Sports category, Page 533
Anchored by Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, Penn State WRs have something to prove
Penn State’s offense was far from one-dimensional last season, but its effectiveness through the air left plenty of room for improvement. Drew Allar proved capable in his first season as starting quarterback, yet by year’s end, Penn State’s shortcomings in the passing game were apparent. The Nittany Lions ranked 77th...
Penn State ranked 9th in preseason USA Today Coaches Poll; Georgia 1stVideo
NEW YORK — Penn State will open the season ninth in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released Monday. Georgia is No. 1, a year after its two-year run as national champion ended. The Bulldogs received 46 of the 55 first-place votes from college football coaches. Preseason No....
Damar Hamlin says his ‘mind is free,’ a year after resuming football after a near-death experience
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Damar Hamlin flashed a wide grin and waved hello while zipping by on a scooter, before accelerating to make a sharp, effortless turn up a hill toward the Buffalo Bills dorm rooms at their training camp facility. Carefree and happy, there seems to be little the Bills...
Meet the 2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star team
Over the past month, staff writers at the TribLive High School Sports Network have profiled the 25 players selected to the Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star team. Now that the high school football season has officially begun with Monday’s start of heat acclimatization week, here’s a look at each player...
It was oddly quiet at the Olympics balance beam final, and Simone Biles says the gymnasts noticed
PARIS — An unusually quiet arena may have played a factor in a shaky balance beam final for Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee and a handful of other event finalists Monday. Biles, Lee, Brazil’s Julia Soares and Romania’s Sabrina Maneca-Voinea all fell during their routines inside Bercy Arena, where no music...
Michael Phelps calls for a lifetime ban for anyone who’s caught doping
PARIS — In the wake of a Chinese doping scandal, Michael Phelps doubled down Monday on his support for tougher sanctions — including a lifetime ban for anyone who tests positive for a banned substance. “If you test positive, you should never be allowed to come back and compete again,...
Panthers observations: Pat Narduzzi gives reporters up-close look at passing drill during 5th day of Pitt practice
When the coach summons you to midfield, you don’t ask questions. You go. That’s what happened Monday morning to reporters at Pitt practice near the end of the media’s viewing window. Coach Pat Narduzzi allowed reporters, who typically stand on the sideline or in the end zone, to stand five...
Americans have more depth than anyone at the pool, but gold medals harder and harder to come by
NANTERRE, France — No one can match America’s depth at the pool. That said, claiming the top step on the Olympic medal podium is no longer a given for U.S. swimmers. Nine days of thrilling competition at La Defense Arena wrapped up Sunday night with the Americans barely pulling out...
Simone Biles finishes off her return to Olympics with silver on floor exercise
PARIS — American gymnast Simone Biles didn’t get the golden sendoff she sought. Biles earned silver in the floor exercise finals on Monday — her fourth medal in Paris and 11th Olympic medal overall — after a routine that included a couple of costly steps out of bounds. Brazil’s Rebeca...
Hempfield grad Sydney Patrick leads Slippery Rock women’s soccer into 2024 season eager to finish big
In her day, 10th-year Slippery Rock women’s soccer coach Jessica Giegucz was a pretty fair player. She was a four-time all-conference forward who amassed 34 goals and 20 assists in her career at Division III Dickinson. But ask Giegucz to compare herself to current Rock forward Sydney Patrick, and she...
Apollo-Ridge grad Jake Nulph, Edinboro football eager to start 2024 season fresh after injury-plagued ’23
There might have been times last fall when Edinboro football coach Jake Nulph considered resorting to unconventional measures. Throwing salt over his shoulder. Wearing a necklace made from garlic. Hanging a horseshoe in his office. Consulting a shaman. Surely the Apollo-Ridge grad had run afoul of the gridiron gods. How...
Mark Madden: Russell Wilson offers Steelers a reliable presence at QB; Justin Fields doesn’t
Once his calf is totally healed, and he’s taking regular snaps, and the 100% fabricated battle for the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback job is over, Russell Wilson will be the team’s saving grace. If there’s anything to be made of the team’s 2024 season, Wilson will do it. Not the $160...
