Tree of Life

11 Jun

Pitt Extends Pederson

published in category: College Sports on Tuesday, June 11th, 2013 – 9:21 am

University of Pittsburgh athletic director Steve Pederson has been signed to a new five-year contract that will keep him at Pitt through at least 2018, Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg has announced.

“With the University of Pittsburgh set to officially join the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, our athletic programs never have been better positioned for future success,” Nordenberg said. “That is a real tribute to the hard work and effective leadership provided by Steve Pederson as Pitt’s athletic director.

“Just two years ago, during a period of significant conference instability, Steve was a driving force in helping us to find the best possible conference home. When we received an invitation to join the ACC, Pitt not only had the chance to move to an outstanding athletic conference but also became aligned with some of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions. The ACC is a perfect fit for the University of Pittsburgh, and our receipt of their invitation reflects well on both our overall institutional strength and on the tremendous progress made in Pitt athletics under Steve’s guidance.

“As we begin this exciting new era of ACC competition, we all have high aspirations for each of our programs. The creativity, strength and stability of Steve’s continued leadership will be an important asset as we pursue those lofty goals.”

Pederson, who enters his 13th year at Pitt, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to lead the Panthers into a new and historic era.

“This is an exciting time to be at the University of Pittsburgh,” Pederson said. “I am fortunate to work with this great staff and together we are helping to guide each of our student-athletes as they aspire to excellence academically, athletically and personally. I appreciate the confidence the Chancellor has in our ability to keep Pitt athletics moving forward.”

Statement from ACC Commissioner John Swofford:
“Pitt has a terrific asset and leader in Steve Pederson. He’s one of the most experienced and respected athletics directors in the country and he’s already made a positive and prominent impact around the ACC table.”

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Posted in College Sports

 

10 Jun

Steigerwald vs. Fedko on Pens

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, June 10th, 2013 – 1:35 pm


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

10 Jun

Crosby on Bylsma

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, June 10th, 2013 – 9:46 am


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

10 Jun

Morrow on his time with Pens

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, June 10th, 2013 – 9:45 am


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

10 Jun

Jarome Iginla on his play with Pens

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, June 10th, 2013 – 9:43 am


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

10 Jun

Last Minute Heroics Lead San Jose SaberCats To 68-54 Win Over Pittsburgh Power

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, June 10th, 2013 – 9:40 am

SAN JOSE, CA (June 8, 2013) – The backup quarterbacks took center stage as the Pittsburgh Power (3-8) fell to the San Jose SaberCats (8-3), 68-54, in front of 8,263 fans at HP Pavilion on Saturday night. The SaberCats scored two touchdowns in the final 40 seconds of the game to seal the victory.

Both teams exploded offensively in the 1st half, with touchdowns resulting on all but one drive. San Jose started the scoring spree, with a 6-yard rushing touchdown from defensive lineman Jabar Fletcher. Pittsburgh’s Derek Cassidy got the starting nod tonight, as Steven Sheffield was out due to a family emergency. Cassidy rose to the occasion, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for one in the half. Two of those touchdown passes went to Mike Washington, who had six receptions in the half. San Jose’s Mitch Mustain threw three touchdowns of his own, filling in for the injured Russ Michna, and the SaberCats took a 33-28 lead into the locker room.

After stopping the Power on the last drive of the 2nd quarter, San Jose stopped them again on the first drive of the 3rd. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, they were unable to stop the SaberCats, as Fletcher ran in his third touchdown of the game. The teams traded touchdowns the remainder of the 3rd quarter, including one to spirited Power offensive lineman Jason Thomas, but it was San Jose who held the lead at the end of the 3rd quarter, 47-41.

