Ex-Paterno players reunite amid scandal’s wake

September 17, 2016

STATE COLLEGE (AP) - Organizers of a private reunion for football players coached by Joe Paterno will provide their own security for the Friday night event, Penn State spokesman Ben Manning said.The reunion is separate from a university celebration of the 50th anniversary of Paterno's head coaching debut planned for Saturday's game against Temple. Both mark a milestone that has emerged as a sensitive issue for the university and its community given Paterno's role in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.The plans have spotlighted clear divisions. Some staunch supporters of Paterno ...

McCutchen, Pirates rout Phillies

September 16, 2016

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Chad Kuhl's fan club brought the noise.Andrew McCutchen hit two solo homers, Kuhl pitched six effective innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 15-2 Thursday night.Jordy Mercer hit a three-run homer and John Jaso and Sean Rodriguez also went deep to help the Pirates split a four-game series.Kuhl (4-3) allowed two runs and four hits, striking out five. He retired the first 12 batters before Tommy Joseph lined a double to right-center in the fifth.The righty grew up in nearby Delaware and more than 100 of his family, friends and acquaintances ...

Big Ben, Brown put on a show as Steelers cruise

September 13, 2016

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - Ben Roethlisberger recovered his own fumble at a pivotal moment and didn't look back, throwing three touchdown passes to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 38-16 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.Roethlisberger completed 27 of 37 passes for 300 yards, including two touchdowns to All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown and another to Eli Rogers. Often playing on the opposite side from Josh Norman and tormenting cornerback Bashaud Breeland, Brown made eight catches for 126 yards.Starting in place of the suspended Le'Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams ran for ...

Panthers ready to press forward after cathartic win

September 13, 2016

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The 24-hour rule that Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi gives his players to revel every victory or fume over every loss lasted almost precisely that long this time around.When the Panthers gathered for film review around 4 p.m. Sunday - practically 24 hours on the dot after their exhilarating 42-39 win over Penn State, a victory that set off a postgame celebration including an ill-fated attempt to toss Narduzzi in the air and hundreds of students walking around campus in their gear long after the final whistle - Narduzzi flipped the film on and the comedown officially ...

Significance of Penn State-Pitt rivalry not lost on the Nittany Lions

September 7, 2016

STATE COLLEGE (AP) - Penn State-Pittsburgh used to be a storied rivalry, filled with memories for many people.None of them will put on a helmet when the teams play their 97th game since 1893.The two teams last met in 2000 and will play the first of a four-game series on Saturday at Heinz Field. The renewed game comes after Penn State dominated the series from the 1960s until the teams last played. The Nittany Lions were 27-9-1 over that span and consistently the bigger team in Pennsylvania.Penn State coach James Franklin said none of his players have even seen a game between the teams in ...

Tomlin optimistic as Steelers prep for opener

September 7, 2016

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Mike Tomlin has confidence in the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary. And the linebackers. And the defensive line. And tight end. And everywhere else his team will begin the 2016 season in Washington on Monday with guys atop the depth chart who weren't the guys Tomlin had in mind when training camp began six weeks ago.Ladarius Green, signed to replace the retired Heath Miller, is on the physically unable to perform list with lingering health issues. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree is on injured reserve with abdominal concerns. Cornerback Senquez Golson's second season is ...