Pitt Panthers running back James Conner has certainly been the talk of the town after helping lead the Panthers to a 2-0 start, rushing for 372 yards (second in the nation) and five touchdowns on a mere 50 attempts to start the season. If you are scoring at home, that’s a 7.3 yards per carry average and an average of 183.5 yards per game, one of the top marks in all of college football. However the question on everyone’s mind is when will we see Conner play on defense? That answer ... Read More
Pitt Football Notebook: Three Panthers honored; other notes
For the second consecutive week, the Pitt Panthers football team turned in an impressive performance and for the second straight week they racked up some weekly ACC honors. Sophomore running back James Conner was named the ACC’s Offensive Back of the Week, senior tackle T.J. Clemmings was selected Offensive Lineman of the Week and sophomore placekicker Chris Blewitt was named Specialist of the Week following Pitt’s 30-20 road victory over Boston College. It’s the second consecutive week ... Read More
PAC Notebook: Waynesburg, W&J answer questions in Week 1 wins
The 2014 season is underway for teams in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and a pair of local teams answered some big questions they had heading into the season in impressive wins. - I will start with Waynesburg University, who began the season with a 33-0 win over Muskingum University. Everyone knows the Yellow Jackets will be able to throw the football, and quarterback Carter Hill got off to a good start with a 13-for-22 performance for 248 yards and two total touchdowns. But as good as ... Read More
RMU’s Rameses Owens earns national honor
The Robert Morris football team may have gotten off to an 0-2 start and freshman Rameses Owens may have only played in two career games. But that doesn’t mean Owens hasn’t opened up some eyes. The true freshman was named The Sports Network National Freshman of the Week and also claimed a pair of honors from the Northeast Conference as he was named NEC Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week by the league. Owens is the first RMU player ever to be named Sports Network Freshman ... Read More
NCAA makes ‘cowardly’ decision to take away PSU sanctions
September 8th was not a particularly great day for the game of football. The day started with the shocking public leak of Ray Rice knocking his then fiance unconscious with a vicious punch. By early afternoon, Rice would be out of a job with the Baltimore Ravens and facing an indefinite ban from the game. The NFL, and in particular Roger Goodell, would additionally face a lot of tough questions about what they knew, and how long they knew it. Hidden within this NFL scandal was another ... Read More
NCAA removes Penn State postseason ban, reinstates scholarships
The NCAA announced Monday that they have lifted Penn State's postseason ban effective immediately. The NCAA will also reinstate all 85 scholarships starting next season. Due to Penn State’s progress in ensuring athletics dept functions with integrity, NCAA immediately restores football postseason eligibility.— NCAA (@NCAA) September 8, 2014 The NCAA has also returned all 85 football scholarships to Penn State, beginning in 2015-16. Read more: http://t.co/wW5nQxl8nF— NCAA ... Read More
A look inside the student section at Beaver Stadium
In an age of apathetic student sections, Penn State has nothing to worry about. Seven times a year, more than 21,000 students cram together in the end zone to celebrate the game, the players and each other. From the pregame tailgate rituals to the final verse of the alma mater, the atmosphere is magnetic. Beaver Stadium is hallowed ground; there are no other words for it. When you are within those walls, you have 107,000 best friends. As soon as the first “We Are” chant echoes around the ... Read More
Franklin pleased with 2-0 start for PSU
Taking over a storied program like Penn State had to have brought many challenges along with it. In today's day and age fans expect wins and they expect them now. There is no rebuilding. There is no "give me a year to get my guys in here." There's no excuses. So far, Penn State's newest head coach has met those challenges head on and now finds himself with a 2-0 record to start the 2014 campaign. James Franklin had unheralded success while at Vanderbilt. Taking his team from the low ... Read More
PSAC West breaks even in Week 1
The first week of football is in the books for the PSAC West. There weren't many surprises as the West has a 4-4 record heading into Week 2. The teams at the top of the conference (IUP, Cal, Slippery Rock, Gannon) all won their opening games while the other teams showed fight in Week 1. Statistically, a number of players had solid weeks across the board but here's some standouts: - IUP QB Chase Haslett had 176 yards on 14-of-20 passing and 3 TDs with a lone interception in IUP's ... Read More
Pitt loses Artie Rowell for the season with torn ACL
Not much has gone wrong for the Pitt panthers in their impressive 2-0 start to the season. That was until today when it was announced that starting center Artie Rowell was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Rowell, a junior, has started 15 games in row and made all the line calls for the Panthers. He was hurt Friday in the victory against Boston College and was replaced by sophomore Gabe Roberts. Chryst didn’t sound optimistic after the game about Rowell, who left on crutches and the ... Read More