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Pitt Wise To Keep Football Options Open
It's the time of year again to start looking at early college football
projections and, what do you know? Some things never change. Miami
again is picked to finish at or near the top of its conference football
standings.
They are no threat to win the Big East
Conference, though. Neither is Virginia Tech. Simply because those
two no longer play there. They both jumped to the Atlantic Coast
Conference after last season and will begin playing football against
ACC rivals . . . more.....
African-American Athletes Ignoring Baseball
When Pat Mahomes took the mound August 25, 2003 for the Pirates,
he became the first African-American pitcher to start a game for
the team since 1992, when Victor Cole started four games.
And Mahomes' start only occurred because
Jeff D'Amico fell ill just before the game.
It was Mahomes' lone start of the season
. . . more.....
Up Close With Lesley Visser
Lesley Visser is set to begin her 31st season covering the NFL,
serving as CBS' lead sideline reporter. Visser returned to CBS Sports
in August 2000 after seven years at ABC, where she became the first
woman assigned to "Monday Night Football."
Firsts are nothing new for Lesley Visser.
In 1992, she was first woman to cover the post-game presentation
ceremony at the Super Bowl, and she was the first-ever female NFL
beat writer when she covered the New England Patriots in 1976 for
the Boston Globe . . . more.....
Front Page News Years ago,
I had a law school buddy who summarized the hopes of Pirates' fans
everywhere with one simple sentence. It was short and sweet, but
still resonates. He wanted "the Pirates to get me to August." All
he needed out of his relationship with the Pirates was for them
to have relevance once Steelers' training camp started. He had no
issues with the Steelers, he simply wanted a more natural order
to the sports scene . . . more.....
Fantasy Or Reality The kick-off
is just days away with the season's first tackle to follow. Who
will score the touchdown and which team will celebrate a championship?
I will leave those questions to the writers and prognosticators
in this fine publication.
I'm looking to that "other" football
season. The one that consumes millions of Americans and probably
accounts for more . . . more.....
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USF, Big East Banking On Each Other
The South Florida football express finally slowed up, just a little
bit, last season.
But by joining Pitt, West Virginia and
the new Big East for 2005, the Bulls believe they are locked back
onto the fast track, for good.
That's what being a part of a BCS conference
means to those who have been blocked out. Especially when you are
located in football-fertile Florida. Big East membership is the
celebrated puzzle piece that could lift USF into the company of
the state's Holy Trinity of football . . . more.....
Training Camp See 'n Say
It's the most anticipated time of the year, easily trumping Christmas
since it comes with no obligation for peace or goodwill to anyone.
It's Steelers' training camp, Camp Cowher,
as the TV stations quaintly refer to it.
The bucolic campus of St. Vincent College
becomes the launching pad for the season . . . more.....
Penn State University As
Penn State attempts to rebound from a 3-9 season, they hope to gain
from addition by subtraction.
Last year, the receiving position was
the leading culprit in sending the program to the most losses in
its history, dropping two dozen passes. Leading receiver Tony Johnson
was arrested for DUI at midseason. His emerging backup, Maurice
Humphrey, was arrested for aggravated assaul . . . more.....
University Of Pittsburgh A
year ago, the Pitt football program was being trumpeted as a budding
national contender.
My, how times have changed.
The Panthers failed to live up to preseason
expectations in 2003, finishing unranked with an 8-5 record, and
now, nobody knows what to expect . . . more.....
West Virginia University
If the brightness of the future requires wearing shades, then sales
of sunglasses in Morgantown must be through the roof. With 15 returning
starters and a friendly schedule, the West Virginia Mountaineers
face some lofty expectations.
Offensively, QB Rasheed Marshall should
be able to improve on his consistency from last year, but . . .
more.....
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