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 Very Bad Elf Special Reserve Ale, in honor of the holiday season.
Huggs isn't happy with us. And by "us," I mean the fan-base as a whole. Attendance lately has been, let's call it, "sparse." Of the callers last night on Caridi's show, the most common refrain was the parking situation. Some were put off by the $20 fee, others by the walk (terrain and weather, especially for the older fans and those with children) if you don't get to the Coliseum early enough to get a spot. My situation is this: I have a 2+ hour drive across I-68 through Frostburg/Keyser's Ridge in the winter and during the work week, that just isn't feasible on a regular basis. But because of that, I also don't have season tickets that go un-used. If I was closer, I would have season tickets and I would use them. I want to know your take. Comment below, please.
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 are up to 392 now (still a far cry from the 19000+ for our old page, but baby steps people...baby steps). We're almost to our next goal of 400. C'mon people, spread the word!! Your daily dose is after the jump...
What You May Have Missed:
Head Coach Mike Carey - Mountaineer TV
Coach Carey talks about what he expects to see from Villanova during Thursday night's game.
Guard Liz Repella - Mountaineer TV
Liz Repella talks about the challenge Villanova presents for WVU's defense.
VIDEO: No. 9 WVU Women's Basketball Interviews Prior to Big East Opener at Villanova - WVillustrated.com
Coach C, Repella and Ali
Ali in final leg of long, strange journey - Times West Virginian
WVU women to entertain Villanova - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Football's Grad Rate Recognized - MSNsportsNET.Com
Four Make all-Big East First Team - MSNsportsNET.Com
BIG EAST Announces 2010 Postseason Football Honors - BIG EAST Conference
No major awards, but 11 named to First and Second team All Big East
Bill Stewart: CSB Media Event In Orlando (Audio) - WVMetroNews.com
Stewart talks about the Wolfpack to the Orlando media and what it will be like to play in this bowl game.
Tom O'Brien: CSB Media Event In Orlando (Audio) - WVMetroNews.com
NC State's head coach talks about the Champs Sports Bowl and what he knows about the Mountaineers to the Orlando media.
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.
2010-11 College Football Bowl Travel Guide - One Great Season
Women's Soccer: WVU Earns Final Ranking - MSNsportsNET.Com
The Mountaineers finished with a ranking of No. 13 in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and was tabbed No. 14 by TopDrawerSoccer.
News of Note:
Huggins Makes Mass Substitution Work - WVillustrated.com
Huggs Views - WVillustrated.com
Huggins on fans: WVU’s program hasn’t arrived yet - Daily Athenaeum
"I've got great respect for the game and the way it's supposed to be played. The 6,334 that showed up deserve a little better," Huggins said. "I think that's what it was. Sorry, the 6,443. I hate to short them."
WVU basketball: Huggins at a loss for words - Charleston Daily Mail
Bob Huggins was bored last night - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Huggins calls out absent WVU fans - Charleston Gazette
Photo Gallery IV: WVU vs Robert Morris - BGN
Musings of a Mountain Man: 12/8 - WVillustrated.com
More kudos for WVU defense - Charleston Gazette
Analyzing the All-Big East teams - ESPN
Everyone except the coaches seems to agree Geno should have got the first team QB nod
WVU football: Four Mountaineer defenders earn first-team All-Big East - Charleston Daily Mail
Big East honors WVU's Irvin - Register-Herald
Wrapping up the Big East regular season - ESPN
Only one true winner in Big East - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Not This Time Notre Dame - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU football: Mullen candidate for Kent Sate job - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU offensive coordinator Mullen a candidate at Kent State - PPG
Jeff Mullen a strong candidate at Kent State - 'Eers to the Ground
KSU football coaching search continues; rumor names begin to surface - Recordpub.com
Yes, there IS a chat today at 1 p.m. - 'Eers to the Ground
Recruiting:
Update: JC All-Amer. Chooses WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Florida recruiting will be affected by departure of Urban Meyer - USA Today
Around the League (and Beyond):
Louisville wakes up, rolls over San Francisco - Card Chronicle
61-35
Pitt Vs. Delaware State: Dante Taylor's Big Game Lifts Panthers - Cardiac Hill
70-48
Brawl losses played role in Pitt firing - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Ben Kline Decommits From Pitt: First Shot Is Fired - Cardiac Hill
Things USF and Clemson Players Might Have Received from the Meineke Car Care Bowl - Voodoo Five
Cronin: ‘Rebuilding the program all that matters’ - Cincinnati Enquirer
Marrone Passed Over For Big East Coach Of The Year - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Sources: Rutgers to shake up coaching staff - Metro.us
College basketball, UConn, FDU - Hartford Courant
78-54
UConn football player arrested on child pornography charges - The UConn Blog
Very disturbing news out of Storrs.
Despite career night from Jordan Theodore, Seton Hall falls to Arkansas, 71-62 - Star Ledger
postGame: Villanova 65, Penn 53 - The Nova Blog
Terrence Jones Takes Over, Kentucky Pulls Away From Notre Dame - NCAABB FanHouse
72-58
Dan Mullen and Four Others Who Could Replace Urban Meyer at Florida - NCAAFB FanHouse
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
College Basketball Mailbag - Seth Davis - SI.com
What's On Tap:
Mountaineers to Open BIG EAST Play - MSNsportsNET.Com
No. 9 ranked West Virginia women’s basketball team travels to Villanova to take on the Wildcats in its first BIG EAST game of the season on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
(10) Georgetown Hoyas vs. Temple Owls - ESPN
9 pm tonight from the Licorice Center (not really, it's Liacouras) in Philly on ESPN2.
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
After seeing the movie, I said I wanted this included in the DVD extras. I just wish you could choose which to watch in regular speed. Somebody must've been sorta listening... (Warning: SPOILERS)
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Sarah James. A lovely gallery awaits those who click on the pic.
Very Bad Elf image via beeradvocate.com