Good morning, Pittsburgh. Here’s your day in sports for Monday, October 5, 2015.
What’s on tap for today:
At the craziest part of the year’s sports calendar, there will be two days of nothing but anticipation, as the Pirates, Steelers, Penguins and local college teams are all off until Wednesday’s Wild Card game between the Bucs and the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
At noon, Pitt (3-1. 1-0) head coach Pat Narduzzi will discuss his team’s big road win over Virginia Tech and look forward to next week’s foe, Virginia, in his press conference at noon. PittsburghPanthers.com
Pittsburgh headlines:
Pirates (98-64) made it last until the final game, but they finally earned home-field advantage in the Wild Card game with their 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
The Pirates team looked back at a 98-win season and saw work work still to be done/. Several Pirates players talked to our Zachary Weiss, and they aren’t ready to be finished yet.
The front office is looking ahead to the postseason, as well. GM Neal Huntington answered questions about his team’s playoff plans in his Sunday press briefing.
IUP running back Chris Temple had a big week as his six touchdowns led the Crimson Hawks to a big win and the early led in the PSAC West standings. Our Matt Welch has a full recap of the second week of conference play.
On this date in 2005, Penguins center Sidney Crosby (right, with Mario Lemieux) made his NHL debut against the New Jersey Devils at the now-closed Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Crosby earned his first point, an assist on RW Mark Recchi’s power play goal in the third period, but the Pens lost, 4-1.
He said it: “If I could get an early birthday present it would be for everyone to come and black it out.” — Pirates centerfield Andrew McCutchen on his hope for the atmosphere at PNC Park on Wednesday.
Photo credit: MLB.com
