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 tailgate staple, Miller Lite.
It's the day before Game-Day, which means game previews galore and pre-game prep for tailgating. There are plenty of features and videos, including a couple of interesting bits on recruiting for WVU in the DC/Baltimore region. Depending on which service you trust, the line on the game has gone from a WVU favorite by 2, to a UMD favorite by 2 and now back to a WVU favorite by 3. See you in College Park and...
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Coach Talk With Dana Holgorsen - WVMETRONEWS.COM
On today's episode of "Coach Talk", WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen gives fans a little more insight into his offense, talks about what his team has done in practice this week and discusses the upcoming Maryland game.
Gold And Blue Now: Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Bruce Irvin talks about his breakout game against Maryland last season, Tony Caridi and Hoppy Kercheval discuss the recent conference expansion rumors and former WVU football player Dale Wolfley talks about how WVU is going to honor former WVU linebacker great and College Football Hall of Famer Darryl Talley.
West Virginia Vs. Maryland Preview: Five Questions With Two West Virginia Experts - SB Nation DC
They're calling me an expert...I wholeheartedly disagree, but it's still nice
Mountaineer Gameday: ‘Border Series’ victory in 2005 set tone for WVU - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU was coming off an 8-4 finish in 2004, but had lost its last three that season. The '05 season began with offensive struggles in a 15-7 win over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, then a 35-7 win over Division I-AA Wofford in Morgantown.
Bruce Irvin on Kiper Big Board - Big East Blog - ESPN
"Among national leaders in sacks in 2010 with 14.0, Irvin is explosive up the field and has decent countermoves. Fits as a 3-4 OLB at the next level."
WVU Rallies At USF - MSNsportsNET.Com
Women's Soccer: 2-1 in double overtime
No. 12 WVU Begins Homestand - MSNsportsNET.Com
The No. 12 West Virginia University men’s soccer team will play host to two non-conference opponents this weekend at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Richmond comes to Morgantown on Friday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m., while the Mountaineers welcome Duquesne on Sunday, Sept. 18, at 3:30 p.m.
News of Note:
Game Preview: Mountaineers Face Tough Terps on Road - WV Illustrated
The Mountaineers are getting set for a border battle with the Terps in what can easily be called the toughest game so far for the 2-0 WVU football team.
Mountaineer Gameday: No. 18 WVU needs to establish a rushing attack - Charleston Daily Mail
"I don't care if we're No. 120," the West Virginia football coach said. "If we're able to run the ball when we need to be able to and not let them dictate what we do, either run it or throw it, than we've accomplished our goal."
WVU vs. Maryland - Charleston Gazette
Game preview
WVU-Maryland matchups - Charleston Gazette
Mountaineer offense looking to run clean game plan against Maryland defense - Daily Athenaeum
"That's the number-one thing we've got to take care of. We've got to get good at what the game plan is and line it up to try to win the game," he said.
Maryland-West Virginia Preview: Terps Try to Retain Momentum Against Rival 'Eers - Testudo Times
From the guys who did the Q&A with us earlier in the week
WVU football: Holgorsen aware No. 18 Mountaineers need fast start - Charleston Daily Mail
"We've got to try to score fast," the Mountaineers coach said. "They'll be rowdy and they have a good crowd. It's a tough place to play. It's hard to get the home crowd out of it. Starting fast is about the only chance you've got."
WVU football: Maryland’s Tate not so easy to find on defense - Charleston Daily Mail
"They move him around a bunch," WVU Coach Dana Holgorsen said. "He's a guy we've got to keep an eye on. It's not something where we look to avoid him. We're going to run our offense based on specific leverage and numbers more than we are people."
Road test for WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
"They (Maryland) have a very disciplined coach in coach (Randy) Edsall," said Holgorsen. "He prides himself on winning games. They are smart in what they do from a turnover-margin standpoint."
West Virginia QB Smith's next step: Read coach's mind - PPG
"It's still a learning process. I'm still trying to get on the same page as coach Holgorsen and just completely understand exactly what he wants," Smith said. "I think I have it pretty much down, knowing what he expects."
Smith: WVU must execute game plan - Register-Herald
Mickey's Column
HERTZEL COLUMN - WVU’s Vance making most of opportunity - Times West Virginian
He is listed at 5-feet 9-inches tall, which one suspects is a slight exaggeration, and the 222 they list as his weight may be real, but if someone were to argue that he might have been weighed while wearing his full equipment it would not seem farfetched.
Crowd could be factor for Mountaineers - Daily Athenaeum
So I had to ask another young player the same question, if any preparation had been made for crowd noise. "Not really, it's just another game," said freshman running back Dustin Garrison. - Ummm...see the next link
WVU prepares for first road game - YouTube
The sights outside and the sound inside Milan Puskar Stadium in the final practice before WVU plays at Maryland. Note the baseball park organ near the end.
WVU's Austin a triple threat as WR, returner - Martinsburg Journal/AP
West Virginia's Tavon Austin is a constant reminder to Maryland that it let a good player get away.
