Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 141
Duquesne, WVU will meet to support Dayton shooting victims
West Virginia and Duquesne, long-time rivals in men’s basketball, will meet for the first time in six years Nov. 1 at the WVU Coliseum in a charity exhibition game to benefit the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund. The fund has been established for those directly impacted by the mass shooting...
ACC, Pitt announce 20-game men’s basketball schedule
Pitt’s 20-game ACC men’s basketball schedule – two more conference games than in previous seasons – will stretch from early November to early March and feature a game at the Petersen Events Center against defending national champion Virginia. The ACC announced its schedule Thursday night on the ACC Network. Pitt’s...
Pat Narduzzi challenges Pitt players to step up against Penn StateVideo
Pat Narduzzi appeared to be in a good mood Thursday afternoon, less than 48 hours before Pitt kicks off against Penn State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. An interesting look for the Pitt coach, considering Penn State might be the toughest opponent on his schedule this season. “I’m kind of...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi said there’s no time to steal signals, even if he wanted to try
When Penn State coach James Franklin said he changed play signals as soon as safety John Petrishen transferred from Penn State to Pitt, Pat Narduzzi smiled. “I haven’t said anything about Eric Thatcher (Penn State’s assistant recruiting coordinator),” Pitt’s coach said Thursday. “He sat in (Pitt’s) defensive meeting rooms for...
Pat Narduzzi, James Franklin play nice in days leading up to Pitt/Penn State
Although it might be stylish for rivals to trade barbs on social media, Pat Narduzzi and James Franklin have done the opposite in the days leading up to the Pitt/Penn State game Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Each coach had good things to say about the other, and they didn’t even...
Without a turnover or two, Pitt’s upset hopes diminishVideo
Upsets are built on turnovers, and that’s the one aspect of its game Pitt has yet to master. Or, even experience. Despite repeated drill work in practice and coaches nagging their players to attack the football, Pitt hasn’t had a fumble recovery or interception since the final seconds of the...
Pirates pitcher Kyle Crick injures finger in fight with teammate Felipe Vazquez
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kyle Crick’s season is over after he injured the index finger on his right hand Monday in an altercation with bullpen mate Felipe Vazquez in the team’s clubhouse in San Francisco. Crick needed tendon repair surgery to repair the damage. The procedure was performed Tuesday in...
Penn State’s Antonio Shelton uses Twitter to teach fan a lesson
When Penn State defensive tackle Antonio Shelton witnessed a man in Beaver Stadium yelling at one of his teammates during the Buffalo game Saturday night, he did what the modern-day student-athlete would do to get even. He got on Twitter. Appreciate everybody that came out to support tonight. But some...
Clairton graduate Lamont Wade finds happiness in Penn State secondary
After only two games as Penn State’s starting free safety, Lamont Wade can remember only one other time when he was this happy playing football. “Probably 2016 against Farrell in a state playoff (victory),” said Wade, a Clairton graduate who won three WPIAL championships and earned berths in two PIAA...
Penn State’s James Franklin recalls with fondness his ties to Pittsburgh
When James Franklin ponders playing Pitt this week, probably during nearly every one of his waking moments, he’ll think of Kenny Pickett and Maurice Ffrench (who he unsuccessfully tried to recruit) and the best way to defeat the Panthers on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. But Penn State’s coach also allowed...
James Franklin suggests neutral site for future Pitt/Penn State games
When Pitt visits Penn State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, the game will be the 100th and last between the in-state rivals for the foreseeable future. But Penn State coach James Franklin said it could resume if the schools can “get creative” and, possibly, move the game to a neutral...
Pitt needs clean-up effort to reduce a wave of penalties
Pitt’s margin for error will be reduced significantly Saturday when it faces No. 13 Penn State at Beaver Stadium. The game will be the first of two consecutive games against ranked opponents. Pitt plays No. 17 Central Florida on Sept. 21 at Heinz Field (kickoff 3:30 p.m.). As the schedule...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi shields players from reporters before Penn State gameVideo
Pat Narduzzi is feeding the prevailing perception that the Pitt/Penn State game is different from all others. Just as he has done in the past (with one exception), the coach has shut off all contact between his players and the media in the week leading up to the Penn State...
