Sports category, Page 1127
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...
Penguins collapse in overtime loss to Red Wings
Less than 24 hours after what coach Mike Sullivan suggested was their worst game of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins needed plenty of things to go right in their matchup with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena. And sure enough, a lot did. For the first...
QB Lamar Jackson misses 10th straight practice as Ravens prep for SteelersVideo
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his 10th straight practice Wednesday, renewing concerns he could be sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson hasn’t practiced or played since he injured his knee in the Ravens’ Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos, a span of three-plus weeks. Asked...
Retiring J.J. Watt grateful for fans, teammates, staffVideo
TEMPE, Ariz. — J.J. Watt has always had a love for the common man, even though he looks more like Superman. So it’s fitting that the funniest anecdote from the retirement news conference of one of the best defensive players in NFL history featured a little-known Arizona Cardinals teammate, rookie...
Pirates sign lefty reliever Jarlin Garcia, designate RHP Bryse Wilson for assignment
The Pittsburgh Pirates finally have an Elephant in the room. Left-handed reliever Jarlin Garcia, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder nicknamed “The Elephant,” officially signed Wednesday a one-year contract for $2.5 million with a club option at $3.25 million for 2024. “Signing Jarlín is part of our overall goal of adding left-handed pitching...
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...
