Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta on new coach Jesse Minter: ‘He just blew us away’
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As much as Jesse Minter seemed like an obvious fit for the Baltimore Ravens, he still had to show he was ready for their coveted coaching vacancy. Then he showed up for an in-person visit. “He just blew us away,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “As...
Mike McCarthy begins filling out staff, which is expected to include ex-Steelers DB Jason Simmons
Forget the ink drying — Mike McCarthy hadn’t even signed the official contract before he already began assembling the staff under him as new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. “The last 72 hours have been about the staff,” McCarthy said Tuesday, not long after the official announcement of his hire was...
Unbeaten Penn State wrestlers stick to their process during 82-match winning streak
When it comes to Penn State wrestling during Cael Sanderson’s time in State College, the numbers associated with the Nittany Lions’ program are dizzying. Penn State left Philadelphia last March with its 12th NCAA team title, 10 All-Americans in 10 weight classes and a pair of champions — five-timer Carter...
Justin Brazeau promoted to Penguins’ top line with Bryan Rust suspendedVideo
Justin Brazeau wore black Thursday. But he wasn’t in mourning. Or even on a Johnny Cash kick with Spotify. He was promoted. During the Pittsburgh Penguins morning skate in Cranberry, the burly power forward donned a black practice jersey, signaling he was operating in a top-six capacity. In contrast, he...
Defenseman Ilya Solovyov expected to make Penguins debut against Blackhawks
Rookie defenseman Ilya Solovyov is expected to make his debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Thursday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena. During a morning skate in Cranberry, Solovyov skated on the left side of the third pairing with Ryan Shea as his partner. The Penguins acquired...
Penn State coaches, players ready for outdoor hockey games at Beaver Stadium
When Guy Gadowsky was hired as the Penn State men’s hockey coach, one of the first things he asked was when a hockey game would be played in Beaver Stadium. Fifteen years later, his Nittany Lions are preparing for Hockey Valley’s Winter Classic weekend and a game against a Big...
A pre-Olympic treat for the U.S. women’s bobsled and skeleton teams, including Hempfield grad Jasmine Jones
The U.S. Olympic women’s bobsled and skeleton racers spent this week going through their final preparations in advance of arrivals this weekend at the Milan Cortina Games. They were running, lifting weights, strategizing, whatever they could to get ready. They also worked on their hair. Well, technically, they didn’t do...
How are the inductees selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Bill Belichick’s reported snub from the Pro Football Hall of Fame after winning a record six Super Bowl titles as a head coach has placed new scrutiny on the process of picking pro football Hall of Famers. While the specific reasons that Belichick didn’t get into the Hall in his...
Penn State’s Nick Singleton looking to rebuild NFL draft stock at Senior Bowl
MOBILE, Ala. — The pre-draft process feels like a clean slate for Penn State’s Nick Singleton. Singleton had a record-setting career with the Nittany Lions, finishing his fourth and final season as Penn State’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards. But the 2025 season didn’t go to plan,...
Penguins recall Rutger McGroarty from AHL, place Jack St. Ivany on injured reserve
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Rutger McGroarty from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, the team announced Thursday. In a corresponding move, Jack St. Ivany was placed on injured reserve. McGroarty, 21, suffered a concussion in practice with the Penguins in early January, landing him on injured reserve. On Jan....
First Call: Competition for potential Steelers OC; LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier’s interest in playing for Mike McCarthy
“First Call” for Thursday has an update on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator search. A quarterback draft candidate has an interest in Pittsburgh’s new head coach. The Penguins return home. And we compare Pitt’s recent attendance restrictions at Acrisure Stadium with other moves by ACC schools. Shopping in the same...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are angry over the hiring of Mike McCarthy, media coverage of the hire — or both
Everybody in Pittsburgh has been in a snit over one big topic all week. Snow removal. That’s right. I’m right there with you. I live on the North Side, and I haven’t seen a single snowplow since at leas…. … OH! Oh, that other thing. The Steelers’ new head coach....
