Baylor previews, Hoops debut tonight, weekend varsity action, recruiting, tailgate prep, Big 12 roundup & more.
Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Harboe's Bear Beer, in preparation for Saturday's opponent.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold & Blue Now: Friday, Oct. 17 - WV MetroNews
Jerry Hill of BaylorBears.com, discusses how he thinks Baylor can be beat. We also catch up with Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports, who grades the Big 12 as a conference through the first half of the season.
No. 13 Women's Soccer Set for Big 12 Trip - WVU Athletics
The Mountaineers (9-2-2, 2-0-1) open their road trip at Iowa State (6-8, 0-4) on Friday, Oct. 17, with first kick from the Cyclone Sports Complex set for 8 p.m. ET. WVU then travels to Lawrence, Kansas, for a meeting with No. 9 Kansas (14-1, 4-0), the conference’s top team, at Rock Chalk Park, on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. ET. Sunday’s match will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Men’s Soccer Travels to Akron - WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University men’s soccer team will travel to Akron for a Mid-American Conference match on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.
Hoops:
Basketball Season Tips With Gold-Blue Debut - WVU Athletics
West Virginia University will tip off the 2014-15 men’s basketball season with the Gold-Blue Debut presented by Coke Zero on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum. Admission to the event is free with gates opening at 6 p.m.
Big 12 Coaches Praise, Prepare for WVU's Staten - WVillustrated
Senior guard has the attention of conference coaches and players after stellar season, forcing opponents to game plan around the Preseason Player of the Year.
Improved Williams at center of Gold-Blue Debut - Charleston Daily Mail
"He’s been so much better," said WVU coach Bob Huggins
Big 12 basketball officials targeting more consistency on calls - Charleston Gazette
If you got sick and tired of the wild inconsistency in the way college basketball officials made the block/charge call a year ago, join the crowd. So did the officials.
WBB Notebook: One Week in the Books - WVU Athletics
WVU women's basketball completed its first week of practice on Thursday.
News of Note:
Tony's Take: Random Baylor Observations - WVU Athletics
Some random thoughts as we head into an historic weekend for the Mountaineer football team …
Game Preview: Baylor - WVSports.com
West Virginia (4-2, 2-1) will play its third top five ranked opponent this season Saturday when No. 4 Baylor (6-0, 3-0) rolls into town for a Big 12 Conference matchup.
Mountaineer Insider Podcast - WVU Athletics (autoplay)
This week's inside look at Mountaineer sports, including a preview of Saturday's big showdown against fourth-ranked Baylor at Milan Puskar Stadium.
BGN Podcast: Breaking down WVU vs. Baylor - BGN
West Virginia needed a 17-point comeback late in the fourth quarter to take down Texas Tech and move into this week's matchup against a very good Baylor team with a 4-2 record.
Mountaineers, Bears armed with comeback experience - Charleston Daily Mail
"What we did against Texas Tech they did against Baylor," WVU coach Dana Holgorsen said.
Must WVU keep up with Baylor or is it vice-versa? - WV MetroNews
The Mountaineers offense hopes to show it's as capable as the one drawing most of the national pub.
Baylor-WVU matchup is usually a high-scoring affair - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Dana Holgorsen doesn't claim to have a crystal ball, but the West Virginia coach was pretty confident in his prediction on how many points it will take the Mountaineers to beat No. 4 Baylor
Musings, Matchups and More: WVU vs Baylor - BGN
There are more angles to the WVU - Baylor game than points scored in the last two meetings between the teams. We highlight a number of them as the countdown to kickoff continues.
Crook Not Surprised by Run Game Success - EerSports
Run-first. That is what the West Virginia offense has transformed themselves into this season.
Mountaineer running game continues to pick up steam - Register Herald
When Dana Holgorsen arrived in Morgantown to lead the West Virginia offense — first as the offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting and soon after as the head coach — Mountaineer fans brought an air raid siren to Mountaineer Field and prepared for an all-out assault from the skies like the ones Holgorsen had run at Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma State.
WVU's diminutive 'Squirt' coming up big - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Thompson accepted his demotion and then had his first career 100-yard receiving game,
Holgorsen startles with statement - Exponent Telegram
“Our defense is designed for this, they are equipped for this,” he said. “Whether we can hold up we’ll see, but we’re equipped. We’re in a good spot.”
’Eers Don’t Fear Bears - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
WVU ‘D’ ready for No. 4 Baylor
WVU Defense Buckling Down for America’s No. 1 Offense - WVillustrated
The Mountaineers defense is preparing for their biggest test of the year when the nation's best offense in Baylor arrives in Morgantown on Saturday.
WVU looks to build on win over Texas Tech in home test against No. 4 Baylor Bears - Daily Athenaeum
Following a furious fourth quarter comeback at Texas Tech, West Virginia is set to take on its third top-five opponent of the season when the No. 4 Baylor Bears come to Morgantown Saturday.
Kwiatkoski's mentality unmatched - Exponent Telegram
Linebacker plays angry to lead WVU defense
Campus Connection: Huddle Up - WVU Athletics
Huddles are something we Generation X-ers can relate to.
Big 12 players in Week 8 spotlight - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood
Thompson's Work Translating to Game Day - EerSports
West Virginia fans have witnessed with their own eyes and heard for two years how great of a practice player Jordan Thompson is.
