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 Raven's Wit Summer Ale.
Two days of football practice are in the books and because of the transfer of Brian Athey, the coaches are probably feeling it the most. Dead arms abound on the coaching staff. Plenty of features and interviews following the weekend sessions for you today. Back on the basketball front, the men leave today for their exhibition tour of Italy.
What You May Have Missed:
Head Coach Dana Holgorsen - Mountaineer TV
Coach Dana Holgorsen reviews West Virginia's second practice of fall camp on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011.
Football: Coach Holgorsen Press Conference - MSNsportsNET.Com
Transcript of the presser following practice #2 for those who can't watch the video above
Down to two - Times West Virginian
With the transfer of Brian Athey out of the program, Coach Holgorsen and the Mountaineers are left with only two QB's on the roster.
Wanted: practice arms - Charleston Gazette
With just two QBs, Mountaineers need throwers for workouts
Head Coach Bob Huggins - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins gives one final update before his team departs for Italy today.
Video: Heading To Italy - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Video interviews with Huggs, Truck, Rutledge, Kilicli, Williamson and KJ
WVU Excited to Entertain Troops in Italy - WVillustrated.com
Today marks the beginning of their overseas tour
WVU basketball program returns only four players - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"I'm trying to show them what we're going to do, then we'll break it down," Huggins said. "Then we'll put it back together."
A Change of Pace - MSNsportsNET.Com
During the required year of not playing, transfer Juwan Staten is using his time and experience to help the other players on the team develop
Beer a growing part of college football revenue streams - USA Today
Brews will be sold this fall to average fans at 20 major college football venues (including one near and dear to our hearts), twice as many as 10 years ago, according to FBS schools.
Airraid offense information, reading material, and passing concepts - Smart Football
This is a bit old, but a great resource for anyone interested in the x's and o's of the offense Holgorsen brought with him to us at WVU.
News of Note:
2011 Season Preview: The West Virginia Mountaineers And We Know Drama - SBNation.com
In depth season preview by our friends at SBNation
WVU notes: New rules music to players’ ears - Charleston Gazette
Hickman's notebook
Quick Hits: WVU Training Camp Day 2 - WVillustrated.com
WVi's practice notebook
The Holgorsen Effect (Fun Stat Nerd Tidbit: West Virginia) - Football Study Hall
A look at the average performance of Dana Holgorsen's recent offenses.
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU’s Smith embraces big expectations - Times West Virginian
While Geno is preparing for what Mountaineer fans hope is a record breaking passing season, winning is his sole focus...whether it come by running or passing the ball
Protection Program - MSNsportsNET.Com
Jed Drenning breaks down what I consider the most crucial (and oft overlooked of late) area of the new offense...pass protection
WVU football: Geno Smith plays through pain - Charleston Daily Mail
Don't jump to conclusions...he's not hurt now. This one just points out the various ailments that Geno has had over the years.
Defensive Coordinator Jeff Casteel - Mountaineer TV
Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel talks about the focus of the first few days of fall camp.
Middle important to Mountaineers’ defense - Register-Herald
Finding someone, or a committee of someones, to replace Chris Neild at nose guard is paramount to the success of the 3-3-5
Irvin rises to the top - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
The Big East's best: No. 17 - Big East Blog - ESPN
Julian Miller is profiled
Receivers coach Daron Roberts - Mountaineer TV
Receivers coach Daron Roberts talks about the first few days of fall camp.
Clear Message - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Mountaineers’ receivers coach wants playmakers
Tavon Austin: The Guy Go To Guy - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Video interview
VIDEO: Select WVU Football Player Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Geno, Tavon, Stedman, Nehlen, Coach Casteel, Bruce, Julian, Coach Roberts and Barclay
New Attitude - MSNsportsNET.Com
WR Ivan McCartney comes into camp re-focused and re-energized
Something To Prove - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and video interview featuring junior RB Shawne Alston
Catch a rising star? - Charleston Gazette
Nehlen wants to buck trend of preseason stars flaming out
I Will Return - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Jenkins plans to rejoin team in spring
West Virginia poised to top Big East - Rivals.com
Here's Rivals' breakdown of the Big East - Note: Most overrated player - Bruce Irvin (What?!?!?!?)
Photo Gallery IV: WVU 2011 Football Practice - BGN
Photos: Day Two Of Fall Camp - WVMETRONEWS.COM
More photos, including one of Coach Holgorsen throwing balls in drills to help offset the lack of arms in camp.
WVU Football Photos - WVillustrated.com
More practice photos
Recruiting:
WVU 2012 Recruiting Class Snapshot: Part One - WVillustrated.com
A look at the current football recruits that have committed so far
Looking at rising number of college recruits decommitting - Luke Winn - SI.com
Some interesting statistics regarding basketball players, their HS history and decommitting
Around the League (and Beyond):
No-huddle hysteria hits Big East Conference - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
2011 Big East Football Preview: Balance, Diversity, and (Hopefully) Potential - Big East Coast Bias
The Big East: Balance or mediocrity, that is the key question in college football - PPG
Big East & ACC’s Bottom Line - Southern Pigskin: The Leading Name in Southern College Football Coverage
The most important fact in the possibility of the BE nailing a fat new TV deal is that the only conference that would be hurt by it is the ACC.
Football Practice Day 2 - Card Chronicle
Bearcats look for a rebound - Cincinnati Enquirer
USF Football DE Brandon Wilkinson To Transfer, RB Dontae Aycock Leaves Team - Voodoo Five
UConn football: We've got questions, but do they have answers? - The UConn Blog
Early Rutgers football camp dispatches - On the Banks
Pitt opens camp today under new coach Todd Graham - PPG
Fundamental change may be coming to NCAA sports - ESPN
Reform has been tried before, but this week's meetings may actually lead to change - I'm not holding my breath
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.
Football: Fan Day Set for August 21 - MSNsportsNET.Com
The Fan Day activities will begin at 1 p.m. in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility. Gates will open at 12:45 p.m. Coach Dana Holgorsen, assistant coaches and WVU players will be signing autographs and visiting with fans until 3 p.m.
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Probable strong language
The Movie Geek's Guide to Talking Dirty from FilmDrunkDotCom on Vimeo.
via filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2011/07/supercut-cinemas-dirtiest-dirty-talk
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Tamara Ecclestone. Click on her picture for today's gallery.
Raven's Wit Summer Ale image via gabrielfollis.com
