Robert Morris category, Page 18
Robert Morris hockey players feel ‘double crossed,’ doubt school’s sincerity about reinstatement plan
The Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey programs are about to enter another postseason overtime period. The clock isn’t reading 20 minutes. It’s reading four months. For a second time, Robert Morris University officials have given both teams nothing more than a foggy possibility as to whether they will be...
Robert Morris hockey programs on hold until at least 2022-23 season
The Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey teams will not have the chance to compete during this upcoming season because fundraising pledges remain below necessary levels to sustain the programs in the long term, the university announced Thursday. About $1.34 million has been raised, with $754,000 payable in 2021-22, according...
Tim Benz: Departure of women’s coach Paul Colontino is latest hurdle for Robert Morris hockey
For former Robert Morris University women’s hockey coach Paul Colontino, he just couldn’t wait any longer. No more delays. No more soft deadlines. No more uncertainty. He needed a job. And a team to coach. More than two months after waiting for the RMU administration to tell him if either...
Yough, RMU product picked for NEC Mount Rushmore team
Yough graduate Nicole Sleith Schaffer was one of the most feared softball pitchers to play at Robert Morris. She struck out more than 900 hitters over four seasons and once tossed a perfect game to extend her team’s season. She will go down as one of Northeast Conference’s all-time greats,...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris hockey teams need clarity from administration, not an NCAA extension
For the Robert Morris University hockey teams, this was a weekend where no news wasn’t necessarily good news. Robert Morris had previously put a fundraising deadline of July 31 as the end date for the men’s and women’s hockey programs to generate enough funds to keep their programs alive. This...
Tim Benz: SEC expansion isn’t just about trying to dominate the NCAA; it’s preparing for a world after the NCAA
As the drama continues to swirl around the Southeastern Conference’s attempt to absorb Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12, many characterize the advance as an SEC attempt to form a “super conference.” Wait. I thought that’s what the SEC was already. No? A lot has been written and said...
Robert Morris football returns to the fall, picked to finish last in Big South
After a season that was postponed, moved to the spring and shortened to three games, Robert Morris will enter a 2021 campaign that returns to its normal spot on the calendar in the fall. The Colonials lost all three games but return 21 starters (11 on defense). Included in the...
NCAA clears Robert Morris transfers Rasheem Dunn, Ferron Flavors Jr. to play in 2021-22
Two Robert Morris men’s basketball players who have transferred multiple times have been granted waivers from the NCAA to play this season for the Colonials, a school spokesman confirmed Tuesday. Point guard Rasheem Dunn and shooting guard Ferron Flavors Jr. will play for Robert Morris in their final seasons of...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris hockey teams want to play games. On the ice, not with their own administration
If Robert Morris University truly wants its recently resuscitated hockey programs to play games this season, the school should stop playing games with the student-athletes who remain on the teams. Immediately. The decision makers in Moon Township should reinstate both the men’s and women’s programs right now and let them...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Saving Robert Morris hockey worthy idea but unrealistic to sustain
Dropping hockey was a bad decision by Robert Morris, especially the timetable. But now good effort is being wasted after that bad decision. The attempt is being made to revive the RMU men’s and women’s hockey teams via fundraising. That’s going to have to be one heck of a bake...
RMU men’s hockey coach Derek Schooley hoping funds can be found to resurrect programs
For Robert Morris men’s hockey coach Derek Schooley, it sounds like he’s employing some good ol’ fashion hockey cliches. Right out of Hockey Media Relations 101. One play at a time. One shift at a time. One period at a time. One game at a time. For Schooley, though, there’s...
Robert Morris reverses course, eyes path to resurrect men’s and women’s hockey programs
Robert Morris hockey might have a path back to existence. Three months after university officials said they were eliminating the men’s and women’s hockey programs, the school announced Wednesday it had reversed course and is hoping to resurrect the programs. University officials said they would work with the recently formed...
First Call: Steeler takes a swat at his time in New England; differing national opinions on Ben Roethlisberger; RMU hockey updates
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a Steeler ripping the New England Patriots, on-air hosts singing very different tunes about Ben Roethlisberger and a few nuggets about the Robert Morris hockey teams. Cassius chimes in Steelers linebacker Cassius Marsh is taking another swat at one of his former teams: the New England...