Vingle: Look at WVU numbers now - Charleston Gazette
The views from here
Mitch’s matchups, prediction - Charleston Gazette
Prediction: Baylor 35, WVU 24 . . . WVU loses, sticks to the script.
Another elite foe for Mountaineers - Charleston Gazette
By this time, it should be old hat for West Virginia’s football team.
Baylor-WVU game features talented receivers - Charleston Gazette/AP
Picking a standout wide receiver in the Baylor-West Virginia matchup is like putting a basket of candy in front of trick-or-treaters and telling them to choose one. Only one.
Baylor has most talent WVU will face this year - Daily Athenaeum
After facing college football heavyweights Alabama and Oklahoma in Weeks 1 and 4, No. 4 Baylor may statistically be one of the best teams West Virginia plays this season.
Hickman: Kickers need to learn to relax - Charleston Gazette
As a general rule, most kickers are built pretty much the same from the neck up. Baylor’s Chris Callahan and West Virginia’s Josh Lambert are really no exception.
FURFARI: Woodside hopes Lambert breaks record he set and soon - Times West Virginian
Paul Woodside, West Virginia University’s All-America placekicker in the early 1980s, isn’t surprised that Josh Lambert has tied his record of longest field goal at 55 yards.
Kickers come through for Mountaineers, Bears - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Baylor redshirt freshman Chris Callahan had one thought racing through his mind as he lined up for a short field goal to help the Bears overcome a 21-point deficit against TCU.
Week 8 picks: Seminoles make statement vs. Irish, WVU bums out Baylor - FOX Sports
Week 8's selections (all times ET). Enjoy.
Five things Baylor fans need to know about West Virginia - Dallas Morning News
1. This is not the West Virginia team from last season.
Recruiting:
WVU Recruiting Podcast - BGN
Another top five matchup, this time with Baylor, will be the backdrop for a number of football recruiting visitors at West Virginia this weekend.
Around the League (and Beyond):
"Moving Mountains" -- Baylor vs. WVU Hype Video - Our Daily Bears
Baylor OG Desmine Hilliard injured, out for the season - Our Daily Bears
2014 Game VII: Iowa State vs Texas Preview - Wide Right & Natty Lite
5 Questions: Kansas vs. Texas Tech - Rock Chalk Talk
K-State, only ranked Big 12 team to beat Sooners under Stoops in Norman, hopes to repeat feat - Daily Journal
OU notebook: Devante Bond comes on strong for Sooners - Oklahoman (autoplay)
OSU notebook: Coaches to Daxx Garman — get down - Oklahoman (autoplay)
Texas looking to avoid letdown against Iowa State - Burnt Orange Nation
TCU notes: Boykin has injured wrist; will start against OSU - Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Equipment manager juggles Tech uniform combinations - Daily Toreador
College GameDay Kickoff: Week 8 - ESPN
What's On Tap:
(4) Baylor Bears vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Preview - ESPN
Noon Saturday from MPS on FS1. Bears are giving 7.5.
(14) Kansas State Wildcats vs. (11) Oklahoma Sooners - Preview - ESPN
Noon Saturday from Memorial Stadium on ESPN/ESPN3. Land Thieves are giving 7.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders - ESPN
3:30 pm Saturday from Jones AT&T on FSN affiliates. Matadors are giving 13.
(15) Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. (12) TCU Horned Frogs - Preview - ESPN
4 pm Saturday from Amon G. Carter on FS1. Pokes are getting 10.
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Texas Longhorns - ESPN
8 pm Saturday from DKR on LHN/ESPN3. Horns are giving 12.
Week 8 College Football TV Schedule - The Smoking Musket
Here's how to watch all of the college football in week 8.
Video of Interest:
The men's soccer team heads to Akron this weekend for a MAC Conference matchup, while Brynn Harshbarger of the cross country team talks about her preparation for the 2014 season. With the men's basketball Gold & Blue Debut this Friday, host Amanda Mazey is on location at the Robinson/Petroplus Hall of Traditions .
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
Breakfast Queso Fundido Recipe
Ingredients
8 ounces fresh Mexican chorizo, casings removed
1 fresh poblano chile, stemmed, seeded, and cut into small dice
1/2 medium yellow onion, small dice
4 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
12 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 3 1/2 cups)
4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/4 cups)
2 medium scallions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
Mexican-style hot sauce, such as Cholula or Tapatío, for serving
Tortilla chips or warmed flour or corn tortillas, for serving
Directions
Heat an outdoor grill to medium (about 350°F to 450°F).
Place a large cast iron skillet on the grill grate and heat until a drop of water sizzles and immediately disappears on the surface, about 5 minutes.
Add the chorizo, cover the grill, and cook, breaking up the meat into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally, until it’s cooked through and starting to brown, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Add the poblano and onion, stir to combine, and cover the grill. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, place the eggs and salt in a medium bowl and whisk until the eggs are broken up and evenly combined; set aside.
When the vegetables are ready, drizzle in the eggs and let sit undisturbed until they just start to set around the edges, about 30 seconds. Stir the mixture and spread it back into an even layer (the eggs will not be completely cooked at this point).
Immediately sprinkle the cheeses in an even layer over the egg mixture, cover the grill, and cook until the cheeses are just melted and starting to bubble, about 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with the scallions and serve immediately with hot sauce and chips or tortillas for dipping.
Reprinted from Chow.com
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a lovely British lass. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Rosie Jones.