Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.
Football:
Difficult assignment creates a big opportunity for Mountaineers at TCU | Beckley Register-Herald
When West Virginia fans first took a look at the 2015 Mountaineer football schedule, many labeled October — which included four games against ranked teams, two in the top 5 — as a nightmare. The WVU coaches, with no choice but to play the hand they were dealt, tried to spin the stretch that sent the Mountaineers to Oklahoma, Baylor and TCU, with a home game against Oklahoma State thrown in there, as an opportunity to make some noise.
West Virginia receivers eye consistency entering game at TCU | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Untapped potential is a theme among West Virginia's pass catchers, almost all of whom are underclassmen.
WVU and TCU have led opposite paths after joining Big 12 in 2012 | The Daily Athenaeum
With the exception of TCU and West Virginia University, all eight other programs in the Big 12 have been conference opponents since 1996. WVU and TCU both joined in 2012, but have experienced different levels of success in a somewhat shocking way.
Skyler Howard Downplays Homecoming, Fixated on Winning | WV Illustrated
Skyler Howard has no problem taking blame for WVU’s recent string of losses. However, he does have a problem with putting the spotlight on one particular game of the season.
Howard looks to create legacy in hometown | The Exponent Telegram
Once upon a time there was a kid who wanted to be a quarterback. Seeing as he lived in Texas, that was hardly unusual. He lived just a few miles from a major university, one with a strong football history that included a couple of national championships back long before he was born.
WVU Defensive Player to Watch: Safety Jarrod Harper | Frogs O' War
Can Jarrod Harper lead the Mountaineers' defense against the Frogs?
Fort Worth faceoff pairs teams with varying ambitions | WV MetroNews
No. 5 TCU is playing its first home game in 26 days. West Virginia wants to avenge a hurt that has burned for 364 of them. Their motivations spin differently entering Thursday night’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
In ‘measuring stick’ game, can WVU keep up with TCU? | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There is an idea inside the Puskar Center, the place that houses West Virginia’s football program, that suggests the Mountaineers are a whole lot like TCU. There are facts to support this, as well, facts WVU likes and maybe needs to recite as it takes a three-game losing streak into Thursday’s matchup with the fifth-ranked Horned Frogs.
WVU aims to keep pace with TCU, high-scoring Big 12 | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There are no magic numbers in college football because the variables are too volatile and the participants are too unpredictable, but there was a time when 30 points was considered enough to win a game. This wasn’t that long ago, either.
Why TCU has thrived and West Virginia has not in the Big 12 | ESPN
Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas, TCU and West Virginia will enter their fourth matchup as Big 12 foes on different planes. As two-touchdown underdogs, the Mountaineers are in serious danger of starting 0-4 in Big 12 play for the first time.
West Virginia Athletics:
WVU Falls to No. 6 Akron | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University men’s soccer team fell to No. 6 Akron, 2-0, on Wednesday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
WVU Golfers Close Out Fall at Quail Valley | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University golf team closed out its fall schedule with an 11th place finish at the Quail Valley Intercollegiate, hosted by McNeese State at Quail Valley Golf and River Club in Vero Beach, Florida, on Tuesday.
Around The Big 12:
Oklahoma Sooners RB Joe Mixon serving as the perfect backfield wingman | ESPN
The last time Oklahoma faced Kansas, Samaje Perine was a one-man wrecking crew, wrecking the Jayhawks for 427 rushing yards on the way to breaking an FBS record.
Kansas' Ryan Willis has overcome odds to become starting QB | ESPN
Ryan Willis had just been driven into the ground by Emmanuel Ogbah, as one of the nation's best defenders reminded Kansas' true freshman just how difficult it can be to play quarterback in the Big 12.
Around The NCAA:
This Week In Schadenfreude, where it's Florida State anger vs. Miami anger | SBNation
In this week's exploration of the saddest corners of the college football Internet, we're only looking at two corners. They're really mad corners.
SHUTDOWN FULLCAST 3.27: LET'S ALL USE OUR WIZARD POWERS IN WEEK NINE | Every Day Should Be Saturday
THE CAST OF SHUTDOWN FULLBACK CAN CONTROL THE FUTURE, SO LET'S DO THAT AND ALSO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT WEEKEND OF EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOOTBALL
The SEC West is the best Power 5 division, but the SEC East might be the worst | SBNation
The SEC East is closer to the AAC West than it is the Big Ten East.
The State v. Robertson | SBNation
In 1980 four University of Oregon football players were accused of rape. The ugly fight that followed produced one of Oregon's most distinctive freedoms.
Let's smile with the Temple Owls, who are good for pretty much the first time ever | SBNation
The Temple Owls are having a moment for maybe the fifth time in 120 years of playing college football. Let's share it with them.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (5) TCU Horned Frogs
Tonight at 7:30PM on Fox Sports 1 from Fort Worth, TX. The Mountaineers look to right the ship and get their first Big 12 Conference win. The Horned Frogs are 14 point favorites under the lights at home.
How to watch Week 9 college football on TV or online, starting with a really fun Thursday | SBNation
Just keep this tab open until early Sunday morning.
TCU has been a thorn in our sides since we joined the Big 12. I think it's time to even the score. LET'S GO!
Beer-Braised Brats
Ingredients
10 uncooked bratwurst links (2 1/2 pounds total)
1/4 cup butter
1 large onion, halved and cut into thin slices
2 12 - ounce bottle or cans dark German beer
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
10 hoagie buns, bratwurst buns, or other crusty rolls, split and toastedDirections
Pierce bratwursts with fork. For a charcoal grill: Arrange medium-hot coals around a drip pan. Test for medium heat above pan. Place bratwursts on grill rack over drip pan. Cover; grill 20 to 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into bratwursts registers 160 degrees F, turning once halfway through grilling time. (For a gas grill: Preheat the grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust for indirect cooking. Grill as directed above.)
Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, heat butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender. Add beer, brown sugar, vinegar, caraway seeds, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Place bratwursts in beer mixture; keep warm until serving time.
To serve, place grilled bratwurst in a bun or roll. Using a slotted spoon, top with some cooked onion slices.Reprinted from midwestliving.com
I'll never get tired of hearing GWAR cover 80's songs.
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Brazilian model and a former Playboy Playmate of the Month. CLICK HERE Alana Campos' Instagram.