Transfer WR Brown focused on leadership, adjusting to team - Daily Athenaeum
"To this point, I mean, yes, I am a veteran," Brown said. "(Redshirt senior wide receiver Brad Starks) and I (are) the two oldest guys out there. I don't feel like a freshman, but I still feel like the new guy."
WR Coach Shannon Dawson - Mountaineer TV
Wide receivers coach Shannon Dawson discusses ways the offense can improve.
Coaches convinced RBs will grow - Times West Virginian
“I played at Florida as a true freshman, and that year is a blur,” he continued. “I can’t remember a snap. It took me a year to figure out why this is happening or that is happening. The game slows down after a year. You have to make those mistakes before you can see the cuts. That’s where they are now.” - RB Coach Gillespie
Running Back Vernard Roberts - Mountaineer TV
Vernard Roberts talks about the team's goals heading into the Maryland game.
WVU Cornerback Keith Tandy Ready for Saturday's Challenge - WV Illustrated
Tandy knows this Saturday's game against Maryland is the Mountaineer's biggest test of the season thus far, and he is ready.
Cornerback Keith Tandy - Mountaineer TV
Keith Tandy talks about what the defense has been working on to prepare for Maryland.
Recruiting:
Hidden reason why this game is important to Mountaineers - Charleston Gazette
So far, West Virginia has 18 commitments supposedly signing letters of intent in February, and one-third of those commitments come from the Maryland-Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area.
West Virginia has built a recruiting pipeline to Baltimore, and Randy Edsall would like to interrupt it - Baltimore Sun
Edsall has promised to keep more local talent from leaving the state
Around the League (and Beyond):
2011 Big East Positive Impact Factor: Week Two - Big East Coast Bias
Look who's on top for offense
Week Three F/+ Picks - Football Study Hall
Not quite the hottest ticket in Lexington - Courier-Journal
Freshman LB Price is right for Graham, Pitt - PPG
For Collaros, trip from Akron a long one - Cincinnati Enquirer
Notebook: Mitchell, Marc receiving praise - Tampa Tribune
Syracuse vs. USC Could Come Down To Keon Lyn vs. Robert Woods - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
UConn vs. Iowa State: Who has the edge? - Stamford Advocate
Former Canes implicating Miami assistants - FanNation/SI.com
Armstrong's father said his son stayed with then-UM assistant coach Clint Hurtt during a recruiting visit, which is a violation regardless of whether it was an official or unofficial visit. - again, Louisville's uber-recruiter asst. coach Clint Hurtt
College GameDay Kickoff: Week 3 preview - ESPN
Brady Deaton: Big 12's fate should be known in 10-14 days - Sporting News
What's On Tap:
(18) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Maryland Terrapins - Preview - ESPN
Noon Saturday from Byrd Stadium on ESPNU. It's a pick 'em now (we use 5Dimes).
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Connecticut Huskies - ESPN
8 pm tonight from the Rent on ESPN2/ESPN3. Huskies are giving 4.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes - ESPN
Noon Saturday from Kinnick Stadium on ESPN2/ESPN3. Hawkeyes are giving 3.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs. (23) TCU Horned Frogs - Preview - ESPN
2 pm Saturday from Amon Carter. Frogs are giving 29.
Akron Zips vs. Cincinnati Bearcats - ESPN
3:30 pm Saturday from the Nip on ESPN3. Cinci is giving 34.
Florida A&M Rattlers vs. (20) South Florida Bulls - Preview - ESPN
7 pm from Ray Jay on ESPN Gameplan and ESPN3. No line.
Louisville Cardinals vs. Kentucky Wildcats - ESPN
7 pm Saturday from Commonwealth Stadium on ESPNU. Kentucky is giving 5.5.
Syracuse Orange vs. USC Trojans - ESPN
8 pm Saturday from the Coliseum on FX. Trojans are giving 16.5.
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Brats
Ingredients
- 6 cans of Beer
- 1 Package of Bratwurst
- 1 sweet or yellow onion (sliced)
- 1 package of bacon (Not-cooked)
- 1 block of cheddar or Monterey jack cheese (I use the pepper jack) sliced in 3inch long ?½ thick chunks
- 1 Package of hot dog buns
Directions
Step 1- Boil Brats and onions in Beer. Drain and let cool
Step 2- Slice Brats open scoop out part of center for room for cheese. Add cheese in and close the Brat.
Step 3- starting on the end toothpick a piece of bacon and then wrap around brat to the other end securing with another toothpick
Step 4- Drain the leftover onion and place in a foil pouch
Step 5- Grill Brats on open rack flipping until bacon becomes fully cooked. (The brats were previously cooked so you just want them to be hot. Add the foil package of onions to the grill to re-heat
Step 6-Serve Brats on Bun with onions and a dab of mustard (optional)
reprinted from Tailgating.com
Video of Interest:
MSN's Tony Caridi sits down with WVU Head Coach Dana Holgorsen and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Casteel to review the Norfolk St. game and look ahead at the Maryland game this weekend.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Guy on a Buffalo? GUY ON A BUFFALO!!!! h/t to EDSBS
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a personal favorite of mine and the former Turn on our old Hump Day posts. Here's today's wonderful gallery and a video of Miss Bar Refaeli (click on the picture).
Miller Lite image via soupleys.com