SB Nation - Noel Devine

Bill Stewart: "They Remember November"

5th Year Senior — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:35:39 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Gentner - AP

At the beginning of the month, HCBS told us that, "They Remember November." Now "they" includes a lot of people, so I am sure everyone has differing opinions and memories from an unseasonably warm November.

Personally, I remember a few too many bad decisions and having to serve up my special Plan B Colada a couple of times (Tiger knows what I'm talking about). My old specialty was a judo chop to the stomach, but it is more obvious and less effective -- just ask Tyler, my 18 month old.

Anyways, because none of you care about my personal life, I will return my focus to Mountaineer football. While I predicted a 3-0 November, going 2-1 is not bad at all.

My specific memories from the month that was come after the jump...

The lackluster performance against Louisville.

We got the W but many felt this game was a sure sign of bad things to come in our next two games against Top 10 opponents. Stew's approval went into the tank even more and fans were pretty upset. Looking back, however, I think we can all agree that getting another W built some great momentum for our end of the season push.

The blown replay call.

We have pissed and moaned about it for a few weeks now but it does not hurt any less. That was a devastating replay reversal that cost WVU a trip to a BCS game and robbed our athletic department of millions of dollars. We played a fairly solid game but in the end could not beat the No. 5 Bearcats. I will be rooting for Cincy against Pitt.

Bill Stewart's press conference controversy.

I think it was much ado about nothing but many fans and media members were very pissed off after it went down. Our coverage of this event, lead to Tony Caridi making an appearance on The Smoking Musket, to explain his and Bill Stewart's press conference interaction. In the end nothing came of it, other than giving Stew's detractors more ammunition to hate him.

The Noel Devine run against Pitt.

It was an innocent trap play and then Noel Devine appeared out of nowhere from behind WVU's line. When I saw the size of the hole and only one Pitt defender directly in front of him, I knew he was going to house it. The Pitt defender was picking up his jock as Devine out ran the other members of Pitt's secondary for the score. Is Noel Devine the most explosive back in WVU history?

The Tyler Bitancurt kick.

It is my most vivid memory because it is the most recent. The entire play occurred as if it were in slow motion. The snap was good, the ball boomed off Bitancurt's foot and soared through the air as everyone held their breathe. Once the fans behind the goal posts reacted, the rest of the crowd went crazy. I was jumping around and my dad started to shake me harder than he did when I was a baby. It was awesome!

All in all, I would grade WVU's performance in the month of November a solid B+.

What are your opinions and memories about November?

Editor's Note: 5th Year Senior does not have a kid, as that would be the first sign of a coming apocalypse.

WVU vs. Pitt: Grades and Recap

5th Year Senior — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:38:01 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Gentner - AP

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It was almost two years in the making, but Bill Stewart has finally put a signature win on his coaching resume. Not only did the Mountaineers win the game, but his team showed improvement in almost every facet of the game. While the win is probably not enough to please some out there, the improvement shown by this team should at least please some of Stew's detractors.

While the grades may not be A’s across the board, I am sure many of you will find them a bit high.

Eat Shit Pitt...

Offensive Line: B After the first 17 minutes they moved Pitt’s line off the ball and gave JB time to throw. While they did not open up huge holes, other than Devine’s 88 yard run, they gave our back’s just enough room to gain some solid yards. The improvement we have all been wanting to see, came at the perfect time.

Offense: B We did not move the ball particularly well at times but we did not turn it over all night and we drove the ball when necessary. JB looked cool under pressure and threw some great passes. Our receivers got open and came up with some big catches, coughWes Lyonscough.

Noel Devine: A+ While he may have gotten stuffed a couple times, any time he touches the ball I think it will be a touchdown. This kid is great. He is one of the most explosive running backs in school history.

Defense: A The defense held a team that was scoring 34+ points a game, to only 16 points. The unit did it by pressuring Stull and playing great in coverage. Our corners were breaking on balls and making great tackles in the open field.

Special Teams: B We still have a problem with kick-off coverage but other than that this unit came up huge. Rodgers and Austin gave us good field position after kick-offs, Koz flipped field position on multiple occasions and Bitancurt was a stud. We can still improve more but this unit is looking pretty good.

Tyler Bitancurt: A++++++++++++ This kid was not given a chance early in the game, he did not let it get to him and came up huge in the clutch. Lou Groza winner in the coming years?

