Bill Hillgrove was witness to Dick Groat’s toughness
Dick Groat, who died Thursday of complications from a stroke at the age of 92, played baseball and basketball with equal flair. • Baseball MVP, two-time World Series champion and 14-year MLB pro with the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. • Star basketball player at Duke, college Hall of...
First Call: Joey Porter Jr. on prospect of falling to Steelers — or beyond; 40 years since Steelers passed on Dan Marino
Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. seems to have the Pittsburgh Steelers in mind as a potential end to his NFL Draft wait Thursday night. Wednesday marked the 40th anniversary of an infamous Steelers draft memory. The Pirates look to take a third straight series from the Los Angeles Dodgers. And...
ACC spring wrap: 14 players ready to break out in 2023
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A look at football players in the Atlantic Coast Conference this spring who are poised to have standout seasons this fall in the now division-less league: BOSTON COLLEGE: OL Christian Mahogany was a second-team all-ACC selection in 2021 who missed all last year with a knee injury....
Even at 6-foot-1, Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey will cost a premium pick in NFL Draft
From Hank Poteat in 2000 to Damarri Mathis last year, the names of 57 Pitt players were called in 21 of the past 23 NFL drafts. The exceptions: 2012 and 2013 when Pitt’s recruiting and player development were set back by the loss of two head coaches – Dave Wannstedt...
Oldest living U.S. Olympic medalist, Pitt great Herb Douglas dies at 101
Roger Kingdom spoke to Herb Douglas only a week ago. Thinking about their final chat, Kingdom was saddened like so many others when he heard Herbert P. Douglas Jr., the oldest living U.S. Olympic medalist, died Saturday at the age of 101. Pitt Icon Herb Douglas, the oldest living US...
First Call: Antonio Brown avoids arrest on child support charge; former Pitt AD Scott Barnes hospitalized
Monday’s “First Call” recaps an eventful week for former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. Former Pitt Athletic Director Scott Barnes is recovering from a medical event in California. The Pirates were the beneficiaries of a huge inning from a Red Sox rookie. And an ex-Penguin is still showing some scoring touch...
Southern Cal tight end Malcolm Epps transferring to Pitt
Former USC and Texas tight end Malcolm Epps, who appeared last year on the John Mackey Award watch list, decided to transfer to Pitt, according to a post on his Instagram account. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Malcolm Epps (@_itsepps) Epps (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) has 37...
Casey Jo MacPherson ‘the perfect fit’ as Pitt’s next gymnastics coach
Casey Jo MacPherson, who has served since 2011 as an assistant coach at Missouri, Western Michigan and Arkansas, has been named the fourth head coach in Pitt gymnastics history. She replaces Samantha Snider, who was relieved of her duties April 3. Athletic director Heather Lyke said in a statement that...
Forward Zack Austin signs with Pitt, makes transfer official
Zack Austin became the second of two transfers to sign with Pitt this offseason, leaving coach Jeff Capel with two scholarships available for the 2023-24 season. Capel announced the signing Friday after Austin had revealed his decision to transfer to Pitt on April 11. Austin, a 6-foot-7 wing forward with...
Pitt’s Blake Hinson will test his NBA Draft option while retaining collegiate eligibility
Pitt is faced with the possibility of losing junior forward Blake Hinson, who has decided to test the 2023 NBA Draft process while retaining his collegiate eligibility. Pitt officials made the announcement Friday morning. Hinson could remove his name from draft consideration and return to Pitt. The deadline to decide...
NFL Network analyst gives scouting forecast for Pitt players in advance of draft
We’ve speculated for months on who the Steelers should select in the NFL Draft. But what’s the evaluation of some of the draft eligible Pitt Panthers? During a conference call Thursday, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah was asked specifically about Pitt as a program and about some Panthers products...
Pitt, West Virginia set date for renewal of the basketball Backyard Brawl
Pitt will try to end West Virginia’s six-game winning streak in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl when the Panthers travel to Morgantown, W.Va., on Dec. 6 for the 190th meeting between the two rival schools. The game will mark the first time since 2012 that Pitt and West...
Former Rhode Island guard Ishmael Leggett will join rebuilt backcourt at Pitt
Pitt coach Jeff Capel made his biggest move of the offseason official Thursday morning when he said former Rhode Island combo guard Ishmael Leggett has signed and submitted the paperwork necessary to enroll this year. Leggett announced Monday on his Twitter account that he had verbally committed to the Panthers....