Mustain started the 4th quarter off with a score, hitting J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game Fred Williams with a 9-yard touchdown pass to extend the SaberCat lead 54-41. On the ensuing drive, the SaberCats stopped the Power for a third time. Three plays into the next drive, Pittsburgh’s Willie McGinnis forced a fumble, which was recovered by Chris LeFlore. The Power were able to capitalize on the recovery, scoring on a 14-yard pass from Cassidy to Julian Talley. At that point, San Jose led, 54-48. Mustain and the SaberCats started on offense again, only to be intercepted by Sergio Gilliam, who ran the interception back 46 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, 54-54, which was the AFL Highlight of the Game. Julian Rausch missed the extra point, and that would be the closest Pittsburgh would get, as San Jose would go on to score the final two touchdowns of the game. The first came on a 6-yard pass to former Power wide receiver Jason Willis with 12 seconds left, and the second was a 5-yard interception return by Huey Whittaker, the Riddell Defensive Player of the Game, to seal the game at the 6-second mark. San Jose triumphed, 68-54.

Cassidy ended his night throwing for 6 touchdowns and 261 yards. He also rushed for 1 touchdown, tying Steven Sheffield for 7 total scores in a game this season. Washington, who earned Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game honors, finished the game with 3 touchdowns and 109 yards. Pittsburgh defensive back Chris LeFlore also recorded his 100th career tackle with the Power.

Mustain would finish with 250 yards and 6 touchdowns. Williams ended the game with three touchdowns and 86 yards.

The Power return home to CONSOL Energy Center next Saturday, June 15 against the division-leading Philadelphia Soul (6-5) at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on both thisTV Pittsburgh and TribLIVE Radio SportsTalk.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Pittsburgh’s Mike Washington

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
San Jose’s Huey Whittaker

J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME
San Jose’s Fred Williams

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME
San Jose’s Fred Williams’ 35-yard touchdown catch in 3rd Quarter

AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
Pittsburgh’s Sergio Gilliam’s 46-yard interception return for a touchdown with under one minute to play in 4th Quarter to tie the game

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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

08 Jun

Goodbye to Dan Bylsma? By Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, June 8th, 2013 – 9:43 pm

After the Penguins were embarrassingly eliminated in the first round last postseason, changes were vowed and changes were made.

Jordan Staal was traded for Brandon Sutter and a few defensive prospects, Zbynek Michalek was traded back to Phoenix, and Arron Asham was let go. Dan Bylsma, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury all stayed but the leash was noticeably shorter heading into the 2013 season.

Once again, the regular season showed promise from all Penguin personnel as the team rattled off 15 straight wins en route to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Marc-Andre Fleury had a solid season, Kris Letang became a Norris Trophy candidate, and Dan Bylsma looked like a genius behind the bench.

But that all changed once the playoffs started up. Fleury was benched after having a horrific three games against the Islanders, Letang reverted back to his old playoff self by trying to do too much and playing out of control, and Dan Bylsma struggled to adjust.

After playing two cupcake teams in the first two rounds, the Penguins were swept out of Boston in the Eastern Conference Final. The team that won a Stanley Cup on defense and goaltending two years ago, shutout the Penguins twice in four games while only surrendering two goals in that span.

For the Penguins, it means back to the drawing board and after the last four years of embarrassing defeats, it’s time for a new artist.

Dan Bylsma was the perfect fit when he came to Pittsburgh late in the 2009 season. The Penguins were in 13th place and they completely shut themselves off from the daily beatings of Michel Therrien. With Bylsma, the teams saw a player’s coach, one who was calm and confident in his abilities. It turned out to be the perfect formula as the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup.

But that was four years ago and the relaxed attitude has now settled in a little too well with the locker room. How many times has this team come out flat in a playoff game? How often have you seen them fail to make any adjustments, stubbornly trying to push “their game” on the other team despite the fact that it’s not working? That directly falls on the coach.

Yes, players play the game. They are the ones on the ice skating, passing, shooting, turning the puck over and taking dumb penalties. But after seeing countless cross-ice passes into the teeth of the Bruins’ defense why wasn’t there a change in philosophy? How many times did we see a scoring chance near the crease or a shot off a rebound? Either the coaches didn’t tell the players to go to the net (unlikely), or the coaches did tell them and got completely ignored.

