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 Miller High Life.
It's nearly here. We've reached Gamecon 1. I'm afraid I've done it again. This edition has gone epic; past ludicrous and straight to plaid. But, it's all for your benefit and enjoyment. If you have any tips, suggestions or requests, you can send them to me by email or Twitter. Have a great weekend and enjoy the game! Everything you need to prepare for the game is after the jump...
T-minus 1 and counting...
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOO Mountaineers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Report for Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU takes on FCS opponent Coastal Carolina Saturday - WVillustrated.com
Colin Dunlap's West Virginia football chat transcript - PPG
Game watches across the nation - WVSports.com
For those of you who can't make the game and want to watch with fellow Mountaineers.
Are You Ready for Some Football? - MSNsportsNET.Com
NFL hopefuls on Coastal Carolina know WVU game is key - Sun News
News from the enemy front
Chanticleers leery of WVU tailback - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
What to watch in the Big East: Week 1 - ESPN
Big East predictions: Week 1 - ESPN
Men's Soccer: WVU Opens Regular Season - MSNsportsNET.Com
The Mountaineers welcome No. 9 Monmouth, on Friday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m. West Virginia will then host No. 17 UNC Wilmington on Sunday, Sept. 5, at 3:30 p.m.
News of Note:
Stewart ready for new season - Charleston Daily Mail
Coaches are old friends - Charleston Gazette
Rare are the times when Bill Stewart goes into a football game and knows little about the coach on the far sideline.
WVU wants to match '07 team - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mismatch will have benefits for both teams - PPG
Opener special in different ways - Times West Virginian
Opener makes dollars and sense - Charleston Gazette
WVU opens against Coastal Carolina - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Health questions a pain in the neck for Thomas - Charleston Gazette
QB usage questions hover over WVU opener - Charleston Gazette
Lots of questions to be answered as season begins - Charleston Gazette
Mitch's Matchups - Charleston Gazette
A New Era In Mountaineer Football - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Geno Smith: Focused And Ready - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Video
Finally time for Irvin’s WVU debut - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Freshman Banks could see time on special teams - Charleston Gazette
Busick Ready to Get Back to Game Action - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Busick to fill in at linebacker for Lazear - Inter-Mountain
Scooter Berry looking to atone for lost '09 - ESPN
Linebacker J.T. Thomas - Mountaineer TV
Wide Receiver Ivan McCartney - Mountaineer TV
WVU freshman McCartney ready to be in spotlight - Register-Herald
A Rigg In The Defense - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and video
Barry Brunetti: A Friendship On The Field - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Video: Brunetti talks about the friendship he has developed with the person he is competing against in practice.
Nike Pro Combat Presentation - Mountaineer TV
Mining activists demand WVU, Nike pull uniform ad - AP
Good grief
WVU Mountaineers Photos - SI.com
Here's said ad
Activists say image of strip mining needs to be removed from WVU's Nike Pro Combat Ads - WVillustrated.com
It's already changed on the Nike main site
Nike relents to mine activists on WVU uniform ad - Charleston Gazette
Around the League (and Beyond):
Ugly win over Norfolk State nothing for Rutgers to be excited about - Star Ledger
31 - 0
Pitt rally forces overtime, but interception and field goal give Utah opening win - PPG
27 - 24
Sizing up the Bearcats - Cincinnati Enquirer
Bulls' Plancher has competition at RB - Tampa Tribune
Bilal Powell is face of Louisville football program but not voice of program - Courier-Journal
Two listed as 'out' for Syracuse University football opener at Akron - Post Standard
CB Kevyn Scott and LB Ryan Gillum
UConn's Offensive Line Likes To Open Holes And Have Fun - Hartford Courant
What's On Tap:
WVU begins Mountaineer football season with annual Fan Fest - WVUToday
5 p.m. tonight on the Mountainlair plaza
Roasting Huggs for a Great Cause - MSNsportsNET.Com
7 p.m. tonight at the Waterfront Place Hotel
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. (25) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
3:30 pm at Mylan Puskar Stadium on ESPN3, SNY will join in progress after the Mets game. No line and btw...this is The. Shittiest. Preview. EVER.
Connecticut Huskies vs. Michigan Wolverines - ESPN
3:30 pm from the Big House on ABC. Huskies are getting 2.5.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals - ESPN
3:30 pm from the Pizza Palace on ABC/ESPN3. Cats are giving 3.
Syracuse Orange vs. Akron Zips - ESPN
6 pm from Akron on nothing. Zips are getting 7.5.
Stony Brook Seawolves vs. South Florida Bulls - ESPN
7:05 pm (what is this, a baseball game?) from Ray Jay on ESPN3. Bulls are giving 32.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Fresno State Bulldogs - ESPN
10 pm from Fresno on ESPN2 & 3. Bulldogs are giving 2.
Videos of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Ladies and Gentlemen...more from the genius that is Zach, er...Seth Galifianakis (STRONG LANGUAGE):
Tailgate item of the Week:
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
Hot Wings with Blue Cheese-Yogurt Sauce
Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay, 2007 via Food Network
Prep time is 25 min. and Cook time is 40 min. Serves 4.
Ingredients
For the Blue Cheese Sauce:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (recommended: Cabrales)
- 2 tablespoons finely grated red onion
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Hot Wings:
- Peanut oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder, plus 2 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 pounds chicken wings split at the joint, wing tips removed and discarded
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons pureed chipotle chile in adobo
- 1 tablespoon New Mexico chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 to 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 stick unsalted butter, quartered
- Finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
- Jicama sticks (instead of celery)
For the Blue Cheese Sauce:
Directions
Stir together the yogurt, blue cheese, red onion, cilantro and salt and pepper in a bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
For the Hot Wings:
Heat 2-inches of the oil in a large, high-sided pan until it reaches 375 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
Stir together the flour, salt, pepper, to taste, 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Season the wings with salt and pepper and add the wings in batches to the flour mixture to lightly coat and tap off excess flour. Add the wings in batches and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
Bring the vinegar, chipotle puree, 2 tablespoons chili powder and New Mexico chili powder to a simmer in a large high-sided saute pan over medium heat. Remove the mixture from the heat and whisk in the mustard, salt, honey, and butter until smooth. Add the wings to the mixture and toss to coat. Garnish with cilantro and serve with jicama sticks and blue cheese sauce.
Cheerleader Gallery of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is the lovely and leggy actress who's best known for her role on TV's Gossip Girl and will be seen in next year's Green Lantern. Here's Blake Lively.
Miller High Life image via www.neonsign.com