Coaching: B Casteel called a great game. He brought pressure at the right time and kept Stull guessing about our pass coverage. Mullen was overly conservative but called a great series to end the game. Stew showed some balls and smarts with his fourth down calls.

All in all, it was a great victory and a building block for Stew's future at WVU.

Part 1, Discussion of Michigan's QB Situation: Tate Forcier Should Start in 2010, Denard Should Be Moved To WR

grahamfiller10 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:43:00 -0000

As Michigan fans weep softly into the offseason, it's time to ponder the future of the Michigan signalcallers. Tate Forcier excited the world early by beating Notre Dame, but struggled to a 1-7 record in Big Ten play amidst fumbles and INT's. He's not fast like Pat White, he's careless with the ball...but he certainly plays with some panache and guile. Denard Robinson looked lost in the pocket, lightning fast outside of it. Two freshmen QB recruits, both suited for the RichRod Spread, are coming in...and both are quicker than Forcier.

So what to do? Not only does our resident Michigan writer GregGoBlue believe Forcier will be the de facto starter, but he also wants to move D-Rob to a position that will utilize his athleticism. I tend to disagree, believing the RichRod spread will ultimately be more successful with a speedster at the helm. Following is Greg's hypothesis...mine will come next week.

Tate's Just A Baby...

Tate Forcier's QB rating this season was insane. 123.6 for the entire season. He's remarkably accurate, though his arm strength clearly has a ceiling. But when he's on, he's really f****** on. See: ND Game, MSU Game, IU game. Tate's got the elusive IT to lead a late game comeback and to lead a team. Though he's not the ideal running threat, he's got great scrambling ability (like when he juked that ND LB out of his jock!).

...And he's the future too!

Tate also showed a remarkable propensity for freshman mistakes amid flashes of brilliance, which was expected. Holding onto the ball too long, not stepping into the pocket, making incorrect reads on the zone-blitz, holding onto the ball while scrambling like it was a loaf of bread, throwing into coverage, etc... The best things about these mistakes? They're all fixable. Outside of all these mistakes, Tate is a remarkably good QB. The best part? He's only going to get better. Hopefully these "arrrrrrgh, NO TATE NO!" moments will be mitigated next season as Tate spends more and more time under Rod Smith. Sure he's scrawny, but Barwis has often said the second year, not the first, is the year where players show the most development. But if anybody gets a solid hit on Tate, I fear for his life. Offensive tweakage to take advantage of the accuracy and less running? Fingers crossed. RR always said he wants 2 good quarterbacks who can run this offense. Who's the second? NOT Denard Robinson.

Can't...Throw...Ball

Even my mom could tell me what play Michigan football was going to run when DRob was behind center this season. Granted, DRob did not enroll as early as Tate, but the playbook for the "human turnover" was remarkably limited. Even as the season progressed, we saw little more out of DRob than "get the ball and run". What happened to the zone-read? What happened to the ideal QB for RR's offense?

It's pretty clear DRob struggled mightily with being at the QB position this season. For epic freakouts, see: every time he threw the ball. I think at one point in the season he was 1 for 4 with 3 interceptions or something. He's got the arm strength, no doubt about that. But this kid's ability to read coverage's as well as his accuracy need some serious work. He's not redshirting, obvi, so do we expect some miraculous improvement overnight?

Hold On, I've Got Reserves...

Now that we've got Devin Gardner enrolling early and Cornelius Jones (who is leading upset after upset in the South Carolina state playoffs) coming in as well, we've got two primo athletes who can back-up Tate if/when he gets steamrolled. We don't need DRob anymore to back Tate up simply for lack of a human who can play QB on the roster (sorry David Cone).

So What To Do With Denard the Quarterback Athlete?

My esteemed colleague would say that in an RR offense, you want your best athlete at QB. I say, your best athlete is no good to you sitting on the bench for 95% of the game!! When he's clearly not the best, or most effective, QB on the roster (anybody watching Meech football can tell you who the better of the two QB's is), he's not gonna play. Spot duty is ludicrous with an athlete like this; you want him out there making plays! Right now Noel Devine is the best athlete on the WVU team and you don't see him playing QB.

From DRob's limited looks at QB this season, we were able to determine a few things. 1) He's terrifying in space with the ball in his hands. 2) Whenever he has the ball in his hands, there's a 50% chance it'll end up in the other team's hands. Not a quality you want from a QB. I say, move DRob to SR/RB or DB now and get him started on the right track now. The question is where is Denard Robinson the most effective? Effectiveness is equally defined by optimal use of skill set of a player, and depth/need at a certain position. What is Denard Robinson? A freak athlete, yes. A QB, no.

