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 Texas Big Beer Brewery's Big Ass Blonde, in honor of all our new brethren in the Big 12 (for the "Big" not the "Texas" or the "Blonde" or the "Ass", although they're certainly nice too).
Today we have lot's of fallout from yesterday's dual announcements of the settlement between the Big East and WVU being finalized, as well as the football schedule release. Some people look at that schedule with a tinge of fear. Fear, in the right doses can be good, but make no mistake, this WVU squad will compete and likely turn some heads. With the entering of the Big 12 means some sort of hiatus to the Backyard Brawl series across multiple sports. Which leads to...this week's hoops edition may be the last for a while. We also have more on the women's team looking to knock off their third straight ranked opponent in a row tonight. All of this and more...
What You May Have Missed:
Gold And Blue Now: Wednesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU athletic director Oliver Luck talks about the future of WVU in the Big 12, hotels in Morgantown are already getting filled up for the season and a mid-west beat writer talks about WVU joining the Big 12 Conference.
Director of Athletics Oliver Luck - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck's conference call following the announcement of the school's settlement with the Big East Conference.
The End Of Sabanball: Details, Barbarians, And Precision - SBNation.com
Spencer thinks Holgorsen's formula may be the blueprint to ending Saban's reign
West Virginia Hosts No. 18 Rutgers - MSNsportsNET.Com
After stunning No. 2 Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon, 65-63, at the Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind., the Mountaineers (18-6, 8-3 BIG EAST) have to turn around and face their third ranked opponent in as many games as they host No.18 Rutgers on Wednesday night at the Coliseum at 7 p.m.
WVU Women's Basketball Interviews Prior to Rutgers Game - WVillustrated
Asya Bussie, Brooke Hampton and Coach Carey
WVU needs more support right now - Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia women's basketball team needs much more support from fans for the rest of this season and beyond.
Bracket Watch - Andy Glockner - SI.com
10 Seed in this version too
News of Note:
Head Coach Bob Huggins - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins' Tuesday afternoon teleconference previewing Thursday night's Pitt game.
Huggins tired of excuses - Register-Herald
“We just gotta stop the ifs, buts and get to the line and make free throws. They were given too many chances.”
Bye-bye to the Brawl? - Charleston Gazette
Huggins thinks WVU-Pitt hoops rivalry will continue
Football ‘Brawl’ dead, for now - Times West Virginian
Basketball series with Pitt could resume sooner
Backyard Brawl faces uncertain future as far as hardwood is concerned - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pitt and West Virginia have met on the basketball court every year since World War I, but their oft-hostile, always-exciting rivalry remains up in the air.
Series finale vs. WVU? - PPG
Fans attending the West Virginia-Pitt game Thursday night at Petersen Events Center might want to hang onto their game programs.
WVU's Big 12 football schedule involves heavy lifting - Charleston Gazette
Still, it was an eye-opener as soon as it was released Wednesday: This is not the kind of football schedule WVU is used to playing.
Big 12 Schedule Tidbits - WVMETRONEWS.COM
2012 Big 12 Schedule Breakdown - College Football News
Breakdowns and analysis of each Big 12 team's 2012 schedule
Big 12 slate sparks fan-demonium - Charleston Daily Mail
"We were about 20 rooms away from selling out as of 3 o'clock (Tuesday) afternoon," she said.
Big 12:
West Virginia Mountaineers sever ties with Big East conference and will join Big 12 in July - NCAA college football - ESPN
There was no sorrow and certainly nothing sweet about West Virginia's divorce from the Big East, which was finalized Tuesday. The latest sorry episode in conference realignment should give BCS commissioners plenty to discuss when they meet next week.
Big East plays 'Terminator,' Mountaineers gladly depart - Charleston Gazette
Hickman's Notebook
So long, Big East - Charleston Gazette
Much of the remainder will be in the form of revenue sharing money owed WVU for the current school year by the league that now will not be paid.
This is a good deal for Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
The move by WVU isn't just a good one. It is one in which the Mountaineers had no choice if the recent lopsided Orange Bowl victor wanted to remain among the most relevant programs in major college football.
WVU, Big East cut ties at last - PPG
The Big 12 has multiple lucrative TV contracts expected to eclipse a billion dollars over the next 13 years with Fox, ABC and ESPN.
A New Culture In The Big 12 - WVMETRONEWS.COM
There will be a lot of old traditions and rivalries left in the dust, but there will be a lot of new traditions for the Mountaineers to look forward to.
Big 12's focus can shift to future with WVU - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Finally. Right? West Virginia accepted an invitation to the Big 12 back in October, and at a later news conference assured everyone it would be join
Big East, WVU parting was inevitable - Big East Blog - ESPN
When West Virginia defiantly announced in October that it would leave for the Big 12 as soon as possible, did anybody really think the Big East would be able to stop it?
So long, Big East - Times West Virginian
WVU moves into the Big 12 at a graduated revenue rate ... collecting 50 percent the first year, 67 percent the second year, 87 percent the third year and 100 percent from then on.
Introducing WVU to its home in the Big 12 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
To help the Big 12 get to know its newest member, Big 12 blogger David Ubben asked Big East blogger Andrea Adelson for her thoughts.
Conference realignment: Missouri, Texas A&M will regret leaving the Big 12 - NewsOK.com
Tramel looks at the schools tied to the Big 12 (either currently or formerly) and if they regret the new positions they are in and the ones they left behind
Recruiting:
WVU Extends Offer to OL/DL Khaliel Rodgers - WVillustrated
Delaware junior interested in Mountaineers after conversations with the staff, currently holds six offers.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big East Power Rankings 2/14: Things start to sort themselves out, but not really - The UConn Blog
Brought to you by the Big East editors of SB Nation
Syracuse 'Might' Just Take You Up On That, John - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Louisville: The Average Free-Throw Shooting Team That Is Rarely Average - Card Chronicle
Previewing The Providence Friars - Down The Drive
Frustrated Tyler Olander lashes out on twitter - The UConn Blog
Wayns questionable for South Florida - Philadelphia Inquirer
Rutgers vs. Notre Dame: Big East Basketball Preview - On the Banks
Sporting Valentine’s Day wishes from Campus Union – Campus Union
Holly nails it
Update on The Longhorn Network: Don't Hold Your Breath - Barking Carnival
The biggest "threat" to the other members of the B12 is still having problems getting on tv sets
What's On Tap:
(18) Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
NCAA Women's Basketball - 7 pm tonight from the Coliseum
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. (25) Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Preview - ESPN
7 pm tonight from the Joyce on ESPNU
Video of Interest:
Hoppy Kercheval and Christian Miller break down each Big 12 game for West Virginia this upcoming season and talk about how the Mountaineers will fare in the conference.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Hump Day Video of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Danish model (and SI Swimsuit Rookie this year; *BONUS GALLERY). Here's today's gallery of Nina Agdal (click on the picture).
via brosome.com
Texas Big Beer Brewery's Big Ass Blonde image via texasbigbeer.com