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 Gubernijos Ekstra, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.
As the days remaining until the season kicks off reach single digits, there are still position battles happening on the WVU practice field. And while Coach Holgorsen likes the competition for playing time, he and the staff still need to settle on starters for several positions. Running back, from most accounts, is going to be fun to watch and see who establishes themselves in the games as the leader, because HCDH has said they will all play. It's almost game week people... Have a great weekend!!
What You May Have Missed:
Head Coach Dana Holgorsen - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen talks to the media Thursday afternoon at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Football: Coach Dana Holgorsen News Conference - MSNsportsNET.Com
Transcript
WVU football: Holgorsen has different idea of balance - Charleston Daily Mail
Holgorsen's idea of balance is making sure a bunch of people get the ball, whether by pass or by run, and then get a bunch of yards.
Single tickets remain for Marshall-WVU game - Martinsburg Journal
Nothing together
Local brewer is taking its craft to WVU fans - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
If you didn't see Casazza's tweets yesterday - Two types of [local, ed.] beer will be available for the first home game against Marshall on Sept. 4: Old Morgantown Amber Ale and Zack Brown's Pale Ale. The company could rotate on a game-by-game basis the beers that are sold.
Game-by-game look at ESPN's Tip-Off Marathon - ESPN
Includes a short preview of the WVU/Kent St. game
Men's Soccer Opens Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com
The Mountaineers face No. 11 Virginia on Friday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m., at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. WVU will then travel to College Park, Md., and take on No. 8 Maryland on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. - part of the ACC/BE Challenge
Skype Interview: John Flowers Readies for Japan - WVillustrated.com
Article and video interview with one of best personalities to come out of WVU in a long time
News of Note:
HERTZEL COLUMN: Two dozen things WVU needs to go all the way - Times West Virginian
He's made a check list of what WVU needs to do to move up the polls...way up
Needed: One RB to start opener - PPG
Our first offering from the new PPG beat writer assigned to the football Mountaineers. Give her a welcome on Twitter: @JennMenendez
Backfield options aplenty for WVU - Charleston Gazette
"They're all seven going to play,'' Holgorsen said of his four young tailbacks and three fullbacks. "I've never been anywhere where seven running backs are going to play. But there's going to be seven running backs play.
Position battles begin - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
WVU turns attention to Marshall game
WR competition too close to call - Charleston Gazette
Hickman's Notebook
Geno Smith ready for big season - Big East Blog - ESPN
So are we...So. Are. We.
Shifting Focus - WVU
"I don’t have any impression on them so far," the first-year coach said frankly. "We started to get some of the looks in practice. We haven’t talked about [Marshall] at all. We will gradually start easing in some film. "But we have been getting the looks. A lot of the looks they will be getting next week, they will be familiar with. Starting to talk about [the Herd's] personnel will happen on Sunday."
West Virginia's Holgorsen looks to fill holes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
With West Virginia's season opener against Marshall looming Sept. 4, the Mountaineers are using the upcoming week to settle their depth chart, especially on offense. "This week is the hardest point of the year," Holgorsen said. "You have to figure out how it all works. I feel good about where we are."
Najee Goode getting comfortable with new role as middle linebacker, leader - Daily Athenaeum
In his senior season, he will play many, if not all the games, at middle linebacker to make way for younger linebackers on the team to earn game experience.
WVU will rely on young linebackers in 2011 - Daily Athenaeum
Stick around for our LB preview later today
WVU football: Garvin focused, has much better grasp on defense - Charleston Daily Mail
It used to be him asking the starters questions, now he's a starter who has to answer them from the younger guys
WVU kickers improve - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
Preseason Predictions - BGN
Tony Dobies and Patrick Southern are going out on a limb with a series of preseason predictions and prognostications.
Big East: Five predictions - Big East Blog - ESPN
Every one of them involves WVU
Recruiting/Transfers:
West Virginia Adds DE Transfer - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Not eligible to play until 2012, 6-foot-3, 251-pound defensive end Derrick Bryant from UCLA is joining WVU and will have three years of eligibility remaining
Hinds, Browne Give WVU a Close Call - WVillustrated.com
Both had late eligibility issues, but have been cleared to play this coming season
Hargrett To FIU, To Apply For Waiver - WVMETRONEWS.COM
The former Mountaineer RB is hoping to play this year
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big East Team and Player Prop Bets from Bodog.com - Big East Coast Bias
For the degenerate gamblers amongst us
Big East needs dose of scoring - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
It looks to be getting it, too
Big East Week - NCAAF Blog: Dr. Saturday
Here's their complete rundown of BE preview entries
Louisville coach Charlie Strong looking for some young leaders - Courier-Journal
Munchie looks to be UC backup qb - Cincinnati Enquirer
Syracuse Football: Who Wants To Get Redshirted? - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
USF notes: B.J. Daniels elevates his play - Tampa Tribune
QB Michael Box Leaving UCONN - Hartford Courant
Rutgers' new linebacker trio adds speed to unit - Star Ledger
H-backs add versatility to Pitt's spread offense - PPG
Texas A&M Notifies Big 12 of Conference Exploration - Texas A&M Official Athletic Site
A modest proposal: SEC growth goes national – Campus Union
Check out Holly's Option #2
10 Rules New SEC Applicants and CFB Need to Know Before Joining Our Conference - Track Em Tigers
I can live with these as a WVU fan who wants to join
What's On Tap:
Football: Single Game Tickets on Sale - MSNsportsNET.Com
Tickets can be purchased on-line at WVUGAME.com, by calling 1-800-WVU GAME or in person at the Mountaineer Ticket Office in the WVU Coliseum.
'Countdown to Kickoff' celebration to welcome alumni, friends and families - WVUToday/Press Releases
The kickoff will take place on Aug. 28 from 5-8 p.m. at The Erickson Alumni Center. The event will feature appearances by the WVU Pep Band, cheerleaders, Mountaineer Mascot Brock Burwell, and coaches, as well as food, drinks, raffles and games for children of all ages.
Kick Off Coal Bowl Weekend By Having A Fish Fry With Bob Huggins - The Smoking Musket
Bob Huggins will hold his first annual fish fry the evening before the kickoff off WVU's 2011 football season against Marshall. On September 2nd at the Waterfront Place Hotel, Huggins will host a fish fry to raise funds and awareness for The Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, The Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Fund, and Remember the Miners Scholars Program. There will be players on hand from the 2010 Final Four team as well as other past Mountaineer greats.
Video of Interest:
I do believe this is still the most points hung on a Joe Paterno coached team:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Have I ever mentioned how much I love Candice?
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Lithuanian model Simona Starkute. Her picture leads to today's gallery.
Gubernijos Ekstra image via www.andrewsvirtualbrewery.com
