The Shotgun/Throwdown: USF Hangover (12/2/11) Edition

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Dec 2, 2011, 9:27am 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 Hell Yeah Lager Beer, in honor of the crazy victory of what is likely the last Big East game for WVU, earning the team a share of the league title and possibly a BCS bowl bid. It was also program victory #700.

WOW!! I know I'm not the only one whose heart sank when the pick-six was thrown (we have over 700 comments in the game thread to prove it). But, thankfully, those on the WVU sidelines didn't give up and managed to pull it out. Now, WVU (hopefully) exits the Big East as a Champion. Now, we ALL sit and wait and watch what happens in the Cinci/UConn game tomorrow to see if WVU can get that BCS bowl. We will have a gamethread for it tomorrow. Last night's was the best gamethread that we've had that I can remember, so let's all do it again tomorrow.

Both basketball squads do have games tomorrow, with the marquee match-up being the men traveling to Starkville to take on the #24 ranked Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Your coverage awaits...

Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

USF Hangover:

West Virginia clinches share of Big East championship - ESPN
Recap, stats, photos, video, etc

West Virginia 30, USF 27 - MSNsportsNET.Com
"We threw that interception to get them relaxed a little bit," joked Holgorsen. "Once they pick-sixed us and got up by seven, we figured they would relax and we would be able to call some plays that worked."

It's Goode! - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Recap, video and gallery

WVU beats Florida, 30-27, as field goal with no time left wins it - PPG
West Virginia won a share of the Big East Conference title Thursday night, in only the way West Virginia can.

Champions Somehow - BGN
"I’m the biggest Cincinnati fan right now. Go Munchie," junior quarterback Geno Smith said of his Bearcats’ counterpart, Munchie Legaux.

Final: No. 23 WVU 30, USF 27 - Big East Blog - ESPN
Wow, what a wild finish. (Includes video)

Clutch at the finish - Charleston Gazette
Remember the utter ineptitude of West Virginia's offense during most of last season? Well, it was back in full force Thursday night.

WVU football: Mountaineers stay in contention for BCS berth with last-second field goal - Charleston Daily Mail
This find-a-way West Virginia team did just that for a third straight game Thursday night and may soon find a way to the Bowl Championship Series.

WVU Does Its Part, Now Awaits Fate - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
The Mountaineers made a number of mistakes that helped the Bulls stay close early.

WVU Defeats South Florida 30-27, Clinches League Title - WVillustrated
Tyler Bitancurt made a 28-yard field goal as time expired, and West Virginia defeated South Florida 30-27 Thursday night to keep its BCS hopes alive.

HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU victory nothing but a true miracle - Times West Virginian
But this, this Big East championship that was just wrapped up by West Virginia University with a 30-27 victory over South Florida was nothing but a miracle.

WVU battles through adversity in victory over South Florida - Daily Athenaeum
Injuries, turnovers and inconsistencies in all facets of the game have provided the team with plenty of adversity heading through the final stretch of the season.

Attitude Allows WVU to Overcome Mistakes, Win as Team - WVillustrated
The Mountaineers have proven this season that they have an inability to put together a full game. Ask for 60 minutes and instead you'll get some fraction of the whole.

Bitancurt hits field goal as time expires to beat South Florida, 30-27 - Daily Athenaeum
The 30-27 win was the third in a row for the Mountaineers, but was not without drama in the final 10 minutes.

WVU wins - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
High school teammates Geno Smith and Stedman Bailey have played a lot of football together. But Thursday night's 26-yard connection on a fourth-and-10 at the South Florida 42 gave No. 23 West Virginia a chance to pull out a victory at Raymond James Stadium.

WVU notebook: USF's Daniels needed time to warm up - Charleston Gazette
"I thought I was done,'' Miller said. "But Dave [Kerns] and the trainers worked their magic. I don't feel anything right now, but I'm sure I will tomorrow.''

WVU football: Austin breaks another school record - Charleston Daily Mail
The junior from Baltimore became the single-season leader in all-purpose yards, passing former running back Stave Slaton, who had 2,104 yards in 2006.

Video: USF Postgame - BGN
HCDH, Tavon, Najee, Pat Miller, Geno and Bitancurt

VIDEO: South Florida Game Interviews - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Geno, Casteel, Najee, Bitancurt, Garrison, Tavon, Alston and Pat Miller

WVU Player Interviews Following USF Win - WVillustrated
Najee, Pat Miller, Geno, Garrison, Julian, Tavon, Bitancurt and Alston

PHOTO GALLERY: WVU vs. South Florida - WVillustrated

Photo Gallery II: WVU vs USF - BGN

Tales from the Tailgates: WVU vs. USF - WVillustrated
The weather's nice and the stage is set for a chance to clinch a league title and get one step closer to a BCS bowl berth.

From the Opponent

USF-West Virginia Haiku - Voodoo Five
They recap every game with a haiku and an image....these are fitting, given the game results

USF takes another spike to the heart - Tampa Tribune

Bulls lose on last-second FG to crush bowl shot - Tampa Tribune
The way Thursday night's game ended, it seemed a fitting conclusion to a frustrating season for the University of South Florida football team.

USF notes: Special teams struggle once again - Tampa Tribune
Special teams play has been a problem for USF all season, and it was again in Thursday's game against West Virginia.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold And Blue Now: Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
the players and coaches talk about their last second victory against South Florida and Bob Huggins explains why Mississippi State had been so successful this season.

Big East will seek dismissal of WVU lawsuit - Charleston Gazette
Circuit Judge doubts West Virginia’s June 30 timeline can be met

News of Note:

WVU gears up for No. 21 Mississippi State - Charleston Gazette
Bob Huggins knows how good Mississippi State is.

WVU basketball: Starkville visit a first for Huggins, Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
Coach Bob Huggins goes Saturday where no West Virginia basketball coach has gone before.

In Bob We Trust - Daily Athenaeum
But, it was after that loss to Kent State that Bob Huggins had some words of encouragement. "We'll fix it," he said. "I just can't fix everything at once."

WVU travels to Miss St. for first road test - Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia men's basketball team will have arguably its hardest test of the year Saturday when it travels to Mississippi State as part of the inaugural Big East/SEC Challenge.