(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Penn State head coach James Franklin watches the action against Northwestern during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger,File)

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — James Franklin was hired as Virginia Tech’s coach on Monday, a little more than a month after he was fired during his 12th season at Penn State.

The Hokies became the first Power 4 football program to fill a coaching vacancy this season. Franklin was set to be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday morning.

He was fired by the Nittany Lions on Oct. 12, a day after they lost at home to Northwestern to fall to 3-3.

The 53-year-old Franklin went 104-45 at Penn State, winning a Big Ten championship (in the 2016 season), a Fiesta Bowl (2017) and a Rose Bowl (2022). Last season, he led the Nittany Lions to a first-round victory in the College Football Playoff.

“I’m honored and humbled to join the Hokie family,” Franklin said in a statement. “My vision is simple: to restore unmatched excellence, to build something that lasts, and to serve this university, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our amazing fan base with honor, integrity, and passion. I look forward to getting to work with our players, our staff, and the entire Virginia Tech community.”

Terms of Franklin’s contract were not released. Before he was hired by Virginia Tech, Penn State had been on the hook for a buyout worth nearly $50 million. But Franklin and the Nittany Lions negotiated a settlement under which he’ll be paid $9 million instead, according to multiple reports.

Franklin has a 128-60 overall record, including his three seasons at Vanderbilt. In Blacksburg, he takes over for his former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator, Brent Pry, who was fired on Sept. 14 after the Hokies lost their first three games by an average of 18.7 points. Virginia Tech started 0-3 for the first time since 1987.

Pry went 16-24, including 10-13 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, in his three-plus seasons. The Hokies (3-7, 2-4 ACC) have since been led by interim coach Philip Montgomery.

Franklin was maligned at Penn State for not winning big games — he went 4-21 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll — but he brings credibility to a Virginia Tech program that has struggled since Frank Beamer retired in 2015 after 29 years at the helm.

Athletic director Whit Babcock first hired Justin Fuente and then Pry in hopes of continuing the success enjoyed by Beamer, but both coaches floundered. That prompted Virginia Tech President Tim Sands to form a search committee to hire the next coach and limit the scope of Babcock’s role.

The Hokies have just four winning seasons since Beamer’s retirement and six since since Babcock became the AD in 2014.

The committee landed on Franklin, whose Penn State teams won at least 10 games six times during his tenure. Franklin also showed an ability to recruit in Virginia. In 2023, he signed six of the top 10 prospects in the state, according to various recruiting services, and one of his best players in the past five years was Tyler Warren, a tight end from the Richmond area who was a first-round NFL draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts this spring and is flourishing as a rookie.

“His experience, passion, and record of success embody our commitment to compete at the highest level,” Sands said of Franklin in a statement. “His selection is the result of unprecedented collaboration by our athletic administration with university leaders, esteemed alumni, including former NFL coaches and players, and our most dedicated supporters.

“James will provide the leadership and inspiration our student-athletes need, and the performance on the field that our university community, alumni, and fans expect and deserve.”

Virginia Tech has committed to providing Franklin with the resources he needs to be successful. The Board of Visitors approved a plan in late September to add $229 million to the athletic department’s budget over the next four years, primarily to bolster the football program. Half of that money, though, is coming from philanthropy and needs to be raised.

(File Photo of Reeves Field in Beaver Falls, Geneva College’s home football stadium)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Rochester, NY) Geneva College’s football team is headed to a 2025 postseason bowl game. The Golden Tornadoes will participate in an ECAC Division III bowl known as the 2025 Robert M. “Scotty” Whitelaw Bowl on Saturday, November 22nd tentatively starting at 12 noon taking place in Rochester, New York. Geneva, who is 6-4 overall and 6-2 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, will take on SUNY Brockport of Brockport, New York, who is also 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Empire 8 Conference. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown walks after being released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Nov. 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

(AP) Former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of attempted murder because a firearm was allegedly used, a prosecutor said Monday.

Brown appeared via video at a brief arraignment hearing in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in which his lawyer, Mark Eiglarsh, repeated that Brown already entered a not guilty plea. He was released from jail last week on a $25,000 bond and required to wear a GPS ankle monitor.