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Backyard Brawl (11/27/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:39:33 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information and entertainment. Today we're being brought to you by Eat Shit Pitt Premium Lager. And with that, I'm voluntarily ending the red/gold label streak at 27.

Big day today people. The 76 Classic is under way and what else? Oh, yeah, IT'S THE BACKYARD BRAWL!!!!! Weather looks to be nasty for those of us going to the game. I'm ready, are you? There's lot's inside to help you prepare. Have a great weekend!!!!! Keep the tips, suggestions and requests coming. Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Tailgate Recipe of the Week:

Uncle Dan’s Almost Famous Chili

Ingredients:
4-5 lbs of ground chuck
1/2 cup olive oil
3 cups onions, chopped
3 cups bell peppers, chopped
3 Tbsp. garlic, minced
5 large bay leaves
1 1/2 Tsp. oregano
1 large bottle chili powder
2 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground cayenne pepper
3 Tbsp. paprika
3 Tbsp. flour
3 qts. beef broth
6 cups pinto beans

Brown the beef in olive oil. Add onions, bell peppers and garlic. Simmer ten minutes. Add bayleaves (will prevent heartburn), oregano, chili powder, ground cumin (more if you like), cayenne pepper, paprika, and flour. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add beef broth (diluted) and pinto beans. Cover and cook 2 hrs (tasting and stirring is encouraged as well as expected) grab a box of crackers and an ice cold beverage and enjoy.
Courtesy of Tailgating.com

Video of Interest:

Country Roads sent me this a while back and I've been saving it especially for today's edition. It's a great tribute to a man who embodied the fiery sentiment of the Backyard Brawl for many, many years. This one's for you, Jack.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

The girls are back this week, picking the winner of the USC/UCLA game.

This Week in Body Painting:

via www.gunaxin.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Victoria's Secret Angel from down under. Please say g'day to Miranda Kerr.

via www.vivagoal.com

Eat Shit Pitt image via Beer Label Builder

What Will Noel Devine's Decision On The NFL Say About Bill Stewart's Future At WVU?

5th Year Senior — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:14:49 -0000

More photos » by Michael Switzer - AP

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It is blatantly obvious from call-in shows, message boards and the Coaching Approval Meter, that a majority of WVU fans either want HCBS fired right now or are seriously leaning in that direction. [I am not in either of those camps.] At the end of the day, however, it does not matter what the hell we think about HCBS. It only matters what the players in the locker-room think about him.

If you go back to the night Smilin' Bill was hired, it was the players, specifically Patrick White, that first lobbied for Stewart to get the job. The administration ran with it and by about 3:30 that next morning, Smilin' Bill was our coach.

For me, Noel Devine's decision on his NFL future will be a good guage of how the players feel about this coaching staff and the program's future.

College athletes, more so than pros, must toe the company line about coaching decisions and the atmosphere within the lockerroom. Time after time the public does not hear about problems within a program until a player graduates or transfers to another school.

The current situation at Kansas and the start of the pre-season troubles at Michigan, are prime examples of players not opening up until they are out of the program. Last year we did see Patrick White show some frustration toward Mullen during the season but after the season there was nary a peep from anyone about HCBS or anyone else on the current staff.

The fans can lose faith in HCBS all they want and it won't matter much, if at all, in the win-loss record. However, if the players begin to doubt HCBS, it will obviously send the win-loss record into the tank.

It is obvious that you want to enter the draft when your value is at its peak. Devine would be well served to stay in the program and show NFL scouts that he can be more than a third down back. That being said, if Devine leaves for the NFL it will show me that there may be some doubt in the player's minds about the direction of the program. Devine leaving would show me that he only thinks he draft stock could fall with another year in the program.

What will he do and will it push me closer to losing faith in HCBS? Only time will tell.

WVU vs. Cincinnati: Grades and Recap

5th Year Senior — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:43 -0000

by David Kohl - AP

Feed the hot hand. Feed the hot hand. Feed the hot hand.

View full size photo »

While it appeared we improved in some areas, we lost the game and at the end of the day, that is all that matters. This was not a moral victory and we can and should do better. I certainly expect better. I am very disappointed in this coaching staff and some of the players performances on Friday night.

