Sports category, Page 760
Football Footnotes: Beyond the QBs, analyzing 5 other points Mike Tomlin made about improving the Steelers
This week’s “Football Footnotes” provides an in-depth look at many topics Mike Tomlin addressed regarding the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers during his season-ending press conference. Except for the quarterbacks. We talked about them already. But there are plenty of other marshmallows in this bowl of Lucky Charms. The big picture Tomlin...
Tim Benz: Mason Rudolph should charge Steelers a ‘trust tax’ if they try to sign him
During the course of quarterback Mason Rudolph’s unlikely three-game win streak to help push the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs, coach Mike Tomlin often seemed guarded in his praise of the former third-stringer. It was almost as if Tomlin didn’t want to feed the hype surrounding his resurgence. Or,...
Dwight Clay earned ’15 minutes of fame for 50 years’ with streak-busting basket to beat UCLA
The story of how Dwight Clay ended up making the long journey — geographically and culturally — from Pittsburgh’s Hill District to Notre Dame’s South Bend campus where he impacted college basketball like no one before him starts with Mary Clay, his mom. “Everyone knew Mary Clay,” Dwight Clay said....
Pitt Take 5: After confronting Duke at Cameron, will Panthers’ road get easier?
No one should be surprised North Carolina and Duke are the only two ACC teams that appear to have Final Four potential. At least, to this point of the season, with seven weeks left before the conference tournament. Yeah, it’s early, but ESPN’s Joe Lunardi posts his bracketology in June....
John Harbaugh, with mix of love and old-school rigor, has Ravens set for playoff run
Anxiety percolated behind the scenes. How could it not? Lamar Jackson, the superstar quarterback around whom the Baltimore Ravens had shaped their roster and their plans, asked to be traded. John Harbaugh, entering his 16th season as the team’s coach, faced the prospect of starting over at the most important...
Packers QB Jordan Love offers different challenge for 49ers from past playoffs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers had plenty of success going up against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs when Aaron Rodgers was running the show. The Niners knocked Rodgers and the Packers out of the playoffs four times, including twice in the previous four seasons. While...
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Texans’ C.J. Stroud ready for rematch
BALTIMORE — When Lamar Jackson and C.J. Stroud faced off in Week 1 back in September, it was not a good representation of how those two would play this season. Jackson threw an early interception. Each quarterback lost a fumble. Stroud was sacked five times and Jackson four. “I haven’t...
Mike McCarthy sells belief in playoff breakthrough that has eluded Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — Mike McCarthy sifted through several versions of selling his belief that the Dallas Cowboys can find a level of postseason success that has eluded the storied franchise for nearly three decades. The coach faced reporters a day after a meeting with owner and general manager Jerry Jones...
Mike Tomlin looking for experienced NFL offensive coordinator to join Steelers’ staff
If Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin were placing a help wanted ad for a new offensive coordinator, he likely would include the following phrase: “Those without previous experience need not apply.” Tomlin said Thursday at his end-of-season news conference that he wants his next offensive coordinator to have NFL coordinating...
Anna Blinkova upsets Elena Rybakina in record-long Australian Open tiebreaker
MELBOURNE, Australia — Her hand and her legs were shaking, she’d missed nine match points but also saved six, and Anna Blinkova was 41 points into a wild tiebreaker that was the longest ever in a women’s Grand Slam event. Elena Rybakina, last year’s Australian Open runner-up, was just as...
Miami TE Cam McCormick says he’s coming back for 9th year of college
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami tight end Cam McCormick said Thursday that he is coming back for a ninth season of college football. He is believed to be the first with a ninth season granted by the NCAA. McCormick’s career was derailed multiple times by season-ending injuries, some of which...
Falcons plan for 2nd interview with Bill Belichick after talking with Eagles’ Brian Johnson
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are planning for a second interview with Bill Belichick after talking with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson for the head coaching vacancy on Thursday. Belichick made the Falcons his first known interview Monday since leaving the New England Patriots. Belichick won a record six...
