Sports category, Page 814
Michigan fires football staffer Connor Stalions in sign-stealing fallout
Connor Stalions, the low-level Michigan football staffer who is at the center of an NCAA investigation into impermissible scouting of opponents and sign stealing, resigned, the school said Friday. Michigan athletics spokesman Kurt Svoboda told the Associated Press that Stalions resigned his position, effective Friday afternoon. The school had no...
NASCAR defends drama-free final four, vows to do a better job promoting its young stars
AVONDALE, Ariz. — NASCAR on Friday dismissed the sentiment that this weekend’s championship finale lacks the pizzazz and star power of a major event. The final four — Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney and William Byron — is the youngest since the winner-take-all format began in 2014, and Larson...
Browns QB Deshaun Watson to start versus Cardinals
BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson is going to try again. The Cleveland’ Browns quarterback, who was sidelined for all but 12 plays in four October games with a curious and confusing right shoulder injury, will start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, coach Kevin Stefanski said following Friday’s practice. Watson has...
Hempfield grad wins Pan Am gold in pole vault
Already a world-class athlete, Bridget (Guy) Williams became a world champion with a victory at the Pan Am Games. The Hempfield and Virginia alum soared to a gold medal in the pole vault Friday at Julio Martinez Pradanos National Stadium in Santiago, Chile with a vault of 4.6 meters (15...
Analysis: After loss to Steelers, time for Titans to make rookie QB Will Levis permanent starterVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans reach the halfway point of the NFL season unable to win away from home or close out tight games. One thing is clear: Rookie Will Levis has shown enough in his first two NFL starts to be their quarterback because he gives the Titans...
Chiefs’ Travis Kelce won’t say if Taylor Swift will attend Sunday’s game in GermanyVideo
FRANKFURT, Germany — Travis Kelce declined to discuss Taylor Swift’s status for Sunday’s game in Germany — and their status as a couple. The Chiefs tight end spoke Friday at a news conference but wouldn’t say whether the pop star plans to attend the game against the Miami Dolphins at...
5 things we learned: Steelers could use a hand to help out WR Diontae Johnson
Five things we learned from Steelers 20, Titans 16: 1. One man gang Diontae Johnson’s touchdown catch with 4 minutes, 2 seconds remaining continued his run of strong performances since he was activated from injured reserve when the Steelers returned from their bye to face Los Angeles. It’s a nice...
‘That’s his baby’: With love for an old glove, Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes goes for Gold
Ke’Bryan Hayes smiled as he slipped the 11¾-inch Wilson 1787 model infielder’s glove onto his left hand, squeezing it softly to show as if it’s a natural extension of his arm. The Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman has worn the same glove since 2016, so long that it’s difficult to ascertain...
Mark Madden: Think these are the best of times for Steelers? You’re fooling yourself
The Pittsburgh Steelers should change their rally song. Stick with Styx. But try “Grand Illusion” instead of “Renegade.” The Steelers have been outgained in every game, and by 790 yards on the season. They have been outscored by 30 points. Their quarterback is pedestrian: Kenny Pickett completed just two passes...
Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers ‘staying on schedule’ after win over Titans
In this week’s “Friday Football Footnotes,” we look at the Pittsburgh Steelers in the big picture after Thursday’s win. We lay out the local college football slate of games. There is plenty of good NFL viewing on Sunday. And the Browns-Cardinals game could be quite a quarterback conundrum. • The...
Steelers vs. Titans: What they’re saying in Tennessee after loss
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis got to hear “Renegade” by Styx a lot recently. “That song is a banger,” he said, according to The Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes. “We’ve been playing it all week in practice.” The song typically is played during potentially pivotal moments of Pittsburgh Steelers home...
No. 9 Penn State faces possible trap game against reeling MarylandVideo
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland coach Michael Locksley admitted his team needs to handle the role of a favorite a lot better than it did the past couple games. That won’t be an issue this week, when the Terrapins face an entirely different challenge. No. 9 Penn State comes to...
First Call: Gary Bettman on future of fighting in NHL; San Jose welcomes Penguins after humiliating loss
With our “Airing of Grievances” and “Friday Football Footnotes,” we have the Pittsburgh Steelers pretty well covered after the Thursday night game against Tennessee. So this is an all-hockey “First Call.” We’ve got Gary Bettman’s State of the Union on fighting in the NHL. Phil Kessel wants to keep playing....
