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 Rio Grande Outlaw Lager, in honor of Jim Tressel and the Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Lots of former WVU players are featured in today's articles (such is the summer doldrums of college sports news). Some are giving back to the WV community and some are just looking for a chance to play some more. I have a couple articles on the recent Holgorsen events, but not too much. In my mind, it's been covered and beaten to death. Move along. Other news has some more previews to the coming football season and the basketball team's upcoming overseas trip. League news abounds and there's that little matter of schadenfreude for our neighbors to the west...
What You May Have Missed:
Big East could be affected by AAU membership - Charleston Daily Mail
Now that Nebraska has been kicked out of the AAU, the Big Whatever now says that isn't a sticking point for membership anymore...does this open up more BE schools as targets for more expansion, even WVU?
Luck Wins Simms Family Award - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Oliver Luck was announced as the 2011 recipient of the Simms Family Award by the Don Nehlen Chapter of the National Football Foundation. The honor is presented annually to a former athlete who has gone on to show leadership in the world of business.
Pat White, Former West Virginia Star Quarterback, Ponders Future In Football - LostLettermen.com
HERTZEL COLUMN: You won’t find White in the HOF - Times West Virginian
Bob just realized rule #1 for inclusion and unfortunately Pat White doesn't have the credential
Wilson Giving Back To West Virginia - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Q is giving back to the state by going around and speaking to HS students all over the state
WVU's Anthony Leonard Expecting NFL Future - WVillustrated.com
Chicago Bear J.T. Thomas Impatiently Waiting to Start Pro Career - WVillustrated.com
Simply put, the NFL lockout sucks
Spite Steers [Canute, ed.] Curtis to WVU - MSNsportsNET.Com
Thankfully, he got mad at his father that fateful day
Newberry humbled by honor - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
Mike Gansey Returns to Morgantown - WVillustrated.com
The former player was back in town working a camp
HERTZEL COLUMN: Collins hoping for his chance - Times West Virginian
JD Collins is looking for an opportunity to play some more
News of Note:
2011 West Virginia Preview - College Football News
It's an interesting situation as West Virginia has a team good enough to win the Big East title, and has an outside chance of putting together a truly special season, but head coach Bill Stewart will have to work with head-coach-in-waiting Dana Holgorsen. Can it work?
Oklahoma, Oregon, Alabama headline post-spring Top 25 - Andy Staples - SI.com
WVU in at #20 in yet another WAAAYYYYY too early poll
WVU Football Receiving National Attention - WVillustrated.com
This one speaks of the good ways WVU football is gaining attention lately
Five Guys Who Might Surprise - MSNsportsNET.Com
Pravda's look at 5 possible surprise stars this coming football season
11 Mountaineers to Watch in 2011 - WVillustrated.com
Here's Coyle's list of football players that he expects big things from
A busy summer looms for Huggins - Charleston Gazette
Aside from the usual fundraising and recruiting, they've got a little trip to Italia lined up
WVU Men's Basketball Coaches are Looking Forward to Italy Trip - WVillustrated.com
The extra practice time should be invaluable to this young team. Plus, who wouldn't want to go to Italy?
Nothing illegal, but it's still an ugly mess - Charleston Gazette
Hickman has a fairly even handed take on the recent events
Cook: Is WVU's Holgorsen next? - PPG
Kind of a heavy handed comparison (because really, there is no comparison) between the Tressel and Holgorsen situations. Tressel broke NCAA rules, Holgorsen broke etiquette rules and no laws.
Recruiting:
WVU Offers Left Tackle Robert Conyers - WVillustrated.com
A large specimen from the Miami area, he sent his video (included) to Coach Bedenbaugh and got an offer
Big Ten Or Big East? - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WR recruit Marcus Davis of Dublin Coffman HS (OH) is going through that debate now (includes video)
A Will To Compete - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Will Mahone is a RB from Austintown Fitch HS (OH) that has recently been offered by WVU (includes video)
Davis Very Interested In WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Another Austintown Fitch prospect in receiver Chris Davis (includes video)
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big East in power position regarding expansion, TV negotiations - Andy Staples - SI.com
Time for Marinatto to deliver - Big East Blog - ESPN
Andrea Adelson has taken over for Bennett and rightly, I believe, takes aim at Marinatto to earn his pay
NBC/Comcast Would Like To Make You All Very Rich - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
READ THIS! Fight through the numbers at the beginning and read it all the way through.
Big East split could be 7+ years away - Down The Drive
Coach Cal: Big East will split, Central Florida 'not a sexy name' - The UConn Blog
The Big East Obituaries: DePaul University - Voodoo Five
the first of a series of posts preparing for the eminent eulogizing of our soon-to-be fallen Big East brethren
Voodoo Five Official Reaction To The Army/Navy Big East Expansion Rumor - Voodoo Five
Nicely done
Google Insights: Villanova football wouldn't deliver Philadelphia - On the Banks
Interesting research here
Video: Scheduling, TCU in the Big East - Big East Blog - ESPN
Andrea Adelson looks at Big East scheduling and TCU’s impact in the league.
Who's Going to Back Up Zach Collaros? Meet The Candidates - Down The Drive
Pitt Football: Anthony Gonzalez Suspended Indefinitely - Allegedly After Arrest - Cardiac Hill
Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano wants to be top 10 in both academics, football - Star Ledger
Well, one is attainable
Hot basketball prospect Kevin Ware commits to University of Louisville - Courier-Journal
A New Trump Card in the Big East vs. Big Ten Debate - Anonymous Eagle
Is This The Helmet Notre Dame Will Wear In The Michigan Game? - Subway Domer
Please let this be true...so we can all laugh hysterically in public at them
This Week in Schadenfreude:
Sports Illustrated investigation on Jim Tressel, Ohio State - SI.com
Report: Separate investigation targets Terrelle Pryor - Sporting News
Includes the somewhat laughable You Tube video by OSU AD Gene Smith
Gruden would take OSU gig if offered - Truth & Rumors/Fan Nation
Duh
Tressel exit could lead Buckeyes to supplemental draft - CBSSports.com
Double Duh
What's On Tap:
Bob Huggins Fantasy Camp in WVU Coliseum June 10-12 - WVillustrated.com
Cool way to spend $3000 if you have it
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Here's the latest edition of Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Polish model Monika Pietrasinska. There's a video for ya below the gallery linked picture.
Outlaw Lager image via beeradvocate.com
