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 tailgating staple Budweiser.
Realignment will not go away, especially for WVU fans, until we know what Oliver Luck has worked or is working out. We have been inundated with questions about meetings, what's happening, what does this mean and what does that mean. I will tell you what I know, and it's not much. This is a time when things need to happen behind closed doors for WVU. That's just the nature of the beast with these conferences. They don't want negotiations made public and when they are, they get PISSED!!!! Believe me, no one wants to know what's happening more than yours truly.
Here's the current breakdown of the landscape: PAC-12 is staying on 12 for now and the BIG XII seems to be saved from breaking apart, yet they can't agree on what they agreed on yesterday. This means Missouri to the SEC isn't dead. The SEC is in no hurry. NONE. They don't have to be. The options for WVU have not disappeared. It's just a matter which one (if any) offers an invite first and are we willing to hold out until an SEC invite.
Tomorrow is the big day many of us have been waiting for for quite some time. Game Day is in town and already taking over the Mountainlair Plaza. Check out the photo gallery and you can see why the Blue Lot wasn't really an option. The requisite game breakdowns and preview are in abundance, as well as a couple features on Coach Holgorsen. It's going to be a long fun day tomorrow and we should do our best to make it great and savor the occasion.
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Coach Talk With Dana Holgorsen - WVMETRONEWS.COM
After a big non-conference win against the Maryland Terrapins the Mountaineers are preparing to take on the 2nd ranked LSU Tigers. WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen is well aware of how dangerous the Tigers are and aren't taking them lightly. In this episode of "Coach Talk", Holgorsen goes over why they were so successful offensively and what he expects to see from LSU on Saturday night.
Nighttime in Morgantown! - Mountaineer TV
Something special usually happens when the lights are on inside Milan Puskar Stadium.
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen is emerging from the shadows to become a great college coach - FOX Sports on MSN
West Virginia Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen had humble beginnings, but a long journey through turmoil and with friendships with Mike Leach and Hal Mumme has led him to Morgantown. West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen is emerging from the shadows to become a great college coach
Holgorsen hopes to bring title to Mountain State - Times West Virginian
"What I like is he’s not a second-guesser. He knows what he wants. He’s a pretty direct guy. He doesn’t beat around the bush," Luck said.
Tony's Take - MSNsportsNET.Com
LSU Fan's Terrific
GameDay producer anticipates great atmosphere at WVU - Hampshire Review
There are already 44 tents on Mountainlair Plaza right now, probably more by the time you read this
WVU ready for prime time - Charleston Daily Mail
"One of the questions we're always asked is, 'Where is the best GameDay site you've been?' and the answer is always someplace we've never been before," Engle said. "We're expecting a big turnout at West Virginia hopefully this one will be one of our best. We're really looking forward to it."
Photos: ESPN College GameDay Setup - WVMETRONEWS.COM
With the space they're taking up, easy to see why they aren't in the Hospital/Blue Lot
HERTZEL COLUMN: Loud crowd could mean little to LSU - Times West Virginian
"Their place is filled for every game. Regardless of who they play, that’s the way it is. That’s what we’re striving for here. It’s not a one-time or one-game thing. The mark of a good program and competitive program is filling the stadium every time you line up. It needs to happen all the time."
Excitement is Back. Hide Your Couch. - Pre-Snap Read
Saturday? There will be fire, win or lose: “We know we’re going to have fires,” said Morgantown fire chief Mark Carvasos. “But they aren’t going to be bad.”
Former LB Wiley reflects, encourages 2011 team to embrace atmosphere - Daily Athenaeum
"I played in a lot of games in many different venues in the NFL and college," Wiley said. "Morgantown at night, especially with a highly ranked team coming in, is just electrifying."
Realignment overshadowing LSU game - Daily Athenaeum
The fourth Saturday in September brings one of the most anticipated nonconference home games in the history of Mountaineer Field. Two nationally ranked and undefeated foes will do battle on a Saturday night in Morgantown. Yet, somehow, the talks this week have been about conference realignment and not the matchup with the second-ranked LSU Tigers. That is sickening.
News of Note:
College Football Week 4 Preview - Video - SI.com
SI.com previews the best Week 4 action including season-defining showdowns between Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, and WVU and LSU
No. 16 Mountaineers set for primetime matchup against No. 2 LSU Saturday night - Daily Athenaeum
Coming off its first road test of the year, the No. 16 West Virginia football team will face its toughest test of the season Saturday night when No. 2 LSU comes to Morgantown.
WVU vs. LSU - Charleston Gazette
"There are a lot of good atmospheres out there. The only thing we can worry about is how good we can make this atmosphere. Everybody should show up and be real loud and enjoy it. But that needs to be a constant, too.''
Game Preview: LSU Represents WVU's Toughest Test - WV Illustrated
"This game could put West Virginia back on the map and get a lot of recognition to this program," says Miller.
No doubts about it - Charleston Gazette
No. 16 Mountaineers confident they can compete with No. 2 Tigers
WVU football: Tough test awaits for Holgorsen, No. 16 Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
"I've played great defenses over the years at Oklahoma and Texas and USC, just a bunch of great defenses, just great defenses throughout," Bedenbaugh said. "The thing about (the Tigers) is they have great depth everywhere. And they play hard. Every snap.
WVU-LSU matchups - Charleston Gazette
Breaking down LSU vs. West Virginia - Big East Blog - ESPN
One of the biggest matchups will be the LSU secondary against the West Virginia downfield passing game. LSU has allowed only two completions on throws of 15 yards or longer this season, while West Virginia has 14 such completions, including five touchdowns.
