Throughout the past decade, current and former Pitt football players have had their share on run-ins with the law. That negative trend continued on Monday when former Pitt football player Jovani Chappel was arrested after a bank robbery in Greenfield Monday morning. Chappel, 25,was arrested around 1:30 p.m. in connection with a robbery of a PNC Bank branch in the 4300 block of Murray Avenue in Greenfield about 10:40 a.m. Police spotted him sitting on the front porch of a home in the 5000 ... Read More
O’Brien looks to improve on solid first year at Penn State
On Saturday, Bill O’Brien will lead his team out of the tunnels at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. to begin his second year as head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions. But don’t expect this year to be any easier than year one for O’Brien. Once again Penn State will be playing for pride, as they are in the midst of serving a four-game bowl ban among other penalties that were brought down on the football program last year in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal involving the ... Read More
Division II Football Preview: Clarion
After posting a 4-7 record last season, the Clarion Eagles are ready to start the 2013 season fresh. Clarion is returning eight starters on offense and 10 starters on defense. Offensively, they'll be led a senior quarterback who is coming off of his best season as a stater, a trio of wide receivers, and a defensive player turned running back in the backfield. Defensively, they'll be led by a strong defensive line, an improved linebacking corps, and a young secondary. Here's what to expect ... Read More
Steelers lose in overtime to Chiefs, fall to 0-3 in preseason
PITTSBURGH -- Playing in their first preseason overtime game since 1986, the Steelers lost their third game of the preseason by a score of 26-20. The Steelers jumped to a 3-0 lead, as Shaun Suisham knocked down a 28-yard field goal on the team's opening drive. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown connected on a 49-yard completion on the second play from scrimmage to help set up great field position. The following drive, Kansas City was set up with a fourth and one ... Read More
The Steelers should give Casey Hampton a ring
The Pittsburgh Steelers have some questions along their front defensive line heading into the 2013 season. Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers waited till July when they decided to bring back Max Starks, who wasn't activated till mid August to give him time to heal and be NFL ready. In 2011, Starks wasn't re-signed till October. This season should be no different for Casey Hampton. 10-year veterans who have memorized Dick Lebeau's playbook by this point don't need training camp. Hampton ... Read More
Who should be the third postseason pitcher?
For the past month, since the playoffs have become more and more certain, the Pirates’ plan was to have a fully healthy Wandy Rodriguez return to pitch in September, and to fill out the postseason rotation with A.J. Burnett and Francisco Liriano. Yet, after Thursday’s news, it appears that there is only a slim chance if any that Rodriguez will pitch again in 2013. This opens up a spot in the postseason rotation. Who will be the pitcher to fill that void? The other three starters in the Pirates ... Read More
Bounce back year for the Steelers? Don’t count on it
Every year around this time, Pittsburgh Steelers fans come down with what they describe as "Steeler Fever", a city-wide epidemic that consumes the attention of Pittsburgh for four months. This year, there's a new symptom to this "Steeler Fever": blind optimism. Maybe it comes with the territory of expecting a winning season and a deep playoff run every year, or maybe it's because the Steelers still have a handful of core players from their Super Bowl run in 2008. Either way, the general ... Read More
Pitt dismisses QB Tra’Von Chapman from team
Those hoping that freshman quarterback Tra'Von Chapman would have a positive impact on the Pitt football team for the next four years may want to think again. Panthers' head coach Paul Chryst announced on Friday that the youngster has been dismissed from the team. Chapman was one of the prized recruits of the Class of 2013, but spent three days in jail last month after pleading guilty to an April assault on a former girlfriend in Kent, Ohio. “We believe it is in everyone's best interest ... Read More
Division II Football Preview: Edinboro
Edinboro is coming off of their first losing season since 2006 under head coach Scott Browning. They finished with a 4-6 record in 2012. The Fighting Scots are returning eight starters on offense and seven starters on defense, including four on the defensive line. Offensively, Edinboro is led by their passing attack, with their starting quarterback and the three top receivers returning. Defensively, a veteran defensive line and secondary anchors a defense that is looking to improve from last ... Read More
Steelers acquire Felix Jones
With health being an issue this season for the Steelers, they have traded away linebacker Adrian Robinson for running back Felix Jones, who will help out the Steelers offense while running back Le'Veon Bell is out. Earlier this week, it was reported that Bell will be missing 6-8 weeks due to a Lisfranc injury. At the time, Issac Redman was announced the week one starter, but that may change with the addition of Jones. The Steelers may pursue a running back-by-committee approach until Bell ... Read More