Big 33 Football Classic’s Super Bowl streak reaches 60 years — but only barely
By the slimmest of margins, the Big 33 Football Classic’s Super Bowl streak survives for another year. Imhotep Charter’s Yasir Durant is on injured reserve for the New England Patriots, but the offensive lineman’s presence on the roster has Big 33 organizers celebrating a 60-year streak. Every Super Bowl has...
Patriots’ Robert Kraft: Bill Belichick unequivocally deserves to be 1st-ballot Hall of Famer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Count New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft among those shocked that Bill Belichick reportedly will not be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. In a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday, Kraft said he believes Belichick’s accomplishments...
Minor league report: Nailers dropped by Mariners in shootoutVideo
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made 31 saves on 33 shots in regulation and overtime for the Wheeling Nailers in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Maine Mariners at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine on Wednesday. Gauthier allowed one goal on five shootout attempts as his record slipped to 7-3-1....
Patrick Reed leaving LIV Golf, could return to PGA Tour in SeptemberVideo
SAN DIEGO — Patrick Reed is the second major champion to leave Saudi-funded LIV Golf, announcing Wednesday he will spend the rest of the year on the European tour with an eye on returning to the PGA Tour as early as September. His stunning decision, just three days after he...
Robert Morris men use scoring streaks to beat IU Indianapolis
Robert Morris defeated IU Indianapolis on Wednesday night at UPMC Events Center in a pace-and-space 74-58 Horizon League victory. The Colonials and the Jaguars traded score for score all the way into the second half. RMU led 36-33 at halftime. Nevertheless, two massive runs, a 9-2 and a 18-5 stretch,...
Team USA’s Hilary Knight, Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin to face off for perhaps last time
Kelly Pannek has spent the past decade enjoying a front-row view of U.S. teammate Hilary Knight and Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin one-upping the other in a fierce, friendly rivalry involving two of the most accomplished players in the history of women’s hockey. Playful and easygoing as the two are away from...
Athletic director Allen Greene shares strategic plan for Pitt athletics
Allen Greene has opted to keep a lower profile throughout his 15-month tenure as Pitt’s athletic director. As the Panthers and athletic departments across the country grapple with the demands of revenue-sharing and NIL, Greene has kept his cards close to the vest as to Pitt’s strategic plan for the...
Duquesne men surrender lead in 2nd half against St. Bonaventure
Dru Joyce III quietly seemed annoyed. For a time, he scrapped his usual articulate dialogue and preferred to cut to the point. Mellow in nature, Duquesne’s basketball coach clearly was chafed. “Got off to a good start. Didn’t finish half as strong as we needed to,” Joyce said Wednesday night,...
Former Latrobe player Warren Agostoni signs with Pittsburgh Riverhounds USL Academy
Excuse Warren Agostoni if he feels a little like new Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy. He’s coming home, too. Agostoni, a former standout soccer player at Latrobe, has signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds USL Academy. He joined the team this week for preseason practice. The 16-year-old midfielder spent last season...
Athletic director Allen Greene shares strategic plan for Pitt athletics
Allen Greene has opted to keep a lower profile throughout his 15-month tenure as Pitt’s athletic director. As the Panthers and athletic departments across the country grapple with the demands of revenue-sharing and NIL, Greene has kept his cards close to the vest as to Pitt’s strategic plan for the...
NFL’s turf guru preps Levi’s Stadium field for Super Bowl
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nick Pappas’ process for preparing the Super Bowl field got underway long before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots started getting ready for the season. The NFL’s turf guru picked the sod farm that began growing the field for the game about 16 months ago...
Ben Roethlisberger on Steelers’ choice of Mike McCarthy: ‘I like the hire. I really do’
Big Ben is a big fan of the Mike McCarthy hire. Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Wednesday weighed in on the choice of McCarthy to serve as the franchise’s 17th coach. “I think it’s a great hire,” Roethlisberger said during a guest appearance on the “In the Locker...
Pitt announces resizing of Acrisure Stadium capacity for football starting this fall
Pitt announced a strategy Wednesday that will significantly alter the atmosphere and capacity for football games at Acrisure Stadium. Starting this fall, the stadium’s upper east and west sides will be unavailable, reducing capacity from 68,400 to 51,416. The announcement corresponded with the launch of football season ticket sales Wednesday....
