January 13, 2024 4:35 am
Alabama wasted little time in finding Nick Saban’s successor, hiring Kalen DeBoer away from national runner-up Washington. The powerhouse program tapped DeBoer on Friday to replace Saban, just two days after the 72-year-old coach announced his retirement. DeBoer says in a statement that he “would not have left Washington for just any school.” But he says the chance to coach Alabama “is the opportunity of a lifetime.” Saban won six national titles with the Crimson Tide and seven overall. DeBoer went 25-3 in two seasons at Washington and has a career record of 104-12 at all levels of college football.
January 11, 2024 1:13 am
With about a month left in the girls high school basketball regular season, teams are finishing their first trips through section schedules over the next week. Thursday’s action included a number of top-tier match-ups. Peters Township built a 10-point lead early in the fourth, then held off several Chartiers Valley rallies to take over sole possession of first place in 6A Section 2. Meanwhile, Trinity stays unbeaten in 5A Section 4,, rallying from down eight at the half and five after three at South Fayette to force overtime. The Hillers scored the first eight points of the extra period to stay in a first-place tie with Lincoln Park. Trinity hosts Lincoln Park Tuesday, closing the first half of section action. Wash High’s win at California keeps the Little Prexies just one game back of 2A Section 4 leader Chartiers-Houston.
Thursday
Peters Township 53, Chartiers Valley 49
Trinity 64, South Fayette 57 OT
Southmoreland 42, Ringgold 30
Charleroi at Brownsville, PPD to Friday, 5:30 pm
McGuffey 57, Yough 31
Burgettstown 51, Brentwood 25
Fort Cherry 52, Northgate 19
Beth-Center 36, Bentworth 24
Wash High 56, California 41
Geibel 77, Avella 43
January 12, 2024 10:43 am
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots have agreed to hire Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as the team’s first Black head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. Details were still being worked out, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the decision. Mayo played eight NFL seasons and won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots during the 2014 season. Mayo’s hire comes a day after Belichick agreed to part ways with the Patriots after a 24-year run that included six Super Bowl wins.
January 12, 2024 4:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Elias Pettersson scored on a breakaway in overtime and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3. Pettersson took a lead pass from Filip Hronek and beat Tristan Jarry for his 22nd goal of the season and second of the game. Brock Boeser scored twice for the Canucks, while J.T. Miller added three assists. Thatcher Demko made 31 saves for the Canucks. Sidney Crosby scored twice for Pittsburgh, including the tying goal with 28.2 seconds left to force overtime. Marcus Pettersson scored his first of the season for Pittsburgh. Alex Nedeljkovic started for Pittsburgh, but allowed three goals on nine first-period shots. Jarry stopped 19 shots in relief.
January 12, 2024 4:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Longtime backup quarterback Mason Rudolph’s unlikely renaissance has helped the Pittsburgh Steelers reach the playoffs. Rudolph is 3-0 since taking over as the starter in late December. His next test comes in Buffalo, where Pittsburgh is a decided underdog against the AFC East champion Bills. Rudolph says there have been times in recent years where he’s doubted himself but says he’s gotten past those doubts by focusing on improving. Pittsburgh’s offense has taken off with Rudolph at the helm. Rudolph says he’s grateful for the opportunity but is focusing on the moment and not thinking about how his recent play could affect the arc of his career.
January 12, 2024 5:12 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with All-Star closer David Bednar and All-Star pitcher Mitch Keller by agreeing to one-year deals ahead of the exchange of proposed salaries. Bednar, an All-Star in each of the last two seasons, will get $4.51 million. He went 3-3 with 39 saves and a 2.00 ERA last season. Keller, an All-Star in 2023 while going 13-9 with a 4.21 ERA, will earn $5,442,500. Pittsburgh also reached agreements with first baseman Connor Joe at $2,125,000 and outfielder Edward Olivares at $1.35 million. Olivares was acquired in a trade with Kansas City last month.
January 12, 2024 4:49 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that pitcher Marcus Stroman and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $37 million, two-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Stroman posted an Instagram story with a photo of himself in a Yankees uniform. The right-hander grew up on Long Island, about 55 miles from Yankee Stadium. Stroman joins a Yankees rotation headed by AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole that likely will include Clarke Schmidt. Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes are coming off injury-plagued seasons.
January 11, 2024 2:16 am
Trailing 15-12, McGuffey won five of the final eight bouts, four by pins, to hand Bentworth its first loss of the season The two are now tied, one match back of section leader Burgettstown with two weeks left in the regular season. The Blue Devils stayed unbeaten with a solid win over Fort Cherry. Trinity remains atop its 3A section with a blowout win at South Fayette. The Hillers visit unbeaten West Allegheny next week.
Wednesday
Class 2A
McGuffey 39, Bentworth 29 Watch Here
Burgettstown 54, Fort Cherry 21
Beth-Center 36, West Greene 21
Jeff-Morgan 63, Wash High 6
Class 3A
Trinity 50, South Fayette 16
Baldwin 40, Canon-McMillan 29
Peters Township 47, Upper St. Clair 24
Norwin 43, Ringgold 16
January 11, 2024 7:55 am
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era. Belichick became just the third coach in NFL history to reach 300 career regular season wins, joining Hall of Famers Don Shula and George Halas. Belichick trails only Shula for the record for victories by a coach. But this season was Belichick’s worst in 29 seasons as an NFL head coach.
January 11, 2024 4:42 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The Steelers mixed it up Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s playoff game in Buffalo. The team practiced at Acrisure Stadium instead of the South Side. Head Coach Mike Tomlin said the practice field isn’t in usable condition, and he wanted to host practice on a “game-like” field similar to the one they’ll see in Buffalo. Though weather wasn’t necessarily a factor in the decision, Wednesday in Pittsburgh was wet and windy. With winter weather expected in Buffalo Sunday, quarterback Mason Rudolph said any additional reps in the elements can only benefit. “Just like last week, there’s things we adjusted,” Rudolph said. “It’s good to get work like we did today. Weren’t great conditions either, so you try to prepare yourselves, but we know it will be tough weather conditions but I think that’s one of the many pluses of playing in Pittsburgh is that we start to get a dose of that in October.” The Steelers’ defense is also getting a reinforcement. Safety Damontae Kazee has been restored to the active roster following his suspension. To make room for him, safety Trenton Thompson was placed on Injured Reserve. He has missed three games with a neck injury. The Steelers play the Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m.
