green teas mix well with the sweetness of the honey and lemon, but from there it's a personal preference and some interesting toddies are possible. There is also a Gin Toddy that is a great variation of this warm cocktail.

Ingredients:
1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 lemon
1 cup hot water
1 tea bag

Preparation:
1. Coat the bottom of a mug or an Irish coffee glass with honey.
2. Add the liquor and the juice of the lemon quarter.
3. On the side, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea.
4. Pour the steaming tea into the glass and stir.

Recipe courtesy of About.com

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Here's the aforementioned Jon Stewart pun rant:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is the weekly Pledge from our HD feature. I wanted to send the seniors out with a bang, so here's the gorgeous Brooklyn Decker. The pic leads to one gallery, HERE is a BONUS GALLERY. Thanks to a loyal reader for the .GIF.