Sports category, Page 2569
It’s official: Dana Holgorsen leaves WVU for Houston
Dana Holgorsen officially left West Virginia after eight seasons on Wednesday when he was named head coach at the University of Houston. Holgorsen was the Cougars’ offensive coordinator during the 2008-2009 seasons. He will be introduced at a news conference at 2 p.m. Thursday. “I want to thank coach Holgorsen...
No specifics from Mike Tomlin on Steelers’ injuries, potential surgeries
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin used only vague terms Wednesday in addressing which players would require offseason surgeries. “We are just kind of scratching the surface in terms of (determining) potential or pending surgeries and an assessment from a medical standpoint,” Tomlin said during his season-ending news conference. “That will...
Mike Tomlin remains vague about Le’Veon Bell’s future with Steelers
Mike Tomlin didn’t shut the door on Le’Veon Bell returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he didn’t exactly go out of his way to embrace the idea, either. While the storyline that dominated the Steelers for much of 2018 had died down since Bell did not sign the team’s franchise...
Mike Tomlin hints at Steelers personnel changes
Lost in a season-ending news conference dominated by the Antonio Brown situation was Mike Tomlin repeatedly hinted at personnel changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Under normal circumstances during the final meeting with media after a season, Tomlin would have been asked repeatedly about myriad of possible staffing changes and/or potential...
Penguins’ Bryan Rust tracking toward return to lineup in New York
NEW YORK – Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust avoided a serious lower-body injury and could be back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday night against the New York Rangers. Rust said he “got twisted up along the boards and got caught in an awkward position” in the first period...
Penn State fires wide receivers coach David Corley
Penn State coach James Franklin will immediately start a national search for his next wide receivers coach after David Corley was fired Wednesday. “I appreciate David’s efforts this season but feel it is in our program’s best interest to make a change at this time,” Franklin said in a statement....
Penguins’ Sidney Crosby picked for 8th All-Star Game, plans to attend
NEW YORK — Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin said Wednesday he will skip the NHL All-Star Game later this month, instead taking a full week to rest. The league shouldn’t have to look too hard to find a replacement for the captain’s spot on the Metropolitan Division team. Pittsburgh Penguins...
Modern NFL makes it harder for dominant defenses to lead way to title
From Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain in the 1970s to Chicago’s Monsters of the Midway in the ’80s to Seattle’s Legion of Boom more recently, dominant defenses have often been the story of the NFL postseason. High-powered offenses might generate the highlights, the fantasy points and victories in the regular season. But...
Pitt seniors preparing for college all-star games
Four Pitt seniors have been chosen to participate in two post-season all-star games aimed at exposing them to NFL scouts. Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall, who became the first pair of Pitt running backs to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season, will be joined by offensive lineman Alex...
Alex Ovechkin to skip NHL All-Star Game, take 1-game suspension
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin will skip the All-Star Weekend in San Jose to get some extra rest and serve an automatic one-game suspension. The Washington Capitals announced Ovechkin’s decision Wednesday. The team says the NHL’s leading goal-scorer wants to take advantage of the adjoining bye week to prepare for the...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin addresses Antonio Brown drama
Mike Tomlin said the Pittsburgh Steelers have not “formally received” a trade request from Antonio Brown. In fact, Tomlin hasn’t received any communication from his star receiver since before the season finale Sunday. Brown, however, hasn’t exactly remained incommunicado since the Steelers’ season ended. While Tomlin was meeting with the...
Wanna bet on sports? Here’s what you need to know
First, make sure you know what you’re doing — and the odds against you. Seven U.S. states now offer legal sports gambling, and as many as 30 more will consider jumping on board in 2019. So here are some of the basics — as well as some more esoteric aspects...
WWE announcer ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund dies at the age of 76
WWE announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund has died, according to the wrestling organization. He was 76. Okerlund whose full name was Eugene Arthur Okerlund, was known for his ringside interviews with wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior. He spent most of his career with the...
Podcast: A look at the Penguins turnaround, hot division race
Well, it`s hockey season full time now. The Steelers are done. So it`s up to the Penguins to raise our sagging sports enthusiasm. I`m joined by Brian Metzer of the Pens Radio Network for our weekly hockey podcast. Metz and I look at Matt Murray`s improvement since his return to...
First call: Is an NFC Pro Bowler trying to woo Antonio Brown to 49ers?
In our first "First Call" of 2019, we have the first flirtation with Antonio Brown from a player on another NFL team. Penn State`s Trace McSorley goes down fighting. And a quarterback gets clobbered. Also, humiliation for the Notre Dame mascot. And, no, it has nothing to do with what...
Ehlinger’s 3 TDs lead Texas past Georgia in Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS — Bevo’s pregame strategy was to run right at the Bulldogs. Once the football started, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger took the same approach with outstanding results. Ehlinger ran for three touchdowns, the Texas defense largely held Georgia’s offense in check, and the Longhorns earned their first 10-win season...
Tim Benz: Even former Steelers are fighting with each other
Not only are current Pittsburgh Steelers fighting among themselves. So are their alumni. First, it was Antonio Brown allegedly blowing up at Ben Roethlisberger during the last practice week of the season. Now former running back DeAngelo Williams is sniping at another one-time Steeler, Ryan Clark. As you may have...
Evgeni Malkin gets on track, Matt Murray rolls as Penguins win again
NEW YORK — The way things are going, Matt Murray may never lose to the New York Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist may never beat the Pittsburgh Penguins again. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist, and Murray won his sixth consecutive start since returning from a lower-body injury, leading...
West Virginia falls to No. 11 Texas Tech
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — No. 11 Texas Tech started the Big 12 season on a positive note. Jarrett Culver led the way. Culver scored each of his 18 points in the second half, and Texas Tech overcame some early shooting troubles to beat West Virginia, 62-59, in their conference opener Wednesday...
Dabo Swinney fulfills promise with Clemson’s best decade
Dabo Swinney had no doubt Clemson was headed in the right direction to be a national power again. He just wasn’t sure he would be around to be part of it after the 2010 regular season ended with a three-touchdown home loss to an instate rival. When Swinney got to...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Art Rooney II won’t make necessary changes
New year. Same old Pittsburgh Steelers. Some of us hadn`t even finished lunch on Day 1 of 2019 before the first Steelers off-field controversy of the new year. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported that Antonio Brown had requested a trade. Ian Rapoport of the...
Rory McIlroy’s next chapter of career all about America
KAPALUA, Hawaii — With a blue sky above and the blue Pacific on the horizon, Rory McIlroy was walking off the putting green at Kapalua when he smiled and said to a trio of writers: “You don’t need to win a tournament to be here. I do.” McIlroy is the...
Gary Bettman yet to speak with Stars CEO about tirade
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he hasn’t reached out to the Dallas Stars about CEO Jim Lites’ expletive-laced criticism of high-priced forwards Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Lites ripped Benn and Seguin on Friday, telling reporters their play has been “terrible” and saying owner Tom Gaglardi...
Oklahoma, coach Lincoln Riley agree to contract extension
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley agreed to a contract extension, which should quell speculation about the second-year coach being lured away by an NFL team. Oklahoma announced Tuesday contract terms were being finalized and would be subject to approval by the board of regents late this month. “We...
Ohio State sends off Urban Meyer with Rose Bowl win
PASADENA, Calif. — Dwayne Haskins passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns, and Urban Meyer finished his coaching career at Ohio State with a 28-23 victory after the Buckeyes held off Washington’s thrilling fourth-quarter comeback in the 105th Rose Bowl on Tuesday. Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and Rashod Berry caught...
