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 Żubr, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.
Game week is finally upon us!!! As the new era of Mountaineer football is well underway under the leadership of Dana Holgorsen, so too, does a new era begin here at the Smoking Musket. Our own Dr. Charley West is hanging up his blogging hat (presumably to focus on pimping hos) and has handed over the keys to yours truly. The transition has been underway for quite some time and in reality, you, the reader, should notice very little change. The rest of the writing staff is still intact as before. It's an exciting time for the Mountaineers and I hope to be able to continue what Charley has built for us here. To Charley: A heartfelt thank you for creating this community and for trusting me with its future!!
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Bob Stoops' No. 1 Oklahoma squad loaded with talent; 'Bama, Oregon, W. Virgina & Wisconsin in Top-5 - NY Daily News
Holgorsen and the gang getting some major love at #4
Dana Holgorsen Show - WVillustrated.com
Episode 3
HOLGORSEN SHOW EXTRA: Extended Weight Room Piece - WVillustrated.com
Holgorsen focused on the task at hand - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook
Wins, not statistics key to WVU success - Charleston Daily Mail
"It's more important to win the game," Holgorsen said. "That's what matters most when you get right down to it. But if we're winning games, the chances are we're doing what we want to do on offense."
As Luck would have it, Big East bounces back - Charleston Gazette
"I think it's a great opportunity for the Big East to shake off a little of its reputation," Luck said.
WVU fans will find Bud, Yuengling, more at games - Charleston Daily Mail
Details of brands to be available and pricing
Mountaineers Team with United Way, Area Youth - WVillustrated.com
The WVU men’s basketball team hooked up with the United Way four years ago, and for the fourth-straight year, their partnership yielded positive results.
VIDEO: WVU Basketball Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Hinds, Truck, KJ and Coach Martin
Best Virginia! - MSNsportsNET.Com
The #17 men's soccer team beat #11 UVA 1-0 Friday night. They take on Maryland tonight.
Women's Soccer: WVU Upends George Mason - MSNsportsNET.Com
The women rebounded from their loss to Penn St with a 3-0 shutout over GMU
News of Note:
Marshall Sneak Peek - MSNsportsNET.Com
Here's the first of many game previews this week
HERTZEL COLUMN - A few openers to remember - Times West Virginian
Hertzel digs in to the history books to remind us of a few
Lack of depth still an issue for Holgorsen - Charleston Gazette
"With just one center, that makes it kind of hard to get a whole bunch of snaps in a row,'' Holgorsen said.
WVU Will Run Its Offense- Even with a Lead - WVillustrated.com
Pleasing to hear by most Mountaineer fans, I'm sure
WVU Running Back Trey Johnson Welcomes Competition - WVillustrated.com
It's a good thing he does, because the new guys are bringing it
WVU has new crop of freshmen running backs - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Buie, Garrison and Roberts could see plenty of action
Veteran QBS step up to lead college squads - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pitt's Tino Sunseri and West Virginia's Geno Smith are two of the best and perhaps a large reason their teams, despite welcoming first-year coaches, were picked to finish 1-2 in the conference's preseason poll.
WVU’s Smith has starred vs. Herd - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
"The game will come down to the players on the field executing what the coaches have game-planned for us," said Smith. "It doesn't really matter who it is, but that the player does his job and make plays."
Marshall game spiked WVU quarterback's confidence - Charleston Daily Mail
"That's the game that gave me the confidence I needed," Smith said during a recent interview at WVU's Puskar Center. "That game means a lot to me."
Geno’s great expectations - Charleston Gazette
QBs in Holgorsen’s offense have set ridiculously high standards - That is your "DUH" secondary lead of the week
The Big East's best: No. 1 - Big East Blog - ESPN
Like there was any doubt here
SN preseason college football awards - Sporting News
They have Geno as 3rd for the O'Brien award
Austin, Bailey locked in on WVU offense - PPG
HCDH says these two have earned their starting spots, the rest are still up for grabs
Fine and Tandy - Charleston Gazette
Despite preseason accolades and gaudy stats, Mountaineers cornerback says he’s still learning
O-line key to WVU offense’s success in 2011 - Daily Athenaeum
Stick around for our OL preview later today
Madsen back, and starting for Mountaineers - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
After snapping his 25 game starting streak with an academic problem, the WVU center is back
WVU Mic'd Up: Earthquake Reaction and Fan Day - WVillustrated.com
If you don't watch any other video I ever have or will post, watch the earthquake video
Around the League (and Beyond):
Breaking down the Big East Conference - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Texas A&M Close to Leaving Big 12 - NY Times
Pitt to the Big XII?
At T.C.U., Football Coach Gary Patterson Also Wears a Hard Hat - NY Times
U of L releases official depth chart - Card Chronicle
Includes a pronunciation guide, as well. I'm not kidding.
New coach at Pitt means new way of playing - PPG
Butch Jones hopes early work helps UC grow into perennial power - Cincinnati Enquirer
Rutgers Football Season Preview: Savon Huggins, a new offense and more - Star Ledger
2011 Syracuse University Football Preview: Ryan Nassib's Rise - Post Standard
Sounds like a possible porn title, if you ask me
UConn Football Depth Chart Shows Young Linebacker Corps - Hartford Courant
Time is now for a Bulls breakthrough - Tampa Tribune
How The Iowa Hawkeyes Could Honor A Navy SEAL (And His Legendary Dog) - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
A former-Iowa Hawkeyes player has an idea for his alma mater to honor a fallen Navy SEAL, and the dog that never left his side.
College football television roundtable - Richard Deitsch - SI.com
#FireCraigJames
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.
Wear gold and blue on College Colors Day, Mountaineer Fridays - WVUToday
“I’d like for all West Virginia fans to step up and participate in national College Colors Day,” said WVU head football coach Dana Holgorsen. “Let’s show the country how strong Mountaineer Nation is by wearing our gold and blue. Our logo is recognizable all over the world and this is a great way to show your Mountaineer spirit.”
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:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
We'll take OK, Go plus the Muppets...FTW:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Polish model, Ewelina Olczak.
Żubr image via www.beerday.com
