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What You May Have Missed:
Texas Longhorns fans ready for first Big 12 meeting with West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
From the Appalachian Mountains to the Gauley River, get ready Texas fans, here comes West Virginia.
Into the Heart of Texas - WVMETRONEWS.COM
"We're going to have people coming in from every time zone," he said. "We'll be turning Austin into Mountaineer country."
No. 8 West Virginia travels to Austin to face No. 11 Texas Saturday night - Daily Athenaeum
For those with doubts about the oft-repeated mantra of "everything being bigger in Texas," look no further than the football stadium of its flagship institution.
Q&A: West Virginia AD Oliver Luck - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
To say Oliver Luck has a lot going on right now would be an understatement.
A New Reality - WVU Athletics
Jed Drenning explores the Big 12's explosive offenses.
West Virgina scoring high in Big 12 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
High-scoring offenses are a Big 12 staple, but the wild numbers from Geno Smith's passing game have elevated things to another level.
Brown knows times changing in college football - Charleston Daily Mail
"We're not seeing the dominant defensive performances right now that even we saw three years ago and defenses are going to have to catch up because offenses are ruling the roost."
Changes in Coliseum Club Area Planned - WVU Athletics
The Statler Club Lounge area in the WVU Coliseum will include beer sales at the men's basketball games this season, along with an expanded food and beverage menu and updated large-screen televisions, athletic officials announced today.
News of Note:
Five Months Ago, the Biggest Upset in the History of College Football Happened in Morgantown - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Would you believe, somehow, some way, WVU's defense beat WVU's offense, 43-34, just a little more than five months ago with a bulk of the very same players that were on the field last weekend?
Opposing view: Austin columnist Kirk Bohls - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Kirk joined MetroNews for an interview Thursday
Predicting WVU-Texas outcome a difficult task - Register-Herald
Many factors could impact game’s result
Exploiting defense key to offense for Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
Some of the secret to West Virginia's offensive success is to keep some things secret.
Holgorsen concerned with Longhorns’ secondary - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
"Whoever wins that battle will be extremely significant in the outcome of this game," WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen said.
WVU defense to face tough Texas trio - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Lying in wait for Rigg and his teammates is a Longhorn offense that is averaging 47.2 points and 495.8 yards per game - 228 of those coming on the ground.
WVU’s defense not a complete liability - Daily Athenaeum
WVU’s beleaguered defense is averaging a whopping 474 yards allowed through the first four games of the season, including 698 yards and 63 points last week against Baylor.
Mountaineers well aware of Longhorns’ ability to block kicks - Inter-Mountain
The Longhorns have averaged blocking nearly six kicks per season, putting punters, field goal kickers and their protectors on edge.
First road test, WVU hoops and more beer - Charleston Gazette
WVU will visit Texas Saturday night in one of the nation's premier games. The No. 8 Mountaineers versus the No. 11 Longhorns.
West Virginia vs. Texas: A surprising lesson on slowing down the Mountaineers - SBNation.com
Slowing down the West Virginia offense comes down to an age-old question: What did Maryland do? (And is four the semi-magic number?)
Putting it all on the line - Charleston Gazette
Line of scrimmage victories could change WVU's defensive fate
Texas vs West Virginia: Previewing Geno Smith and the Mountaineers - Burnt Orange Nation
A conversation with West Virginia bloggers in advance of Saturday's Big 12 showdown between the Longhorns and Mountaineers.
Geno Smith's Success Begins In Film Room - WVillustrated
Smith spends countless hours watching film of himself, his team and NFL quarterbacks. It has helped him establish himself as the Heisman Trophy frontrunner.
No Heisman hype for Geno from department, WVU official says - Charleston Daily Mail
"As far as Geno goes, we feel very comfortable with where we are in this stage of the game," said Mike Fragale, assistant athletic director for communications.
Quarterback Smith always strives for perfection - Charleston Daily Mail
"I would think that most quarterbacks would do that, but it's turning out that I'm finding out it's not a trend around here," he said.
WVU QB Smith Focused on Texas - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
"Got to focus on Texas," Smith said. "We don't take wins into the next week. It sounds cliche. But that's really how we do things."
