Mountaineer Morning Links: Thanksgiving (11/22/12) Edition

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 Mayflower's Thanksgiving Ale.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now: Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
In the Thanksgiving edition of Gold and Blue Now Dana Holgorsen and John Walters talk Iowa State and Bob Huggins gets a contract extension.

Huggins’ Employment Agreement Amended - WVU Athletics
extending his relationship with the University to 2023 and increasing his annual salary and incentives. The agreement takes effect immediately.

2012 Heisman Watch, Week 12: Too late, but Tavon Austin had himself a week - SBNation.com
But through attrition, Johnny Manziel has to be considered your leader in the clubhouse right now.

Austin is always in motion - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Mountaineer deserves Heisman consideration

Backyard Brawl gone, but links to rivalry remain - Charleston Gazette
It was actually played more times in October (51) than in any other month.

No ‘Backyard Brawl’ strange for players - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
"We talked about how it is weird that we will not be playing. Hopefully, something will get worked out to where it can be played again."

A year without a Brawl: Something missing for Pitt, WVU - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Officials for both schools have said they hope to revive the series, but there are no formal arrangements to do so yet.

Rifle Steady at No. 2 - WVU Athletics
The WVU rifle team ends the fall season ranked No. 2.

News of Note:

Hoops

WVU-Marist in Old Spice Classic - WVU Athletics
Mountaineers open play Thursday at noon.

Preview: WVU vs Marist - BGN
West Virginia opens the Old Spice Classic with a noon tip against Marist, but the Mountaineers may have more to prove to themselves and their coach than to the Red Foxes.

Huggins looks for ‘little things’ in Classic - Charleston Daily Mail
"Do the little things to make the team better, which is what we're missing," Huggins said.

Huggins tries to get WVU back on track - Times West Virginian
"Until we play another game, we will still have a bad taste in our mouth from Gonzaga," said point guard Juwan Staten before heading south.

Telling Weekend in Orlando - WVMETRONEWS.COM
The Old Spice Classic that tips Thursday in Orlando, Fla., will help West Virginia's basketball team gauge its progress since a season-opening drubbing at Gonzaga.

A WORK IN PROGRESS - Register-Herald
Mountaineers return to court today after disappointing start to season

Mountaineers return to hardwood today - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia faces Marist at Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla.

Football

2012 Game XII: Iowa State vs West Virginia Preview - Wide Right & Natty Lite
Three months ago no one would have thought that West Virginia would travel to Ames looking for their sixth win. The Cyclones are sitting at an unsurprising six wins already but took a circuitous route to get there.

Intro to Big 12 wasn't supposed to be easy - Charleston Daily Mail
"I'd say that's an understatement," said Holgorsen

WVU facing tough challenge vs. ISU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
''I think we've come a long ways,'' Rhoads said.

Rhoads brings Iowa State back from depths - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
For Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads, it’s been one step at a time.

WVU, ISU meet for first time - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Mountaineers looking to avoid 6-game losing streak

Austin has Iowa State chasing ghosts - Charleston Gazette
"It's just the way [Oklahoma] played,'' offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said of Austin's wildly successful night.

WVU’s Austin Impresses - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Rhoads struggling to prepare for WR

Opposing view: ISU writer Andrew Logue - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Today we're joined by Andrew Logue of The Des Moines Register

Football Notebook - WVU Athletics
Paul Rhoads said he got physically ill watching the Oklahoma tape

WVU struggling in close games - Times West Virginian
"Last year we found ways to win. This year we’re finding ways to lose."

Dwight Wallace Iowa State Preview - WVU Athletics
A look at Friday's game against Iowa State.

HERTZEL COLUMN: Words can still have meaning - Times West Virginian
Dana Holgorsen never met Knute Rockne, or for that matter, Ronald Reagan.

Recruiting:

Williams Joins Hoop Class - WVU Athletics
Williams, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, currently attends Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla.

Around the League (and Beyond):

What to watch in the Big 12: Week 12 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

Despite growing popularity, Richardson must earn starting QB spot - Ames Tribune

Baylor to host Texas in Floyd Casey finale next fall - Waco Tribune

Dayne Crist can still help KU - Lawrence Journal World

Kansas State works on fixing first-loss problems - Wichita Eagle

Bedlam 2012 - This Is Not Your Father's Oklahoma State - Crimson And Cream Machine

Clint Chelf's wild ride rolls on - Oklahoman (autoplay video)

Texas-TCU: Five important questions - Burnt Orange Nation

Games against Texas, Oklahoma will help TCU see where it stands in first Big 12 season - Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram

Tuberville discusses what goes into third-and-long play calls - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

College GameDay Kickoff: Week 13 preview - ESPN

What's On Tap:

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Marist Red Foxes - ESPN
Noon Today from Lake Buena Vista, Florida as part of the Old Spice Classic

Video of Interest:

MSN's Tony Caridi sat down with Head Coach Dana Holgorsen to discuss how the team is rebounding after a close loss to Oklahoma and what challenges Iowa State poses.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is back with another flipbook video below. But you can also CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Melanie Iglesias.