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 Carlsberg...just because.
Today we have more updates on the basketball newcomers in the Pittsburgh summer league including a highlight video. Back on the football front, the defensive line is getting a bit of attention...and not just Bruce. Geno updates us on how the player organized drills are going and how a couple newcomers are impressing him. There's also more team previews, impact games of note and a new football commitment occurred over the holiday weekend. Also, EA's NCAA '12 rosters and ratings have been revealed for the gamers among you. All this and much more in today's edition. Let's get to it.
What You May Have Missed:
WVU Finishes 40th in Directors' Cup Standings - MSNsportsNET.Com
This was the third best finish in school history
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU Sports Info Department publications best in country - Times West Virginian
The media guides from WVU were honored with awards last week
Huggins, Holgorsen and Justice prevail - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's notebook - most worth noting is the bit on Holgorsen and Huggins together on the fishing trip a couple weeks ago...and Huggins is really excited about the possibilities with this new group of players
WVU basketball: For Mountaineers to have success, freshmen will have big say - Charleston Daily Mail
The time in the Pitt summer league is designed to get them to gel together
A Mountaineer Pro Am - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Video highlights from the newcomer team's game in the Pitt summer league last Friday
Traveling Miles For An Opportunity - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Incoming freshman basketball forward Keaton Miles is excited for "the competition, the opportunity to play, the opportunity to be coached by a Hall of Fame coach and play in the best league in America"
Mind the gap: West Virginia Mountaineers basketball - Rumble In The Garden
picodulce from the St. John's blog breaks down how this year's WVU basketball team will fill in for the departing personnel from last season
Giving Back - MSNsportsNET.Com
Pat White, Steve Slaton, Major Harris, Adam Jones, Owen Schmitt, Rasheed Marshall, Reed Williams, Ryan Mundy and Pat McAfee are among the former players committed to be in Morgantown on Tuesday, July 12 to either work the free football clinic at Pro Performance Center or play in the celebrity basketball game at Morgantown High later that Quincy Wilson and Grant Wiley organized to benefit Chris Henry's family.
Best WR Combos - MSNsportsNET.Com
Antonik takes a crack at ranking the best tandems at the WR position by year
Classic Big East: Jake Kelchner's Mullet, Robert Walker's Speed & Sending the Hurricane's Talents Back to South Beach - Big East Coast Bias
A look back at that cold, triumphant night in 1993
A win-win situation - Charleston Gazette
Beilein’s departure to Michigan worked out well for all involved - I still know some haven't moved past it
VIDEO: Former WVU Catcher David Carpenter in the Majors - WVillustrated.com
He got his call up to the Houston Astros this past week.
News of Note:
Sky high forecasts for WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Cautions abound for those expecting record numbers every game...and reasons for those cautions
WVU's Smith Working Hard - MSNsportsNET.Com
Even though his foot isn't quite at 100%, he's taking part in all the team drills for the first time. He also gives his thoughts on how the 7-on-7 drills are going, which newcomers are impressing him and that he likes that previous starters aren't guaranteed to do so this fall
Big East position rankings: Quarterback - Big East Blog - ESPN
#1 Geno. 'Nuff said.
Big East position rankings: Defensive line - Big East Blog - ESPN
#3 Yes, we have BRUUUUCE and Julian but questions in the middle are the reason for the drop to 3.
Smith praises Nehlen - Martinsburg Journal
MIckey's Column
WVU football: After a long wait, Rader’s goal is to earn starting job - Charleston Daily Mail
He's earned a scholarship, now he wants to play and is working even harder for that opportunity
Advice From The Sack Master - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Bruce has some advice for incoming JUCO transfer Shaq Rowell (includes video)
WVU's Bruce Irvin progressing toward his NFL dream - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Irvin is wholly focused on a future in the NFL
Bigger and, maybe, better - Charleston Gazette
Miller bulked up, ready to bookend with Irvin on defensive line
Defensive Tackle Julian Miller - Mountaineer TV
Defensive tackle Julian Miller visits with media at Milan Puskar Stadium earlier this week.
