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 Terrapin Beer Co.'s Easy Rider Ale, in preparation for this weekend's opponent.
Maryland previews are making their way around the web today. There are more player features and the OL has some issues to work out before the game Saturday. Tickets for the Kansas game are no longer being sold, making the entire season a sell out, pending returned tickets from the opponents. In the Big 12 roundup, TCU takes yet another hit to the roster, plus other notes from around the league. All of this and more...
What You May Have Missed:
Maryland Terrapins don’t expect fair hearing at West Virginia - Washington Post
Maryland players prepare for hostile welcome Saturday in Morgantown.
First-and-10: SEC has made rest of college football irrelevant - Sporting News
Weekly countdown...see #9 "Love 'Em"
P.S.R. Heisman Watch: Week 4 - Pre-Snap Read
#2 here
Lindy’s Ranks Women’s Hoops Preseason No. 16 - WVUsports.com
With five starters and 10 total letterwinners returning for the 2012-13 season, WVU returns 98.4 percent of its scoring, led by senior Asya Bussie.
News of Note:
West Virginia vs. Maryland Game Preview - WVillustrated
The Terps head to Morgantown as the Mountaineers take on their first BCS opponent of 2012.
Holgorsen has Mountaineers starting fast - Herald Dispatch
From the times the Mountaineers struggled against Norfolk State at the beginning of the season until their nail-biter against South Florida, WVU wasn't able to find a rhythm until the second half of most games.
Smith, Mountaineer offense finding success early in games this season - Daily Athenaeum
"There are peaks and valleys in every game. You just gotta keep pressing; you gotta keep executing."
Teammates, Coaches Expect Greatness of WVU's Smith - WVillustrated
Stats don't define Smith within Mountaineer locker room. Leadership, confidence and wins are what matter.
WVU Defense Making Progress - WVUsports.com
“We missed six sacks and we missed four in the first game,” said DeForest. “We have five and we could have 15 sacks right now and that would lead the country.”
Defense eager to test Terps' young QB - Charleston Gazette
If West Virginia's defense was in any position at all to lick its chops at the prospect of what it will soon face, this would be that time.
WVU football: Linebacker simplifies for success - Charleston Daily Mail
"See ball, hit ball," he said.
Bedenbaugh not going to accept complacency - Charleston Gazette
Nearly as equally as it was praised for its play in the opening game against Marshall, WVU's 1,562 pounds of up-front muscle was roundly criticized for lapses in Game 2 against James Madison.
HERTZEL COLUMN: O-line looks to fix issues - Times West Virginian
It wasn’t that they were bad. It’s just that they weren’t good. And there’s a difference there.
Buie putting it all together - Times West Virginian
WVU back finding way as sophomore
Mountaineer offense to be tested - Inter-Mountain
Maryland defense is eighth in country
Strong D has bailed out 2-1 Terps - Charleston Daily Mail
Maryland allows just 103 rushing yards per game and Vellano, a captain last season and again this season, ranks third nationally with 1.5 tackles for a loss per game.
Terps Wanting To Add a Tombstone - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Maryland makes grave sites for ‘W’ vs. Top-10 teams
Rivalry with Terps brings its own form of excitment - Daily Athenaeum
For instance, did you know that prior to a temporary lapse in 2007, the Maryland vs. West Virginia game was the longest continuously running non-conference game for both teams?
Around the League (and Beyond):
WRNL PAC: This Is Your Brain On TCU - Wide Right & Natty Lite
9th in the 10 part series....I can't wait for what is likely to be an epic conclusion
Did Terrance Williams just leak our Friday night uniforms? - Our Daily Bears
Douglas Saw it Coming - CYCLONES.com
Kansas Football Press Conference Snap Shots: Week Four - Rock Chalk Talk
Bring on the podcast 9.19.12 with ESPN Big 12 blogger David Ubben - Bring On The Cats
The Sooners Plan Of Attack Versus Optimus Klein & Co. - Crimson And Cream Machine
Cowboys mix Walsh's runs with pass-happy offense - SI.com
Horns aren't overconfident — for good reasons - Austin American Statesman
Frogs' depleted depth takes another big hit - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Bye Week Film Room | Pistol Formation, 22 Personnel and Just One Yard - Double-T Nation
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
Kansas Tickets Suspended - WVUsports.com
The entire season is now sold out, pending returned tickets from visiting schools
Video of Interest:
MSN's Tony Caridi sat down with WVU Head Coach Dana Holgorsen to discuss what his team learned from the James Madison game and what the Mountaineers can expect from Maryland this Saturday.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
h/t to Fearless Leader for tweeting this one last night:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is another Colombian bombshell. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Ana Sofia Henao.