Sports category, Page 1082
Duke contains John Rhys Plumlee, beats UCF in Military BowlVideo
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Duke brushed aside UCF with relative ease in the Military Bowl, capping an impressive turnaround this season. Now quarterback Riley Leonard is talking about big hopes for the future. “I’m kind of a guy that’s never really satisfied,” he said. “I look back at the season with...
Decision to redshirt Dior Johnson ‘best thing for him and us,’ according to Pitt coach Jeff Capel
Dior Johnson was Pitt’s prized basketball recruit before being charged in early October for a domestic violence incident that prohibited him from being on campus or participating in any basketball activities. Pitt announced Wednesday afternoon that Johnson has returned to practice but is expected to redshirt this season. Panthers coach...
Surrounded by teachers, military officers his whole life, Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates always just wanted to coach
EL PASO, Texas — When Randy Bates was in his late 20s and coached at the U.S. Naval Academy, he met many high-ranking Marine officers who taught him a disciplined lifestyle and how to pass it on to others. “I had a lot of appreciation for the Marines. I think...
Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel sidelined due to undisclosed injury
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel is not expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday’s home game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena due to an undisclosed injury. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan announced Ruhwedel’s status approximately two hours before the game. The nature of severity of Ruhwedel’s...
Royals announce $17M deal with former Pirates pitcher Jordan LylesVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals were specific in their shopping list for a starting pitcher: They wanted someone capable of throwing a lot of innings, which would take some of the strain off the rest of their young and promising staff. They decided that right-hander Jordan Lyles,...
Commanders turn to Carson Wentz to start Week 17 game vs. BrownsVideo
ASHBURN, Va. — Carson Wentz is set to start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The team on Wednesday announced coach Ron Rivera’s decision to switch from Taylor Heinicke to Wentz for what amounts to a must-win game in the NFC wild-card race. “Where...
Steelers’ Ahkello Witherspoon resumes practicing after being designated to return from IR list
A chance to stay alive in the playoff race could be at stake, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are heading on the road to face their bitter AFC North rival. It matters little to cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. They could be playing the Atlanta Falcons again for all he is concerned. “All...
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says Tua Tagovailoa suffered concussion in loss to Packers
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained his second concussion of the season in last week’s loss to Green Bay, Miami coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Wednesday. Tagovailoa has not been officially ruled out for Sunday’s pivotal game at New England, though it’s unknown when the Dolphins will see...
3rd-down catches lifting Steelers’ Diontae Johnson back to top tier of NFL receivers
When Diontae Johnson was not participating in team drills this past summer while awaiting a contract extension, it was a tacit signal that he believed he was among the NFL’s best wide receivers. And despite not playing up to those expectations during the first half of this season, Johnson has...
Raiders bench QB Derek Carr, will start Jarrett Stidham for final 2 games
HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has missed only three games in nine years, all because of injury. Now, for the first time, he won’t play because of what coach Josh McDaniels said Wednesday were offensive performance reasons. McDaniels not only will start Jarrett Stidham the final...
QB Kenny Pickett looking to finish drives in Steelers’ rematch with Ravens
When the Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, quarterback Kenny Pickett spent the last three quarters in concussion protocol while a series of interceptions and missed opportunities contributed to a 16-14 loss. The Steelers scored touchdowns in two of four red-zone opportunities, with one of Mitch Trubisky’s...
Pitt’s Dior Johnson returns to practice, expected to redshirt this season
Freshman guard Dior Johnson, the prize recruit in Pitt’s class of 2022, has returned to practice after being suspended since the start of the season. He is expected to use the 2022-23 season as a redshirt year, Pitt officials said in a statement released Wednesday. Johnson, 18, was in line...
Riverhounds’ all-time assists leader Kenardo Forbes returns for 6th season
Kenardo Forbes will return to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for a sixth season after he agreed to a new contract, the club announced Wednesday. The Hounds midfielder is the club’s all-time assists leader and longest-tenured active player. The new contract is pending USL and U.S. Soccer Federation approval. Forbes, 34, is...
