Sports category, Page 383
Steelers notes: Keeanu Benton takes the spotlight on ‘Hard Knocks,’ RB Jonathan Ward waived
Pittsburgh Steelers second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton knew the NFL Films cameras would be present when he spoke to his teammates the night before the game, adding pressure for someone who doesn’t enjoy public speaking. “When I’m talking to people, I get nervous,” Benton said. “The words that I’m thinking...
‘A true Steeler’: At 35, Cameron Heyward earns top grade among NFL defensive tackles
Cameron Heyward accepted that he had lost the Ohio State-Michigan bet — one he initiated with rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson — but the price to pay came in the form of a baseball cap that didn’t fit. So Heyward hung the hat on the microphone stand as he addressed...
Steelers injury report: Alex Highsmith, Calvin Austin III limited at practice
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and wide receiver Calvin Austin III were limited participants at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday, according to the injury report. Austin was in NFL concussion protocol after he absorbed two hits during the first half of this past Sunday’s win at the Cincinnati Bengals. Highsmith did not...
After rolling through regular season, Pitt volleyball team prepares for upstart Morehead State
Cat Flood entered the transfer portal. Valeria Vazquez Gomez could have hung up her Pitt volleyball gear after last season. Instead, both decided to spend their final year of eligibility in blue-and-gold because they wanted one more shot at a national championship, and, on paper at least, the Panthers appear...
West Virginia to play Memphis in Frisco Bowl
West Virginia has been selected to play in Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl to cap off a tumultuous 2024 season. Just days after parting ways with coach Neal Brown, the Mountaineers accepted a bid to play No. 25 Memphis at 9 p.m. Dec. 17 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The...
Ravens suspend WR Diontae Johnson, saying he refused to enter game against the Eagles
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens have suspended receiver Diontae Johnson for their next game, saying he refused to enter their recent matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson did not play in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles even though receiver Rashod Bateman was dealing with knee soreness. Coach John...
Penguins task defenseman Jack St. Ivany with refining game in AHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ estimation of young blue liner Jack St. Ivany rose considerably at the end of last season, when he joined the club for their final 14 games, helping a valorous but ultimately futile push for the playoffs. St. Ivany, 25, cracked the Penguins’ NHL roster out of training...
Mark Madden: MLB’s proposed Golden At-Bat rule goes too far … or does it?
The pitch clock is OK. It speeded up the game. Ghost runners in extra innings were tough to get used to. But regular-season games shouldn’t last forever. Restricting the infield shift increased offense. The three-batter minimum for pitchers (or to the end of a half-inning) minimized the endless merry-go-round between...
1st episode of AFC North ‘Hard Knocks’ was heavy on good football, light on conflict and intrigueVideo
The first episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: In Season With the AFC North” gave me exactly what I expected. It was a typical NFL Films all-access, behind-the-curtain look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and their three AFC North foes in Cleveland, Baltimore and Cincinnati. It’s shot brilliantly. It’s well-directed and well-produced....
Pitt secures 4-star cornerback Mason Alexander of Indiana among 21 recruits on signing day
After the last game of the regular season, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi made a bold statement: “In 36 years of coaching, I’ve never seen so many injuries.” As it turned out, Pitt didn’t have enough depth to compensate for those injuries, and a five-game losing streak ensued. That’s where signing...
Tim Benz: At 9-3, Mike Tomlin can avoid ‘feeding the beast’ — at least in front of the cameras
There are plenty of good vibes coming out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 44-38 win in Cincinnati last week, and surrounding their 9-3 record overall. That doesn’t mean there aren’t points of concern heading into this Sunday’s game against the 3-9 Cleveland Browns, though. How is George Pickens going to regulate...
Penguins get boost with Owen Pickering’s 1st career NHL goalVideo
Owen Pickering was a distant 61 feet away from the net when he fired a first-period wrister at Florida Panthers netminder Spencer Knight on Tuesday night. Oftentimes, lower-velocity, longer-range shots such as Pickering’s find the back of the net on deflections. But Pickering’s shot required no such assistance. With 10...
