Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 124
WVU’s Oscar Tshiebwe seeks NBA feedback on his draft prospects
After almost averaging a double-double in his freshman season, West Virginia forward Oscar Tshiebwe is contemplating a move to the NBA. Coach Bob Huggins said Tshiebwe plans to submit paperwork to request an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee. That doesn’t mean he will enter the draft this year...
West Virginia’s Neal Brown hopes players can grow during shutdown
Neal Brown knows he’s falling behind. Physically separated from his players, staff and administrators, the West Virginia football coach knows the days lost in the spring are days that can’t be recovered. But while dealing with what he calls “a worldwide tragedy,” Brown hopes to find some positive lessons amidst...
Former Latrobe wrestler Luke Pletcher joins Pitt coaching staff
Latrobe’s Luke Pletcher is coming home to chase a goal while helping a former rival reach its own. Pitt wrestling coach Keith Gavin hired Pletcher, a two-time All-American at Ohio State and three-time PIAA champion, as a volunteer assistant. Pletcher will join the staff after his graduation from Ohio State...
2 Pitt divers, 1 swimmer earn All-American status after NCAA cancellation
Three athletes from Pitt’s swimming and diving team lost their opportunity to compete in the NCAA Championships, but that roadblock didn’t stop them from becoming first-time All-Americans. Sophomore divers Serena Buchwald and Amy Read and junior swimmer Blaise Vera were named Wednesday 2020 All-Americans by the College Swimming & Diving...
With draft approaching, former Pitt teammates Reggie Mitchell, Saleem Brightwell reunite
Saleem Brightwell always felt comfortable asking Reggie Mitchell for guidance. Didn’t matter where. Didn’t matter when. Didn’t matter how many people were watching. He did so during a moment of chaos in Clemson’s Death Valley in 2016 when more than 80,000 people were making so much noise that Mitchell, Pitt’s...
New Penn State OC Kirk Ciarrocca learns to ‘adapt, overcome’
The only time Kirk Ciarrocca had an opportunity to watch Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford throw a football, he didn’t pay close attention. Penn State’s first-year offensive coordinator was fixated on Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan, who completed 18 of 20 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-26 victory...
Former Steeler Keith Willis to coach Edinboro’s defensive line
Edinboro wanted a coach for its defensive line. So why not hire one who knows what it’s like to sack a quarterback? Coach Jake Nulph found Keith Willis, a veteran coach with college and pro experience, and one of the most prolific sack artists in Pittsburgh Steelers history. Willis, named...
Former Pitt guard Trey McGowens decides to transfer to Nebraska
Former Pitt guard Trey McGowens settled on his new home Saturday when he announced on his Twitter page his intention to transfer to Nebraska. COMMITTED #GBR? #PuBd pic.twitter.com/ieTpZrtj4g— Trey McGowens 3rd (@Trey5mac_) April 4, 2020 The Cornhuskers (7-25, 2-18) finished last in the Big Ten this season. Fred Hoiberg has...
Pitt AD Heather Lyke says if football is played in the fall, fans will be there
Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke said Wednesday if the football team is allowed into Heinz Field to play a normal season, fans will be a part of it. “If we’re playing the game, we’ll be playing it in front of fans,” she said, speaking on a Zoom conference call with...
Pirates home opener history includes some memorable momentsVideo
Under normal circumstances, the Pittsburgh Pirates would have played the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at PNC Park in their 139th home opener. But the game — just like almost every sporting event around the globe over the past three weeks — was postponed (not yet canceled) by the coronavirus pandemic....
Former Pitt guard Ryan Murphy settles on Tulane as his final destination
Former Pitt shooting guard Ryan Murphy announced on his Twitter account Wednesday morning his intention to attend Tulane next season. Blessed to announce I’ll be playing my final year for Coach Hunter and his staff at Tulane ! #RollWave #GreenWave @GreenWaveMBB pic.twitter.com/FbnrSMvD9s— Murph dawg (@Ryanmurphhoop) April 2, 2020 Tulane (12-18,...