Steelers’ Cameron Heyward named AFC Defensive Player of Week for 3rd time in his career
Snubbed from the Pro Bowl after a run of five consecutive seasons earning the honor, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward stated his case last week that he should have been included for a sixth time. Heyward was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his performance...
Penguins recall Drake Caggiula, Ty Smith from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled defenseman Ty Smith and forward Drake Caggiula from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Wednesday. In corresponding transactions, forwards Josh Archibald and Ryan Poehling have been placed on injured reserve. Acquired via a trade with the New Jersey Devils in July, Smith has yet...
Women’s sports saw pivotal growth in deals, interest in 2022
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has been around women’s basketball long enough to see the growing pains of a young WNBA league gradually shifting to increased interest in the sport at all levels. “We probably are bursting at the seams for the people that are decision-makers in our game to...
Penn State’s Brenton Strange declares for NFL draft, will play in Rose Bowl
Two weeks ago, Brenton Strange acknowledged he had a “life-changing decision” on his hands: come back to Penn State for the 2023 season or declare for the NFL draft. “I haven’t really made any decisions yet,” Strange said at Penn State’s Rose Bowl media day at Beaver Stadium. “But I’d...
3 takeaways: Penguins’ power play stifled by Islanders
Three takeaways from the Penguins’ 5-1 road loss to the Islanders on Tuesday night: Streak ends The Penguins were blanked on their lone power-play opportunity of the game, which began at 9:50 of the first period. Their lone shot during the opportunity was recorded by forward Sidney Crosby at the...
Wisconsin beats Oklahoma State in Guaranteed Rate Bowl
PHOENIX — Wisconsin had a new coach on the sideline, with the interim coach still calling the shots. The Badgers had several new players in key positions, including quarterback. A long, sometimes-difficult season came to a conclusion with more adversity — and, eventually, a win. A 17-point lead nearly erased,...
Katie Ledecky earns AP female athlete of year for 2nd time
A change of scenery worked out just fine for Katie Ledecky. Shifting coasts and coaches after last summer’s Tokyo Olympics, the American swimmer turned in another stellar performance at the world championships, set a pair of world records and capped 2022 as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year,...
Mark Madden: Steelers are flawed in assembly, administration but blessed by perception
As the Pittsburgh Steelers cling to their 2% chance of making the playoffs, it might be more fun to look ahead to next year. On second thought, maybe not. Their problems are great, and they are many. This space has mentioned how rallying to 7-8 will enable the Steelers’ failures...
Duquesne ready to test pre-conference, home court success on the road in A-10 play
The Duquesne Dukes are set to begin their Atlantic 10 schedule Wednesday night. Their first conference game will be in Dayton at 7 p.m. It’s also the conference debut for the Flyers. Despite incorporating 10 new players into the mix, the Dukes had a very successful non-conference season, winning 10...
John Rooney, son of Steelers founder, dies at 83
John Rooney, son of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Arthur J. Rooney Sr., has died. The brother of former Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, and a minority shareholder in the team, John Rooney was one of five children of Art, who founded the team in 1933. John Rooney was 83. Late Wednesday morning,...
Tim Benz: Why Mike Tomlin is so enthusiastic about flexed kickoff vs. Baltimore
Of course, Mike Tomlin is going to hop on a chance to leverage an emotional advantage in his team’s favor. Especially against the Baltimore Ravens. Especially with his franchise’s playoff fate hanging by a thread. When word broke that the Steelers-Ravens game got flexed from a 1 p.m. start into...
First Call: Odds on Brian Flores getting Broncos job; T.J. and Derek Watt react to J.J.’s retirement
Wednesday’s “First Call” has the odds on Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Brian Flores landing the Denver Broncos’ head coaching job. A former Steelers rival is getting a coaching position in the college ranks. Steelers players T.J. and Derek Watt are reacting to their brother J.J.’s retirement. We also preview the Penguins’...
