Sports category, Page 703
Forwards Bryan Rust, Jesse Puljujarvi rejoin Penguins practice
Bryan Rust looked different Friday. The Pittsburgh Penguins forward was wearing a neck guard. In the aftermath of former Penguins forward Adam Johnson’s death as a result of a skate cut to his neck while playing in the United Kingdom on Oct. 28, there were countless calls for players at...
QB Mason Rudolph confirmed starter for Steelers; Kenny Pickett questionable to back him up
It’s official. Mason Rudolph is getting a second consecutive start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Mike Tomlin’s decision was confirmed by a team spokesperson after Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Rudolph had gotten first-team reps all week, but Tomlin during his weekly news conference Tuesday had...
Counting down the top stories in WPIAL sports in 2023: Aliquippa finally achieves perfection
The 2023 year in WPIAL sports saw a lot of excitement across three seasons. There was domination on the hardwood and in the pool during the winter sports season and sensational action on the diamonds, hardcourts and tracks in the spring, concluding with greatness on the gridiron, the pitch and...
First Call: Browns fans troll Pittsburgh during win; Devin Bush on emotions toward Steelers
The final “First Call” of 2023 gives us some AFC North trash talk from Browns fans toward the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cameron Heyward shares his thoughts on Joe Flacco’s success in Cleveland. Hines Ward is done as an XFL head coach. Devin Bush discusses the prospect of playing the Steelers. And...
Pitt’s Blake Hinson feels pulse of team, provides scoring touch it needs
Blake Hinson is the only senior in Pitt’s starting lineup, so he willingly accepts the responsible roles of guidance counselor and the team’s leading scorer. The scoring part is easy for Hinson, who leads the ACC and is tied for sixth in the nation in made 3-pointers (45). He also...
2023 in Pittsburgh college sports: Pitt men’s basketball ended 5-year NCAA Tournament drought
To fully and fairly assess the 2023 sports year at Pitt, you need to go back to the end of 2022. The metamorphosis of coach Jeff Capel’s men’s basketball program began to take shape Dec. 30, 2022, when Pitt upset No. 25 North Carolina, 76-74, at Petersen Events Center. The...
Football Footnotes: Examining the scenarios for the Steelers to avoid AFC playoff elimination
There are a lot of confusing AFC playoff scenarios afoot this weekend, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are involved in many of them. For the Steelers, a few things are clear. They can’t clinch anything with a win in Seattle on Sunday. And they can’t be eliminated strictly by losing to...
Tim Benz: While the NFL celebrates parity, Pittsburgh shouldn’t applaud Steelers’ mediocrity
NFL parity is nearing historic levels. As you could probably guess, the league is basking in it. Here is a social media post from NFL senior vice president of football and international communications Michael Signora. 24 teams are still in contention for a trip to the Super Bowl, which ties...
Arizona forces 6 turnovers in comeback win over Oklahoma in Alamo Bowl
SAN ANTONIO — Gunner Maldonado returned a fumble 87 yards for a touchdown and also had an interception as No. 14 Arizona forced six turnovers in a 38-24 comeback victory over No. 12 Oklahoma on Thursday night in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Noah Fifita threw for 354 yards and two...
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe says he overcame naysayers, including Bill O’Brien, to lead Tide
LOS ANGELES — Jalen Milroe went to Alabama determined to become an elite SEC quarterback, and nothing could deter him from his goal. Not even, he says, his own offensive coordinator. Milroe revealed Thursday that Bill O’Brien, Alabama’s coordinator during Milroe’s first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, once suggested he should...
Freshman QB Avery Johnson leads Kansas State past No. 19 N.C. State in Pop-Tarts Bowl
ORLANDO, Fla. — Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and a score and Kansas State beat No. 19 North Carolina State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday night. Johnson, a freshman making his first start after Will Howard entered the...
Junior college guard Brandon Hall commits to Duquesne basketball
In the midst of its 8-3 start to the season, Duquesne men’s basketball received a verbal commitment this week from junior college guard Brandon Hall for the 2024-25 season. 2024 Howard College (TX) G Brandon Hall has committed to Duquesne. Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) December 24, 2023 Hall (6-foot-4)...
