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 Hooker Octoberfest Lager in honor of the month and in memory of the 5 hookers that Craig James allegedly killed. #FireCraigJames
As expected, the bulk of today's coverage is spent on the emergence of WVU's running game and the balance it achieves for the offense as a whole. There's also some bits on the Big East President's meeting yesterday, which really didn't accomplish a whole lot, publicly at least. We have our first preview for the 2011-2012 edition of Huggins' crew. Plus, WVU secured another basketball commitment over the weekend.
What You May Have Missed:
Football: Coach Holgorsen Teleconference - MSNsportsNET.Com
Transcript
Gold And Blue Now: Monday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Mountaineers begin preparation for a slumping UConn team, Dustin Garrison helps make the Mountaineer offense more dynamic and one of WVU's greatest quarterbacks would like to see West Virginia in the SEC.
Capital One Impact Performances - ESPN
VOTE for Dustin Garrison!!
No. 38 West Virginia at a glance - Sporting News
When’s the last time a Bob Huggins team gave you reason to doubt?
Big East Presidents Approve Expansion - WVMETRONEWS.COM
"The Presidents voted unanimously to authorize the Commissioner to aggressively pursue discussions with a select number of institutions that have indicted a strong interest in joining the BIG EAST Conference," Marinatto said a statement released by the league.
Clements Mum On Conference Expansion - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Former WVU Quarterbacks Return to Morgantown - WV Illustrated
Video interviews with Rasheed Marshall, Mike Williams, Chad Johnston and Jake Kelchner
Gallery: Former WVU Quarterbacks Sign Autographs - WV Illustrated
Women's Soccer: WVU's Win Streak Snapped - MSNsportsNET.Com
4-1 to Villanova
Men's Soccer: WVU Picks Up BIG EAST Win - MSNsportsNET.Com
1-0 over Cincinnati
Holgorsen Show Extra: Brent Musburger Interview - WV Illustrated
WVi recently sat down and interviewed ABC play-by-play man Brent Musburger. Musburger has been calling college football games for decades and has called two huge wins in the history of the WVU football program.
News of Note:
2011 NCAA College Football Polls and Rankings for Week 6 - ESPN
#16 AP & #19 Coaches
NCAA College Football BCS Bowl Projections Week 5 - ESPN
Orange Bowl is the pick here
Big East bowl projections - Big East Blog - ESPN
...and here
Football: Bowling Green Award Winners - MSNsportsNET.Com
The West Virginia University football coaching staff has named its award winners for outstanding performance in the Mountaineers’ 55-10 win against Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Big East helmet stickers: Week 5 - Big East Blog - ESPN
WVU's RB gets some love this week
Video Study - BGN
West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen spent a couple of hours watching West Virginia's 2010 game against Connecticut on Sunday, but it wasn't to see how the Huskies might defend or attack this year's team.
West Virginia Football: Team takes balance into Big East games - PPG
The Mountaineers (4-1) took a critical step forward on offense Saturday, rushing for 360 yards against Bowling Green. They had depended mostly on their passing game in four previous contests.
WVU offense finds balanced attack - Bluefield Daily Telegraph/AP
“Dustin was doing a great job, hitting the holes, making cuts and making guys miss,” Smith said. “Overall, that’s what makes our offense so good. We can pick our poison and make (opponents) wrong at all times.”
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU finds balance it had lacked - Times West Virginian
“We’re working toward becoming one of the best offenses ever,” Smith finally said.
Mountaineers show they can run, too - Charleston Gazette
"After a while they finally started telling me,'' Garrison said. "And then they told me I was at 291 and [running backs coach Robert] Gillespie told me to get out. And I was like, 'Really? You don't want me to get nine more yards?' And he said, 'No. Just get out.'"
WVU has found a running back - Charleston Daily Mail
"I think we found a running back," Coach Dana Holgorsen said.
WVU finally runs the ball to victory - Charleston Daily Mail
"This was a lot easier," Smith said.
WVU is work in progress - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
So, you were upset by the Mountaineers lack of a running game. Well, how does 360 yards on 46 carries make you feel?
Consistent run game could make WVU deadly - Daily Athenaeum
For years, the Mountaineers always knew they would have somebody like Steve Slaton or Noel Devine in the backfield every year. But that wasn't the case heading into Saturday's game against Bowling Green.
WVU defense takes step forward - Times West Virginian
Much has been noted about the Mountaineers 643 total yards while little has been said about the defense holding Bowling Green, a team that had shown itself to be capable on offense, to a miserly 217 yards and one touchdown.
QB Smith improves snap judgment for WVU - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Notebook
Garrison knows adversity - Register-Herald
Hurricane Katrina forced WVU freshman from his native New Orleans
Recruiting:
Huggins lands guard commitment - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia coach basketball coach Bob Huggins has landed a commitment from 6-foot-3 combination guard Eron Harris of Lawrence North (Ind.) High.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big East Leadership Meets, Approves Expansion, Considering Bylaw Changes - Big East Coast Bias
Marshall 17 - Louisville 13: Blundering Bird - Card Chronicle
Rutgers outlasts Syracuse for hard-fought victory - On the Banks
Western Michigan Beats UConn, 38-31 - Hartford Courant
Cincinnati Bearcats 27 Miami Redhawks 0: It's Still Our Bell - Down The Drive
Bulls eager to regroup after first defeat - Tampa Tribune
Pitt defense improves communication - PPG
College GameDay Final: Week 5 - ESPN
College Football Overtime - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
Video of Interest:
Highlights of WVU's Homecoming 55-10 victory over Bowling Green.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Danish model Nina Agdal. Click on her picture for today's gallery.
Hooker Octoberfest image via www.hookerbeer.com