Category: Sports

Pitt names Max Brown, USC transfer is named starting Quaterback !!!!

Max Browne is the starting quarterback at Pitt.

Coach Pat Narduzzi officially named Browne as the team’s starter on Tuesday, less than two weeks before the Panthers open the season against Youngstown State.

Browne, a graduate transfer from USC, spent most of spring drills and training camp competing with Ben DiNucci for the top spot on the depth chart. Browne came to Pittsburgh in January after spending four years with the Trojans. He began the 2016 season as the starter for USC but lost the starting job to Sam Darnold following a loss to Stanford.

Browne is the third graduate transfer quarterback to start for Pitt in the last four years, following Tom Savage and Nate Peterman. Both are currently in the NFL.

Plan your drive into Pgh with these lane closures in mind

PennDOT is announcing daylight lane restrictions on Camp Horne Road. Those single-lane restrictions will occur in each direction On Camp Horne Road between Ben Avon Heights Road and I-279 from 9 AM to 3 PM today and tomorrow because of rumble strip milling and paving work.

The work is part of the $87.94 million dollar Parkway North Improvement Project which includes patching & overlay, preservation of bridges & overhead sign structures, repairs to walls & ramps, lighting improvements, HOV repairs and more including an anti-icing system installation on bridges at the McKnight Road interchange.

Please use caution while driving through the area, especially on your way to today’s Pirates game.

Motorists can check conditions 24 hours a day on major roadways by visiting 511PA.com or thru a 511PA smartphone app or by calling 511.

Garland Cooper Is The Director Of Softball & Partner Development With The NCSA

Next College Student Athlete is a Chicago-based organization that focuses on the recruiting process for high school students who want to continue or play sports on a collegiate level, and helping them find the best schools and coaches for each individual student athlete.

Former ESPN softball analyst Garland Cooper is now the Softball and Partner Development for NCSA, and she joined Matt Drzik, Greg Benedetti & Frank Sparks for an interview on the Saturday Sports Slam. She explained how the recruiting process for college students is more difficult than it was before, and how her background and experience with NCSA wants to make it easier for the students.

To hear the interview, click on the players below.

Part 1

Part 2

Roberto Clemente Jr. Talks About “Food For The Hungry” On Sports Slam

Food For The Hungry is an organization that operates out of Phoenix and is a non-profit that helps starving citizens of the Dominican Republic to obtain water, food, and a healthy way of living. This year they have added the pledge campaign “Striking Out Poverty”, a drive spearheaded by several current MLB players including current Pirate Gregory Polanco.

Roberto Clemente Jr. is the Global Ambassador to FH and the son of Pirates legend Roberto Clemente. He joined Matt Drzik and Greg Benedetti on the Saturday Sports Slam to discuss the great things this organization is doing, as well as the ways others can give their time and donations to this organization.

You can find out more by visiting https://www.fh.org/ or http://www.strikingoutpoverty.com/.

To hear the full interview, click on the players below.

Part 1

Part 2

Nick Nardone Is The Man In Charge Of Beaver Falls Football In 2017

After winning the PIAA Championship as a defensive coordinator, Nick Nardone will now take the head coaching reins of the defending state champions in 3A football, the Beaver Falls Tigers.

Nick spoke with Matt Drzik and Greg Benedetti on the Saturday Sports Slam about his new role with the team, the similarities and changes from last year’s squad, and what his background in football is to have led him to this point.

To hear the full interview, click the players below.

Part 1

Part 2

Larry Bruno Foundation Recognizes New 2017 Inductees Tonight

The Larry Bruno Foundation, started in 2009 and named after the legendary Beaver Falls football coach (shown above [right] in 1989 with Bob Barrickman & Chris Shovlin), will be inducting its newest members into its Hall of Achievement tonight at Shadow Lakes Country Club.

Steve Higgins, board member of the Foundation, called in the Saturday Sports Slam on July 29 to discuss with Greg Benedetti and Matt Drzik the events that the foundation helps bring to life, as well as the honor of this year’s inductees.

To hear the interview, click on the players below.

Part 1

Part 2

Steelers sign Villanueva for four years!!!

Alejandro Villanueva was signed by  the Steelers today to a four-year contract. Villanueva started all 16 regular season games last year, as well as the three postseason games, at left tackle. He was part of an offensive line that helped Le’Veon Bell break records, as well as allowing only 17 sacks, the fewest in Big Ben’s career. In 2015 Villanueva played in all 16 games, starting the final 10 after Kelvin Beachum was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Villanueva made the most of his opportunity to turn into one of the top lineman in the NFL after a career as a U.S. Army Ranger.

Tune into A.M. Beaver County with Matt Drzik tomorrow morning for more on the signing.

John Mehno Talks Baseball Thru The First Half of 2017 on Sports Slam

AP baseball columnist and Baden native John Mehno joined Greg Benedetti and Matt Drzik on the July 1 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam to discuss Major League Baseball at the halfway point of the 2017 season. Among the topics were the Pirates’ struggles through the first 81 games, struggling attendance at PNC Park and in Cleveland, and who the strongest teams in the MLB are.

Click below to hear the full interview as heard on Beaver County Radio:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Pens leave Fleury and Rust unprotected!!

The Pens submitted their list of players they are protecting in the NHL expansion draft. Many of the Pens major roll players in their second consecutive run to the Stanley Cup were left unprotected. As expected the Pens did protect goalie Matt Murray after Marc Andre-Fleury waived his limited move clause from his contract. Below is a list of the protected players followed by a list of unprotected players. The Knights have till June 21 to submit their picks to the NHL. The knights picks will be announced at the NHL Draft on Wednesday.

Protected players

  • Sidney Crosby (F)
  • Patric Hornqvist (F)
  • Phil Kessel (F)
  • Evgeni Malkin (F)
  • Brian Dumoulin (D)
  • Kris Letang (D)
  • Olli Maatta (D)
  • Justin Schultz (D)
  • Matt Murray (G)

Available players

  • Josh Archibald (F)
  • Nick Bonino (F)
  • Matt Cullen (F)
  • Jean-Sebastien Dea (F)
  • Carl Hagelin (F)
  • Tom Kuhnhackl (F)
  • Chris Kunitz (F)
  • Kevin Porter (F)
  • Bryan Rust (F)
  • Tom Sestito (F)
  • Oskar Sundqvist (F)
  • Dominik Uher (F)
  • Garrett Wilson (F)
  • Scott Wilson (F)
  • Ian Cole (D)
  • Frank Corrado (D)
  • Trevor Daley (D)
  • Tim Erixon (D)
  • Cameron Gaunce (D)
  • Ron Hainsey (D)
  • Stuart Percy (D)
  • Derrick Pouliot (D)
  • Chad Ruhwedel (D)
  • Mark Streit (D)
  • David Warsofsky (D)
  • Marc-Andre Fleury (G)