Justin Guerriero stories, Page 7
After April heart surgery, Penguins’ Kris Letang feeling ‘really good’ as camp opens
The regularity with which Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has bounced back from significant injuries and even life-threatening health scares approaches the unbelievable. Concussions, a broken foot and hand, a fractured finger and neck surgery to repair a herniated disk are among — but far from all — the on-ice...
Penguins players size up new coach Dan Muse on Day 1 of training camp
The sights and sounds Thursday at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ opening day of training camp were reflective of the organization’s new direction, but so was what wasn’t seen or heard. Gone was the familiar presence of Mike Sullivan, whose rough New England accent boomed from UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex ice for...
Injured Pirates RHP Jared Jones progresses with rehab, remains on original recovery timeline
Jared Jones’ ultra competitive nature is easy to spot because of his demeanor on and off the mound. Naturally, watching his 2025 campaign end before it ever got away as a result of elbow surgery was not an easy pill to swallow for the 24-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates righty. Jones, while...
Pirates activate RHP Yohan Ramirez from paternity leave list, option RHP Cam Sanders to Triple-A
Ahead of their Wednesday afternoon series finale at home vs. Chicago, the Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated righty reliever Yohan Ramirez from the paternity leave list. In a corresponding transaction before first pitch between the Pirates and Cubs, fellow righty Cam Sanders was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Ramirez, 30, is 1-2 with...
Pirates prospect Rafael Flores hopes to showcase power, versatility in 1st MLB taste
The departure of affable hometown closer David Bednar, traded to the New York Yankees on July 31, was a painful moment for Pittsburgh Pirates fans, who could do nothing but sit back and deal with a popular player being shipped away to a contender. But what’s done is done. Bednar...
Analysis: Examining Pitt at the bye in all 3 phases
It’s unsurprising that Pitt’s collapse in the Backyard Brawl is being viewed by fans as a harbinger of more poor results to follow. The Panthers’ 31-24 defeat to their hated rival was doubtless deflating, while the manner in which Pitt lost did much to erode confidence in the team’s long-term...
After long road back from injury, Pirates RHP Justin Lawrence seeks strong finish
It would have been unsurprising to see Pittsburgh Pirates righty Justin Lawrence, who hadn’t pitched since late April, eased back onto the mound upon being activated from the 60-day injured list Friday. Instead, manager Don Kelly threw Lawrence directly into the fire, inserting him Sunday at Washington with the game...
Pitt announces TV details, kickoff time for ACC conference opener vs. Louisville
Pitt’s Sept. 27 home game vs. Louisville at Acrisure Stadium will kick off at noon and be broadcast nationally on ESPN or ESPN2, the ACC announced Monday. Following this week’s bye, the Panthers (2-1) begin conference play vs. the Cardinals (2-0), who host Bowling Green this weekend. Pitt last hosted...
Analysis: Pitt has soul-searching to do during bye week with ACC goals still aheadVideo
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After Pitt’s deflating overtime defeat in the Backyard Brawl, quarterback Eli Holstein told reporters that, despite the loss, the Panthers’ goals were still achievable. Namely, Holstein referred to competing for an ACC championship. “We still have our whole ACC schedule ahead of us,” he said after Pitt...
West Virginia ties score late, shocks Pitt with OT win in Backyard Brawl
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — More than enough Backyard Brawls (108 after Saturday’s contest at Milan Puskar Stadium, to be exact) have been played to confidently make some generalizations about Pitt and West Virginia’s historic rivalry. A good rule of thumb for when the Panthers and Mountaineers meet is to expect the...
Pitt, West Virginia announce 4-year extension of Backyard Brawl
One day before the 108th installment of the Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia, both schools announced an extension of the rivalry for four years from 2033-36. Those four games will be split between Acrisure and Milan Puskar stadiums, with Pitt hosting WVU on Sept. 10, 2033, and Sept....
Despite constant change in college football, flame of Backyard Brawl still burns brightVideo
Among the many memories forever embedded in Scott McKillop’s mind from one of the most iconic games in the history of Pitt athletics is a creeping sense of foreboding. McKillop deeply believed in his team, but on Dec. 1, 2007, as Pitt continued to hang around with and then pull...
Pitt maintaining routine, businesslike approach in leadup to Backyard Brawl
In Pat Narduzzi’s eyes, Pitt has put forth a productive week of practice leading into the 108th Backyard Brawl on Saturday afternoon in Morgantown. To prepare for playing West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium, Narduzzi has done his utmost to simulate loud crowd noises using massive speakers during practice. Not...