Either way, it’s time for Dan Bylsma to go.

Someone needs to come in with an understanding of defensive hockey. They need to be able to make adjustments before falling into a 2-0 series hole and they need to have the ability to put the ego on hold and recognize that their system isn’t perfect and may need tweaking along the way.

They also need to play hall of fame right wing players at their natural position at right wing instead of forcing them, uncomfortably, to play another position. There was no reason for Jarome Iginla to ever be on the left wing. Ever.

Speaking of playing players, what was the reason for having Simon Despres sit for fifteen regular season games and most of the playoffs? Mark Eaton was solid in the regular season, and Deryk Engelland held his own, but in the playoffs the speed of the game was just too much for those two. Despres has speed, vision, and size to boot. His chemistry with Kris Letang has been well documented yet the two rarely saw the ice together during the playoffs. Why?

The list of complaints goes on for quite awhile but, above everything else, the fact is Dan Bylsma was handed an all-star team and failed to get out of a very weak Eastern Conference. His team had more captains and leadership than it had goals. And yet, instead of raising the silver chalice at the end of the season, or even reaching the final series to compete for that trophy, Bylsma’s team is bowing out in the Eastern Conference Finals; swept for the first time since 1979.

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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

08 Jun

RIVERHOUNDS AND TORONTO FC RESERVES FINISH IN A 1-1 DRAW

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Saturday, June 8th, 2013 – 9:41 pm

Pittsburgh – In the first ever Major League Soccer game at Highmark Stadium, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Toronto FC Reserves end in a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 3,104 for ‘White-Out’ night. Strikers Jose Angulo and Jhonny Arteaga connected for the Riverhounds lone goal in the 9th minute of play. Toronto’s Andrew Weideman took advantage of a Riverhounds failed clearance to bring the score level in the 72nd minute.

The Riverhounds would jump ahead of Toronto early on a quality combination between Angulo and Arteaga. Freeing the ball to Arteaga on the right corner of Toronto’s penalty area, Angulo checked off his near post run to lose his marker. Picking his head up to see Angulo slashing to the goal mouth, Arteaga served a perfect ball to the head of Angulo. Rising above the service, Angulo headed the ball down past Quillen Roberts for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

For the second straight game, Riverhounds centerback Andrew Marshall would find Angulo on the left flank behind his defender at the half-hour mark. Taking a touch towards goal, Angulo struck a hard left-footed shot on target, but Roberts redirected the ball out of danger with both fists.

Toronto replied five minutes later when Kyle Bekker would spring Emery Welshman behind the Riverhounds defense. Bekker’s pass encouraged Riverhounds net-minder Hunter Gilstrap off of his line to meet Welshman at the edge of the penalty area. Welshman tried to flick the ball over the on-rushing Gilstrap, but the savvy veteran would swat the ball out of the air to thwart the opportunity.

Just minutes after the intermission, the Riverhounds nearly added to their lead on a penetrating pass from Mike Green for Angulo. Drawing his defender tight to the halfway line, Angulo stepped over the pass for Mike Seth running past the Toronto defenders. Racing all alone with only Toronto’s newly inserted goalkeeper Karl Gouabe, Seth hit a right-footed shot that trickled just wide of the right upright.

Toronto would even the score when the Riverhounds could not clear their lines. Under heavy pressure from Toronto in the right corner, Green attempted to pass the ball back for Seth C’deBaca. Jumping the passing lane, Wiedeman would take a touch to prepare his body for a shot. Sliding to close down the shot from Weideman, Marshall would redirect the ball over Gilstrap and into the top left corner of the goal.

Both sides would push to find the game-winning goal in the final fifteen minutes, but neither side would concede, despite an on slot of opportunities in both penalty areas.

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Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 



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