Tim Benz: NCAA needs to be fixed, not eliminated. Focus on solutions, not fake outrage
This happens from time to time at “Breakfast With Benz.” I get an email, tweet or a post in the comments section that I want to use for “U mad, bro?” However, sometimes that comment itself gets me mad enough that I find myself writing a response so long, it...
Mark Madden: From Pine-Richland to Robert Morris, fighting the power is futile
Pine-Richland school district fired Eric Kasperowicz as its high school football coach almost three months ago. Kasperowicz won four WPIAL championships and two state titles in eight seasons as Pine-Richland coach. The excuse for his dismissal was vague, inexact hazing allegations. Personal resentment of Kasperowicz by certain Pine-Richland administrators seems...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris leaders would be wise to avoid legal brawl with hockey players’ new lawyers
After communicating with 15-20 different Robert Morris hockey players, coaches and alumni in the month since the men’s and women’s programs were cut on May 26, I think one player summed up the tone of the administration best. “It’s like they just think we are more trouble than we are...
Robert Morris hockey players now represented by lawyer who beat the NCAA in Supreme Court, represented Tom Brady
A coalition of members from the recently eliminated men’s and women’s hockey programs at Robert Morris University is now being represented by Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney perhaps best known in Pittsburgh as Tom Brady’s lawyer in his legal battle against the NFL in “Deflategate.” Kessler — who has served as...
U mad, bro?: Fans have anxiety about trading Adam Frazier, doubts about the Pirates draft, concerns about college sports
Anxiety about an Adam Frazier trade. Depression over the Pirates draft philosophy. And concerns over the future of college sports. That’s what filled up the comments section in the columns, email inbox and Twitter interactions for this week’s “U mad, bro?” We start with a tweet from Kenny. He agrees...
First Call: Tyrann Mathieu claps back at Le’Veon Bell; Tyler Glasnow injured; Marc-Andre Fleury outduels Carey Price
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell is now getting heat from ex-teammates in Kansas City after ripping Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Super Bowl winner Chris Godwin looks back on how his Penn State days aided his career. Marc-Andre Fleury claims Game 1 in his goalie duel against Carey Price. Tyler Glasnow...
Tim Benz: Pitt? Duquesne? Chatham? Who picks up the torch of Pittsburgh DI hockey if Robert Morris folds programs?
Hopes of saving the Robert Morris hockey teams are on life support. So the question needs to be asked if any other local universities might be interested in stepping up and filling the void for Pittsburgh area NCAA DI hockey that would be created if the Colonials can’t stay on...
First Call: Ravens looking at Todd Gurley; Browns DBs getting healthy; Robert Morris rink negotiations appear dead
Steelers fans will be interested in Friday’s “First Call” as we have updates on two AFC North rivals. The Cleveland Browns are getting healthy in the secondary, and the Baltimore Ravens’ deep group of running backs may be adding another familiar name. Meanwhile, we celebrate the present and the past...
Robert Morris hockey players withholding transfer announcements to show solidarity with Colonials programs, ex-teammates
With every passing day, it’s getting harder and harder to resuscitate the Robert Morris hockey programs. It’s been almost two weeks since the university abruptly eliminated the successful men’s and women’s teams. While supporters and alumni are scurrying to come up with funds to keep them alive — or plans...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris hockey coaches must help players to transfer while maintaining hope programs can return
As supporters of Robert Morris ice hockey hold out hope that some sort of 11th-hour development may save the recently eliminated men’s and women’s programs, the coaches are taking on a gut-wrenching job. Men’s head coach Derek Schooley and women’s head coach Paul Colontino are tasked with dismantling their rosters,...
First Call: Can the Maulers return in the new USFL?; a snag in Robert Morris hockey talks already; Jordan Staal comes up big
Friday’s “First Call” wonders if a return of the Pittsburgh Maulers could be coming. Brandon Saad and Jordan Staal are keeping Pittsburgh hockey fans interested in the NHL playoffs. Gerrit Cole gets burned by an ex-Pirates teammate. And things may already be going backward in the Robert Morris hockey negotiations....
First Call: Steelers’ Highsmith praised; RMU hockey players unload; Pitt, Penn State Hall of Fame nominees
Thursday’s “First Call” has an odd honor for Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith, Hall of Fame nominations for Pitt and Penn State greats and Marc-Andre Fleury back in the crease for the Vegas Golden Knights. Plus, the Robert Morris hockey teams get to air their grievances against the university president who...
