Sports category, Page 762
Recently modified practice-squad rules helping to save Steelers’ season on defense
Teryl Austin shook his head in a combination of relief and recognition. If not for some modifications made to the NFL’s practice squad rules in recent years, imagine where the Pittsburgh Steelers defense would have been this season by now? “Yeah,” Austin, the Steelers defensive coordinator, said this week. “That...
Steve Angeli throws for 3 TDs, No. 15 Notre Dame beats No. 21 Oregon State 40-8 in Sun BowlVideo
EL PASO, Texas — Steve Angeli passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns, guiding No. 15 Notre Dame to a 40-8 victory over No. 21 Oregon State in the Sun Bowl on Friday. Angeli went 15 for 19 and tossed TD passes of 8 yards to Jayden Thomas, 13 yards...
Former Steelers 1st-round picks Artie Burns, Devin Bush to face Steelers for 1st time
At one point, the mere utterance of each of their names would elicit hope and excitement of a bright future by Pittsburgh Steelers fans. By the end of their tenures with the franchise, though, many Steelers fans’ reactions instead were in the form of choice four-letter words. Each will face...
Analysis: QB Joe Flacco’s improbable comeback has Browns eyeing playoff run
CLEVELAND — In a surreal moment seemingly clipped from a Disney movie, Joe Flacco stood on the field and posed for a family photo with his wife, Dana, and their five children as delirious Browns fans serenaded them with chants of “M-V-P, M-V-P.” Welcome to Cleveland. Or in Flacco’s case,...
US outlasts Czechs in 4-3 shootout win at world juniors; Sweden shuts out Canada 2-0 in showdownVideo
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Isaac Howard scored in the opening goal of the game and added the clincher in a shootout as the United States outlasted Czechia, 4-3, on Friday at the world junior hockey championship.e Sweden, meanwhile, posted its third straight shutout with a 2-0 win over Canada. Howard, a...
Phil Mafah runs for 4 TDs as Clemson rallies to beat Kentucky in wild Gator Bowl
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Phil Mafah ran for four touchdowns, including a 3-yarder with 17 seconds to play, and Clemson beat Kentucky, 38-35, in a wild Gator Bowl on Friday to finish the year on a five-game winning streak. Mafah scored three times in a back-and-forth final quarter that saw five...
Clary scores career-high 29 and Penn State concludes nonconference play with 88-63 win over RiderVideo
STATE COLLEGE — Kanye Clary scored 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting, and Penn State eased by Rider, 88-63, on Friday. Clary, a sophomore, broke his previous best of 28 on an open 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 43 seconds remaining for an 86-58 lead. It came during Penn State’s 20-2 run...
Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin wants to be more than ‘normal player’
The debates are never-ending in just about every sport, especially with hockey. And with any kind of qualifier. Who’s the best player ever? Who’s the best defenseman? Goaltender? Finnish goal-scoring winger? Left-handed Latvian faceoff specialist? Newfoundland and Labrador-born shot-blocker? One of those discussions got a pretty definitive offering Friday. Who’s...
Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick, Trenton Thompson to miss another game for Steelers
Another week, another game without the services of their top four safeties for the Pittsburgh Steelers. All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick and Trenton Thompson did not practice Friday and were declared out for Sunday’s game at the Seattle Seahawks. That means that for the second consecutive week, the Steelers are likely to...
After missing CFP, Georgia, Florida State reset for trip to Orange Bowl
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida State and Georgia players have said all the right things this week. They’re happy to be in South Florida. They’re aware of the Orange Bowl’s history. They’re eager for the opportunities that await them Saturday. What’s unsaid is this: “But.” Let’s be honest: Neither the...
Peach Bowl boasts playoff-caliber matchup between Penn State, Ole Miss
ATLANTA — The Peach Bowl matchup of No. 10 Penn State and No. 11 Mississippi would be a good pairing in the 2024 debut of a 12-team playoff. For now, the goal is building momentum for a run at next year’s national championship. And even without playoff drama, the showdown...
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...
