Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.
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Football:
Mountaineers face Terps for last time until 2020 | The Daily Athenaeum
What feels like a long- awaited game is finally upon us. It’s "Maryland week" at West Virginia University, and most people are already prepared for kick off.
WVU vs. Maryland has long history behind game | The Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia Mountaineers and the Maryland Terrapins will meet for the 52nd time in their storied rivalry this weekend, and for the last time until the 2020 season. Since the schools typically play early in the season, the game is often used by the teams as a measuring stick for how the rest of the season will play out.
Maryland features several players to watch Sat. | The Daily Athenaeum
The border rivalry between West Virginia and Maryland dates back to 1919, and the two schools have met 51 times over the last century. The two teams have recruited in the same areas for years, with the Washington, DC and Baltimore regions providing tons of football talent.
Holgorsen doesn't forget 2013 loss to Terps | The Exponent Telegram
For as forgettable an afternoon as it was, it remains imbedded in the minds of all those who were there — West Virginia coaches, players and whatever Mountaineer fans traveled to Baltimore to suffer total annihilation Even today, two years removed and with a thrilling 40-37 victory from a year ago as a buffer to ease the memory, head coach Dana Holgorsen doesn’t mince any words when speaking about WVU’s 37-0 loss to Maryland in 2013.
Terrapin defensive line among best WVU will face | The Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia offensive line has faced some strong players from the defensive fronts of Georgia Southern and Liberty, but neither compare to the talent it will face in the Big 12, or against Maryland this weekend.
WVU’s young receivers get ready for stiffest test yet | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The week for West Virginia’s wide receivers began with Dana Holgorsen giving them a warning about what to expect Saturday against Maryland. "They have the two best corners that we’ve seen to date," the Mountaineers coach said.
Maryland poses stiff test for West Virginia's young WRs | Pittsburgh Tribune Review
At the beginning of the season, freshman Jovon Durante and sophomore Shelton Gibson were intriguing but unproven as first-time starters in West Virginia's passing game. After the first two games, they have teamed with junior quarterback Skyler Howard to dominate opposing secondaries.
Young receivers facing experienced DBs an issue for WVU and Maryland | The Exponent Telegram
Broken down into its simplest terms, West Virginia’s 3 p.m. meeting Saturday with border rival Maryland at Milan Puskar Stadium may come down to each team’s ability to use its experienced cornerbacks to shut down the other team’s potentially potent but inexperienced wide receivers.
2013 shutout made Maryland series a priority for Orlosky | WV MetroNews
Even 23 games and some 734 days later, the shame is readily rekindled. Ask West Virginia players about their 37-0 beating in Baltimore and the embarrassment washes over them anew. Same goes for the coaches.
Long journey pays off for West Virginia Mountaineers' Skyler Howard | ESPN
With his team trailing Kansas State by 17 points, Skyler Howard took the field for his first significant action as a West Virginia Mountaineer. The game didn’t end up in the Mountaineers' win column despite Howard’s comeback efforts, but it did cement the notion that Holgorsen and the Mountaineers might have found a hidden gem in the overlooked quarterback.
Smallwood emerges as versatile threat | The Daily Athenaeum
Although head coach Dana Holgorsen is usually known as the wide receiver guru, one of his many offensive stars usually lines up in the backfield. Junior halfback Wendell Smallwood has emerged as a crucial element to the Mountaineers’ potent offensive attack the last two seasons, amassing 231 yards through the first two games of 2015.
Rasul Douglas Impressing, Getting Closer to the Field | EerSports
Dana Holgorsen gives the latest on former JUCO All-American Rasul Douglas and when he might see the field.
Forecasting Fortunes | WVU Athletics
From a Mountaineer perspective, the matchup with the Terrapins is the Farmer’s Almanac of football games, the Groundhog Day of regional rivalries. It’s that very telling time of year when the West Virginia University football program licks its finger, sticks it to the wind and forecasts its fortunes for the remainder of the season.
West Virginia Athletics:
No. 4 Mountaineers Honored for Academics | WVU Athletics
For the 14th straight season, the No. 4/5 West Virginia University women’s soccer team was recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) for its academic diligence with the NSCAA Team Academic Award.
Men’s Soccer Earns National Academic Honor | WVU Athletics
For the eighth consecutive year, the West Virginia University men’s soccer team earned an NSCAA Team Academic Award for its team grade point average, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced today.
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Around The Big 12:
No. 3 TCU limps into Lubbock to face improved Texas Tech | ESPN
Third-ranked TCU travels to Lubbock having lost five defensive starters already for the season. Texas Tech, meanwhile, is hot, coming off an impressive 35-24 win at Arkansas. This game figures to be a lot tighter than the Horned Frogs' record-setting 82-27 win against Tech last season.
Elite feet: Baylor run game makes early splash as one of nation’s best | Waco Tribune
Regarding statistics, one’s style frames the results. The NCAA’s top three rushing teams in the country, for example, are Navy, Georgia Tech and Air Force, all programs that employ run-heavy option offenses. And then there’s Baylor at No. 4.