Pitt football coaches keep busy while working from homeVideo
The coronavirus has forced Pitt coaches and most of their colleagues across the U.S. to work from home. But athletic director Heather Lyke knows football coach Pat Narduzzi isn’t sleeping in. She said she received a recent text message from Narduzzi at 6:15 a.m., detailing the tasks performed by each...
Penn State 1st-year coordinator faces difficulties without spring practice
The time between practice sessions might be longer for Penn State than other programs. Penn State wasn’t scheduled to start spring practice until March 18. The coronavirus shutdown started six days before that, and it has progressed into its third week with no end in sight. The last time Penn...
NCAA granting extra year of eligibility impacts student-athletes in many ways
It sounded so simple and fair. The NCAA Division I Council voted Monday to grant all student-athletes in spring sports an additional year of eligibility after losing the 2020 season to covid-19. But what happens to those rosters in 2021? What about the scholarships that need to be honored? Who’s...
WVU athletic director Shane Lyons optimistic about football season, but it’s too early to be sure
If Shane Lyons’ hopes and projections are accurate, there will be college football this year in spite of covid-19. But there are no guarantees. “Based on my conversations (with medical experts),” West Virginia’s athletic director said, “they feel that once we get to late summer, August, normal life will, hopefully,...
West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons wants to continue basketball series with Pitt
West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons said Wednesday he hopes to continue the basketball series with Pitt after the current four-year contract expires Nov. 13 with a game at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown. “I’d love to see it continued,” he said on a conference call that was otherwise devoted...
Penn State defensive meetings dig into more than football
If you wonder what college football coaches are doing to pass the time these days, Brent Pry is one guy keeping himself busy. And it’s not all football for Penn State’s defensive coordinator. “For us, there is a lot of Zoom (conference calls) going on (with staff, players and extended...
Duquesne gets commitments from Sincere Carry’s brother Mike Bekelja, forward Chad Baker
If you wanted to talk to Mike Bekelja on Tuesday to ask him about verbally committing to Duquesne, he had one request: “Can we talk later? I’m currently working out. I’m sorry.” Bekelja is one of two players who committed to Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot in the past two days....
Former Norwin, Pitt player Alayna Gribble plans to resurrect her career at Saint Joseph’s
There was a time — a very brief time, as it turned out — when Alayna Gribble was at peace with putting an end to her basketball career. After all, by the time she was 21, Gribble had accomplished more than most student-athletes manage in a lifetime. She was the...
Freshman guards Ashton Miller, Evan Buckley leaving Duquesne
Two freshman guards are leaving the Duquesne basketball program. Ashton Miller, the cousin of director of player development Ashton Gibbs, has entered the NCAA transfer portal while Evan Buckley is leaving and has no plans to play elsewhere, a team spokesman said. While playing in 23 of 30 games this...
PIAA denies proposal to allow football scrimmage day after heat acclimatization
The PIAA Board of Directors on Monday voted to deny a proposal that would have allowed schools to hold a non-contact scrimmage with an opponent the day after the five-day heat acclimatization period in August. Teams still will be allowed to hold a full-contact scrimmage the following Friday before playing...
PIAA keeps winter championships, spring sports on hold
The PIAA kept the fate of unfinished winter championships and the start of spring sports on hold Monday while awaiting further action from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office and the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Education. During the board of directors meeting, there was no further clarity on winter...
West Virginia cancels spring game
After the Big 12 extended its suspension of all team activities from Sunday to May 31, West Virginia canceled its Gold-Blue spring football game, which had been scheduled for April 18 at Milan Puskar Stadium. “It’s disappointing for our players and fans that the Gold-Blue Spring Game is canceled. The...
Pitt’s Au’Diese Toney says he’s staying with Panthers
After two Pitt guards revealed plans to transfer, junior-to-be Au’Diese Toney announced Saturday on Twitter he is staying. “You never forget those who believed in your first,” Toney wrote. You never forget those who believed in you first and you never abandon those who held you down while experiencing your...
Isolated college coaches, players deal with change in recruiting landscape
When it’s time to get serious about next football season, Ethan Carr will get down on the floor and do a series of push-ups and sit-ups, followed by some challenging pull-ups. Then, he might open the front door and run through the mostly deserted streets of Harrison City. It is...
