Sports category, Page 1079
UCLA coach Chip Kelly reports no opt-outs, says players ‘love to play football’
EL PASO, Texas — UCLA coach Chip Kelly met with reporters Thursday, less than 24 hours before he sends his team onto the field at Sun Bowl Stadium to play Pitt. The Bruins will play a Pitt team that will line up without six starters/contributors who have elected to opt-out...
Ibrahim powers Minnesota past Syracuse in Pinstripe BowlVideo
NEW YORK — Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 71 yards on 16 carriers with a touchdown and became Minnesota’s all-time rushing leader in the Golden Gophers’ 28-20 win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Ibrahim, who missed virtually all of last year with a ruptured Achilles,...
‘Mister Irrelevant’ Tae Crowder hopes to make mark as newest Steelers linebacker
As recently as October, Tae Crowder was so valuable to what was then a team with one of the best records in the NFL that he never left the field on defense for three New York Giants early-season games. As recently as Halloween, Crowder was still a starter for the...
Ball-hawking Steelers lead NFL in interceptions
When word broke Wednesday that the Las Vegas Raiders were demoting Derek Carr for the rest of the season, that made it two season-long starting quarterbacks benched over the past three weeks in the days after a defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers, quarterback killers? Might be a stretch,...
The Penguins focused on the Devils, not the Winter Classic
As the idiom suggests, the devil is in the details. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New Jersey Devils are the only detail of any significance at the moment. Friday’s scheduled home contest against the Metropolitan Division rival has taken up all of the real estate in the Penguins’ attention span...
Michigan graduate assistant a trailblazer for female coachesVideo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Mimi Bolden-Morris had a trailblazing season at Michigan, becoming what is believed to be the first female graduate assistant football coach at a power conference school since the late 1980s. If her mother didn’t call coach Jim Harbaugh, it wouldn’t have happened. Bolden-Morris will be on...
Lundy returns to lead Penn State over Delaware State, 60-46Video
STATE COLLEGE — Seth Lundy returned from a one-game absence to score 15 points and grab 10 rebounds to lead Penn State to a 60-46 victory over Delaware State on Thursday. Andrew Funk hit four 3-pointers for his 12 points, and Jalen Pickett had 10 points and six assists for...
Terrell Edmunds returns to full practice for Steelers, as does Diontae Johnson
It appears encouraging that starting strong safety Terrell Edmunds will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup for Sunday’s game against the rival Baltimore Ravens. Edmunds returned to full practice Thursday, according to the injury report. Edmunds did not play in the Christmas Eve win against the Las Vegas Raiders and...
Determined Cam Heyward played at his best in 4th quarter of Steelers’ win vs. Raiders
If Cameron Heyward looked like he was a man on a mission Saturday night in the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s because, well, he was. On a night when the Pittsburgh Steelers were honoring the late Franco Harris by retiring his jersey number, Heyward wouldn’t accept anything...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi eager to see Nick Patti get another chance to start in Sun Bowl
EL PASO, Texas — No one really talked much about Nick Patti during Pitt’s training camp. Coaches and fans were encouraged by the presence of Kedon Slovis, the transfer from USC with the glossy pedigree. Everyone was eager to see if he could be an adequate replacement for Kenny Pickett....
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby named to Order of Canada
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby received an honor Thursday. Perhaps more appropriately, an honour, given where it came from. Crosby was named as an officer to the Order of Canada, one of that country’s most prominent awards, which recognizes individuals across various aspects of society who have made ample contributions...
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang sidelined by injury
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was absent from a practice session in Cranberry on Thursday because of an undisclosed injury. Coach Mike Sullivan did not specify the nature or severity of the ailment and indicated the six-time All-Star was being evaluated. During a 5-4 home overtime loss to the Detroit...
Pelé, Brazil’s mighty king of ‘beautiful game,’ has died
SAO PAULO — Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82. The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had...
As he turns 38, LeBron is clear: He still wants title shots
MIAMI — It was 2006. LeBron James wasn’t even midway through his first stint in Cleveland. He made the playoffs for the first time, was already a globally recognized star and well on his way to becoming the game’s best player. As a 21-year-old, he averaged 30.2 points. Fast forward...
Penn State, Utah understand opt-outs for Rose Bowl
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Not even the “Granddaddy” of all bowl games is immune from opt-outs. There will be some notable names missing when seventh-ranked Utah faces ninth-ranked Penn State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, but the absence of the likes of Utes tight end Dalton Kincaid and Nittany...
Mark Madden: Refusing to play smarter hockey, Penguins lose via foolishness, arrogance
The Pittsburgh Penguins got routed 5-1 on Long Island on Tuesday. That’s OK. Every team in every sport has the occasional terrible game. But Wednesday’s 5-4 overtime loss to visiting Detroit revealed a lot that’s wrong with the Penguins. Their problems are great, and they are many. (I’ve used that...
Tim Benz: Where the Steelers must improve their rush defense against the Ravens
In the week leading up to Round 2 of Steelers-Ravens for this season, one talking point has been abundantly clear in the Steelers locker room: Do better against the Baltimore rushing attack. For good reason. The Ravens trampled the Steelers on the ground last month when the teams met for...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans snap back at criticism of Kenny Pickett and go after Matt Canada, defensive payroll
Apparently, Pittsburgh sports fans want the media members who cover the Steelers to make a few New Year’s resolutions. • Be harder on the Steelers defense. • Be harder on offensive coordinator Matt Canada. • Be nicer to poor Kenny Pickett. That’s the vibe I’m getting anyway. Oh, and one...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel finds North Carolina ‘fascinating’ in preparing for ACC home opener
Dating to his playing days at Duke, Jeff Capel is intimately familiar with the North Carolina basketball program, so the Pitt coach marvels at how much the Tar Heels have changed their style under Hubert Davis. The staples established under Dean Smith and continued under Roy Williams remain, from the...
Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman makes season debut at NHL level
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman made his season debut at the NHL level during Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena. Despite having been recalled to the NHL level on three occasions this season, Friedman had been a healthy scratch for all seven games he was...
Texas Tech jumps on Ole Miss in Texas Bowl
HOUSTON — Tyler Shough threw for 242 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores as Texas Tech took advantage of three early turnovers to build a big lead and held on for a 42-25 win over Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night. Shough, who...
Bo Nix leads Oregon past North Carolina in Holiday Bowl thriller
SAN DIEGO — Bo Nix threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Cota on fourth down with 19 seconds left and Camden Lewis’ PAT bounced off the left upright and went through to give No. 15 Oregon a wild 28-27 victory against North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday...
Arkansas withstands furious Kansas rally, wins wild Liberty Bowl in 3rd OT
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman admitted was exhausted after more than four hours of football. Who could blame him? KJ Jefferson passed to Rashod Dubinion for a 2-point conversion in the third overtime and Arkansas held off a furious second-half rally by Kansas for a 55-53 win in...
Minor league report: Goaltender Taylor Gauthier leads Nailers past RoyalsVideo
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made 30 saves on 31 shots and directed the Wheeling Nailers to a 2-1 road win against the Reading Royals at Santander Arena on Wednesday. Forwards Cédric Desruisseaux and Samuel Tremblay each scored goals for Wheeling (13-13-1-0) while forward Justin Addamo contributed two assists. Highlights: The Nailers’...
Duquesne loses Atlantic 10 opener to DaytonVideo
DAYTON, Ohio — Daron Holmes had 22 points in Dayton’s 69-57 victory over Duquesne on Wednesday night to open the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule. Jimmy Clark III finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Dukes (10-4). Duquesne also got 11 points and four assists from Tevin...