All that being said, there is no way in hell that Bill Stewart should be fired at the end of the season. Dave Johnson on the other hand is (hopefully) already on the way out [ed. -- this is on my Christmas list]. If anyone knows a good Realtor, he will be needing help very soon.

With that said, on to the grades...

Jarrett Brown and Ryan Clarke: A JB was under constant pressure the entire game, but kept his cool and delivered some big plays. He kept a lot of busted plays alive with his feet and delivered the ball when he got a couple seconds to throw. Unfortunately, that wasn't too often. He seems to be (finally) fully recovered from the concussion and ready to lead this team to potential wins over Pitt and Rutgers to finish the season.

While the Cincy D bottled up Noel Devine, Ryan Clarke lowered his head and ran for some tough yards Friday night. His emergence this season has helped to fix the huge problem we had on third and short a year ago. Does he remind anyone else of Robert Waker? If he does, shouldn't the new Robert Walker get the ball more?

Offensive Line: F They were a huge concern coming into the season and seem to have negatively surpassed those (lack of) expectations recently. Early in the season, JB's ability to escape pressure and Noel's ability to make people miss masked the fact that our O-Line thinks it is illegal to block. They are just not giving us a chance to win games, plain and simple. Dave Johnson has not earned the right to keep his job.

Defense: C+ The middle of the field was open all game and I am really surprised Brian Kelly did not exploit it play after play. I don't know if it is the scheme or lack of field presence, but our LB's never seem to get enough depth when playing zone coverage over the middle.

Casteel, how can you continue to call blitzes up the middle when they are running to the outside on every play? In years past, we saw more blitzes from our spur and bandit positions which brought pressure off the corner and would've been perfect to get a stop against the run.

Special Teams: C- It would've moved up to a damn B, despite the terrible kick-off team, if HCBS would've let Tyler Bitancurt make that field goal.

Coaching: D Why not let him attempt that field goal? Is it easier to make a field goal or recover an onside kick? HCBS tried to exhibit the killer instinct that many were calling for after the USF game. Unfortunately, he exhibited it before the opponent was even close to stunned. It was like trying an uppercut in Punch Out before your opponent was wobbling. You just don't do it.

Replay Official: F With the angle of the camera, the fact that the ball appeared to be moving when Pead began to stretch it out and the reaction of Cincy players, that call could not be overturned by a sober person. Not one Cincy player signaled touchdown including Pead. With all the grades being so poor, the last thing we needed was the officials to screw us, and screw us they did.

* * * * * * * *

So what do you think? Are the grades too low? Too high? Do Bill Stewart's struggles put more of a microscope on every decision he makes? Let us know in the comments.

Discussing The High (And Low) Points Of West Virginia's 24-21 Loss At Cincinnati

Dr. Charley West — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:37:45 -0000

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

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There are a lot of things that happened last night, some good, some of course bad.

Here are Saturday's talking points:

The touchdown reversal was clearly the incorrect call. If it had been ruled a touchdown on the field, then we're talking a completely different story. But it wasn't. It was ruled a fumble, and there is absolutely nothing that could be considered indisputable about that video evidence. By definition, indisputable means beyond doubt. I would love to have the replay official look me and the rest of West Virginia fans in the eye and tell me that there wasn't a shadow of a doubt on that call. It simply was an incorrect call.

The soon-to-be-infamous fourth and eight call from the 25. With over five minutes left and plenty of timeouts, West Virginia could have very easily kicked a manageable field goal and kept themselves in the game with anything short of a touchdown. Instead, the call is made to go for it, a call that fails miserably, and Cincinnati is able to take a two possession lead with just a field goal. Here is Stewart's reaction to that call:

"I was going for the win," coach Bill Stewart said. "It was going to be tough to stop them. We really hadn't stopped them all night. I couldn't go for the field goal. I figured the game would go to the end."