Cats ready for breather as Big 12 looms | The Manhattan Mercury
In past years, bye weeks haven’t always come at the ideal time for Bill Snyder and his Kansas State football team. After surviving against Louisiana Tech in triple overtime on Saturday with a 39-33 win, this weekend’s break in the schedule might come at the perfect time for the Wildcats.
Exciting young QBs lead Oklahoma State, Texas into Big 12 opener | ESPN
Despite the loss to Cal last week, Texas seems to be rejuvenated behind redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard, who is coming off a record-setting performance in his second career start. Oklahoma State has won five in a row with its young quarterback, Mason Rudolph, behind center. Saturday, the two meet in Austin in a Big 12 opener that could be revealing for both sides.
Around The NCAA:
Cincinnati loses 99-point shootout to Memphis when record-breaking QB throws baffling INT | SBNation
So, what did you do on Thursday night? Well, Memphis and Cincinnati were busy, combining for 1,324 yards of total offense between the two teams and 99 combined points. Memphis held on for a 53-46 win, but also gave up the most yards ever surrendered in Memphis program history. Thursday night in the Liberty Bowl was an offensive explosion, and it ended in truly bizarre fashion.
Justin Fuente has Memphis Tigers shining again to prove he's one of the nation's best young college coaches | Campus Rush
It's been nearly a year since Memphis coach Justin Fuente's team lost a game. That's impressive for a once downtrodden program that won just five games in the three seasons before Fuente's arrival in December 2011. But he prefers not to talk about the Tigers' 10-game winning streak, which includes a share of the American Athletic Conference championship and a 55–48 victory over BYU last December in the Miami Beach Bowl.
NCAA says procedure for fantasy sports violations same as other infractions | Sporting News
The NCAA has made it clear that it will not tolerate student-athletes participating in fantasy sports by saying Tuesday it would automatically ban them from playing for a year. But how, exactly, does the organization plan to police the rule?
It's not USC's fault the Trojans were picked to win the Pac-12 | SBNation
It's fair to say USC is underachieving, but not fair to hold the Trojans to a Playoff standard.
SHUTDOWN FULLCAST 3.21: WHY BAMA REALLY WON AGAINST OLE MISS | Every Day Should Be Saturday
JASON RECASTS KING OF THE HILL, WE LOOK AT WEEK FOUR, AND A DISCUSSION OF COPPER BATMAN
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Maryland Terrapins vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Saturday at 3:00 on Fox Sports 1 from Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. The Mountaineers come into this game as 17 point favorites.
West Virginia-Maryland Preview | WVU Athletics
Two border rivals to meet once again in Morgantown on Saturday.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Saturday at Noon on Big 10 Network from High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway. Kansas looks to get it's first win of the season as 2 touchdown underdogs.
(24) Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Texas Longhorns
Saturday at 3:30 on ESPN from Austin. The Longhorns look to right the ship after last weeks loss to California. The Cowboys come into Austin as 3 point favorites.
(3) TCU Horned Frogs vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
Saturday at 4:45 on Fox from Lubbock. The Red Raiders look to continue building on their 3-0 record with a win over the Big 12 favorite. The Horned Frogs are 6.5 point favorites.
College Football Week 4 Game Schedule & How To Watch | The Smoking Musket
Here's your week 4 guide to college football.
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Geno Smith 'not happy' about losing Jets starting QB job | NY Daily News
Geno Smith isn't thrilled about Todd Bowles' decision to stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick as his starting quarterback. But he's come to terms with it.
Geno Smith talks about new life as Jets backup QB | New York Post
Geno Smith tried to take the high road as he talked about his broken jaw, which is "100 percent" healed, and the prospect he won’t be the Jets starting quarterback for the foreseeable future.
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Let's take a trip down memory lane...
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Maryland Crab Cakes
Because there is one good thing that has come out of Maryland.
Ingredients
lb lump crabmeat
1⁄2 cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1⁄4 cup mayonnaise (do not use dressing)
1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustardDirections
Mix together eggs, mayo, Old Bay, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard, until creamy.
Add bread crumbs, mixing evenly.
Add in the crab meat, being sure to mix evenly.
Shape into cakes.
Makes 6 large or 9 medium crabcakes.
Saute in pan with a little oil for about 5 minutes on each side.
You can also broil them until brown. This may require you to flip them, depending on your pan.
Serve with tartar sauce and lemon.Reprinted from Food.com
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This is required listening...
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Today's Miss Throwdown has become quite famous on the Internet, for reasons I won't discuss. She's from Montgomery County, Maryland but is NOT a fan of the Terps, which is something her and I both have in common. CLICK HERE for Mia Khalifa's (Safe for Work) Instagram. Caution: Tread lightly if you go out on your own looking for videos or images. I can't guarantee you will keep your job/marriage/relationship if you get caught somewhere you shouldn't be.