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The time has come once again for things to get fired up surrounding WVU football. Training camp opens this evening as the Mountaineers take to the field for the first time since spring. It's been a long and drawn out summer, but now it's time to get down to business. On the basketball front, Huggs is preparing the team for a trip overseas to Italy for some exhibitions, including one against Illinois for the troops. Worth noting is that highly touted recruit Jabarie Hinds still has not reported to the team and will not make the trip, but is expected to be in school when classes start on the 22nd.
Note: The Shotgun/Throwdown is now back to a daily schedule through the week and special Saturdays
We are at GameCon 30. Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
WVU, Illinois to Entertain Troops in Italy - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU and Illinois were granted a special waiver to scrimmage each other and will do so in front of members of the Armed Forces at Aviano Air Force Base
Huggins wants WVU to adopt fast-paced style of play in 2011-12 - Daily Athenaeum
"We're more athletic," Huggins said. "We were doing transition drills the other day, and there were two or three guys trying to dunk over top of guys, which we haven't had. We're normally trying to go underneath them."
Bob Huggins Video - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins provides an update on his team's preparation prior to Thursday's practice at the WVU Student Rec Center. The team will continue practicing through this weekend before departing on Monday for Italy. The Mountaineers will play three games, including an NCAA-sanctioned joint session with Illinois to entertain U.S. service personnel stationed in Italy.
VIDEO: WVU Men's Basketball Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Huggs, Dominique Rutledge, Juwan Staten, Aaron Brown and Keaton Miles
VIDEO: WVU Women's Basketball Interviews - WVillustrated.com
The WVU women's basketball team practiced at the student recreational center Thursday in preparation for its international trip to Italy and France on Aug. 8. Head coach Mike Carey and the Mountaineers talked about how practices have been so far and what they can expect when they get overseas.
News of Note:
Practice Begins Today - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and video
Holgorsen Keeps It Simple - MSNsportsNET.Com
...for the offense; as for the defense facing it, that's a different story
West Virginia still adapting to Holgorsen's offense - PPG
18 offensive players who did not get to participate in spring drills get thrown into the mix starting today
Mastering the plan - Charleston Gazette
The offense has been installed...now it's time to master and perfect it
WVU football: Former QB says Holgorsen 'completely different' - Charleston Daily Mail
Rasheed Marshall offers his thoughts on how the QB's thought process must change in the new offense
Who’ll be ‘The Guy?’ - Charleston Gazette
Holgorsen hopes Mountaineers’ go-to receiver will emerge through chemistry with QB Smith
WVU football: Casteel is excited by new challenges as practice starts - Charleston Daily Mail
With opportunities to go elsewhere and personnel to find replacements for, Casteel likes his situation in Morgantown
Wright could start at nose guard - Times West Virginian
The defensive lineman was suspended after spring practice following an arrest, but was recently re-instated
LB Josh Francis ready for hard work to pay off - Daily Athenaeum
In 2010, West Virginia brought in a highly touted junior college pass rusher in defensive end. This season, a similar player will be joining the team – linebacker Josh Francis.
WVU’s Riggs moves into starting role - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
A part time contributor in every game last year currently finds himself atop a somewhat thin LB depth chart
VIDEO: WVU's Holgorsen, other Big East Coaches Talk to WVi - WVillustrated.com
Holgorsen, Strong, Jones and Graham
Video: West Virginia QB Geno Smith - Big East Blog - ESPN
Andrea Adelson talks with West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith at Big East Media Days
What I Love: The Backyard Brawl - Football Study Hall
A celebration of the Backyard Brawl rivalry from an outsider's perspective
Rivals.com College Football - Preseason 120: No. 24 West Virginia
Team breakdown, depth chart and best case/worst case scenario predictions
Recruiting:
Harris Makes Commit No. 18 For WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
6-foot-4, 230 pound defensive end out of Bartram High School in Florida
Around the League (and Beyond):
Three positions to watch as fall camp opens - Card Chronicle
Part III In Depth with Butch Jones - Bearcat Lair
Parts I & II are linked at the bottom of this one
Some USF Roster Notes Before Fall Camp - Voodoo Five
Know Your Meme: Old Timey Mikhail Marinovich - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Check out the mustache on this guy
'Maryland Makeover' a reminder of why UConn is better off without Edsall - The UConn Blog
Speed is the operative word for the Rutgers defense - Star Ledger
Eric LeGrand on his recovery - Big East Blog - ESPN
Keep working big guy, we're all pulling for you
Pederson's great expectations for Pitt do not faze Graham - PPG
LSU Tigers' Steve Kragthorpe has Parkinson's disease - ESPN
We've had fun at the Krag's expense here over the years (see the Kragthorpe Diaries) but wish him and his family nothing but the best
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
Football: Single Game Tickets on Sale Monday - 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.
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Warning: Strong Language
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is actress Mila Kunis. Check out the video below and click on the picture for today's gallery.
Fuego image via 1.bp.blogspot.com
