Wednesday’s “First Call” has a big name training partner (and tutor) for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard. Gambling money is pouring in on the Pirates.
Pitt needs to close the college basketball season strong, as Robert Morris is ready to start tournament play.
Plus, postseason accolades for Duquesne women’s basketball, and a stick tap for an important member of RMU’s hockey team.
Partnered up
Steelers quarterback Will Howard is training with presumptive No. 1 overall draft choice Fernando Mendoza. That became clear via a social media post from QB coach Jake Heaps.
No secret sauce, just work!! Two National Champions with bright NFL futures! ???? pic.twitter.com/k7d3d3y11R
— Jake Heaps (@jtheaps9) March 3, 2026
Heaps is known for being Russell Wilson’s personal quarterback coach as well. Wilson was with the Steelers in 2024. The Steelers drafted Howard in 2025. Mendoza is expected to be the first selection in the NFL Draft when Las Vegas picks at the top of the board. That event is in Pittsburgh next month.
Mendoza did not throw at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine. He is expected to do so at Indiana’s pro day April 1.
Howard and Mendoza are the last two QBs to win college football’s national championship.
Bucks on the Bucs
The gambling public is buying heavy on the Pittsburgh Pirates.
As mined by Ben Fawkes at Yahoo, MGM has moved the Pirates’ over-under win total from 72.5 all the way to 78.5 for the 2026 season.
That’s because 97% of the tickets and 99% of the money were coming in on the over.
The Pittsburgh Pirates OVER (moved from 72.5 to 78.5 wins) is the most-bet MLB season win total by both total wagers and $$ at @BetMGM sportsbooks.
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) March 3, 2026
97% of ????️, 99% of ???? on the OVER
Apparently, fans are bullish on Paul Skenes, the Pirates rotation, offseason additions to the lineup, and the potential of Konnor Griffin making the club out of spring training.
Last year, the Pirates won 71 games. The franchise has exceeded 78.5 wins just once since 2015.
A lot on the line
Robert Morris has top billing when it comes to men’s basketball Wednesday night. The Colonials are at home against Youngstown State in the first round of the Horizon League tournament.
RMU enters postseason play as the No. 2 seed at 13-7 (21-10 overall). The Penguins finished ninth at 8-12 (15-16 overall). The Colonials are defending conference champions. They beat YSU twice during the regular season.
Duquesne (16-13, 8-8 Atlantic 10) tips off at 7 p.m. as well. The Dukes are on the road at Rhode Island (15-14, 6-10). Both teams are looking to snap three-game losing streaks.
Also, Pitt (11-18, 4-12 ACC) hosts Florida State (15-14, 8-8) for a 9 p.m. tip. The Panthers need this win badly. They are currently tied with Notre Dame for the final ACC Tournament spot. The Fighting Irish are also 4-12 in conference play, but Pitt beat ND on Feb. 21 (73-68).
The Panthers end the regular season at Syracuse on Saturday. Notre Dame hosts Stanford on Wednesday night and visits Boston College on Saturday.
All ‘A’s’ for Alexis
On the women’s side of things, Duquesne star Alexis Bordas picked up some postseason recognition. She was placed on the Atlantic 10’s All-Rookie team.
????????????-????????????????????????. ????????????-????????????????????????????
— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) March 3, 2026
Alexis Bordas becomes the first freshman since 2016 to earn a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team!
????: https://t.co/tVRi7iS9Dy#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/dcpUlhUVGs
The native of Wheeling was the conference Rookie of the Week four times this year. She leads all A-10 freshmen and ranks fourth overall in the conference in scoring at 15.4 points per game.
Bordas and the Dukes hope to take out VCU in the first round of the A-10 tournament in Virginia at noon Wednesday. Both teams finished 4-14 in conference play. This will be the third meeting between the schools, with each team winning on their home floor during the regular season. Bordas posted 52 total points in those two games.
Robert Morris (18-11, 11-9 Horizon) is at Purdue Fort Wayne (18-12, 12-8) on Wednesday night for a first-round Horizon League Tournament game at 7.
Pitt’s season ended without making the ACC Tournament as the Panthers went 8-23 (1-17 ACC). Coach Tory Verdi was fired on Tuesday after three seasons.
Well deserved
Robert Morris freshman John Babcock had a big weekend against Mercyhurst. He scored in both games of the weekend series and registered an assist.
BABCOCK WITH A BLAST FROM THE BLUE LINE!???? pic.twitter.com/LAUy7uzza2
— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) February 28, 2026
Babcock scores for the second straight game!???? pic.twitter.com/9327R0RSnh
— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) February 28, 2026
Those numbers earned Babcock Atlantic Hockey Defenseman of the Week honors. His contribution helped RMU secure a weekend sweep of the Lakers (5-3, 4-1) to close out the regular season.
Those six points earned Babcock and his teammates third place in the Atlantic. As a result, they’ll host Air Force this weekend in a best-of-three quarterfinal playoff series. Those will be the first home playoff games since the program was rebooted in the 2023-24 season.
Babcock ended the year with 97 blocks. That’s the highest total in all of Atlantic Hockey.