Former Pitt center John Hugley verbally commits to Oklahoma
Center John Hugley, who was Pitt’s leading scorer and rebounder during the 2021-22 season, will transfer to Oklahoma, on3.com reported. NEWS: Pitt transfer John Hugley has committed to Oklahoma, he tells @On3sports. Story w/ quotes: pic.twitter.com/7DfSv7sZ3F— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 20, 2023 “I chose Oklahoma because it just felt...
Pitt baseball: West Virginia rallies at PNC Park to win first installment of Backyard Brawl, 9-4
West Virginia came to PNC Park on Wednesday night missing its most dynamic player, Mars alum J.J. Wetherholt. The sophomore infielder, who ranks among the Big 12 leaders in a multitude of statistical categories, including batting average (.451, first, sixth nationally), hits (64, tied-first), doubles (16, second) and stolen bases...
Former Pitt players Penny Semaia, Shawn Robinson help prepare athletes for their life’s work
When they wore shoulder pads and helmets, Penny Semaia and Shawn Robinson helped former Pitt coach Walt Harris resurrect the program. Semaia toiled in the trenches as an offensive and defensive lineman; Robinson was a cornerback who intercepted six passes as a sophomore in 2000. Nearly a quarter-century later, they...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi designates potential golf tournament winnings for UPMC Children’s Hospital
With spring football concluded and nearly four months until training camp, Pat Narduzzi can catch his breath and relax — at least as much as any college football coach can relax these days. Narduzzi’s first bit of offseason relaxation will occur April 30-May 2 at the 16th annual Southern Company...
Pitt sophomore WR Myles Alston enters transfer portal
Myles Alston, who was among a group of young Pitt wide receivers competing for playing time behind three atop the depth chart, announced on his Twitter account Tuesday that he has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal. A rising redshirt sophomore, Alston (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) is the second...
First Call: Steelers may covet Jalen Carter with rumored trade in NFL Draft; ex-Pitt Panther sparkles in NBA playoffs
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers interviewed two big-name draft prospects and may be angling to trade up for another. A former WPIAL athlete is shining in the NBA playoffs, while another is looking for an NFL home. And Robert Morris’ basketball team is making noise in the transfer portal. All...
Pitt goes into transfer portal, lands former Rhode Island guard Ishmael Leggett
Jeff Capel likes good players, but he likes good, experienced players even more. He may have landed one of the latter type Monday when former Rhode Island guard Ishmael Leggett announced on his Twitter account that he will transfer to Pitt. LETS GET TO IT!???? #A4D pic.twitter.com/UHyD4JzSYa— Ishmael Leggett (@great8ish)...
With experienced hands, Phil Jurkovec holds the keys to Pitt’s offense
Phil Jurkovec turns 24 on Nov. 3, the day before Pitt plays Florida State, which (if all goes as well as some of the spring forecasts are insisting) could be a monumental game between two of the ACC’s best teams. You are reminded of Jurkovec’s birthday not to flood him...
Pitt notebook: Pat Narduzzi likes the ‘juice’ safety P.J. O’Brien brings to the defense
Pitt free safety P.J. O’Brien stood behind the podium, talking in staccato bursts, repeatedly clapping his hands for emphasis. If he plays football with the same enthusiasm, Pitt’s tradition of strong safety play — from Jordan Whitehead to Damar Hamlin to Erick Hallett to Brandon Hill — will continue. Pitt’s...
Everybody wins when brother competes against brother in Pitt’s spring game
Maybe Pat Narduzzi was kidding when he said the spring game winners eat steak and lobster whereas the losers will be served tofu for dinner. Actually, there were only winners Saturday during Pitt’s Blue-Gold game at Acrisure Stadium where the defense defeated the offense, 33-32, according to Narduzzi’s three-layered scoring...
Johnsons win the spring, Karter and Nahki named most improved players at Pitt drills
In advance of the Blue-Gold Game on Saturday afternoon, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi named two Johnsons — tight end Karter and defensive end Nahki — winners of the Ed Conway Award, emblematic of the most improved players during spring drills. Johnson, who transferred last year from Butler (Kan.) Community College,...
Pitt Take 5: Pat Narduzzi will keep eyes open, whistle at the ready during Blue-Gold Game
Pitt shuts down spring drills Saturday with the Blue-Gold Game, and the one sight coach Pat Narduzzi wants to see over all others is everyone walking out of Acrisure Stadium without the aid of crutches, walking boots or slings used to stabilize injured arms or shoulders. Spring ball is necessary...
