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 Iditarod Imperial Stout, because the current weather reminds me of the race.
OK, here's my $0.02 on the Champs Sports Bowl: at least it's not the Gator Bowl for the 325th time and Notre Dame didn't screw us. Yeah, the day/date/time thing could be better, but at least it's a decent location. Obviously, Miami would be so much nicer on several levels, but, it is what it is. If I had the means, I would go to Orlando. That's not to try to convince anybody, just what I would do. Ticket/travel info is included today for those who are interested in going.
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 380 (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.
What You May Have Missed:
2010 Defensive Coordinator of the Year - Football Scoop
I know I had this before, but here it is again...VOTE FOR CASTEEL!!!
Football: Champs Sports Bowl Tickets - MSNsportsNET.Com
Football: Alumni Association Travel Packages - MSNsportsNET.Com
Coach Stewart: Bowl Teleconference Quotes - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Football: Champs Bowl Teleconference Quotes - MSNsportsNET.Com
N.C. State: Champs Sports Teleconference - WVMetroNews.com
The Wolfpack's head coach Tom O'Brien and quarterback Russell Wilson talk about their matchup in the Champs Sports Bowl with the Mountaineers.
Don't Blame UConn, Blame Yourself - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Champs Sports Bowl
Official Bowl Site
BCS football system must be scrapped - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
2010 NCAA College Football Polls and Rankings for Week 15 - ESPN
#22 AP, #21 Coaches and #22 BCS
P.S.R. 1-120: Week 15 Re-Ranking - Pre-Snap Read
#25
FanHouse Fab 40: On to Glendale - NCAAFB FanHouse
#23
News of Note:
Football
Football: Champs Sports Bowl Announcement - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU to Champs Sports Bowl - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU Accepts Invitation to Play in Champs Sports Bowl - WVillustrated.com
WVU football: Mountaineers end regular season with strong finish - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU football: Out of BCS, Mountaineers settle for Champs Sports Bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU headed to Champs Sports Bowl - Charleston Gazette
Mountaineers To Champs Sports Bowl - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU Accepts Champs Sports Bowl Bid - BGN
Smith, Austin have been a deadly duo - Register-Herald
Talented QB Wilson leads N.C. State into Champs Sports Bowl - Charleston Gazette
Stingy Mountaineers face potent Wolfpack - PPG
Wolfpack heading to Champs Sports Bowl - Raleigh News & Observer
WVU to play N.C. State in bowl - Times West Virginian
Big East ‘Champs’ off to Florida - Register-Herald
WVU heading back to Florida - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
WVU settles for Champ Sports Bowl - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Phil Steele names WVU’s Jenkins as second team all-Big East pick - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Sloppy Play Clouds West Virginia Victory That Clinches Tie for Big East Title - NCAAFB FanHouse
No. 23 West Virginia 35, Rutgers 14 - Photos - SI.com
Basketball
WVU basketball: No leader on court is an issue for Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
Huggins, players searching for answers - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia's magic man - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
Around the League (and Beyond):
College Football Bowl Matchups 2010 - NCAAFB FanHouse
Schiano: No quick fixes for Rutgers after the ‘aberration’ of a 4-8 season - Star Ledger
UConn selected to face Oklahoma in 2011 Fiesta Bowl - The UConn Blog
I'm still in disbelief
Deja Vu All Over Again: Thinking Through Yet Another Goal-Line Debacle Against UConn - Voodoo Five
USF to face Clemson in Meineke Car Care Bowl - Tampa Tribune
Louisville accepts bid to Beef O'Brady's Bowl - Card Chronicle
Bowl Projections: Pitt Headed To BBVA Compass Bowl - Cardiac Hill
Panthers show offensive artistry - PPG
87-68 over Rider
postGame: Villanova 71, St. Joseph's (PA) 60 - The Nova Blog
University of Cincinnati Bearcat mascot detained, cited - Cincinnati Enquirer
Bad kitty!!
Coach Jim Harbaugh expected to accept sweetened Stanford deal - SI.com
Minnesota Hires Jerry Kill From NIU - NCAAFB FanHouse
Colorado hires Jon Embree as coach - ESPN
Bob Stoops, OU have an excellent chance to end their BCS drought - Oklahoman
This sounds strangely familiar...not that I expect UConn to win, mind you
Big Ten announces it won't pursue expansion - ESPN
Videos of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
An interesting combination of favorites:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is gorgeous Argentinian Belen Rodriguez. Click on the pic for the gallery.
Iditarod Imperial Stout image via www.bruguru.com
