Tree of Life

04 May

Predators Vs. Power Preview by Dominic Errico

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Saturday, May 4th, 2013 – 9:03 am

Two teams struggling early in the 2013 season will square off Saturday night at the Consol Energy Center as the Pittsburgh Power (1-4) host the Orlando Predators (0-5)

Both teams have seen their share of struggles offensively, especially at the quarterback position and have made roster moves heading into this game. Power quarterback Jordan Jefferson remains the starter although backup Shane Austin got into the game late last week and led the Power on two straight scoring drives.

Austin suffered a hand injury and was placed on IR this week so the Power brought in Derek Cassidy. Cassidy should be familiar to Power fans as he was the winning quarterback in last season’s 31-point comeback win over the Predators. Cassidy has a career stat line of 60 for 103 (58.3%), 13 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and a 74.74 QB rating. No word yet if Cassidy will play a major role in this game or not.

Whoever plays quarterback will likely continue to find ways to get the ball to Mike Washington who caught four touchdowns last week in a losing effort. Wide receiver Shamar Graves should be active in this game for the first time all season and Head Coach Derek Stingley seems eager to see what he can do for this offense.

Orlando’s roster move is a lot more significant as they traded WR Amarri Jackson to the San Jose SaberCats and received legendary quarterback Aaron Garcia, who holds every major passing record in the league. Garcia should be ready to start this week and should immediately improve a passing attack that features Prechae Rodriguez, T.T. Toliver, and Jason Geathers.

Orlando’s defense is very physical and will try to impose their will on the rookie Jefferson. Keep an eye on the linebackers Marcus Everett and Tim Cheatwood. Everett was a second team all-arena jack linebacker and part of the All-Ironman team last year with 9 interceptions (three for a touchdown) as well as 7 offensive touchdowns. Cheatwood was a 2011 2nd team all-arena mac linebacker when he had 12.5 sacks. Both are capable of being disruptive forces. The Predators secondary features Simeon Castile (two interceptions), Dominic Jones (34 tackles leads the team), and Levy Brown who has gotten off to a slow start but had 9 interceptions last year.

Pittsburgh’s defense continues to keep the Power in games by forcing turnovers. Last week it was Chris LeFlore and Christian Wise with interceptions and the team forced some turnovers on down. The pass rush up front has improved, led by Dominie Pittman with 3 sacks, but they still need to improve in this area if they want to become an elite defense. Jack linebacker Alvin Jackson, who led the AFL in interceptions last year, is still looking for his first pick of the year and will help spearhead the Power’s attempts to keep Garcia in check.

Overall, as with any AFL matchup, it comes down to the quarterbacks and that means the Predators have a huge advantage on paper. Garcia has had his struggles with the Sabercats this year and leads the league in interceptions so the Power must take advantage of that to win this game.

Jordan Jefferson has to continue to improve making his reads and hitting open receivers down the field. They in turn need to reward a good throw by holding onto the ball. Of course none of that can occur if the offensive line doesn’t provide adequate protection. Coach Stingley hinted that lineup changes were coming in terms of starting personnel so it will be interesting to see how that all plays out this week.

It should be a competitive game but also an opportunity for Jefferson to watch an AFL legend in action. Let’s hope he is a quick learner this week.

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Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

03 May

Crosby’s back!

