Sports category, Page 456
Thanksgiving football practice a tradition reserved for champions
Whenever Thomas Jefferson holds a Thanksgiving Day practice, coach Bill Cherpak never knows who might show up. One year it was Barry Sanders. OK, so it wasn’t really the NFL legend. But instead, the Jaguars players have a favorite holiday tradition of wearing a jersey representing a favorite college team...
Trib 10: Top teams in power rankings need 2 more wins for ultimate prize
The six WPIAL champions from the 2024 season are all headed to the state semifinals two wins shy of more gold drip. This marks the second year in a row and the third time this decade that all six WPIAL champions will be playing in the PIAA final four. The...
Former Pitt quarterback Max Browne eager to call Pitt’s game at Boston College for The CW
In the moment, the torn labrum in Max Browne’s throwing shoulder hurt. Of course, it did. But the immense physical pain was only part of his story. He hurt personally for himself and collectively for the Pitt team of which he was the starting quarterback. Yet the injury might have...
Robert Morris beats Canisius to run winning streak to 6
If there’s one thing Andy Toole does quite often, it’s worry. From the time he wakes up until the time he turns in, Toole’s high-energy motor is running. “I worry about everything all the time,” said the longtime Robert Morris men’s basketball coach. Toole was quite a bit concerned going...
West Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga in overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis
NASSAU, Bahamas — Javon Small scored five of his 31 points in overtime and Tucker DeVries added key free throws late in regulation and finished with 16 points as West Virginia beat No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday. Small’s layup with under 2 minutes left...
Penguins assign Valtteri Puustinen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; activate Blake Lizotte from injured reserve
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Valtteri Puustinen cleared waivers Wednesday and was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. That transaction allowed the team to activate forward Blake Lizotte from injured reserve prior to Wednesday’s home game against the Vancouver Canucks. Lizotte has missed the previous five games due to a...
Steelers QB Russell Wilson defends WR George Pickens, says they’re not ‘far off’ in red zone
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson echoed his head coach’s concerns on the Hail Mary pass intended for George Pickens on the final play of the loss at the Cleveland Browns last Thursday night. The Steelers’ standout wide receiver was tangled with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome Jr. through the end zone,...
Thanksgiving Weekend Sports Guide: Your roadmap to NFL matchups, with other games, times and odds
The long sports-filled Thanksgiving weekend is a time when many Americans enjoy gathering with friends and family for good food, good company and hopefully not too much political conversation. Also on the menu — all the NFL and college sports you can handle. Here’s a roadmap to one of the...
Steelers amidst 4 straight AFC North games for 1st time, running ‘the cycle’ vs. division
Mike Tomlin has been wont to refer to playing AFC North games as being “in the kitchen.” Fitting, then, that over the Thanksgiving season the Pittsburgh Steelers are spending the better part of a month feasting in the intra-divisional kitchen. For the first time in the AFC North era, the...
Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith does not practice; DTs Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi get rest
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Alex Highsmith would be “leaning in on a return” after missing two games with an injury, but the outside linebacker is leaning closer to not playing Sunday at Cincinnati. Highsmith (left ankle) did not practice Wednesday, per the league-mandated injury report. Three veteran linemen rested,...
Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams returns to practice, remains on IR
Defensive tackle Montravius Adams Sr. returned to practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday but will remain on the injured reserve. The Steelers now have a 21-day window to activate Adams or he will miss the remainder of the season. “Honestly, it felt great to be back,” Adams said. “To...
CFP chair explains why Penn State stayed ahead of Notre Dame in latest rankings
Some thought Notre Dame could — or perhaps should — jump Penn State in the latest edition of the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings. That didn’t happen. Penn State retained its No. 4 spot in the CFP committee’s latest top 25. Notre Dame, meanwhile, moved up one spot to...
Daniel Jones is signing with the Vikings after his release from the Giants, AP source says
Former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is signing with the Minnesota Vikings, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Jones will join Minnesota’s practice squad less than a week after the Giants released the former No. 6 overall draft pick, according to the person...