Impact player: West Virginia - Big East Blog - ESPN
Adelson thinks that Tyler Urban will be an impact player for the Mountaineers this season (video)
Defensive Back Brantwon Bowser - Mountaineer TV
Defensive back Brantwon Bowser talks about getting ready for his senior season.
WVU opponents: Game 1, Marshall - Charleston Gazette
The CG is beginning it's game-by-game summer previews of the upcoming football season
WVU opponents, Game 2: Norfolk State - Charleston Gazette
College Football Preview: No. 19 West Virginia - Neon Tommy
Another site's preview of our Mountaineers
The Ten Games That Will Determine the Big East in 2011 - #1 Pittsburgh at West Virginia - Big East Coast Bias
As most of us predicted
Impact game: West Virginia vs. USF - Big East Blog - ESPN
Adelson is looking at important games this coming season as well
Impact game: Pitt vs. West Virginia - Big East Blog - ESPN
NCAA Football 12 All Big East Team: Offense - Big East Coast Bias
As based off the EA Sports NCAA '12 player ratings
NCAA Football 12 All Big East Team: Defense - Big East Coast Bias
2011 Blue Ribbon Previews: West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
The Blue Ribbon previews are out...but only if you're an "Insider"
Recruiting:
2012 WVU Football Recruiting Class Looking Good Early - WVillustrated.com
An overview of the verbal commitments thus far
WVU Lands Eleventh Football Commitment in Niederreither - WVillustrated.com
A DT from Red Land High School in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania.
A Hard Working Commitment - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Bret Niederreither. The 6-foot-3 prospect from Red Land High School committed to the Mountaineer football team on the Fourth of July and is the 11th commitment in the 2012 recruiting class.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Eight Big East Players on Maxwell and Bednarik Award Watch Lists - Big East Coast Bias
WVU landed 3 on the lists: Geno, BrUUUUce and The Tandy
Reserve Your Spot in Our EA Sports NCAA 2012 Big East Online Dynasties - Big East Coast Bias
If you're a gamer, they're hosting online dynasties for both PS3 and XBox360. So join in with other Big Easters.
Kragthorpe holds key to LSU's title dream - Rivals.com
This bodes well for WVU's game against LSU
The Perception Of Pitt - Cardiac Hill
Eat Shitt Pitt!!! Eat Shitt Pitt!! - That's my perception.
Pre-Camp Position Outlook: Wide Receiver - Down The Drive (Cinci)
Sieves On Passing Downs (Fun Stat Nerd Tidbit: South Florida) - Football Study Hall
South Florida's defense was one of the 20 best in the country when it comes to preventing big plays on standard downs, and one of the 20 worst when it comes to preventing big plays on passing downs. - Considering every down is a passing down for WVU now, I'll take it.
Are These USF's 2011 Football Uniforms? - Voodoo Five
Thanks to NCAA Football 12's TeamBuider site, we may have already figured out what USF's uniforms will look like this season. (Yes, those are gold pants.)
UConn Defensive Coordinator Don Brown Brings Aggressive Attitude - Hartford Courant
The Star-Ledger v. Rutgers athletics - On the Banks
Temple Promising the Big East - VUhoops.com
Evidently the latest football recruits are being told Big East in 2012 for Temple
Cheating for Dummies: Your guide to smarter NCAA rule-breaking - Andy Staples - SI.com
NCAA could see 'fundamental changes' in way it operates - USA Today
You're hearing it from schools, from conferences, from the NCAA: College sports has reached a crossroads. Tolerance for law-breaking is worn thin. So is public trust.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
No wonder Charley's mother was worried:
Hump Day Video of the Week:
I volunteer to lose this contest on a perpetual basis:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Serbian model Nina Senicar. As always, today's gallery is linked through her picture.
Carlsberg image via www.copenhagenet.dk