Vikings turn to Jaren Hall again in latest spin of QB carousel
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have switched starting quarterbacks for the fourth time in nine weeks, handing the offense again to rookie Jaren Hall with two must-win games left for making the playoffs. Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Thursday that Hall will start Sunday against Green Bay, benching Nick Mullens...
Diaz Graham twins’ mom makes herself at home on Pitt campus during holiday visit
When Elizabeth Graham goes shopping in her favorite Italian grocery story, people know her and stop to say hello. That wouldn’t be unusual in her hometown of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. But it’s happening not far from the Pitt campus in Oakland where Graham is spending the holidays visiting...
Kenny Pickett remains limited; Minkah Fitzpatrick out of Steelers practice
In regards to their No. 1 quarterback and All-Pro safety, it remained status quo at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Thursday. Like he was throughout last week and during the first practice of this week Wednesday, Kenny Pickett was listed as a limited participant on the injury report Thursday. Pickett has missed...
Kyle Monangai leads Rutgers to win over Miami in Pinstripe Bowl
NEW YORK — Kyle Monangai rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries to help give Rutgers a 31-24 win over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl on Thursday. The victory gave the Scarlet Knights (7-6) their first winning season since 2014, when they went 8-4 in their inaugural...
Bills’ Von Miller: Domestic abuse allegations against him ‘100% false’
Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller on Thursday disputed the allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend, calling them “100% false” and “blown out of proportion.” Addressing the media for the first time since turning himself into police in suburban Dallas on Nov. 30, Miller indicated something happened between him...
Patrick Peterson passed test as safety last week for Steelers; is full-time move there on horizon?
It wasn’t quite as scenic a perspective of Acrisure Stadium that tourists get from the Mount Washington overlooks. But Patrick Peterson had a unique view of this past Saturday’s game. From the far back of the defense. “It was a different view being back deep playing the safety position,” Peterson...
Steelers rookie Joey Porter Jr. has circled upcoming matchup against Seahawks’ DK Metcalf
In first two months as an NFL starting cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Joey Porter Jr. has been paired against some of the league’s top wide receivers. And he has managed to shut down or limit pass catchers such as DeAndre Hopkins, Ja’Marr Chase, Amari Cooper and Tee Higgins. His biggest...
Texans QB C.J. Stroud says he’ll start Sunday vs. Titans after recovering from concussion
HOUSTON — Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said Thursday that he will start this weekend against the Tennessee Titans after missing two games recovering from a concussion. “It’s great being back,” Stroud said. Stroud was injured in a Dec. 10 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf...
Penn State’s proud defense braces for Peach Bowl test against up-tempo Ole Miss attack
ATLANTA — The marquee matchup in Saturday’s Peach Bowl is No. 10 Penn State’s top-ranked defense against No. 11 Mississippi’s up-tempo offense. Penn State’s proud defense led the nation in fewest yards and first downs and collected the most sacks. The Nittany Lions know those rankings will be tested by...
Illinois suspends star basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. after rape charge
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois suspended basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. on Thursday after he was charged with rape for an alleged incident that happened when the football team played at Kansas in September. The school suspended Shannon from “all team activities, effective immediately,” a day after the Douglas (Kansas) County...
Counting down the top stories in WPIAL sports in 2023: North Catholic girls add to trophy case
The 2023 year in WPIAL sports saw a lot of excitement across three seasons. There was domination on the hardwood and in the pool during the winter sports season and sensational action on the diamonds, hardcourts and tracks in the spring, concluding with greatness on the gridiron, the pitch and...
Penguins forward Rickard Rakell beginning to find goals in different waysVideo
Christmas came early for Rickard Rakell. By about two days. In a 5-4 overtime road loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins forward scored his first goal of the season. It was a nice gift for the holidays, though he probably would have preferred to have registered...
Military background helps Mike Sullivan adjust to calling plays amid Steelers’ QB carousel
Since taking over play-calling duties for the Pittsburgh Steelers in November, Mike Sullivan has found himself calling upon his experience in the U.S. Army when facing trying circumstances. In five games since replacing Matt Canada in that role, Sullivan has needed to prepare each of his three quarterbacks to make...
