After a slow start in recruiting for the Class of 2014, Jamie Dixon landed his third recruit, this time getting an international surprise. Shaquille Doorson, a 6-foot-11, 265-pound center from the Netherlands, signed with the Panthers on Friday. Doorson is 19 and announced his decision on the website of The Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain. CBA is playing in the National Prep Showcase this weekend in New Haven, Conn., and Dixon is expected to be there to see him play. Doorson could remind ... Read More
BREAKING: Rafiyq Cromwell transferring from Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst corner back Rafiyq Cromwell has been granted his release papers and will be transferring from Mercyhurst in the spring, as confirmed by Mercyhurst assistant athletic directior Lauren Parker-Webster. "I have spoken with Rafiyq and he's requested permission to speak with other institutions and we have granted that," said Webster. Cromwell, a Pittsburgh native, plans to transfer to Slippery Rock in the spring. He transferred to Mercyhurst from junior college to be closer to his ... Read More
Barksdale, Howsare lead the way for PSAC West awards
Lock Haven, Pa. – Slippery Rock's Nigel Barksdale was named PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year, while Clarion's Julian Howsare was deemed PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year, as selected by the league's head coaches. Edinboro's wide receiver Darren Massey clinched PSAC West Freshman of the Year honors, and Slippery Rock's head coach Dr. George Mihalik is the PSAC West Coach of the Year after leading the program to the PSAC Western Division title and a trip to the NCAA Division II ... Read More
WPIAL Championship Preview
Single-A #2 North Catholic vs #1 Sto Rox (11:00 A.M.) In what might be the best all around game of the day, Bob Ravenstahl's 12-0 Trojans take on Dan Bradley's 12-0 Vikings. Sto Rox is my pick to come away with the championship. At the beginning of the season, I was all in on North Catholic, and running back P.J. Fulmore has done nothing but proved he's one of the premiere running backs in the whole WPIAL. Teammates Ryan Kirby and Jarred Fragapane have been huge contributors in North ... Read More
Washington & Jefferson College (8-2) at No. 1 University of Mount Union (10-0)
2013 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs – First Round Saturday, Nov. 23 – Noon – Alliance, Ohio (Mount Union Stadium – 5,600) Audio: WJPA, 1450-AM (Mark Uriah, Randy Gore); http://www.msasports.net/broadcasts/2013-ncaa-d-iii-football-first-round-washington-jefferson-at-mt-union Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/mountunion/ Series: W&J leads 4-1 Series Streak: +1 Mount Union Last Meeting: UMU 55, W&J 0 -- 11/21/2009 First Meeting: W&J 35, UMU 0 — ... Read More
A different perspective of the Browns-Steelers rivalry
Growing up in the suburbs of Erie, PA, there were basically three options for NFL team allegiance. Shall I support our closest geographical neighbors, the Buffalo Bills, a team that lost four straight Super Bowls in the early 90s and has done next to nothing since? How about the closest Pennsylvania team, a Super Bowl contender in the mid-90s when I was just becoming interested in professional sports? My mother grew up a casual Steelers fan and a young Bill Cowher was producing exciting ... Read More
Slippery Rock ready for postseason play
The Slippery Rock University football is going to the postseason for the first time in 13 seasons. Winston-Salem is coming off a season in which it was the national runner-up. The matchup will be a good one, but Winston-Salem is hoping that their quarterback will be able to go full strength after being injured in an altercation at the CIAA league banquet last Friday. The Rams' league championship game was cancelled in light of the situation. Coming into the game, Slippery Rock is 7-1 in its ... Read More
Something to prove
Before training camp commenced prior to this 2013 NFL season, I wrote a piece asking what this year’s rallying cry would be for the Steelers. Four months later, the boys in Black and Gold have a couple to choose from. 0-4 — By the end of September, Pittsburgh was winless. Everybody in the western world knew this was a fatal blow and a ridiculously un-Steeler like commencement to a fresh season. This team was officially playing for a draft pick was the local commentary. Blame was scattered ... Read More
Bettis, Greene among Hall of Fame semifinalists
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their 25 semifinalists for the Class of 2014 Wednesday night 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 semifinals. As for Greene, this will be the eighth straight year he's been named a semifinalist. Jerome Bettis played 13 years in the league, played in 192 regular season games and rushed for 13,662 yards ... Read More
Pens dominate Caps, 4-0
The Penguins were in a stretch of the season where their offense was struggling, their special teams was inconsistent, and their defense showed lapses. Against Washington, they looked to be back on track. The Pittsburgh Penguins dominated the Washington Capitals Wednesday night at the Verizon Center, winning 4-0 against their Metropolitan foes. Alex Ovechkin's closest chance came early in the first period when he kicked a cross-ice pass to his stick and fired the puck off the far post. ... Read More