Holgorsen not making too much of matchup - Register-Herald
"They all count as one win," Holgorsen said. "If you put that much into one, then it takes away from the others.
LSU’s Shepard to return for WVU game - Inter-Mountain
"We will be using Shep in a number of ways, on special teams and certainly in the receiving corps," LSU coach Les Miles said.
Blog: Campus Connection - 09/22/11 - MSNsportsNET.Com
Baby Steps (for the running game) & Honoring Talley
Strides have been made on WVU’s offensive line - Charleston Daily Mail
"Coach (Dana) Holgorsen tells us we've got to be able to run the ball if we're going to be a good team," WVU left guard Jeff Braun said here earlier this week.
WVU QB Smith is making name for himself - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"If it's anything, I just want to be the best at it," Smith said. "My calling is football. ... Any chance I get to go out there and work on my craft, I love it. I embrace it."
WVU football: Gadget plays could help Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
Dana Holgorsen has a playbook that's more like a pamphlet. Maybe that's because he doesn't have many plays. Maybe that's because some plays are drawn up in the dirt.
LSU has handled tests so far - Times West Virginian
The Bayou Tigers are unbeaten through three games and ranked No. 2 in America, although a case could be made that they are the best team in the nation … and are getting better.
WVU football: With struggles in past, Lee leads No. 2 Tigers - Charleston Daily Mail
Jarrett Lee threw 21 touchdown passes during his freshman season at LSU. Seven of them happened to go to the wrong team.
Not desperately seeking sacks - Charleston Gazette
But now through three games, West Virginia has exactly one sack.
WVU pass rush needs to get going - Big East Blog - ESPN
So which is it?
DT Julian Miller - Mountaineer TV
Julian Miller talks about the team's confidence and the importance of putting together four good quarters against LSU.
College GameDay Kickoff: Week 4 preview - ESPN
#1 in the Weekend Watch and there's a familiar face on the still for the 'Best First Year Coaches' video
Recruiting:
I was told that the #11 4* RB (Scout) in the country may be on a visit to watch the Mountaineers this weekend. Scout doesn't list him on the visitor list (yet). Mario Pender of Island Coast High School in Cape Coral/N Ft Myers, FL, is listed as a Florida St. verbal, but is possibly considering WVU.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big opportunity awaits WVU, Big East - Big East Blog - ESPN
This is a league in need of something positive to happen. Putting the focus back on the field is a good first step. An upset over one of the best teams in the nation -- well that would be a welcome change.
UC Bearcats pummel North Carolina State, 44-14 - Cincinnati Enquirer
Louisville defensive line now living up to its potential - Courier-Journal
Bulls notes: UTEP yet to name its starting QB - Tampa Tribune
Syracuse vs Toledo: Rockets Feature Two-Headed QB Monster - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
UConn Vs. Buffalo Saturday: Pasqualoni Impressed - Hartford Courant
Rutgers' Kenneth Kirksey working his way onto the defensive line - Star Ledger
Pitt Vs. Notre Dame Football: Cardiac Hill Preview - Cardiac Hill
TCU a serious Big 12 candidate?- Realignment could once again be a go. - Frogs O' War
Even when Big 12 comes together, it cannot keep its story straight - Andy Staples - SI.com
Texas A&M appears free to leave the Big 12 for the SEC without fear of litigation
What's On Tap:
(2) LSU Tigers vs. (16) West Virginia Mountaineers - Preview - ESPN
8 pm Saturday night from Mylan Puskar Stadium on ABC. LSU is giving 5.5.
Toledo Rockets vs. Syracuse Orange - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Dome on SNY, ESPN Gameplan and ESPN3. Cuse is giving 2.5.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Pittsburgh Panthers - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Ketchup Place on ABC. Irish are giving 7.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - ESPN
2 pm Saturday from Piscataway on ESPN3 (they own NY, right). Rutgers is giving 4.
Connecticut Huskies vs. Buffalo Bulls - ESPN
6 pm Saturday from UB Stadium on SNY, ESPN Gameplan and ESPN3. Huskies are giving 9.
UTEP Miners vs. (18) South Florida Bulls - Preview - ESPN
7 pm Saturday from RayJay on ESPN3. Bulls are giving 29.
Video of Interest:
MSN's Tony Caridi sits down with Head Coach Dana Holgorsen and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Casteel to discuss WVU's upcoming game against LSU
Tailgating Recipe of the Week:
Spicy BBQ Shrimp Tailgate Style
INGREDIENTS
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup sesame oil
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Asian chile paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 12 wooden skewers, soaked in water
DIRECTIONS
1. Whisk together the olive oil, sesame oil, parsley, hot sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, chile sauce, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Set aside about 1/3 of this marinade to use while grilling.
2. Place the shrimp in a large, resealable plastic bag. Pour in the remaining marinade and seal the bag. Refrigerate for 2 hours before leaving for the tailgate.
3. Preheat the grill for high heat. Attached the shrimp to the skewers.
4. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp for 2 minutes per side until opaque, basting frequently with reserved marinade.
Reprinted from Tailgatelot.com
Video of (Dis)Interest:
This was inevitable:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is the model who is growing in popularity by the nanosecond. Here's today's video and gallery (linked through the picture) of Miss Kate Upton.
Budweiser image via static.desktopnexus.com
