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 Wildcat Premium Beer, in preparation for tonight's opponent.
We have plenty of game previews for tonights game to go along with several features on the relationship between Huggs and Frank Martin. There's some Orange Bowl bits to peruse as well and Darryl Talley was officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. The Big East expanded *YAWN.
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Gold And Blue Now: Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers get ready to take on Frank Martin and the Wildcats, Clemson's play-by-play voice talks about Tigers' quarterback Tajh Boyd, Tavon Austin earns his first of what could be many off season honors and a coach of a new Mountaineer commit stops by the show
A Mountaineer Legend - MSNsportsNET.Com
October 2, 1982 was the date when the rest of the country found out what West Virginia football fans had known for a long time – linebacker Darryl Talley was one helluva football player.
Striking a Balance - MSNsportsNET.Com
With about a month between games, Dana Holgorsen says his coaching staff must find a balance between getting enough work in before the game and not over-preparing his football team.
Location a bonus for WVU, Clemson - Register-Herald/AP
The Orange Bowl is the perfect bowl game to play.
Plenty of reasons for fans to travel to Orange Bowl - Daily Athenaeum
While it may be an easy decision for some, others will have to deeply consider the pros and cons of both options – but there isn't much time to deliberate. Plane tickets and hotel rooms will be booked soon, and as time closes in on Jan. 4, prices will escalate.
Orange Bowl headlined by QBs Smith, Boyd - Daily Athenaeum
Both Boyd and Smith are currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation in passing yards, and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen sees a lot of similarities between the two quarterbacks that will be showcased in the Orange Bowl.
Tavon Austin Named All-American - WVillustrated
Austin is a first team cbssports.com All-American as an all-purpose special teams player.
B.E. ONE LESS - Every Day Should Be Saturday
Get yourself some Holgosil
Varsity Club: Cans for a Cause - MSNsportsNET.Com
The West Virginia University Varsity Club will sponsor a “Cans for a Cause” food drive on Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m., at Kegler’s Clubhouse.
WVU Women Earn Win on the Road - MSNsportsNET.Com
The West Virginia women’s basketball team handed Syracuse its first home and BIG EAST loss of the season on Wednesday night, with a 76-72 win at the Carrier Dome.
More students applying to WVU - Charleston Daily Mail
The number of students applying for admission West Virginia University is up by about 16 percent over last year, and school officials believe national media coverage concerning the move from the Big East Conference and a visit by a popular ESPN program are among the reasons.
News of Note:
Kansas State Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
Good friends Bob Huggins and Frank Martin will be reunited Thursday night when West Virginia travels to Wichita, Kan., to face Kansas State at INTRUST Bank Arena.
Preview: WVU vs Kansas State - BGN
West Virginia moves from Dogs (Mississippi State) to Cats (Kansas State) as the second half of its non-conference schedule begins.
WVU basketball: Huggins to face his former team - Charleston Daily Mail
What happens at 9 o'clock tonight (ESPN2 telecast) won't be a wholly new experience for the West Virginia men's basketball coach, but it won't be exactly like what he's been through before, either.
Mountaineers Head To Wichita - WVMETRONEWS.COM
When the Mountaineers (4-2) take the court against the Kansas State Wildcats (5-0) tonight it will be a match up of two very similar teams.
Flight Delay Throws Off WVU Travel Plans to Wichita - WVillustrated
Martin arrived for the interview and said he had spoken with Huggins, who informed him their plane was stuck in Minneapolis and the team still was unsure when it would depart from Clarksburg.
Mountaineers coach: Young team getting better every day - Register-Herald
“Yeah, we’re getting better every day, game to game,” coach Bob Huggins said, “I see improvement in every area.
Ultimate issue: defense - Charleston Gazette
"Defense," Bryant said. "It all starts with 'D.'"
A new rival for WVU? - Register-Herald
West Virginia faces Huggins’ former team Kansas State tonight
Memory lane - Times West Virginian
Huggins says trip to play K-State nothing like return to Cincy
Trip Back in Time - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Those four days are still a blur to Frank Martin.
Relationship with Huggins has shaped K-State coach’s career - Daily Athenaeum
A year after he resigned from Cincinnati, Huggins decided to return to coaching at Kansas State. But, one thing had to happen before he would agree to take the job. Martin had to come with him.
Kansas State Basketball Interviews Previewing WVU Game - WVillustrated
Frank Martin, Jamar Samuels and Will Spradling
WVU preview: Beware the Huggy Bear - Bring On The Cats
And people thought we were pissed when RR left for UM...KSU is still pissed, despite being left with Frank Martin and 3 tourney appearances
Big East Expansion:
Big East Conference introduces Boise State Broncos, San Diego State Aztecs, Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, UCF Knights - ESPN
The Big East introduced Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, SMU and Central Florida as its new members, effective 2013.
Additions of Boise State Broncos, Houston Cougars among additions to new Big East Conference - ESPN
These head-scratching moves do not answer any questions about the future of the Big East, not at all.
Big East hoops forever changed for the worse - CBSSports.com
You don't need reminders or jokes or pithy comments about how basketball doesn't mean jack in conference realignment. We all know it now, have known it too well for too long.
Big East Expansion: Air Force Will Remain In The Mountain West Conference - Big East Coast Bias
Temple, you have a call on the white courtesy phone
Big East Expansion: Navy Unable To Join The Big East Before 2014 - Big East Coast Bias
Navy, once considered a lock for the Big East in expansion, now says it cannot join the league before 2014.
Hypocrisy Of Big East Presidents - Hartford Courant
USF-UCF rivalry about to heat up in Big East - Tampa Tribune
HERTZEL COLUMN: Manifest Destiny for BE - Times West Virginian
The Big East proved once again Wednesday that if you have a good spin doctor, you can make 1988 Capri sound like it’s a 2012 Ferrari.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Pitt Headed To BBVA Compass Bowl To Face SMU: What Not To Like - Cardiac Hill
Status of Syracuse University football cornerback Keon Lyn remains unchanged - Post Standard
UConn basketball: Harvard Visits UConn At Gampel - Hartford Courant
Rutgers Falls to Princeton 59-57 - On the Banks
Louisville basketball beats IUPUI 90-60 - Courier-Journal
Plus-one, NCAA split among major change on college football horizon - Andy Staples - SI.com
Penn State scandal could spark NCAA bylaw changes - SI.com
College Hoops Mailbag - Seth Davis - SI.com
College Football Mailbag- Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Kansas State Wildcats - ESPN
9 pm tonight from Wichita on ESPN2.
(24) Harvard Crimson vs. (9)Connecticut Huskies - ESPN
7 pm tonight from Gampel on ESPN2
Video of Interest:
Darryl Talley - A Mountaineer Legend premieres on ROOT SPORTS, Friday, December 9th at 7:00 PM. Featuring interviews with WVU Coach Don Nehlen, his WVU teammates and Buffalo Bills players Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett, this one-hour documentary traces Talley's life and career, from his childhood in Cleveland to his induction in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
This is kinda cool:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Victoria's Secret Angel. Watch the video then click on the picture for today's gallery and the source link for a bonus gallery of Alessandra Ambrosia.
Wildcat Premium Beer image via www.highlandtiger.co.uk