Pitt’s ground game starts to find a groove against Ohio
Making a passing reference to Pitt’s running game, Ohio coach Frank Solich defined it as accurately as anyone has so far this season. “They were able to establish a little bit of a running game,” Solich said. A little bit. That’s certainly not what Pat Narduzzi wants or needs as...
Pitcher perfect: Pirates lefty Brault sings national anthem before Sunday’s game
Baseball and life in general are breaking up Steven Brault’s band, but that doesn’t mean his musical career has ended. Brault, who leads Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitchers with a 4.13 ERA, sang the national anthem before the game Sunday at PNC Park. “I told them I wanted to do it...
Gregory Polanco’s shoulder could force Pirates to seek alternatives in right fieldVideo
Only one year ago, right fielder Gregory Polanco led the Pittsburgh Pirates in home runs and RBIs. But his future with the team remains in question. General manager Neal Huntington said Sunday that before Polanco can resume making meaningful contributions to the team, he needs an offseason of successful rehab...
Pirates’ loss to Cardinals won’t be rookie James Marvel’s last chanceVideo
From the moment he knew he was making his major league debut until he was pulled in the sixth inning Sunday, James Marvel tried to stay calm. For the most part, he was successful, and that might have been the grandest achievement of all, with 40 friends and family members,...
Pitt notebook: Jimmy Morrissey gets Penn State talk started
Jimmy Morrissey is ready for Penn State. He’s a Pitt co-captain, so you have to believe his teammates feel the same. After Pitt put away Ohio with a 20-10 victory Saturday at Heinz Field, the talk turned to Penn State, the opponent next Saturday in State College. It could be...
Pitt defense sacks Ohio in 1st win of season
Victories in football generally are awarded to teams that block and tackle, catch and throw better than the opponent. Sometimes, however, the right words in the days leading up to the game play a role that shouldn’t be minimized. Such was the case for Pitt and sophomore defensive tackle Jaylen...
Ohio game will help answer some tough questions about Pitt
Every coach and even some reasonable fans will tell you that it’s lunacy to declare the second game of the season a must-win. Such is the case for the Pitt Panthers (0-1), who welcome Ohio into Heinz Field on Saturday. A loss would stir up a fan base that is...
Pirates’ Joe Musgrove scratched from Friday’s start because of foot discomfort
The Pittsburgh Pirates encountered more pitching problems Friday when Joe Musgrove, who was scheduled to start the first game of the series with St. Louis Cardinals, was scratched with right foot discomfort. Rookie Alex McRae, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, will make the second start of his...
Pirates blow lead, lose series to league-worst Marlins
Clint Hurdle had only one wish Thursday night after the Pittsburgh Pirates lost for the 79th time this season while rookie outfielder Bryan Reynolds continued to amaze and delight his manager. “You’re getting to watch a really special young player develop and grow and do some significant things in the...
Brian Moran strikes out Pirates’ Colin Moran in brother-vs.-brother matchup
When his older brother struck him out in the fourth inning Thursday night, making the kind of history that few can ever achieve, Colin Moran immediately turned to the Miami Marlins catcher. “I said, `Gimme the ball.’ I was trying to hold it for ransom,” said Moran, the Pittsburgh Pirates’...
Pirates’ Starling Marte sits for 2nd game in a row, status uncertainVideo
Starling Marte was not in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting lineup Thursday night against the Miami Marlins for the second consecutive game, and his absence might be injury-related. It was unclear if he would play in the weekend series that begins Friday at PNC Park with the National League Central-leading St....
Pitcher James Marvel joins Pirates, reflects on ‘unique, special’ journey
James Marvel’s first call was to his parents in California. “I already told them I was going to bed so their first question was, ‘Is everything OK?’ ” Never better, actually. Undefeated as a pitcher in Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Marvel was on his way to the Pittsburgh Pirates and...