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, May 3rd, 2013 – 2:05 pm


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 

03 May

RMU Extends Toole’s Contract Through 2017-18

published in category: College Sports on Friday, May 3rd, 2013 – 12:21 pm

Moon Township, Pa. – May 3, 2013 – Director of Athletics Craig Coleman, M.D., announced Friday at a press conference at the Charles L. Sewall Center that Robert Morris University has extended the contract of head men’s basketball coach Andrew Toole.
Toole, who originally signed a five-year deal when he was named the eighth head coach in program history in May of 2010, is now signed through the 2017-18 season.
“Andy has done an exceptional job in his first three years at Robert Morris,” Coleman said. “His winning percentage is outstanding and a matter of public record, but his phenomenal leadership skills and mentoring of student-athletes in our basketball program is just as important to us. We look forward to having Andy leading our program for years to come.”
In three seasons under Toole’s tutelage, the Colonials have posted an overall record of 68-36 (.654), including a mark of 39-15 (.722) against Northeast Conference opponents.
In 2012-13, Toole led RMU to an overall record of 24-11 (.686). The Colonials claimed their 10th NEC regular-season championship with a ledger of 14-4 (.778), helping Robert Morris earn its fifth postseason appearance in the last six years.
RMU earned a spot in the 2013 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), advancing to the second round thanks to a 59-57 victory over Kentucky (3/19/13) in front of 3,444 fans at the Charles L. Sewall Center, the largest crowd in school history. In the second round, the Colonials dropped a 77-68 decision at Providence (3/25/13).
“I couldn’t be more excited about the Robert Morris administration having the faith in me to continue to lead this program,” Toole said. “I look forward to building on the success we’ve had during my time as head coach the last three years as well as the overall success we’ve had in the last six years.”
In his first season at the helm in 2010-11, Toole guided RMU to an overall record of 18-14 (.563), including a mark of 12-6 (.667) in the NEC. The Colonials advanced to the championship game of the NEC Tournament, falling three minutes shy of earning its third straight title before falling in overtime at LIU Brooklyn, 85-82.
The following season in 2011-12, Robert Morris posted an overall record of 26-11 (.703), including a mark of 13-5 (.722) in the NEC. RMU tied a school record for victories, advanced to its fourth straight NEC Tournament championship game and earned its inaugural berth in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).
In the 2012 CIT, the Colonials advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to road wins at Indiana State and Toledo, marking the program’s first victories in a national postseason tournament since 1983.
“Andy is an integral member of the RMU family, and we are extremely happy he will be contining his career at Robert Morris University,” President Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D., said. “We take great pride in his accomplishments thus far and know there is more to come. Just as we look forward to Andy’s future with RMU, he is looking forward to continuing to develop the program and engage others in the process.”
Overall, Toole has been at Robert Morris six seasons. He spent the 2007-08 campaign as an assistant under former head coach Mike Rice (2007-10) before being elevated to Associate Head Coach for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. He is at the helm of an RMU program that has experienced unprecedented success over the last six years.
Since the beginning of the 2007-08 season, Robert Morris owns an overall record of 141-67 (.678), with the 141 victories both a school and NEC record for a six-year span. RMU’s 141 wins over the last six years is tied with Davidson for eighth among mid-major programs over that span, and the Colonials also own NEC records for victories over the span of three, four and five years.
While RMU’s overall success is apparent, the program’s accomplishments in the NEC are also clear.
Over the last six years, the Colonials have posted a mark of 85-23 (.787) against league opposition, having finished no lower than third over that span. Robert Morris won outright NEC regular-season titles in 2008, 2009 and 2013 and shared the championship in 2010 with Quinnipiac.
RMU followed up its success in the regular season by becoming the first team in NEC history in 16 years to win back-to-back NEC Tournament championships by earning a 52-50 win over Quinnipiac in the 2010 NEC Tournament championship game in Hamden, Conn.
In 2008, the Colonials made their first appearance in the NIT, dropping an 87-81 decision to No. 1 overall seed Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. In both 2009 and 2010, RMU earned automatic berths to the NCAA Tournament thanks to winning its sixth and seventh NEC Tournament championships, respectively.
In the 2009 NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed, the Colonials fell to eventual national runner-up Michigan State, 77-62, in the first round at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. In the 2010 NCAA Tournament, Robert Morris nearly upset No. 2 seed Villanova in the first round at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., before falling, 73-70, in overtime.
Prior to coming to Robert Morris in 2007, Toole spent the 2006-07 season as an assistant at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.
While an assistant with the Leopards, Toole assisted in all facets of the program, from recruiting to player development. He was responsible for helping recruit student-athletes that helped lead Lafayette to the 2010 Patriot League Tournament championship game against Lehigh.
Between 2004 and 2006, Toole spent two years with The Hoop Group in Neptune, N.J. He served as the director of the Eastern Invitational Basketball Clinic, where he handled logistical management for the nation’s largest high school exposure camp.
Also during his time with The Hoop Group, Toole maintained relationships with elite high school and AAU coaches. Also in 2004, Toole served as the director of Rebounds, a 28,000-square foot facility where high school players focus on development.
Toole was a four-year starter at the Division I level, playing for Elon University (1998-2000) before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania (2000-03).
In two seasons with the Quakers, Toole helped guide Penn to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2002 and 2003. A co-captain of the 2002-03 Penn team that finished with an overall record of 22-6 (.786), in two years as a starter Toole helped lead the Quakers to an overall record of 47-13 (.783).
During his two seasons at Penn, the Quakers posted a record of 7-1 in the Philadelphia Big 5, an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pa., that includes Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova. Penn finished 4-0 in 2001-02, and it’s only loss in 2002-03 came against Saint Joseph’s.
Over his four-year career at Elon and Penn, Toole averaged 12.3 points per contest, finishing with 1,341 points in 109 games. He also posted averages of 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.
In two seasons at Penn, Toole hit 104 three-pointers and on his career finished with 212. He was an All-Ivy League First Team selection in 2001-02, an All-Ivy League Second Team honoree in 2002-03 and was named to the All-Big 5 Team in both 2002 and 2003.
A member of the Friars Senior Society at the University of Pennsylvania in 2002-03, Toole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Penn in 2003.
Toole, who married the former Brooke Kelly June 3, 2011, resides in the Pittsburgh, Pa., suburb of Mt. Lebanon with their son, Ryan Carter.

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Posted in College Sports

 

03 May

A Legend Returns To The Pittsburgh Power by Dominic Errico

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Friday, May 3rd, 2013 – 8:38 am

For those who worship backup quarterbacks, the Pittsburgh Power has made your dreams come true.

Local legend Derek Cassidy (or is it Chad if you ask certain Power fans) has been assigned to the team this week. Cassidy is the quarterback who helped “lead” the Power to their historic 31-point comeback victory over the Orlando Predators last year. It was the team’s only win at home in the past two seasons.