An attempted murder charge in Florida carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence in many cases. But Assistant State Attorney Stephanie Cruz said because Brown allegedly used a gun, he could face double that time behind bars because of a firearm sentencing enhancement. The law also carries a potential 20-year minimum mandatory sentence upon conviction.

Brown, 37, did not speak during the hearing, Judge Marisa Tinkler-Mendez set at status hearing tentatively for Dec. 22. No trial date has been scheduled.

Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami on May 16 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier, according to an arrest warrant. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.

Eiglarsh said at a previous hearing that the affidavit is mistaken and that Brown actually used his personal firearm, and the shots were not aimed at anyone. Brown has said on social media that he was defending himself from an attack and that others were trying to steal jewelry from him.

Brown spent 12 years in the NFL and was an All-Pro wide receiver who last played in 2021 for Tampa Bay, including a Super Bowl championship with quarterback Tom Brady. He spent much of his career with Pittsburgh. For his career, Brown had 928 receptions for more than 12,000 yards and accounted for 88 total touchdowns, counting punt returns and one pass.

Brown was extradited last week from Dubai, where he has business interests, after an arrest warrant on the attempted murder charge was issued in June.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) holds his arm after a hit by the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the initial concern is that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a “slight break” in his left, non-throwing wrist. NFL sources told Schefter that Rodgers will undergo further testing today to determine what the full extent of the injury is and how long he will be sidelined. Rodgers sustained the injury late in the second quarter and did not return to the game where the Steelers won 32-14 over the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

(File Photo of an Aliquippa Quips Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Gibsonia, PA) Aliquippa High School defeated McKeesport 21-12 at Pine Richland High School on Saturday to win the high school football WPIAL 4A Championship. This was also the 800th win for the Aliquippa program and their record-extending 21st WPIAL title, the most in league history. The Quips had a lead of 14-12 with two minutes and twenty seconds left in the fourth quarter and their senior quarterback Marques Council threw a touchdown on a fourth and nine to senior wide receiver Qa’Lil Goode to put the Quips ahead for good. Aliquippa will be taking on Oil City starting at 6:30 p.m. this Friday at Slippery Rock University in the PIAA 4A quarterfinals and Beaver County Radio will be covering the game that begins at 7 p.m. on 99.3 and 95.7 FM and 1230 and 1460 AM.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) On Sunday, November 16th, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host their rematch against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. The local coverage of the game will be on KDKA-TV (CBS). This is also the Steelers’ Salute to Service game where elements throughout it will honor, empower, and connect with the country’s service members, veterans, and their families in support of the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative. The Steelers will raise awareness to the nation’s veterans throughout the game and they will feature on-field and in-stadium Salute to Service elements, which includes paying tribute to our active military and veterans. A daughter of the late country music singer Toby Keith, Krystal Keith will perform the National Anthem on Sunday to pay tribute to her late father, who sang the National Anthem at the first regular season game held in the former Heinz Field back in 2001. Krystal Keith will also be the halftime show performer on Sunday, to perform two of her late father’s songs to honor our military and his Steelers fandom. According to a release from the Pittsburgh Steelers, here is more information that you should know before you go to this game:

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The game is expected to be very well attended. Fans attending the game are encouraged to
arrive 2 hours early to avoid the anticipated heavy traffic and last-minute crowds at the
gate, as well as enjoy in-stadium pregame activities. Parking lots will open at 8:00 a.m. and
all gates will open at 11:00 a.m.
For a seamless gameday experience, fans are encouraged to download the Steelers Mobile
App and make sure they’ve enabled location services and turned on game day alerts. The
toggle at the top of the screen allows fans to access the Acrisure Stadium mode where
they can sign up for push notifications and gameday alerts.

MOBILE-TICKETING

• Ensure your phone is fully charged on gameday.
• Before leaving for the game, fans are directed to save their tickets to their Apple
Wallet or Google Wallet. This ensures fans can access them without relying on
Wi-Fi or cell service.
• Additionally, fans should transfer tickets to guests, so everyone has their own
ticket on their mobile device.

