Sports category, Page 1453
Steelers Four Downs: OK to criticize Chase Claypool, but don’t forget his production
1. Chase-ing recognition A lightning rod for criticism after some ill-advised verbal and on-field actions in recent weeks, Chase Claypool’s solid production for the Pittsburgh Steelers during Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings is getting overlooked. Claypool caught eight of nine balls thrown his way for a game-high 93 yards....
Penn State taps ex-Miami coach Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Former Miami coach Manny Diaz was hired as defensive coordinator at Penn State less than a week after he was fired by the Hurricanes. Diaz replaces Brent Pry, who left Penn State after eight seasons coaching the defense to become Virginia Tech’s head coach. Diaz, 47,...
Steelers vs. Vikings Week 14 film study: Brutal 1st half too much for Steelers to overcome
NFL football analyst Matt Williamson will break down each of the Steelers games this season in the Trib’s Steelers Film Study. Here’s what he saw in the Steelers’ Week 14 loss to the Vikings. In a pivotal Thursday night game for both conference playoff races, the Steelers got blown away...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: NHL not getting maximum exposure on ESPN, TNT
When the NHL left NBC to do rights deals with ESPN and TNT, it seemed good. The season’s first week featured a Tuesday night doubleheader on ESPN and a Wednesday night doubleheader on TNT. The presentation, production and announcing were all sharp. There was lots of fanfare. But ESPN hasn’t...
Penn-Trafford stops Imhotep Charter to win 1st state title in OT thriller
HERSHEY — It might not equal the Miracle on Ice, but Penn-Trafford’s 17-14 stunner against Imhotep Charter will hold a prominent place in Westmoreland County sports history. Nathan Schlessinger kicked a 24-yard field goal in overtime, and defensive end Conlan Greene’s sack on fourth down lifted Penn-Trafford to a thrilling...
Kasperi Kapanen pushes Penguins past Capitals
As has often been the case for the past decade and a half, Friday’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals was broadcast nationally. Presuming your definition of “nationally” is exclusive to subscribers of a premium streaming service that requires paying a roughly $7 fee monthly to an international...
Pitt’s Cal Adomitis gets haircut to support cancer care at Children’s Hospital
Before he left his apartment Friday, Cal Adomitis took a selfie of his long, blonde hair. It was his last look at something that had defined him since his days at Central Catholic. “Wow!” he exclaimed to himself. “The next time I’m back here, I’m going to be bald.” At...
Pair of Notre Dame stars skipping Fiesta Bowl to prepare for NFL DraftVideo
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Kyren Williams and Kyle Hamilton, two junior star players for No. 5 Notre Dame, announced Friday they will not play in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 9 Oklahoma State so they can instead prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft. The two were Associated Press preseason first-team...
Virginia tabs Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott as next football coachVideo
Virginia didn’t have to extend its search for a new football coach beyond the ACCe as the Cavaliers announced Friday they had tabbed longtime Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott to fill their vacancy. Cavaliers athletic director Carla Williams announced Virginia was hiring Elliott, who will be introduced at a news...
Auburn hoops gets 4 years probation, 2-game suspension for coach Bruce PearlVideo
The NCAA has placed the Auburn men’s basketball program on four years probation for unethical conduct involving former associate head coach Chuck Person and imposed a two-game suspension on coach Bruce Pearl for failing to monitor his assistant and adequately promote compliance. An NCAA Committee on Infractions panel issued its...
Analysis: 7 teams who have let fans down bigtime in 2021
A year ago, the Seahawks and Steelers were heading toward the playoffs. So were the Saints, Browns and Bears. Now? Well, even if any of them stumbles into the postseason, the likelihood of doing any damage there is slim. Those five teams have been particular disappointments in 2021, and they’re...
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford to return for 6th season in 2022
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford will return to the Nittany Lions for a sixth season in 2022, he announced Friday on social media. “I could not pass up the chance to be with this family and play the game I love again,” Clifford wrote in a statement....
Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is AP coach of the year, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi 10th
Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is The Associated Press college football coach of the year after leading the Wolverines to their first Big Ten title in 17 years and a berth in the College Football Playoff. Harbaugh is the first Michigan coach to win the AP Coach of the Year Award presented...
Another Steelers loss, another series of criticism from team alumni
For the second time in three weeks, former Pittsburgh Steelers ripped the current iteration after an abysmal performance Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings. But Ryan Clark had the most blistering take of all. Speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up” Friday morning less than 12 hours after the Steelers’ 36-28 loss...
5 things: Are there any stones left for Mike Tomlin to overturn in attempt to fix Steelers?
Five things we learned from Vikings 36, Steelers 28: 1. Stone cold In his postgame address, coach Mike Tomlin said he would “turn every stone over” in order to find the right personnel or scheme to fix the Steelers’ problems in the trenches. The issue is whether any stone remains...
Pitt’s William Jeffress learns a lesson: Sometimes it’s OK to miss a foul shot
The book coaches use states clearly that a team up two with only seconds to play should miss its free throws. If the ball goes through the net, the clock doesn’t immediately start and the opponent has a chance to set up a play. Miss it and time runs out...
Al Unser, a 4-time winner of Indianapolis 500, dies at 82
Al Unser, one of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 a record four times, died Thursday following a long illness. He was 82. Unser died at his home in Chama, New Mexico, with his wife, Susan, by his side, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said early Friday. He had been...
Mark Madden: Chase Claypool personifies Steelers’ culture problem
The Pittsburgh Steelers did not show guts and pride in their fourth-quarter comeback at Minnesota. If they had guts and pride, they wouldn’t have been trailing a sub-.500 team 29-0. The Steelers’ near-miss mostly was fueled by Minnesota lacking guts and pride, yet the Vikings still won. The biggest factor...
Pirates A to Z: Jose Quintana set on showing he still has the stuff to be a starting pitcher
During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, with the final week focusing on players added after the season ended. Player: Jose Quintana Position: Pitcher Throws: Left Bats: Right Age: 32 Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 220 pounds 2021 MLB statistics:...
Steelers vs. Vikings: What they’re saying in Minnesota after win
They were a dropped pass and 2-point conversion from blowing a 29-point second half lead. But the host Minnesota Vikings held on to beat the Steelers. Their running back Dalvin Cook ran wild as Minnesota built a 23-0 halftime lead. The Steelers lost T.J. Watt again to a groin injury....
First Call: Stats indicate Steelers’ run defense against Vikings was worse than we thought, Marc-Andre Fleury wins No. 500
Friday’s “First Call” shows us exactly how easy it was for Dalvin Cook to race all over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night in Minnesota. We preview the latest edition of Penguins-Capitals on Friday night. Marc-Andre Fleury reaches a milestone. And a former NFL Pro Bowl player dies far too...
This date in sports history: Dec. 10
1939 — The Green Bay Packers register the first shutout in an NFL championship game by beating the New York Giants 27-0. 1961 — Billy Cannon of the Houston Oilers rushes for 216 yards, catches five passes for 114 yards and scores five touchdowns in a 48-21 victory over the...
Airing of Grievances: Anemic offensive line, putrid defense stand out in Steelers’ 1st-half fiasco in Minnesota
The first grievance I want to air after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-half Minnesota meltdown Thursday night is about … me. Hey, this column is nothing if not transparent. I’m an idiot. As I wrote Thursday, I circled the game in Minnesota on the day the schedule was released as a...
Chase Claypool: ‘I’ve got to be better’ after celebration, penalty cost Steelers in loss to Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS – Needing a yard on fourth down to extend a frantic last-minute drive, Chase Claypool got 9 to keep momentum going in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ favor Thursday night. Instinctively, Claypool dropped to one knee and pointed the ball in the direction of the Minnesota Vikings end zone to signify...
Denver Broncos great Demaryius Thomas dies at 33
ATLANTA — Demaryius Thomas overcame a troubled childhood. He managed to shine as a receiver in Georgia Tech’s run-oriented offense. By the time his NFL career was over, he had earned five straight Pro Bowl honors and a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos. The football world mourned Friday...