Despite the fact that Cassidy threw four interceptions in that game, some Power fans seem to think he’s the missing link on the path to gridiron glory. He’s such a highly sought after commodity at the quarterback position that no other team in the AFL gave him a chance. Maybe they were scared off by a 13:9 touchdown/interception ratio. Cassidy wasn’t the answer last year and he’s still not the answer.

Blast me all you want but a journeyman backup AFL quarterback with limited “success” doesn’t excite me, not when the opponent this week brought AFL legend Aaron Garcia in to try and fix their quarterback woes. You need a quarterback with close to a 70% completion percentage and doesn’t have less than a 2:1 touchdown/interception career ratio.

It’s not like it matters anyway because Jordan Jefferson seems to be entrenched as the starter regardless of how awful he plays behind center. Shane Austin came into the game late against the San Antonio Talons and lead the team on touchdown drives both chances he got. Unfortunately he broke his hand during that game and has been placed on injured reserve.

Surely somewhere on the planet is a quarterback capable of leading the Power to victories and if any of you say Tim Tebow just close your browser window right now. Tebow would be an awful AFL quarterback because he’s not a quarterback period. He’s a glorified running back who gets a ton of media attention for no apparent reason. Maybe ESPN is suffering from the same affliction as Cassidy’s fan club.

Any team bringing in Tim Tebow to the AFL would be doing it for the attention, not because of the talents he brings to the field. That’s great if you think people will actually buy a ticket to watch a sideshow at quarterback rather than a serious attempt to win. Winning is all that matters to fans in Pittsburgh.

Somehow that goal never seems to be achieved despite the constant quarterback shuffle. Here’s a list of quarterbacks who have suited up for the Power in franchise history; Bernard Morris, Kevin McCabe, Anthony Morelli, Chris Wallace, Bill Stull, Andrico Hines, Bryan Randall, Derek Cassidy, Jordan Jefferson and Shane Austin.

That’s ten quarterbacks in less than three full years, eleven if you count Kyle Rowley even though he never officially played a down for the Power. It is a shame this list doesn’t include Adam DiMichele who tore up the SIFL in 2011 for the Erie Storm. He threw for 3247 yards, 91 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions in just 12 games and was named league MVP. DiMichele was the backup to Dan Raudabaugh in Philadelphia last year. He’s also a local Pittsburgh guy.

Who knows if DiMichele would ever consider playing here or if he isn’t done with playing football altogether, but it just shows there are plenty of options out there who seem to have a better resume than what we’ve seen under center for Pittsburgh.

The carousel has to stop soon because Power fans are getting dizzy.

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Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

02 May

Steigerwald vs. Fedko

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 – 1:56 pm


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

02 May

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 – 12:02 pm


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Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

02 May

Bennett on scoring 1st goal

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins, Sports Talk Radio on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 – 10:16 am


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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins, Sports Talk Radio

 

01 May

Time for the fans at Consol to do their part by Jon Pennline

published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 – 12:10 pm

The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted a playoff game, they won in thrilling fashion, defeating the Flyers 2-1 to stay alive for one more game.

Most notably, the electricity in the Consol Energy Center. No doubt, the crowd at Consol was the loudest in it’s short history and the fans were engaged on every shift. The camera shook because of the crowd and the transformation from corporate luxury to hellacious bloodsport was completed.

The question is, will there be a repeat performance starting Wednesday night?

Yes, well at least there should be.

The Penguins have their best squad since 1993 and they will face a franchise that has a history of ruining great Penguin teams. With the best record in the Eastern Conference, Pittsburgh has earned the right to home-ice advantage for at least the first three rounds. The fans should do everything in their power to create a hostile environment for opposing teams.

I typically am not a believer of loud crowds at hockey games. I think hockey is the best spectator sport around. The sound of skates shaving the ice, the thundering of the boards after a big hit, and the tape to tape passes reverberating off the arena’s ceiling are part of the experience. There really isn’t a need to cheer like it’s 3rd and 17 in the fourth quarter every time your team has the puck.

But that’s all for the regular season. In the playoffs, it’s about putting all your energy into one game. Players will say the crowd doesn’t have an affect on the game, but that seems to contradict the play on the ice, at times. A huge hit, or a huge goal could bring an entire city to its feet and a visiting bench to its knees. The raucous of the crowd only puts salt in the wound.

Visiting teams sometimes gain an advantage in that they tend to play a little smarter and capitalize on a home team that is overzealous. But when you look at the matchup, particularly against a squad as young as the New York Islanders, it could be a huge lift for Pittsburgh. The Islanders’ roster has a total of 87 playoff games under its belt, compared to the Penguins’ 993 playoff games. Remember when these core group of Penguins played their first playoff series in Ottawa? The feeling of being overwhelmed was evident and the crowd had a huge hand in giving that sinking feeling.

If you go to the game Wednesday night, or Friday night, or any night where there’s a playoff game in Pittsburgh, bring the energy. You’ve had 48 games to rest up your voice and, like the Penguins, the time to act is now.

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Posted in Pittsburgh Penguins

 



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