Pitt Take 5: Panthers must tame Florida State defensive end, Pennsylvania native Jared Verse
The only answer Pat Narduzzi could offer was something about post-Halloween magic. For whatever reason, Pitt hasn’t lost a game in November (8-0 the past two seasons) since Nov. 28, 2020, a 52-17 setback at Clemson. The Panthers haven’t lost a November home game since Nov. 30, 2019, a 26-19...
Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry’s harsh self-critique appreciated by teammates
Following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ ugly 4-3 home loss to the Anaheim Ducks, there was plenty of criticism levied at Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. Especially by Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. “You play the game to win,” Jarry said at PPG Paints Arena following the contest. “I don’t think I’ve been giving...
Erik Karlsson makes return to San Jose with Penguins in desperate need of a winVideo
In terms of what the San Jose Sharks accomplished over his five years with the club, 2018-19 represented the high-water mark of the Erik Karlsson era in San Jose. The Sharks that season advanced to the Western Conference finals, where they were defeated by St. Louis in six games, with...
Kedon Slovis faces West Virginia again, this time with BYU
BYU (5-3, 2-3 Big 12) at West Virginia (5-3, 3-2) 7 p.m. Saturday, Fox Line: West Virginia by 10 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook. Series record: West Virginia leads 1-0. WHAT’S AT STAKE? One team will become bowl eligible. BYU is looking for a strong November to avoid its worst...
Feats of Strength: Snapped streaks, ‘weighty plays,’ resurgent run game tell story as Steelers edge Titans
With this year’s Pittsburgh Steelers team, we’ve come to expect the unexpected. Well, except for Diontae Johnson touchdowns and first-quarter scoring drives. But after Thursday’s 20-16 comeback win against the Tennessee Titans, I guess even those items are in play now. Those were just two of the storylines worth recapping...
Chuks Okorafor benched for ‘something I said,’ allowing for Broderick Jones to start for Steelers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers arrived for the first true day of work of their very short work week, coach Mike Tomlin needed to have a discussion with at least two men. With Broderick Jones, the Tuesday chat was brief. “‘Coach T’ told me to do something,” the rookie said late...
Steelers offense comes alive, defense seals win vs. Titans
A game that had an uncharacteristic fast start for the Pittsburgh Steelers featured another of Kenny Pickett’s signature fourth-quarter finishes. With offensive coordinator Matt Canada calling plays from the sideline for the first time, Pickett helped pull out a 20-16 victory against the Tennessee Titans when he threw a go-ahead...
Quarterback issues permeate Browns-Cardinals tilt
CLEVELAND — Through sheer luck, some questionable officiating and a strong defense, the Cleveland Browns somehow have survived without their franchise quarterback for the past month. The Arizona Cardinals haven’t been nearly as fortunate. As the teams get ready to play Sunday, there are few definitive answers about the quarterback...
Next on the Tee: 9-time PGA, Champions Tour champion Tom Purtzer shares golf memories
On this week’s episode of Next on the Tee, host Chris Mascaro welcomes golf instructor Tom Patri; as well as Tom Purtzer, a nine-time winner between the PGA and Champions tours; Pittsburgh Field Club head golf professional Chris Sheehan; and David Moore, the curator of history at Oakmont and Allegheny...
Steelers ILB Cole Holcomb leaves game with apparent serious knee injury
Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Cole Holcomb left the field on a motorized cart after suffering a serious knee injury late in the first quarter of Thursday night’s win against the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium. Holcomb was chasing Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins as Hopkins made a 29-yard catch and run...
Reports: Frustrated Big Ten coaches push for league to discipline Michigan for sign-stealingVideo
There is mounting pressure on Big Ten Conference commissioner Tony Petitti from football coaches to discipline Michigan and coach Jim Harbaugh for an alleged sign-stealing scheme that has cast a cloud over the second-ranked Wolverines as the postseason approaches. Coaches were angry and expressed frustration during a call with Petitti...
Steelers’ Matt Canada calls plays from sideline rather than coaches’ box vs. Titans
Matt Canada’s view of the action has changed. Margially better results for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense followed. Canada, the Steelers’ embattled offensive coordinator, was on the sideline for Thursday night’s home game against the Tennessee Titans. That was newsworthy because over his 2½ seasons calling the Steelers’ plays, he had...