Penguins extend winning streak to 4 by beating Panthers in overtimeVideo
There hasn’t been a surplus of reasons to cheer for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season. But a four-game winning streak can certainly provide some level of optimism. Especially when that fourth victory comes against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Such was the case Tuesday as the Penguins beat the Florida...
Duquesne men drop to 1-7, losing at home to St. Peter’s
Seven losses in eight games, and it’s not yet time for the Atlantic 10 schedule to begin. Not before Duquesne plays against five more opponents in what has turned out to be a challenging nonconference men’s basketball schedule. At 1-7, there’s something a bit off with these Dukes. “We’re working...
NHL, players provide optimism for new CBA
The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement does not expire until Sept. 15, 2026. That discussions are set to begin on a new deal in early 2025 is already one step ahead of where hockey has been in labor negotiations in the past. Commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this week said he expects...
49ers add former Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda after Christian McCaffrey injuryVideo
The San Francisco 49ers shored up their suddenly thin running back corps on Tuesday by claiming former Pitt star Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets. In a corresponding move, the Niners placed Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve after he suffered a right knee injury in Sunday night’s...
Analysis: Browns set sights on Steelers after wasted effort by Jameis Winston vs. BroncosVideo
CLEVELAND — Only the Cleveland Browns. Only a team beset by perpetual problems at quarterback for the better part of two decades can get a record-setting 497-yard, four-touchdown, jaw-dropping, where-did-that-come-from performance on Monday night from Jameis Winston — and still lose. History wrapped in misery. Only the Browns. Winston spoiled...
After strong start to season, Pitt basketball aims to stay grounded
When there’s no one on the floor at Petersen Events Center and the seats are empty, Pitt sophomore point guard Jaland Lowe likes to grab some basketballs and shoot foul shots by himself. The idea is to see how many he can make in a row. One time recently, he...
Miami in trouble, Alabama rises in College Football Playoff rankings
Miami’s playoff hopes took an all-but-final nosedive while Alabama’s got a boost Tuesday night in the last rankings before the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket is set next weekend. The Hurricanes (10-2) moved down six spots to No. 12 — the first team out of the projected bracket — after...
Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, set to face Penn State, reminiscent of another Hawaiian-born QBVideo
Dillon Gabriel was faced with a quandary when he arrived at Oregon this year. Gabriel had worn No. 8 at Oklahoma before transferring for his sixth season of eligibility. But in Eugene, that number had special significance because it had been worn by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. There were...
Pitt running back Desmond Reid, linebacker Kyle Louis named to All-ACC first team
Pitt running back Desmond Reid and linebacker Kyle Louis were difficult to miss on the football field this season, and their names were equally prominent on the All-ACC football team revealed Tuesday on the ACC Network. Reid was a first-team selection as an all-purpose back and return specialist. Plus, he...
USWNT beats Netherlands in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s final matchVideo
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Alyssa Naher made two critical saves in her final match for the United States, Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday. The U.S., which won its fifth Olympic gold medal this summer in France,...
Pitt running back Rodney Hammond plans to enter transfer portal
Running back Rodney Hammond Jr. put an end to his four-year Pitt career Tuesday when he announced on X that he is planning to enter the transfer portal. Thank you for everything Pittsburgh but I will be entering the portal for my last year— Rodney L. Hammond (@RodneyLHammond1) December 3,...
San Jose State will play South Florida in the Hawaii Bowl
HONOLULU — San Jose State is headed back to the Hawaii Bowl for a second straight season to face South Florida. Bowl officials on Tuesday announced the matchup for the game set to be played on Dec. 24 on the campus of the University of Hawaii. The Spartans went 7-5...
High school recruiting isn’t the only way to build a winner in the era of the transfer portal
Texas A&M signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class three years ago believing it had built a potential national title contender. Plenty of players from that heralded 2022 class could indeed be participating in the first 12-team College Football Playoff this month. They just won’t be doing it for the Aggies,...
