Sports category, Page 368
Tim Cowlishaw: SMU-Penn State matchup signals a strange new world for college football
DALLAS — The SMU Mustangs are venturing into the unknown Saturday, and I don’t just mean trying to find University Park on a map, which is a challenge of its own. This is something completely different. For years, one loud chorus of voices shouted that college football needed a real...
DJ Lagway helps Florida trounce Tulane in Gasparilla Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. — DJ Lagway shrugged off a couple of first-half turnovers and threw for 305 yards and a touchdown to lead Florida to a sloppy but dominating 33-8 victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday. Trey Smack kicked a Gasparilla Bowl-record four field goals for the Gators...
Deer Lakes grad Michael Sullivan chosen in MLS draft
Deer Lakes graduate Michael Sullivan has been drafted by MLS club Toronto FC. Sullivan, a midfielder who just completed his senior season at Pitt, was selected with the ninth pick of the second round, 39th overall, of the MLS SuperDraft. Sullivan played 67 games in four years with the Panthers,...
Tiger Woods’ immediate goal: Keep his son from beating him in golf for 18 holesVideo
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods turns 49 at the end of the month, and he has one pressing goal that relates to his golf. He wants to prolong that inevitable day when his son beats him over 18 holes. They will be playing with — not against — each other...
Former NFL star Michael Vick officially hired by Norfolk State on FridayVideo
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State officially named Michael Vick its football coach Friday, the latest hire of a talented NFL player with no college coaching experience to lead an HBCU program. Vick’s addition was unanimously approved by the school’s board of visitors, Norfolk State athletic director Melody Webb said in...
Parker Navarro’s big 1st half helps Ohio win Cure Bowl
ORLANDO, Fla. — Parker Navarro ran for three touchdowns and passed for a fourth in the first half, and Ohio held off Jacksonville State, 30-27, on Friday in the Cure Bowl, the only bowl game featuring two conference champions. The Mid-American Conference champion Bobcats (11-3), who won their seventh straight...
Christian Walker agrees to $60 million, 3-year contract with Astros, AP source saysVideo
Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker and the Houston Astros agreed Friday to a $60 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. Houston acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from...
Diontae Johnson, who the Ravens said refused to enter a game earlier this month, has been waivedVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Friday after a brief and troubled stint with the team in which the Ravens said he refused to enter a game against Philadelphia. Johnson received a one-game suspension for that, missing last weekend’s win over the New York Giants....
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Mac Hollowell heading to Spengler Cup
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Mac Hollowell was named to Canada’s roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Hockey Canada announced its roster via a release on Friday. The tournament, which will be staged from Dec. 26-31, is a unique event that features professional European teams and a squad from...
Pitt linebacker Jordan Bass enters transfer portal
Jordan Bass, a reserve linebacker who played in nine games for Pitt this season as a sophomore, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Bass (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) started one game over the past two seasons when he replaced Solomon DeShields, who was injured on the opening kickoff at Wake Forest...
If it’s late in season, Steelers must be in Baltimore and stakes must be high
There was no explicit purpose by Montravius Adams to be wearing an Auburn hat and shirt Thursday. He’s just a proud alumnus of ol’ War Eagle. But it was quite fitting, in at least one way, that the veteran defensive tackle was wrapping up a Pittsburgh Steelers practice week in...
Sophomore Olivia Babcock 1st Pitt volleyball player named national Player of the Year
In the aftermath of one of the most disappointing defeats for any team in Pitt history, the Panthers’ Olivia Babcock received the expected consolation prize Friday when she was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year. She is the first Pitt player to earn the award...
Steelers 4 Downs: Struggles with deep balls help explain inexplicable Lamar Jackson struggles vs. Steelers
1. Lamar’s losses Two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens has struggled against his team’s biggest rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is 1-4 as a starter against them, and his 66.7 career passer rating vs. the Steelers is by far his worst against any team and pales in...
Mark Madden: Steelers need to show more toughness or risk familiar finish
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season might wind up packing no surprises. The Steelers built a good record by beating mostly bad teams as the first half of their schedule dictated. An unthinkable loss made its semi-regular appearance Nov. 21 at Cleveland. (The Browns were 2-8 going into the game.) Now the...