Against USF, we couldn't stop them so we punted from their 33 yard line on a fourth and short. Last night, we couldn't stop them so we went for it on fourth and long. I fail to see how any of this makes sense.
Ryan Clarke carried the ball with great success. He also only carried it five times. I have been the #1 fan of giving Noel Devine more carries, and last night it happened. Only problem was that it didn't work, as he averaged a measly 3.5 yards per carry. On a night when our offensive line couldn't block the air in front of them, it was time to feed Clarke more often. If our running backs are going to get hit in the backfield, might as well have the big guy there to bounce off those hits.
Speaking of the offensive line, the Dave Johnson era should end. The quicker the better.
Jarrett Brown put on his best performance of the season last night. He rarely made mistakes (outside of the fumble, which didn't hurt us), he threw the ball with conviction, and he kept us in the game with both his arm and legs. It's just a shame he's nearly always running for his life. Did I mention the Dave Johnson era should end?
Another era that should end? The Bill Stewart as special teams coordinator era. It has been disastrous, certainly since he took over as head coach. The way I see it, he has enough on his plate (if not too much). Hand the reigns to someone more competent able talented ... OK, just someone else.
Sometime between now and next year, we must find a defensive backfield that is able to cover the pass. Whether it's lockdown corners, safeties, or dropping linebackers (hell, drop Chris Nield if we have to), we simply can't expect to win while giving up pass plays as we have this season.

What are your thoughts? Happy that we came this close to knocking off the 5th ranked team in the country? Mad that we're at a point where we're happy with moral victories? Did you throw a shoe?

Let us know in the comments...

Oh Yes, It's Upset Time: Previewing West Virginia @ Cincinnati

Dr. Charley West — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:50:57 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Gentner - AP

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West Virginia, at 7-2 overall and 3-1 in conference, needs to earn a dose of respect. Wins over Liberty, East Carolina, Colorado, Syracuse, Marshall, UConn, and Louisville have not quite done the trick. Even ranked #25 in the BCS, the Mountaineers need that defining game to transform this season from lackluster to electric. They get their chance Friday night.

Cincinnati is 9-0 and looking to start a season unbeaten in ten for the first time in school history. They are ranked #5 in the country, territory that is usually reserved in the Big East for WVU. Even when their Heisman candidate QB Tony Pike went down with injury, superstar backup Zach Collaros kept the machine running, maybe even more successfully than Pike himself. It will be Collaros who starts for the Bearcats Friday, with Pike expected to at least play for the first time in a month (he is slated to start next weekend against Illinois).

So how can West Virginia win? Glad you asked.

First, the offensive line needs to show up. Notably absent for most of the season, the Mountaineers' offensive line will actually have to block an opposing player on Friday for the visitors to have any chance. With Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine, Tavon Austin, and Jock Sanders all potentially able to line up in the backfield, the Bearcats will have a task containing that group -- but only if the offensive line gives them a chance. Too often this season, both Brown and Devine have been forced into decisions that are not ideal (Devine turns two yard losses into 30 yard gains in his sleep, but let's not make it tougher on him, OK? OK.)

This will be made all the tougher as, even as a team known for their offense, Cincinnati boasts a very good defense. Giving up 45 points to UConn will provide the Mountaineers some inspiration, but this is a Bearcat defensive unit that only allows 16.4 points per game. They are most susceptible to the pass, which will put Brown's decision making in the spotlight. If Brown can manage a game intelligently, which is something this team has sorely lacked most of this season, the Mountaineers have a chance. If he's sharp, avoids sacks and turnovers, and lets his wheels loose, watch out. On the other hand, if he's careless with the ball, Cincinnati will eat him alive (I don't know what a Bearcat eats, considering it's a stupid name for a mascot and I didn't want to waste any more time on Wikipedia, but it will be Brown Friday night).

On the other side of the ball, Cincinnati is the only team in the conference to surpass WVU with playmakers. Names like Pike, Collaros, Mardy Gilyard, Isaiah Pead, Armon Binns, and Jacob Ramsey are all game-changers. West Virginia's defense did a good job of doing more bending than breaking last week against Louisville, but Cincinnati is not Louisville. The front three of Chris Nield, Scooter Berry, and emerging Julian Miller must slow-down the vaunted Bearcat attack, which is averaging a tidy 40 points per outing. If they can get pressure on the quarterback, then cornerbacks Brandon Hogan and Keith Tandy (gasp!) will not be forced into less than pleasurable coverage situations.

On the outside, it doesn't look like West Virginia has much of a chance. And maybe they don't. Nearly double-digit underdogs, on the road, against a fired-up night crowd in cozy Nippert Stadium is not generally a recipe for victory. But even as the battle looks uphill, remember that WVU still has one of the most playmaker-laden teams in all of college football. At any moment, the game can be broken open. We all know the talent is there -- there's very little doubting that. But we haven't seen 60 minutes of talent yet. Will we Friday? Who knows.