Penguins assistant Mike Vellucci to return to bench following medical procedure
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan announced Nov. 18 that assistant Mike Vellucci would be sidelined for approximately a week following an unspecified minor medical procedure. On Wednesday, Sullivan revealed that Vellucci will rejoin the rest of the staff behind the bench when the Vancouver Canucks visit PPG Paints Arena. Vellucci...
Penguins to start Tristan Jarry vs. Vancouver; Blake Lizotte a game-time decision
Tristan Jarry is scheduled to start in net for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday evening when the Vancouver Canucks visit PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan revealed his starting netminder after his club’s morning skate in Cranberry. Through six starts, Jarry is 1-3-1 with a 4.41 goals-against average and .869...
Mark Madden: The Steelers shouldn’t need gimmicks; keep Justin Fields on the bench
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ most important game of the season is Sunday at Cincinnati. The Bengals are better than their 4-7 record. The Steelers’ 8-3 mark feels deceptive after their clumsy loss at Cleveland. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow is one of football’s best quarterbacks. There’s a reason the Bengals are favored by...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Former Hempfield wrestler wins title for Army
When it comes to wrestling at Army, Ethan Berginc is one good soldier. Berginc, a Jeannette native who wrestled at Hempfield via a co-operative agreement, is on a roll eary in his junior season. Far from his days as a plebe, Berginc won back-to-back titles at 133 pounds, the second...
First Call: Arthur Smith connected to UNC head coaching job; Ben Roethlisberger has thoughts on George Pickens, Justin Fields
Multiple outlets are tying Arthur Smith’s name to the head coaching job at North Carolina. Ben Roethlisberger shares opinions on George Pickens and Justin Fields after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to Cleveland. Plus, we preview the Penguins’ next opponent. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” Is there a check big...
U mad, bro?: A cornucopia of Pittsburgh sports complaints for the Pirates, Steelers, Penguins
As we approach Thanksgiving, there hasn’t been very much to be thankful for in the Pittsburgh sports world lately. The Steelers just lost in Cleveland … again. Pitt’s football team has lost four in a row, and the Penguins are one of the worst teams in the NHL. I suppose...
Expanded Big Ten could put 4 teams in the playoff — thanks to Indiana’s unexpected riseVideo
The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season’s College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team...
SEC losses are big gains for SMU and Indiana in latest College Football Playoff rankingsVideo
The SEC’s losses were almost everyone else’s gain in the College Football Playoff rankings, with SMU nudging its way into the top 12 and Indiana staying in the mix at No. 10 despite a lopsided loss of its own. The 12-team bracket released Tuesday placed undefeated Oregon on top for...
Cam Ward, Kyle McCord key QB showdown between Miami, Syracuse
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — It is Miami vs. Syracuse this weekend. It is not Cam Ward vs. Kyle McCord. That said, there’s no quarterback showdown in the country this week better than this one. McCord — in his first year at Syracuse — leads the nation in passing yards, 300-yard...
Penn State men suffer 1st loss of season, fall to Clemson in Sunshine Slam
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ian Schieffelin had 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in leading Clemson to a 75-67 win over previously unbeaten Penn State on Tuesday in the championship of the Sunshine Slam Beach Division. Chase Hunter added 17 points, Chauncey Wiggins 14 and Del Jones 10 for...
Despite struggles, Steelers RT Broderick Jones keeps faith knowing Mike Tomlin ‘has my back’
Broderick Jones has made a habit of watching the televised copy of Pittsburgh Steelers games, even if that means listening to the commentators criticize his performance at right tackle. And Jones has given them plenty of ammunition: He’s been flagged nine times — including a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties...
Portal products Desmond Reid, Konata Mumpfield bright spots during Pitt losing streak
During his chat with reporters Tuesday, Pitt running backs coach Lindsey Lamar was quick with an answer when the question made it obvious. Is Desmond Reid playing through pain? “All season,” Lamar said, “like everybody in college football. I’m sure Kyle Louis (Pitt’s All-American candidate linebacker) is banged up, but...
