Penn State has fired its football offensive coordinator and tight end coach, John Donovan, effective immediately. Donovan was hired in 2014 and has been under fire in recent days for the offensive line’s lack of development over the last two years. “I have tremendous respect for John and the work he has put in over the last five years. I wish him and his family nothing but the best,” said head coach James Franklin in a press statement that was released on Sunday. Franklin and Donovan have ... Read More
Pens fall to Oilers in shootout
Evgeni Malkin’s two goals weren’t enough to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins (13-8-2) over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. The Pens fell 3-2 in their third consecutive shootout. Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring for the night and put the Oilers on the board 2:02 into the game. Taylor Hall assisted on the goal, setting Draisaitl up for a close-range shot that bulleted past Penguins netminder Jeff Zatkoff. This was only Zatkoff’s fifth start in more than 20 games. Five minutes later, Andrej ... Read More
Lions fall to Spartans in regular-season finale, 55-16
The Penn State Nittany Lions (7-5, 4-4) fell to the fifth-ranked Michigan State Spartans on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing. With the win, the Spartans took home the Land-Grant Trophy and claimed the division title. Fast Facts: Penn State’s Chris Godwin hauled in two touchdowns in the loss; Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook threw three in the win. Saquon Barkley finished the regular season with 1,007 rushing yards, a Penn State freshman record. In the past two years, Penn State ... Read More
Slippery Rock advances to NCAA quarterfinals
The longest active home winning streak in Division II football belongs to Slippery Rock University after the 10th ranked Rock held off No. 19 Assumption College, 41-39, Saturday in the second round of the NCAA playoffs at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The victory is the 17th straight at home for Slippery Rock and sends the team to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 1998. The Rock (12-1), seeded second in Super Region One, will travel to the region's top seed, Shepherd, next Saturday ... Read More
Pitt leans on experience to beat Kent State
The Pitt basketball team had a fight on their hands for much of the afternoon against Kent State, but Pitt leaned on its experience to come away with a win. Michael Young (23), Jamel Artis (19) and James Robinson (18) combined to score 60 points as Pitt defeated the Golden Flashes 85-76 to remain unbeaten on the season. ”Those three guys were terrific,” said Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon. “The numbers speak to that. I like the passing and the shot selection was as good as you can get. The ... Read More
Dubinsky receives slap on wrist for dangerous play
The Pittsburgh Penguins faced off against their nearby rival Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night in one of the most physical games of the season. Both teams were throwing their weight around and trying to make sure the opposing players had enough bumps and bruises to wake up sore the following morning. However, one particularly heinous play stood out above the rest. Late in the second period, Sidney Crosby and Brandon Dubinsky were fighting for positioning in front of the Blue Jackets' net. ... Read More
Pitt gets verbal commitment from DE Zach Gilbert
Things didn't go the way the 8-4 Pitt Panthers may have wanted on Friday against Miami, but Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi had a good day nonetheless when the Panthers received a verbal commitment from South Mecklenburg (N.C.) High School defensive end Zach Gilbert. Gilbert is the son of former Pitt star Sean Gilbert. The Aliquippa native ended up having a very good NFL career, which is something he can only hope for his son. The younger Gilbert also has a couple other ties to the Pitt program ... Read More
Penn State travels to Michigan State to close out regular season
The Penn State Nittany Lions (7-4, 4-3) will travel to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans (10-1, 6-1) in a 3:30 kickoff; this will be the final regular season game of 2015 for the Lions. ESPN will broadcast the matchup. Fast Facts: This is the second week in a row and the third time this season that Penn State will compete against a Top 12 team. The previous two games were both losses – falling 38-10 to Ohio State and 28-16 to Michigan. The last time the Nittany Lions ... Read More
Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects: 3 Up, 3 Down
Three Up 1. Scott Wilson After a fairly productive 2014–15 professional debut hampered by injury at the midway point, left winger Scott Wilson looked to be a top player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. So far, so good. Wilson ranks second in the AHL with 10 goals and in the top 10 with 17 points in 14 games. UMass-Lowell product notched two goals, including the eventual game winner, in a 5-3 win over the Albany Devils on Saturday to keep the Penguins atop the AHL with a 13-2-0 record. 2. Conor ... Read More
Jamie Dixon leaning on bench in early going
Yes it has only been three games and no the competition hasn't been very good at all, but Pitt head basketball coach Jamie Dixon may be able to do something this season that he hasn't been able to the past few seasons. That would be being able to turn to a bench that has depth and talent. Through the Panthers three contests this season, Dixon has had the opportunity to go 12 deep against some weak competition, but of the 12 that are part of his regular rotation, the seven guys coming off ... Read More