But if the Mountaineers can finally string together a complete effort, anything is possible, even a top 10 upset.

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (11/12/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:54:03 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Gold Label....mmm, very strong...and special. Seventeen and counting.

Tomorrow is game day, people. I don't have a whole lot to say otherwise. Tips, suggestions and requests are always nice. Lots after the jump...

What You May Have Missed:

Cincinnati Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com

Big East stock report - ESPN

Williams Named Wuerffel Trophy Finalist - MSNsportsNET.Com

Men's Basketball: Mini-Packages On Sale Monday - MSNsportsNET.Com

Power Rankings - Andy Staples - SI.com

Looking For a Repeat - MSNsportsNET.Com
The rifle team is profiled.

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

News of Note (FB):

Where oh where has the West Virginia 'O' gone? - ESPN

Conflict Resolution - MSNsportsNET.Com
Tony's Take

West Virginia to face Cincinnati's dual-quarterback threat - PPG

7 points w/ Rasheed Marshall - 11/12/09 - 'Eers to the Ground / PPG

Q&A submission 11/12/09 - Are you anti-Stewart people serious? - 'Eers to the Ground / PPG

Healthy Brown's ready to get back to his old self - Charleston Gazette

Cincinnati defense feeds off Bearcat offense[ed.] - Charleston Daily Mail
I changed the headline because that's what the story says.

Must Win For Mountaineers - WVMETRONEWS.COM
With the current set-up, I thought every game was a "must win."

What to watch in the Big East, Week 11 - ESPN

Friends reconnect for WVU-Cincy - Times West Virginian

Collaros or Pike? W.Va. hopes to be ready for both - Martinsburg Journal (AP)

Devine will play against Bearcats - Register-Herald

Miller hoping for another stellar week - Inter-Mountain

WVU scorekeeper retires - Register-Herald
Mickey's Column

Mountaineers putting focus on their offense - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

West Virginia is still looking for that one game when everything clicks - WVIllustrated.com

News of Note (BB):

Bracketology - ESPN
It's the first one of the year and Lunardi has us as a #3 in the Midwest.

WVU men have eyes on national title - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU player’s courage shines through in speech - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column: Danny Jennings is profiled.

WVU women’s hoops signs trio - Times West Virginian

Recruiting:

WVU Recruiting Update: Ga. Receiver DeMarco McNeal - EerSports.com

Prized Florida Corner Has WVU Top-Five - EerSports.com

Tobias Harris Journal: Some Shocking News Today
Media outlets have reported that his list was down to Tenn and Syracuse......not true.

Around the League (and Beyond):

BIG EAST Slate: Week 11 - WVIllustrated.com

Zach Collaros exceeding expectations for Cincinnati Bearcats - ESPN

Last year's win at West Virginia was biggest hurdle in Kelly coaching era - Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati faces familiar foe: West Virginia - Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincy coach waiting to see where chips fall - Charleston Gazette

Memories of Rutgers linger for Bulls - Tampa Tribune

Rutgers Game Day: The breakdown vs. No. 23 South Florida - Star Ledger

McKinnon shakes the flu and rejoins Syracuse football team for Louisville game - syracuse.com

U of L 's Matthews no longer nervous - Courier-Journal

Pitt must stop Notre Dame's blitz - PPG

The BCS' Worst Nightmare - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

SEC, other conferences don't have HD in replay booths - FanNation

What's On Tap:

Chat with Colin Dunlap - Live from Cincinnati, Thurday 2 p.m. - 'Eers to the Ground / PPG

South Florida Bulls vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights, November 12, 2009 - ESPN
7:30 pm tonight on ESPN. Rutgers is giving 3?!?! USF was favored by 1 yesterday.

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

There's a WVU related one at #3...submitted by JP Fanshawe.

South of the Border Gallery of the Week:

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is another soccer WAG. Meet Danielle Bux.

via celebgalz.com

Gold Label image via www.beerstore.com.au

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Monday (11/9/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:05:35 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Schaefer. We're up to 14.

Despite how the FB team looked Saturday, I think WVU fans had a pretty good weekend. The BB team opened their exhibition season and looked good (talented, deep and balanced). Other schools around the country wish they had our weekend, namely ND, UM, PSU, Oregon, and Oklahoma. Hell, Cincinnati rolled up 711 yards of O and barely hung on (I'm not arguing patterns/regularity vs. anomaly). Anyway...I'm not here to convince anybody anything. Sometimes, I'll share my opinion and disagree. But try to convince somebody of something?....Over the internet?...I'll try to leave that to others from now on. Enough of my soapbox. Send in your tips and requests. Lot's of news and fun after the jump UPDATED at 10:30am...