Kenny Pickett back to Steelers QB1 but Mike Tomlin hopes Mason Rudolph returns to competeVideo
He didn’t resort to trademark “Tomlinisms,” or deploy the extra wordiness he’s sometimes wont to do. Instead, Mike Tomlin’s use of an extraordinarily elongated vowel delivered most of his message when he was asked about the man who still seeks to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ franchise quarterback. “It’s a huuuuuuuge...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirms his return at season-ending press conference
Mike Tomlin is ready to fulfill the final year of his contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he’s confident the 2024 season won’t be his last with the organization. Fresh off his 17th season with the Steelers, Tomlin said Thursday at his end-of-season news conference that he is confident an...
Nebraska hires away Steelers offensive assistant Glenn Thomas as co-coordinator
The offseason coaching carousel has begun to spin, with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first assistant coach leaving the staff. The University of Nebraska hired Steelers offensive assistant Glenn Thomas as its co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the school announced via a release. Thomas, a veteran of more than two decades of...
Kirk Cousins plans to be ready for OTAs in the spring after Achilles injury
Kirk Cousins plans to be ready to return for practice in the spring wherever he ends up playing next season. Cousins continues progressing from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season after eight games. He’s set to become a free agent following six years with the Minnesota Vikings but...
Thought to be moving up to 3A for next 2 years, Westinghouse will instead play Class A football
City League champion Westinghouse is dropping to Class A football next season after successfully avoiding a promotion under the PIAA competitive-balance rule. Bulldogs coach Donta Green said the PIAA initially identified 21 Westinghouse players as possible transfers, a total that would’ve put the team in jeopardy of moving from Class...
First Call: Speculation about Aaron Donald’s plans; former Steelers WR Martavis Bryant staying with Cowboys
There are quite a few NFL items in Thursday’s “First Call.” Many of them have Pittsburgh ties. Greenfield’s Mike McCarthy is getting another crack with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are also keeping a former Steelers wide receiver. Penn Hills and Pitt legend Aaron Donald has to make a decision...
U mad, bro?: Another Steelers season ends without a playoff win, so fans are in an angry mood
A Steelers season has ended in playoff failure for the fifth time since 2016. So fans are mad at the coach, the players and, most importantly, the media that covers them. As a member of that media contingent, I take no responsibility for the Steelers’ shortcomings in the playoffs. I...
What has worked and what hasn’t for the Penguins this season?
With 42 games played this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of work ahead of them. To be precise, they have 40 games ahead of them. The obvious goal is a playoff spot after seeing a 16-year postseason streak end last spring. Coming into Thursday’s games, the Penguins (21-15-6, 48...
Next on the Tee: LPGA Tour pro Meaghan Francella discusses playing career, teaching
On this episode of Next on the Tee, host Chris Mascaro is joined by Tom Patri and a trio of Next on the Tee rookies — LPGA Tour pro and a Top 100 Teacher to Watch for 2024-25, Meaghan Francella; one of golf’s most decorated amateur players, Steve Scott; and...
ACC accuses Florida State of breaching contract in amended lawsuit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The ACC accused Florida State of breach of contract Wednesday, saying the Seminoles broke promises when they legally challenged an agreement that binds the school to the league for the next dozen years. The ACC initially sued the Florida State Board of Trustees in North Carolina in...
West Virginia can’t hold early lead, stumbles on road to No. 15 Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. — Jalon Moore scored 16 points and Javian McCollum and Rivaldo Soares each added 13 to help No. 15 Oklahoma defeat West Virginia, 77-63, on Wednesday night. Otega Oweh added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma (14-3, 2-2 Big 12), which shot 63.6% in the second half...
Robert Morris men survive in wild double-OT win over Detroit Mercy
TJ Wainwright considered the possibility of Robert Morris being “that team,” but he said the Colonials were determined not to allow Detroit Mercy to get its first men’s basketball victory of the season. Even when things were looking bleak. “I kept telling the guys, ‘We’re still going to win this...
Minor league report: Jesse Puljujarvi scores again as Penguins lose to BruinsVideo
Forward Jesse Puljujarvi had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-2 home loss to the Providence Bruins at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. It marked the second consecutive game in which Puljujarvi recorded a goal. The fourth overall pick of the 2016 NHL...
