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Tim Benz Columns category, Page 30

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Madden Monday on Penguins’ woes: ‘Nothing is going to change’
Duquesne’s 89-63 NCAA Tournament loss to Illinois on Saturday night hurt in more ways than one. Not only did that decision end the Dukes’ magical postseason, but it also meant that fans of the Pittsburgh sports scene had to go back to primarily following the Penguins. Woof! Bad timing for...
Tim Benz: Illinois’ ‘blitz’ ends Duquesne’s season but doesn’t dent accomplishments
OMAHA, Neb. — Duquesne’s second-round NCAA Tournament game against Illinois was set up to be a contrast in styles. It was the 11th-seeded Dukes’ unrelenting, tenacious defense, which routinely holds opponent point totals in the low 60s, versus the high-powered offensive assault from third-seeded Illinois that led the Big Ten...
Tim Benz: For Duquesne basketball, ‘Put up your Dukes’ is more than a catchphrase
OMAHA, Neb. — For supporters of the Duquesne Dukes basketball team, “Put up your Dukes” is a catchy slogan. A fun hashtag on social media. A long-used motto within the fan base. For the players themselves, it’s become a rallying cry for how the team plays. The Dukes won the...
First Call: Cam Sutton released by Lions; Steelers losing a corner; tough Penguins weekend ahead
Friday’s “First Call” features the latest on former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton. A current Steelers corner is heading to the NFC East. We check in on a potential Steelers wide receiver free-agent target. And the Penguins have some tough challenges ahead. Quick action Former Steeler Cam Sutton has been...
Tim Benz: Dukes changing perception of the Duquesne jersey and the players in them
OMAHA, Neb. — Duquesne basketball twins Fousseyni and Hassan Drame prefer to put a different twist on an old sports cliche. “As my brother always says: ‘It’s not about the name on the front of the jersey. It is about who is actually on the team,’ ” Fousseyni Drame said...
U mad, bro?: Kenny Pickett has been traded. That has Steelers (and Pitt) fans all up in their feelings
On Friday, the Steelers traded a local college hero who just happened to previously be the starting quarterback. So you knew that there were going to be extreme reactions to the news. Even if that is what the player asked them to do. We redefine March “madness” with an all-Kenny...
First Call: Mason Rudolph’s thoughts on leaving Pittsburgh; Steelers scouting WRs
Thursday’s “First Call” reveals Mason Rudolph’s farewell note to Pittsburgh. We have Mike Tomlin’s latest pro-day destination. Potential draftees at wide receiver for the Steelers are coming into focus. And LeBron James sends something special to the Duquesne basketball team in advance of their NCAA Tournament game in Omaha. Taking...
Tim Benz: No team in NCAA Tournament has more sources of motivation than Duquesne
OMAHA, Neb. — You could see the wheels turning in Spencer Johnson’s head the moment he was asked about Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot. The Brigham Young senior was asked whether the fact Dambrot is retiring at the end of the season was going to provide extra inspiration for Duquesne, and,...
Duquesne in the NCAAs: Dukes vs. BYU scouting report
OMAHA, Neb. — One thing that always tends to get me in trouble when I fill out my NCAA brackets is that I fall in love with a team early in the season and I proclaim them as my March Madness dark horse in November. Then they inevitably flame out...
Tim Benz: If there is any fire to the smoke about Brandon Aiyuk, the Steelers should fan the flames
Trade rumors are kicking up about San Francisco star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk — and the Steelers are one of the rumored targets. Aiyuk is coming to the end of his rookie contract, and he wants an extension. However, the 49ers don’t usually hammer out contract extensions until July or...
First Call: Steelers miss out on Mike Williams; Cole Holcomb posts workout video
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us an update on the Steelers’ quest to land a big-play wide receiver. Cole Holcomb is trying to make a comeback. Jake Guentzel stays hot in Carolina. And Pitt fans probably cracked a smile when they saw the result of one of the “First Four” games...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett’s strengths became his biggest weakness by the end in Pittsburgh
During his first media availability with the Philadelphia Eagles, former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett acknowledged that he wanted to leave Pittsburgh in advance of Friday’s trade that sent him across the state. He also did little to tamp down a narrative that he pouted his way through much of the...
Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot praises Pitt’s Jeff Capel, rebukes Panthers’ NCAA snub
Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot is sticking up for the intra-city rival Pitt Panthers in the wake of their NCAA Tournament snub. Amid the lingering celebration of Duquesne’s first conference championship in 47 years and less than an hour removed from his own retirement announcement, Dambrot made an appearance on...
Tim Benz: Selection Sunday results are an ultimate contrast for Duquesne and Pitt
Duquesne freshman Jakub Necas slipped behind his school’s Atlantic 10 championship backdrop away from the rest of his celebrating team and sat down in a bed of confetti on the Barclays Center floor. The 20-year-old hung up the FaceTime call with his parents back home in the Czech Republic, bowed...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett trade shows Steelers’ trust in Russell Wilson … and why we should never trust what they say
On Feb. 29, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said he has “full faith” in Kenny Pickett. Steelers GM Omar Khan says he has "full faith" in Kenny Pickett pic.twitter.com/p3Ooefacoi— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 29, 2024 Now it’s March 15, and last year’s starting quarterback is a Philadelphia Eagle. If...
A Yinzer list of suspects in the Jaromir Jagr bobblehead heist
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ stolen Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads, the No. 1 suspect in the case has already claimed responsibility. pic.twitter.com/URnlHouZIu— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) March 14, 2024 However, that just seems too obvious. The Flyers already stole the real Jagr once in 2011. Do they really need to...
First Call: Devin Bush back in AFC North; other AFC teams battling Steelers for Tyler Boyd
Friday’s “First Call” features a new home for ex-Steeler Devin Bush, the prospect of Tyler Boyd returning to Pittsburgh, Jake Guentzel’s first point in Carolina, and a pair of huge wins for Pitt and Duquesne. See you soon Devin Bush is coming back to the AFC North. The ex-Steelers linebacker...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas’ comment about Mike Sullivan may be more revealing than he realizes
The Steelers’ signing of quarterback Russell Wilson seems to have made a lot of folks in Pittsburgh very happy. Perhaps the two people who are the most excited about it are Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Because with everyone talking about Wilson coming to Pittsburgh,...
First Call: Steelers advance rule change idea; Armon Watts now a Patriot
Thursday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman defecting to the New England Patriots. The Steelers are making a rules change proposal. A former Pitt star is returning to a familiar NFL destination. And an AFC North rival is trying to wedge his way out of town. No Wattage...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans love the Russell Wilson signing (and hate me because I don’t love it as much as they do)
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers signing quarterback Russell Wilson, two things are clear: • Almost everybody in Pittsburgh seems to love it. • Almost everybody in Pittsburgh seems to hate me because I don’t love it as much as all of they do. It’s not like I’m opposed...
Tim Benz: Diontae Johnson trade reconfigures Steelers’ priorities
The trade of wide receiver Diontae Johnson has refocused the list of needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out of the first wave of free agency. Like many Steelers fans, I was fixated on the center position because last year’s starter, Mason Cole, was let go in advance of free...
First Call: Ravens CB hurt by Patrick Queen’s exit for Pittsburgh; Steelers visit top center in NFL Draft
Wednesday’s “First Call” features Baltimore’s reaction to Patrick Queen’s departure for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Patrick Peterson is angling for a return. The Steelers are looking at potentially the top center in the draft. And the Yankees are worried about Gerrit Cole’s arm. Ruffling Raven feathers Apparently Patrick Queen’s decision to...
Tim Benz: A 6-pack of reasons to love the Steelers’ signing of Patrick Queen
I certainly thought that there was a lot to like about Patrick Queen when he entered the league in 2020. There is still a lot to like now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly signed him away from the Baltimore Ravens four seasons later. Yes, even though the Steelers had...
Keith Dambrot hoping to ‘protect’ his Duquesne team from distractions about his future ahead of A-10 tournament play
There was nothing out of the ordinary about Saturday’s postgame press conference for Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot. It was a pretty basic Q&A about the events that led to his team’s 67-65 win over George Washington. But by the end of the press conference, Dambrot did seem a bit...
First Call: Cam Heyward stumped for Russell Wilson signing; Steelers checking out Top 10 draft tackle
Tuesday’s “First Call” clues us in as to who was pushing to get Russell Wilson signed in Pittsburgh. The former Denver Broncos quarterback was angling for a wrinkle in his contract that he couldn’t get. The Steelers are hunting for tackle prospects in the draft but are missing out on...


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