Jaylon Jimmerson, Hunter Watson help Sam Houston to win over Georgia Southern at New Orleans Bowl
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jaylon Jimmerson returned the first of his two interceptions 28 yards for a touchdown in the opening minutes, Hunter Watson accounted for three touchdowns and Sam Houston beat Georgia Southern, 31-26, on Thursday night at the New Orleans Bowl. Brad Cornelsen served as acting head coach...
Penn State eyes breakthrough, SMU eyes validation in College Football Playoff openerVideo
This is not about validation exactly. Still, it kind of is. For SMU and Penn State both. And each side knows it. When the 11th-seeded Mustangs (11-2) walk into wintry Beaver Stadium on Saturday to meet the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (11-2) in the first round of the expanded College Football...
Football Footnotes: AFC playoff picture could shift dramatically before Sunday’s games even start
The AFC playoff picture is going to come into sharp focus after Week 16 is done. For the most part, that’ll happen before Sunday’s games even start. The AFC West wild card showdown between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers already took place on Thursday night. The Steelers-Ravens and...
Tim Benz: For the College Football Playoff, let’s hope the games overcome the planning
The 12-team College Football Playoff begins Friday. I’d like to be more excited about it than I am. That’s probably because three of the first-round CFP contests are occurring on a Pittsburgh Steelers’ game day. The lone game I’ll definitely get to watch is the Friday night opener between No....
First Call: Ravens TE praises fans for keeping Terrible Towels in Pittsburgh; Baltimore injuries to watch
Friday’s “First Call” examines the Ravens injury report as the Steelers get ready to visit them Saturday in Baltimore. One of the Ravens is reminding the franchise’s fans how important it is to avoid selling their tickets to folks from Pittsburgh. The Penguins head into Christmas break against some divisional...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel has Guillermo Diaz Graham’s back during shooting slump
If Guillermo Diaz Graham is seeking help — or even sympathy — while trying to recover from his shooting slump, he doesn’t need to go far. Help is available a few decks above the Petersen Events Center floor, inside Pitt coach Jeff Capel’s office. “It happened to me my senior...
Penn State roars back after dropping 1st 2 sets, beats Nebraska in volleyball Final Four
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jess Mruzik had 26 kills, Caroline Jurevicius had 20 and Penn State rallied from an 0-2 semifinal hole for a five-set victory over Nebraska early Friday to reach the NCAA championship. Penn State will face host Louisville, which eliminated No. 1 overall seed Pitt 3-1 in the...
Scouting the Ravens: Steelers have had the upper hand recently in series
SCOUTING THE RAVENS Last meeting Steelers beat Ravens, 18-16, on Nov. 17, in Pittsburgh. Key matchup Any Steelers pass-catcher vs. Ravens defense When these teams met last month, skill players not named George Pickens combined for 116 receiving yards on 20 targets. In the Steelers’ most recent game — when...
Justin Herbert TD passes, rare free kick spark Chargers to comeback win over Broncos
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Justin Herbert passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 19-yarder to Derius Davis early in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Chargers got closer to wrapping up a playoff spot by rallying past the Denver Broncos, 34-27, on Thursday night. The Chargers’ comeback...
Sidney Crosby breaks out of goal-scoring slump as Penguins beat Predators in overtime
Sidney Crosby’s inability to score a goal in 10 consecutive games before Thursday wasn’t necessarily a concern. More of a curiosity. At least to the person with hundreds of goals on his dazzling NHL resume. “You always want to score,” Crosby said Wednesday in Cranberry. “And, obviously, when there’s some...
Pitt ousted by Louisville in women’s volleyball Final 4, loses 4th consecutive national semifinal match
Pitt’s women’s volleyball team had lived the good life this season, experiencing joy, camaraderie and victory in 33 of its first 34 matches. But hopes for Pitt’s first team national championship since 1976 — in any sport — crashed to the floor Thursday night at Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center. Louisville...
