Jamie Dixon’s Pitt Panthers made a big statement Saturday afternoon with a convincing 80-65 victory over Wake Forest in ACC action as the Panthers improved to 15-1 on the season and a perfect 3-0 to start their first season in the ACC. It was a game that Pitt dominated from the outset as they led wire to wire as unlike their first two conference games, the Panthers jumped on their opponent quickly from the opening tip. ‘That was nice,” said Pitt point guard James Robinson. “N.C. State ... Read More
Why James Franklin is the right guy for PSU
The search for Penn State University’s 16th head football coach in school history has come to an end with Philadelphia area native and former Vanderbilt head football coach, James Franklin, agreeing to terms with the school. This hire marks the fourth head football coach for Penn state since 2011 (Joe Paterno, Tom Bradley, Bill O’ Brien and Franklin.) Previous to the 2011 season you have to go back to 1918 to find four different head coaching hires in the program. So now we are left with the ... Read More
Bettis, Greene among Hall of Fame finalists
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their 15 finalists for the Class of 2014 this week and among those on the list are former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and defensive end/linebacker Kevin Greene. This will be the fourth time that Bettis has made it to the finals. An interesting fact found on ColdHardFootballFacts.com, ranks Bettis as the top "Big" running back in NFL history. The website takes different approaches to ranking players and in the case of, "Big Back" 240 ... Read More
Five biggest villains in Pittsburgh sports history
Villain: A wicked, evil person who is typically at odds with the hero. Someone who is the root cause of a particular problem or an evil plan. Fans love to hate them. They are defiant, mean and at times, just pure evil. A sports villain becomes a villain because of success, triumph, and their overwhelming positive contributions. Unfortunately, they became a villain because there success or triumph at one time or another came at the expense of a Pittsburgh sports team. Check out my list of ... Read More
The Legend that is Joe Colella
My high school days at Hopewell High School in Aliquippa, PA have become faded memories over the past 19 years. I remember moments etched in time – hanging out with friends, spending my usual time in detention each week and of course – playing baseball. I was FAR from an athlete in my youth, but I had heart. I was never a star, never a guy that was depended on by a program that won way more than it lost. I was just another one of thousands of baseball players who had come through Hopewell ... Read More
Fleury’s performance in playoffs is all that matters
With 25 wins, Marc-Andre Fleury leads the NHL. His respectable 2.27 goals against average and.917 save percentage put him in the top statistical categories of starting goaltenders. For another goalie, those stats and currently stellar play would have garnered serious Olympic consideration, entry into the Vezina trophy conversation as the league's top goaltender and trust from organization and fans alike. Except perhaps the misplaced trust of the Penguins organization, however, Marc-Andre ... Read More
Five defining moments of the 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers
Every team has defining moments in a season that can make or break a season. For the 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers, there were unfortunately more breaking moments that led the Steelers to missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season. We now look at the five plays that broke the Steelers stride in a tumultuous up and down season. Down goes Pouncey Four minutes into the 2013 season, the Steelers' season had a nightmarish theme of impactful injuries. Every NFL franchise expects to deal ... Read More
The Legacy of the 2004-2011 Steelers
As the NFL Playoffs hit their stride, Steelers fans are once again sitting at home watching on their couches for the second straight January. After starting their season with a record of 0-4 and then 2-6, the 2013 Steelers finished strong. They won six of their final eight games to level out at 8-8, and were one missed Ryan Succop field goal away from grabbing the No. 8 seed in the AFC Playoffs, a spot that eventually went to the equally-mediocre San Diego Chargers. During their 6-2 second half, ... Read More
REPORT: Foster, Makrinos leading candidates for Westminster job
The Westminster football team is closer to naming a head coach and has narrowed the search down to several finalists. Former head coach Jeff Hand resigned on November after nine seasons with the team compiling a 34-55 record during his tenure. Multiple reports say that several names have emerged as leading candidates for the job among those names are current Clarion head coach Jay Foster and Slippery Rock DB coach Jason Makrinos. Foster a well-respected D-II coach has been at the helm in ... Read More
Penguins Midseason Report Card
The Pittsburgh Penguins currently hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference right now. However, this team will only earn back their reputation it desires in the playoffs. The regular season will hopefully at worst give this team a number two seed in the conference come playoff time. The Penguins have had only six players manage to play the entire season to this point. Furthermore, they lead the NHL with 243 games lost to injury, a staggering number when you consider the team in second is ... Read More