Hempfield grad Bridget Williams’ Olympic run ends in pole vault qualifying round
Bridget (Guy) Williams fell just short of qualifying for the finals in the pole vault at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday morning in Saint-Denis, France. The Hempfield grad failed to clear 4.55 meters and finished outside the top 20 qualifiers who advanced to Wednesday’s finals. Competing for Team USA,...
First Call: Steelers working out a WR; No. 3 QB pushing Kenny Pickett in Philly; Brandon Aiyuk trade talk in Cleveland, New EnglandVideo
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at a wide receiver the Pittsburgh Steelers are checking out. A few teams may be in a better position for a Brandon Aiyuk trade than the Steelers are at this point. We examine Kenny Pickett’s progress (or lack thereof) in Philadelphia. And Gerrit Cole...
Madden Monday: Expect a Sidney Crosby contract soon — but if it doesn’t happen this week ‘we can start wondering’
Many National Hockey League observers assume that Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will sign his contract extension this week. After all, the notoriously superstitious No. 87 has his 37th birthday coming up on Aug. 7 (8/7). During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive...
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes had ‘one of those days’ … as did many other Pirates in a costly loss to Arizona
Paul Skenes’ latest outing was his least impressive since his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs on May 11. That day, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation yielded three earned runs in four innings while allowing six hits, a hit batter and two walks. On Sunday against Arizona, Skenes struggled...
Pirates newcomer Jalen Beeks sees blueprint for success after pitching in 3 straight gamesVideo
When the Pittsburgh Pirates returned home to open a key series against the Arizona Diamondbacks this past weekend, lefty reliever Jalen Beeks already had debuted for his new club after being acquired from Colorado a day before the trade deadline. As for his potential role with the Pirates, Beeks was...
Olympic boxer Imane Khelif calls for end to bullying after backlash over gender misconceptionsVideo
PARIS — Olympic boxer Imane Khelif said the wave of hateful scrutiny she has faced over misconceptions about her gender “harms human dignity,” and she called for an end to bullying athletes after being greatly affected by the international backlash against her. The Algerian athlete spoke about her tumultuous Olympic...
Westmoreland County teens compete at Clay Target League national championships
It takes dedication to be a clay target shooter. Every shot demands focus and accuracy to ensure the target is hit, and right after the shot is taken, the shooter needs to be ready to take down the next target. That dedication allowed members of the Hempfield, Yough and Latrobe...
Belgium withdraws from mixed relay triathlon after athlete who swam in Seine River falls ill
PARIS — Belgium’s Olympic committee announced Sunday that it would withdraw its team from the mixed relay triathlon at the Paris Olympics after one of its competitors who swam in the Seine River fell ill. Claire Michel, who competed in the women’s triathlon Wednesday, “is unfortunately ill and will have...
Mt. Lebanon’s JB Nelson looks to help stabilize Penn State’s new-look offensive line
STATE COLLEGE — From the outside looking in, replacing three starters on the offensive line, all of whom were NFL Draft picks in April, is among the most pressing to-do items on Penn State’s camp agenda. Losing Olu Fashanu, Caedan Wallace and Hunter Nourzad opened up spots at both tackle...
Inside the ropes: Fullback Jack Colletto gets featured role in short-yardage situations
On a day when the Pittsburgh Steelers practiced goal-line and short-yardage situations, it was a chance to get the fullback involved in the offensive game plan. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith likes using a fullback as well as multiple tight ends. Last year, when Smith was the head coach in...
Kristen Faulkner wins Paris Olympics women’s road race for U.S. after making the team as a replacementVideo
PARIS — With the Eiffel Tower behind her and the sun shining at the Paris Olympics, Kristen Faulkner stood atop the podium with her hand on her heart as the American national anthem played. Briefly, she closed her eyes as the enormity of her win in the women’s road race...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 4, 2024: Newly acquired Billy Cook knocks in 3 runs for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-55) fell 10-8 to Toledo (Tigers). LF Billy Cook (.288), who the Pirates recently acquired in a trade with the Orioles, was 3 for 5 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer and a double. RF Edward Olivares (.245) was 3 for 5. 1B Seth Beer (.313) doubled...
DeMarvin Leal using versatility to take on larger role on Steelers defense
The training camp roster still lists DeMarvin Leal as weighing 290 pounds, although it’s clear he is much leaner than in his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The roster also lists his position as defensive end, although that isn’t entirely accurate, either. Leal continues to play the position...