To Pitt’s coordinators, Panthers are an unfinished product on both sides of ballVideo
Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates quickly made it apparent that inside the Panthers’ 2-0 start, things have been far from perfect on his side of the ball. Through two weeks, Pitt has allowed a combined 26 points against Duquesne and Central Michigan, moving past those nonconference foes without many issues....
Beer, batteries, middle fingers: Pitt braces for ‘venom and poison’ from hostile WVU crowd
As Pitt got its Tuesday morning practice underway at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, music blasting from multiple loudspeakers provided an instant reminder as to the Panthers’ challenge this weekend. Not that anyone inside Pitt’s locker room had forgotten. “(Coach Pat Narduzzi) has the speakers blaring with crowd noise, different chants...
Pitt athletics set to assume responsibilities of NIL collective Alliance 412
Pitt announced Tuesday that it will assume the responsibilities of Alliance 412, “unifying support for Panther student-athletes into one streamlined and powerful platform.” When Alliance 412 was founded in 2021 by Pitt mega-donor Chris Bickell, the collective proved critical in helping the Panthers navigate a new world of college athletics...
Pitt football notebook: Pat Narduzzi gauges depth at TE, QB, while K Trey Butkowski gains confidenceVideo
As the Pitt readies for the 108th Backyard Brawl on Saturday in Morgantown, coach Pat Narduzzi has learned more about the depth of his tight end room, kicker Trey Butkowski’s potential and his future at quarterback. Next man up at TE Starting tight end Jake Overman was absent last weekend...
‘Advantage West Virginia’: Pat Narduzzi taking nothing away from Mountaineers despite loss to Ohio
Rich Rodriguez’s second stint as coach at West Virginia got off to a less-than-stellar start in Week 1, when the Mountaineers stumbled out of the gate against Robert Morris of the Football Championship Subdivision. The Mountaineers led the Colonials at home only 10-3 at halftime before recovering to post a...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi offers thoughts on future of Backyard Brawl
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi noted Monday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that this weekend features the final installment of the Backyard Brawl until 2029. While he can only give his opinion as a coach, for his part, Narduzzi wants to see the Backyard Brawl return to being an annual affair....
Analysis: New batch of playmakers take center stage for Pitt in win over Central MichiganVideo
In Pitt’s Week 1 win over Duquesne, several players quickly emerged as heroes to help their team rout the crosstown Dukes. To be sure, some of those players — namely quarterback Eli Holstein and tailback Desmond Reid — looked good again in Week 2 as Pitt cruised to a 45-17...
Pitt moves to 2-0 by pulling away from Central Michigan for comfortable win
As the first half began to wind down Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, Pitt was on the verge of entering cruise control against visiting Central Michigan. But to close out the second quarter, CMU scored a touchdown, capitalizing on an Eli Holstein interception before embarking on a lengthy touchdown drive in...
Pat Narduzzi confident with Pitt’s preparation, focus ahead of kickoff vs. Central Michigan
In 11 years under Pat Narduzzi, Pitt has suffered losses ranging from frustrating to inexplicable. A defeat Saturday at Acrisure Stadium to Central Michigan of the Mid-American Conference would be a combination of both, as Pitt is favored by more than three touchdowns (21.5 points as of Friday morning, per...
Aliquippa’s Cam Lindsey ready to make larger defensive contributions for PittVideo
Cam Lindsey arrived at Pitt a winner, having enjoyed a standout career at Aliquippa playing hard-nosed WPIAL football. When he stepped on campus as a freshman linebacker last season, he did so having led the Quips to three WPIAL titles and a pair of PIAA championships. But neither Lindsey’s successful...
Pitt true freshman CB Shawn Lee aims to build on 1st taste of collegiate action
Pitt’s 2025 recruiting class features several players likely to make contributions throughout the season as true freshmen. Some already have, none with more flash than receiver Bryce Yates, who hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Cole Gonzales in the closing minutes of the Panthers’ season-opening win over...
Central Michigan’s Matt Drinkall offers praise of Pat Narduzzi, Pitt’s front 7Video
College football coaches belong to an intimate fraternity. Across all levels, many have crossed paths at some point, be it at clinics or while serving on the same staff. As they accrue more years in the profession, all coaches develop reputations. For Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi, his background is mostly with...
