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 Ayinger Brewing's Oktober Fest-Märzen.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Thursday, Oct. 3 - WV MetroNews
Garrett Cullen and Brad Howe preview the Mountaineers second conference road game versus Baylor this Saturday.
Meet the Texas AD frontrunner: West Virginia's Oliver Luck - Burnt Orange Nation
Why the current West Virginia athletic director could be the top option to replacing retiring Texas Longhorns athletic director DeLoss Dodds.
Report: West Virginia AD Oliver Luck expected to be named to playoff selection committee | Campus Union - SI.com
West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck is expected to be named to the College Football Playoff’s impending selection committee, according to a report from CBS’ Jeremy Fowler.
Two Earn Preseason All-Big 12 Honors - WVU Athletics
The Big 12 Conference announced the 2013-14 women’s basketball preseason honors today with West Virginia senior Asya Bussie named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, and senior Christal Caldwell earning honorable mention honors.
Big 12 Soccer Championship Tickets on Sale - WVU Athletics
The Championship will take place Nov. 6, 8 and 10 at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City.
Volleyball Falls on Road at TCU - WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University volleyball team was beaten by TCU 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 24-26, 24-26) Wednesday night in front of 1,261 fans at the TCU Recreation Center.
News of Note:
Wednesday Walkthrough: Baylor - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
I think Clint Trickett is going to start Saturday.
Casazza: Trickett, Holgorsen not on the same page yet - Charleston Daily Mail
Trickett isn't near where he needs or wants to be if he is to be in charge of the many machinations of the Mountaineers' offense. He can't go fast, he can't change plays and he sometimes can't run the play that was called because he didn't get call.
Trickett is still learning his parts - Charleston Gazette
Unlike his immediate predecessors, Paul Millard and Ford Childress, Trickett made things happen.
Breakout Performer: QB Clint Trickett's Long Road to West Virginia Pays Off Big Time | Extra Mustard - SI.com
West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett had several reasons to savor his team's upset 30-21 win over heavily favored #11 Oklahoma State last Saturday.
Baylor Breakdown - BGN
West Virginia was able to find ways to limit a solid Oklahoma State. Against Baylor, the challenge is ratcheted up several notches.
Springboard Or Cinderblock? - BGN
Baylor head coach Art Briles called last season’s loss to West Virginia a "turning point on the downward side." Now, the No. 17 Bears hope the reverse is true this weekend.
Mountaineers don't have much information on Baylor starters - Charleston Daily Mail
Notebook
Defense brings old-school toughness back to WVU - Times West Virginian
A coaching change, some personnel changes and an attitude change has put teeth into what was a toothless tiger.
Rematch with Baylor can show how much defense has toughened - WV MetroNews
Keith Patterson says his unit is physically and mentally tougher than 2012. Saturday night's game in Waco offers another chance to prove it.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Potent Baylor offense even better than last year - Times West Virginian
1. Baylor’s offense has not had a three-and-out this season. 2. Baylor’s defense has scored more points than it has given up. 3. West Virginia punter Nick O’Toole has punted more times in three separate games this season than Baylor’s punter has had to punt in all the Bears’ games combined.
Baylor’s 100-MPH Offense Awaits West Virginia - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
When you look at it even closer, Petty and the rest of the offensive starters have only been on the field for 26 drives during Baylor's first three victories.
In the middle of defensive turnaround, Rowell starting to believe - WV MetroNews
From anchoring the front to tracking ballcarriers downfield, senior nose guard has emerged in a big way.
WVU Defense Developing Physical, Mental Toughness - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
It all goes back to January when head coach Dana Holgorsen and the rest of the coaching staff came up with 'T.E.A.M.'
Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson changed personality of West Virginia defense - Daily Athenaeum
“I tell them, too ...‘It’s never going to be good enough’. There’s always going to be something that we look at, we critique and we say, ‘This was good, but we can get better here, here and here, and here’s how we need to go about trying to do that,’” Patterson said.
DeForest feeling the heat for WVU’s (not so) special teams - Register-Herald
Holgorsen’s bigger concern comes on kick returns, where WVU’s 18.1-yard average ranks ninth in the 10-team Big 12.
Same Bears, different results - Charleston Gazette
Baylor defense much better than a year ago
No Respect - WVillustrated
"We still aren't respected," said Myers. "We're just gonna show the world what we can do."
Wolf's Huddle: Inside View - WVU Athletics
The Wolfman tries to wrap his arms around last weekend's upset victory.
West Virginia's quirky punter more than just the mustache - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It's not even his real smile, O'Toole admitted, laughing. "I wanted to get the full mustache, I didn't want to hide it, so I kind of had to do the creepy smirk."
Recruiting:
The All-Big 12 recruit team, September edition: Texas still dominant - SBNation.com
With 10 commits on the September All-Big 12 recruit team, the Texas Longhorns are still the class of the conference.
Pro News:
Stats for WVUPros in the NFL at the quarter mark and other notes - ProsReport
Here are the stats for the others in action, as well as a few notes to go along with them.
PHOTO: Bengals CB Pacman Jones turns 30 with Pac-Man birthday cake - CBSSports.com
Adam 'Pacman' Jones celebrated his 30th birthday on Monday with a birthday cake that you'd expect a guy named Pacman to have.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Baylor vs. West Virginia Preview Part I: Statistical Comparison - Our Daily Bears
Cyclone defense hoping recent growth carries over against Texas - Ames Tribune
Running on first down best bet for KU - Lawrence Journal World
TCU Horned Frogs' Speedy Defense Poses Real Threat For Oklahoma Sooners - Crimson And Cream Machine
Tracy Moore's re-emergence a bright spot for Oklahoma State offense - Oklahoman
The Texas Pregamer: Iowa State - Barking Carnival
Reports: David Ash won't play against Iowa State - Burnt Orange Nation
Game Week #5: Oklahoma Preview - Frogs O' War
Wallerstedt, returning Raiders take a crack at slowing Kansas run game - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
Texas Longhorns vs. Iowa State Cyclones - Preview - ESPN
7:30 pm tonight from Jack Trice on ESPN/WatchESPN. Horns are giving 8.5.
Videos of Interest:
Tony Caridi sits down with WVU Head Coach Dana Holgorsen to talk about the team's big win over Oklahoma State and what they must do to prepare for Baylor.
After a stellar game for the defense last weekend, Defensive Coordinator Keith Patterson sings the praises of his players, as well as discusses the challenges a fast-paced Baylor offense will present to the Mountaineers when they take on the Bears
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Welsh model. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Imogen Thomas.
More from The Smoking Musket:
- West Virginia Defense Has A Shot At Redemption From Last Year's Performance.Against Baylor
- Mountaineer Morning Links: Wednesday (10/2/13) Edition
- Three Things We Saw At The Bob Huggins Press Conference
- West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Baylor Bears: Game Day Information, Parking, Television, Radio, Gamewatches & More
- Mountaineer Morning Links: Tuesday (10/1/13) Edition