• For ticket help, visit steelers.com/mobileticketing.

CLEAR BAG POLICY

• To provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite fan entry into
Acrisure Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers will continue to enforce the NFL CLEAR BAG
POLICY that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the stadium.
• Learn more at Clear Bag Policy – Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA by clicking here.

CASHLESS VENUE

• Acrisure Stadium is a cashless venue. As a cashless venue, additional points of sale
have been created, increasing convenience. Credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay
and Google Pay are accepted.

PARKING

• Pre-sold parking is available using JustPark. To reserve, visit the Acrisure
Stadium website by clicking here or utilize the Acrisure Stadium mode in the Steelers mobile app and click on “traffic and parking.”
• Reserved pre-sold parking lots around the stadium are open at 8:00 a.m. to
gameday parkers. Tailgating is permitted in the pre-sold lots surrounding the
stadium. Fans with pre-sold parking (from the East, South and West) should use the
West End Bridge to access parking facilities.
• Digital Pre-Sold Parking Passes: Pre-sold parking passes were distributed via
email this season and can be used digitally on a mobile device or printed and used
as a hard copy. Fans opting to use the digital version of their pre-sold parking pass
are encouraged to display the pass on their phone prior to reaching the North Shore
campus to reduce delays. Please ensure your phone’s brightness is turned up so
the pass can be scanned easily.
• Gold 1 Garage: To reduce entering delays at the intersection of General Robinson &
Chuck Noll Way, Gold 1 Garage patrons coming from I-279, Route 28, or any other
points east of the campus are encouraged to use the back entrance heading
westbound on Reedsdale Street.
• Gameday pay-parking / non-pre-sold parkers are strongly encouraged to utilize
alternative parking at:
Downtown Garages and ride the free Light Rail Transit to the North Shore.
Station Square and ride the Gateway Clipper Fleet.
South Hills Light Rail Lots (free) and ride the Light Rail Transit to the North Shore.
• Gameday parkers arriving on the North Shore from I-279 less than two hours before
game time are urged to take Exit 1C to park at Rivers Casino, Beaver Avenue or Western Avenue, or Exit 1D from I-279 Northbound or Exit 2B from I-279
Southbound to park at the Blue 10 Garage or the Nova Place Garage.
• For the regular season game, most parking lots and garages on the North Shore will
cost approximately $60.

TRAFFIC ALERTS & INFORMATION

• Fans are encouraged to download and utilize WAZE, a free navigation app that
provides the most efficient routes to and from the game. WAZE has partnered with
Acrisure Stadium to provide fans with navigation directly to their parking spot while
avoiding traffic delays. Acrisure Stadium provides WAZE with all the time-based
event day road closures that other GPS software may not include.
• Visit https://acrisurestadium.com/stadium/parking-directions/ for more
details and parking lot specific directions.
• For LIVE traffic and parking updates on game day, fans are encouraged to:
o Download the Official Steelers Mobile App and sign-up to receive game day
and stadium alert notifications on their smart phone and mobile devices.
o Call the Traffic & Parking Hotline at 412-697-7599.
o Listen to Steelers Radio 102.5 WDVE.
O Follow @AcrisureStadium on X.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES/DETOURS

I-279 HOV Lane Open
• The emergency repairs to the Veterans Bridge have been completed. While PennDOT
has not yet fully reopened the HOV Lanes on non-event days, they will still be
reopened for outbound traffic from the North Shore on event days. As there are no
minimum restrictions on event days, the HOV should be used by all I-279 North fans.
DOWNTOWN AND FREE LIGHT RAIL SERVICE
• Fans can park downtown and ride the free Light Rail to Acrisure Stadium. Fans can
park in the garages downtown for $30 or less. Check for space availability via
iPhone (ParkPGH); Mobile (m.parkpgh.org); SMS/Text and Voice (412-423-8980).
• Fans who park Downtown are encouraged to utilize the following routes:
o From the Parkway West, Exit 70B to Ft. Duquesne Blvd.
o From the Parkway East, Exit 71B to Second Ave.

