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Pitt’s 2014 football schedule released
The ACC announced their 2014 football schedule Wednesday afternoon and this season the Pitt Panthers won't be opening up with the defending National Champions. The Panthers will open the season with a non-conference game against Delaware Aug. 30. with their first ACC game scheduled for Friday, Sept. 5 against Boston College. Pitt has home league games against Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Duke. Their road ACC games are trips to North Carolina, Virginia, Miami and Boston ... Read More
Is the NFL ready for Johnny Football
Let’s start with a simple question; Mr. Goodell, are you ready for some Johnny Football? As a matter of fact, let’s address that to the entire 32 teams; coaches, staff and players alike. Also, when Johnny Manziel enters the National Football League, will his new team be ready for the attention, the constant media craze and possible drama? There’s no denying that when Manziel is officially a professional football player, that some members and teams as a whole will hold their breath in fearful ... Read More
Is Franklin worth the risk?
When I met newly hired Penn State football coach James Franklin back in 2008, he was the recruiting coordinator at Maryland, and I, a Track and Field coach at Seneca Valley High School. I was preparing some of my athletes for the PIAA State Championships and Franklin was there to recruit Raiders QB, CJ Brown. As he watched me working with one of my relays at practice, he approached to talk. The interaction we had, all of 10 minutes, made an impression on me. He asked insightful questions, he ... 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
Penn State: Don’t cry for the kids
When a head coach of any team leaves, the question all fans ask themselves is a simple one: What now? Fans, players, recruits and assistant coaches are left to await their futures and the finger wag of blame tends to fall squarely on the head of the former coach. People are quick to say, "So and so left his team high and dry. What about the recruits and his players? What about the kids?" But when you think about it, some of those athletes are the same as the coaches. So don't cry for the ... Read More
Bill O’Brien bails on Penn State, returns to NFL
As we reported earlier in the week, Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien was the primary target of the Houston Texans to become their next head coach. Tonight, sources confirm that O'Brian and the Texans have reached a deal for O'Brien to return to the NFL. Filed to ESPN from me and @mortreport: Bill O'Brien has reached agreement to become the new head coach of the Houston Texans, per sources. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 1, 2014 The agreement between #Texans and Bill ... Read More
Reports: Bill O’Brien & Houston Texans Working On Deal
Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are reporting that Bill O’Brien and the Houston Texans are working on the final details of a deal that would bring O’Brien down south to replace Gary Kubiak as head coach of the Texans. Bill O'Brien & Texans intensify talks they hope will make him next coach in Houston, per sources. ESPN link soon from myself & @AdamSchefter — Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 28, 2013 From @mortreport and me: Penn St's Bill O'Brien/Texans ... Read More
Pitt freshmen play big role in Little Caesars Pizza Bowl win
Paul Chryst and the Pitt Panthers football team gave the nation a glimpse of their future Thursday night and at least for one night that future looked very bright. Freshman Tyler Boyd, James Connor and Chad Voytik all played big roles as the Panthers ended their season on a high note with a 30-27 win over Bowling Green in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit. Boyd broke Larry Fitzgerald’s bowl record with eight receptions for 123 yards and also returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown. ... Read More
The key to get Pitt football back on top
The University of Pittsburgh has one of the most storied football programs in the country. Headlined by its nine National Championships, the last coming in 1976, Pitt ranks in the top five in Heisman trophy finalist (6) and fourth out of all FBS teams in alumnus in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (8). However, recently Pitt Football has hit a lull. With its last BCS appearance coming in 2004, when they lost in the Fiesta Bowl to Alex Smith and the Utah Utes, Pitt has found itself playing in bowls ... Read More