What You May Have Missed:

West Virginia beats Louisville, 17-9 - PPG
Injury updates at the bottom

Coach Stewart Teleconference - MSNsportsNET.Com

Gold and Blue Report for Monday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Twitter / Coach Bill Stewart
"NEVER Doubt Beliefs...NEVER Believe Doubts...STAY THE COURSE and PRESS ONWARD...VICTORY is Possible for Person who Refuses To Stop Fighting!"

2009 NCAA College Football Polls and Rankings for Week 11 - ESPN

What we learned in the Big East, Week 10 - ESPN

Week 10 review, Week 11 preview - ESPN

Big East power rankings, Week 11 - ESPN
"Wins matter a whole lot more than style points, of course, but this recent stretch raises serious doubts about whether West Virginia is in the same class as Cincinnati and Pitt. We're about to find out."

College GameDay Final - ESPN

College Football Overtime - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

NCAA College Football BCS Bowl Projections Week 10 - ESPN

Big East bowl projections - ESPN

The press box is no place for Steve Kragthorpe's wife - 'Eers to the Ground / PPG
From Dunlap's blog. WOW (and not in a good way)

News of Note (FB):

Miller Time - MSNsportsNET.Com

West Virginia's passing numbers plummet - PPG

Bearcats 'powerful' - Charleston Gazette

Plenty of bad news for WVU in short week - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU hopes for momentum to continue - Charleston Daily Mail

Stewart unsure about Devine or how to slow Bearcats - ESPN

‘This is a juggernaut’ - Times West Virginian
711 yards on Friday....I'd call that a juggernaut.

For now, WVU just an average Big East team - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Mountaineers Mix and Match on D-Line - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Mountaineers’ defense dealing with injuries - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

WVU Is Too Generous Late in The First Halves - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

West Virginia turns to 3 tough tests - Martinsburg Journal (AP)

Thomas follows dad’s footsteps - Register-Herald
Mickey's Column

Stewart views Bearcats on TV - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Monday Morning Quarterback - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

West Virginia in the Big East's BCS triangle - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Keeping the Faith in the Battle for the Big East - WVIllustrated.com

News of Note (BB):

Off And Running - MSNsportsNET.Com

Basketball Is Here - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and photo gallery

WVU, Jones maul Mountain State - Charleston Gazette

Expect WVU's 'Threes' to feed off each other - Charleston Gazette

Kilicli shows skills in exhibition - Times West Virginian
According to the PA announcer, it's pronounced "Kuh-looch-la"

Jones Dominates As WVU Rolls in Exhibition Opener - EerSports.com

WVU’s Huggins Altering His Approach in 2009 - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

West Virginia Hoops Looking to Roll in 09-10 - NBE Basketball Report

Mountaineers have Big East title hopes this year - Herald Dispatch

Recruiting:

Mike Dorsey brings power at safety - Charleston Daily Mail

Ohio Tight End a WVU Fan Since Birth - EerSports.com

WVU Visit Ends; Back to Work for Tobias Harris - allkyhoops.com

Around the League (and Beyond):

Cincinnati No. 5 in polls, Pitt in Top 10 - ESPN
"That means four Big East teams are ranked this week, a season high. Only one other league, the SEC, has as many as two Top 10 teams. The Big East actually has as many ranked teams this week than the mighty SEC."

Collaros might keep starting job for UC - Cincinnati Enquirer

Pitt's final three foes appear to be vulnerable - PPG

Cincinnati 47, UConn 45: I am officially losing it - TheUConnBlog.com

Rutgers DE George Johnson likes what he sees in South Florida defensive ends - Star Ledger

Serene Dion: Pittsburgh Runs All Over Syracuse, 37-10 - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Louisville football's best not quite good enough - Courier-Journal
Author thinks UL played their best game of the season.

Big East helmet stickers: Week 10 - ESPN

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

I generally have a large dislike for anything Reebok, but God Bless 'em for these commercials.

Hot Fight Girls Gallery of the Week:

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is the best thing to come out of Liverpool since the Beatles. Please say hello to Amanda Harrington.

via www.gunaxin.com

Schaefer image via www.beerencounters.com