STATION SQUARE BOAT SHUTTLES

• Park at Station Square ($20) and ride the Gateway Clipper Fleet Steelers shuttle
boats ($16 per person, round trip).
• Shuttles board two (2) hours before the game. Return shuttles begin in the third
quarter and continue until after the game.
ALTERNATE ROUTES TO THE GAME
• I-279 NB – When Exit 1B becomes heavily congested, use N. Shore Alternate Route
Exit 1D (Follow signage).
• I-279 SB – When Exit 1B becomes heavily congested, use N. Shore Alternate Route
Exit 2B (Follow signage).
EXITING ADVICE/POST-GAME TRAFFIC
• I-279 N ACCESS
o After the game, quick access to I-279 North is provided via the HOV
entrances at Reedsdale Street & Mazeroski Way, and Lacock Street &
Anderson Street.
o There are no minimum restrictions on HOV use on the weekend and after
7:00 p.m. on weekdays. The HOV should be used by all I-279 N fans.

WEST END BRIDGE

o Use 3 lanes to travel south across bridge.
o If you are in the right lane, stay in the lane across the bridge, do not merge. At the
traffic signal, keep moving and turn right on red, then proceed in all directions,
including returning to Route 19 South / Route 51 South / I-376 West.
o Use the left lane if you are crossing the bridge from the North Shore area to
Route 51 South and I-376 West to reduce travel time.

I-376 WEST (PARKWAY WEST), ALTERNATE ROUTES TO CONSIDER:

o To Beaver and Butler counties, Northwest Pennsylvania or Northeast Ohio
take:
▪ I-279 North via HOV, then North on I-79; OR Route 65 North, then North
on I-79
o To Southwest Allegheny County, Washington or Greene counties, West
Virginia or Southeast Ohio options are:
▪ Route 65 North, then South on I-79
▪ HOV to I-279 North; then South on Camp Horne Road (Exit 8) to Route 65
North at Emsworth and to I-79 South
▪ Route 51 North to I-79 South (via Route 65 North; McKees Rocks Bridge
South; Route 51 North; then Neville Road North to I-79 South)
▪ Steuben Street to Ingram, North on Route 60, then South on I-79 or West
on I-376

▪ Route 50 West to I-79 South (North on Route 60 [via Noblestown Road];
then West on Route 50 to I-79 South [Carnegie] or I-79 South
[Heidelberg/Kirwan Heights])

TRUCKS PROHIBITED FROM NORTH SHORE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER GAME

• Trucks (except those approved by police for deliveries and those displaying North
Shore Pre-Sold Parking permits and traveling directly to their permitted lot or
garage) are prohibited from the North Shore Streets Area (Reedsdale Street,
Casino Drive, North Shore Drive and Mazeroski Way) from three hours before until
two hours after the game.

RIDESHARE ACCESS POST-GAME

• In order to expedite traffic leaving the North Shore, there are numerous road
closures restricting vehicle entry to the campus. As such, the only way to access
the campus is from I-279 NB Exit 1B North Shore.
• Rideshare operators should utilize the WAZE App which will have all applicable road
closures programmed and may not otherwise be available within their in-app
navigation.
• There are two (2) dedicated pick-up locations surrounding the North Shore after
Steelers games for rideshare services. One location is along Isabella Street directly
east of PNC Park and the other location is west of Rivers Casino along North Point
Drive. Please note that these are the only two (2) locations that are acceptable for
pick-up activities after Steelers games.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin walks back to the dugout during the fifth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, May 29, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Oscar Marin, who oversaw a Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching staff that included NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, has been hired by the Cincinnati Reds as bullpen coach.

Marin fills the spot occupied the past three years by Matt Tracy, who has been promoted to assistant pitching coach after Simon Mathews left to become the Washington Nationals pitching coach.

Marin (pronounced “mah-REEN”) was Pittsburgh’s pitching coach for six seasons (2020 through 2025). The Pirates led the majors this past season with 19 shutouts.

Besides Skenes, the Pirates’ staff included former all-stars Mitch Keller and David Bednar.

Marin, who has also been with Texas and Seattle, will be part of a Reds staff that led the majors with four complete games.