WVU’s Smith becomes football scholar - Times West Virginian
Smith’s preparation routine is becoming the talk of college football and is being credited with being as important as any play Coach Dana Holgorsen draws up, any route Tavon Austin or Stedman Bailey runs or any pass Smith throws.
Video: Can Texas D stop Geno Smith? - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
After putting up 8 touchdowns last week, Geno Smith takes West Virginia to Austin for the Mountaineers first-ever road game in the Big 12.
Video: Game of the Week -- Big 12 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
David Ubben says Texas' pressure on Geno Smith will decide how its game against West Virginia goes.
Texas-West Virginia Could Be Redzone Conversion Battle - Burnt Orange Nation
With both offenses scoring touchdowns in the redzone at nationally-elite rates, the outcome of Saturday's game could boil down to which defense can force field goals in their final fifth.
Around the League (and Beyond):
College GameDay Kickoff: Week 6 preview - ESPN
October begins with a bang, with four top 25 matchups featuring conference opponents.
To Blitz Or Not To Bitz: The West Virginia Conundrum - Burnt Orange Nation
Baylor's crumbling defense vexing to its architect - Waco Tribune
2012 Game V: Iowa State vs TCU Preview - Wide Right & Natty Lite
Kansas vs. Kansas State: Tale of the Tape - Rock Chalk Talk
John Hubert, I will never doubt you again - Bring On The Cats
OU @ Texas Tech - What Must Happen - Crimson And Cream Machine
Oklahoma State football: Todd Monken says ‘stats are for losers’ - Oklahoman
Casey Pachall Supsended Indefinitely Following Arrested for DWI - Frogs O' War
Taking Notes | Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders - Viva The Matadors
What's On Tap:
Women’s Soccer Travels to Kansas, Iowa State - WVU Athletics
WVU will face KU on Friday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. ET at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex, before taking on ISU on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. ET at the Cyclone Sports Complex.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. (7) Kansas State Wildcats - Preview - ESPN
Noon Saturday from Bill Snyder Stadium on FX. Cats are giving 24.5.
Iowa State Cyclones vs. (15) TCU Horned Frogs - Preview - ESPN
3:30 pm Saturday from Amon G. Carter Stadium on FSN affiliates. Frogs are giving 7.
(17) Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders - Preview - ESPN
3:30 pm Saturday from Jones Stadium on ESPN2/ABC Regional. Sooners are giving 4.5.
(8) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (11) Texas Longhorns - Preview - ESPN (autoplay video)
7 pm Saturday from DKR on Fox. Horns are giving 6.5.
2012 College Football TV Schedule
Full TV listings
Videos of Interest:
Austin fails video h/t to Casazza
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
Texas Brisket
Ingredients
- 1 (5 to 6-pound) brisket, trimmed but left with a layer of fat about 1/4- inch thick
- 6 tablespoons House Seasoning, recipe follows
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6 cups hickory wood chips, soaked in water for 30 minutes
Directions
Rinse brisket thoroughly under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix together House Seasoning, chili powder, brown sugar, onion powder, oregano and cayenne. Rub brisket with the rub on all sides.
Follow directions on your grill/smoker for indirect grilling. Place the soaked chips into the chip box, or make a pouch with tin foil for the chips, then place pouch directly on the coals. Place brisket fat side up in a large disposable aluminum pan and place in the center of the grate and cover the grill.
Slow grill the brisket until tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meat reads about 190 degrees F, about 6 hours. Add coals and wood chips as necessary to maintain a constant temperature. Transfer the brisket to a cutting board to rest for about 10 minutes. Slice the brisket across the grain and serve.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Yield: 1 1/2 cups
Reprinted from FoodNetwork.com
Videos of (Dis)Interest:
There are no words other than, "Bravo, good sirs!"
h/t to Good Bull Hunting
And remember, this is the fan we hate this week...in his greatest role:
Miss Throwdown:
Big games call for big... ahem, stars. Yeah!! That's the word. Today's Miss Throwdown is definitely a big star. The most recent SI Swimsuit Cover Girl (<++Bonus Link). CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Miss Kate Upton.