James Franklin begins his third year at the helm of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team on Saturday. Since the day Franklin was introduced, he has talked the talk about continuing the Success With Honor culture former head coach Joe Paterno instilled during his tenure. Franklin inherited a program with a quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who was coming off the best year a quarterback has had since the Nittany Lions were quarterbacked by future NFL quarterback Kerry Collins. Franklin ... Read More
Archives for September 2016
Pirates base running gaffes costly in loss to Brewers
Less than a week after earning a four-game road sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the same Brewers 1-0 Friday night at PNC Park. This loss comes after a 1-5 mark during the team's last homestand, and now the Pirates fall to 67-65 on the season which is 2.5 games behind St. Louis for the second and final National League wild card spot. The Pirates did out-hit the Brewers in this game by a 7-3 margin, but it was what was done on the base paths that did the ... Read More
Predicting the Steelers 53-man roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers mostly forgettable preseason ended with a thud last night in Carolina, as the team lost to the Panthers 18-6 in a contest that can be described with one word -- dreadful. Granted, even though the final preseason game against the Panthers was a who's who of players who won't make the 53-man roster, let alone make an impact this regular season, it did not change the fact that this game was flat-out dismal. So what was accomplished in a game featuring two of the ... Read More
Penn State takes on Kent State in season opener
Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions The Records: Kent State (Last year: 3-9, 2-6 MAC). Penn State (7-6, 4-4 Big Ten). The Coaches: Kent State: Paul Haynes, fourth season, 9-26 overall record. Penn State: James Franklin, third season, 38-27 overall, 14-12 at Penn State. The Game: The Saturday match-up is the season opening game for both Kent State and Penn State. The Golden Flashes look to get back to winnings ways in head coach Paul Haynes fourth season at the helm ... Read More
Penn State counting on experienced linebackers, secondary
As the offense was tasked to find a new coordinator, so to was the defense this season after former defensive coordinator Bob Shoop left for the Smoky Mountains and University of Tennessee. Head coach James Franklin promoted from within and named Brent Pry the new defensive coordinator for the Penn State Nittany Lions. The odds are stacked against Pry in what looks to be the weakest year for the defensive unit in recent history. Pry, an Altoona native, is tasked with replenishing a defensive ... Read More
Penn State to commemorate 50th Anniversary of Paterno debut
Hidden deep in a release yesterday highlighting promotions for the upcoming Penn State football season was a tidbit of information announcing the university's plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the late Joe Paterno's first game as head coach of the Nittany Lions. The former head coach, fired as a result of fallout from the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, passed away in 2012 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The commemoration will be the first time the ... Read More
Improved Pitt defense should provide Panthers a boost
Every year, more colleges try to “modernize” their offenses by leaning more heavily on the spread concept and airing the ball out a ton. Though I can promise you this, no matter how trendy spread, up-tempo offenses have become, Pittsburgh football will always rest on two pillars. Regardless if it’s Pitt or the Steelers, Pittsburgh football revolves around a strong ground game and ferocious defense. The Panthers clearly having the imposing running game part locked down. I’ve already gushed ... Read More
Column: Series sweep could be beginning of the end
Wednesday night's 6-5 Chicago Cubs victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates not only resulted in a sweep but confirmed what has been believed for a while. The Pittsburgh Pirates are not a playoff team. They have yet to prove otherwise. This second half has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster for the team, which statistically had the easiest second-half schedule this season. Recently the Pirates had a 5-1 road trip that transitioned to a return to PNC Park and a 1-5 homestand. It ... Read More
Riverhounds’ Hertzog, Campbell, Named to USL Team of the Week
Two Pittsburgh Riverhounds players were named to the USL Team of the Week after their efforts this past week against the Wilmington Hammerheads and the Harrisburg City Islanders: forward Corey Hertzog and defender Sergio Campbell. The 26-year-old Hertzog scored two goals against the Hammerheads on Wed., Aug. 24. His first goal came off an assist from Cristian Martinez, while Hertzog's second goal came off of a penalty kick. The former Nittany Lion now has 11 goals on the season, ... Read More
Riverhounds midfielder Danny Earls suspended by USL
The USL has suspended Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Danny Earls for eight games, the league announced Wednesday evening. The Riverhounds’ midfielder was initially suspended for three games following a harsh tackle on a Harrisburg City Islanders player. However, Earls also was involved in an altercation with the match referee, resulting in the addition of five games to the suspension. According to the Riverhounds, neither the club, nor Earls, will appeal the suspension. Head coach ... Read More