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 Cowboy's Beer, in preparation for this weekend's opponent.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Thursday, Sept. 26 - WV MetroNews
Garrett Cullen and Brad Howe preview this weekend’s game versus Oklahoma State with Mike Gundy discussing how WVU is in a tough place with all of the young players on the team.
Men’s Soccer Drops Third Straight - WVU Athletics
Despite scoring the game’s opening goal, the West Virginia University men’s soccer team fell 2-1 to Penn State on Wednesday evening at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Huggins speaks during first visit to WVU Tech - Charleston Daily Mail
On Monday, he'll take the court for his 32nd season - seventh at West Virginia University - as a head men's college basketball coach.
Coaching: enthusiasm, passion - Charleston Gazette
WVU's Huggins speaks at symposium at WVU Tech
FURFARI COLUMN: Kinder first to wear 100 on jersey - Times West Virginian
I’ve learned recently that only one other collegiate player has been allowed to wear 100 on his jersey in a game. That was Bill Bell at Kansas University in 1969 in observance of the 100th celebration of college football’s birth.
THE WATER COOLER: LOST EDITION - TheSignalCaller.com
Our own Abpriddy's weekly column over at Jed Drenning's site
News of Note:
After Maryland, No. 11 Oklahoma State Now Looms - WVU Athletics
West Virginia faces another tough task this Saturday.
Holgorsen faces skilled quarterback he helped lure to Stillwater - WV MetroNews
Coach made recruiting J.W. Walsh a priority at OSU, and now the Mountaineers must find a way to contain his dual-threat skills.
No. 11 Ok. State Presents Challenges for WVU -- Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Oklahoma State averages nearly 12 points in the first quarter alone.
Holgorsen: Mountaineers need to play loose - Times West Virginian
"That’s 100 percent coaching, though; we can’t have guys who are afraid to make a mistake. That does not exist on defense, but it is happening a little bit on offense."
Holgorsen Says WVU Needs To Be Better Prepared - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
So, how does Holgorsen plan on doing a better job?
Wednesday Walkthrough: Week Five - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
I hope you don’t hate it.
MOUNTAINEER PREVIEW: West Virginia's Offense Has Gone South - Cowboys Ride For Free
Dana Holgorsen's name has been synonymous with high octane offense, and OSU fans don't have to dig very deep in the memory banks to recall the Houston Cougars of 2009.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Young offense needs leaders to emerge for WVU - Times West Virginian
There comes a time on every team in every season when leadership has to step forward within the confines of the locker room.
Bouncing Back - BGN
In Dana Holgorsen's first 30 games as West Virginia's head football coach, there have been just four games in which less than five receivers caught at least one pass.
Same plan, worse results for WVU - Charleston Gazette
Of course, sometimes the system isn't enough. It takes the right players and the right coaches and the right set of circumstances. And where West Virginia is concerned right now, something is missing. Perhaps it's all three.
Furfari: Switch at QB could be necessary - Martinsburg Journal
This is a much different era in college football, though. And this old guy blames those presidents of the best-known, biggest football powers for allowing it to get out of control financially.
Mountaineer fans have gone mad over struggles - Register-Herald
That doesn’t mean it’s time to can the coach. But something needs to change, and it needs to change soon.
WVU fans should adjust expectations - Daily Athenaeum
West Virginia’s bowl chances took a severe hit following its 37-0 blowout loss to Maryland Saturday.
Turnovers holding back Mountaineers - Charleston Gazette
It's impossible to look at West Virginia's troubles on offense this season without pointing to turnovers as a prime concern.
Rowell speaks up, again - Charleston Daily Mail
Rowell said Tuesday he finally got over the loss. Coach Dana Holgorsen and the rest of his coaches and teammates weren't upset with what Rowell said after the game.
Defense Prepping for Tempo - EerSports
Keith Patterson and Erik Slaughter talk about last week's game and the upcoming contest with Oklahoma State.
Mountaineers defense asserts itself - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It's a striking role reversal from a year ago, when the offense, averaging 39.5 points per game, was asked to win games with score after score because the defense allowed 38.1.
Clarke causes mismatch problems - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU now has depth and diversity. The ends still line up across from the tackles and the nose will still cover the center, but not nearly as often. They can each step inside or outside and use the leverage there.
From the Cowboys beat: Can OSU conquer its Big 12 road woes? - WV MetroNews
Jimmie Tramel and Kelly Hines of the Tulsa World chat with MetroNews for a Q&A on this weekend's matchup.
Mind Of Mike - BGN
The mind of Mike Gundy often races, and it was off to it again in his latest comments, touching on transfers, parity and Oklahoma State’s apparent quest-like travel plans.
This Week In Schadenfreude: West Virginia at rock bottom is a drunken possum - SBNation.com
This Week In Schadenfreude mines the depth of West Virginia's despair. Yes that was on purpose. What are you going to do about it, WVU? Not score touchdowns, that's for damn sure.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Baylor excited for payback with West Virginia game looming - San Antonio Express News
Cyclones preparing to make season's first road trip a boom - Des Moines Register
Roundtable: How sick is K-State football? - Bring On The Cats
Oklahoma State OC Mike Yurcich -- cautiously -- talks ball security - Oklahoman
Texas Longhorns Defense: Ready for the Big 12? - Barking Carnival
A Fort Worth Store Is Selling "Craig James Killed Five Hookers" T-Shirts for the TCU-SMU Game - Dallas Observer
There is so much WIN in this...
Bringing the hammer: Bullitt, LBs celebrating some big plays at last - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
What's On Tap:
Priority Deadline Monday - WVU Athletics
Mountaineer Athletic Club members and past season ticket holders have until Monday, Sept. 30, to reserve priority seating for the 2013-14 men’s basketball season. Single game tickets for non-conference games will go on sale Monday, Oct. 7. To order tickets, fans can stop by the Mountaineer Ticket Office in the Coliseum, call 1-800-WVU GAME or visit WVUGAME.com.
Videos of Interest:
Tony Caridi sat down with WVU Head Coach Dana Holgorsen to talk about the Mountaineers' upcoming game with Oklahoma State.
Defensive lineman Kyle Rose saw some positives things out of how the defense played last weekend against Maryland, and it looking forward to this weekend's meeting with the OSU Cowboys in Morgantown.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a model from Germany. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Hana Nitsche.
More from The Smoking Musket:
- 2013 Smoking Musket Podcast: Week 5
- Mountaineer Morning Links: Wednesday (9/25/13) Edition
- West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Game Day Information, Television, Radio, Gamewatches & More
- Recap: Game Four - Back To The Drawing Board
- Mountaineer Morning Links: Tuesday (9/24/13) Edition