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Cooling off period doesn’t always work

One of the hardest lessons to learn in sports and personal relationships is that, once spoken, words cannot be pulled back. Specifically, comments that offend possess everlasting staying power. It is reasonable to assume that Florida head football coach Billy Napier has a better understanding of this concept after digging himself into a hole with his team’s fanbase following a 41-17 home loss to Miami. On the Monday after the Gators lost their first home opener in 35 years, which had been an NCAA-best streak, Napier responded to a question about avoiding emotional responses by ...

NFL RBs prove their worth in Week 1

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Saquon Barkley, Joe Mixon and J.K. Dobbins proved for one game they were worth the investment after changing uniforms in the offseason. So did Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones and Tony Pollard. Barkley received a $37.5 million, three-year contract with $26 million guaranteed from the Eagles. He delivered a three-touchdown performance with 109 yards rushing in Philadelphia’s 34-29 win over Green Bay in Brazil. “He did an excellent job,” Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “He’s a guy who, once he gets out in space, he can make some ...

NCAA pulls plug on Oklahoma State

By Bill Contz For the Mirror Just prior to the start of Oklahoma State’s season-opening 44-20 win over South Dakota State, the NCAA stampeded into Stillwater and proceeded to toss a giant lariat around the home team with a cease-and-desist order to immediately remove QR codes from Cowboy players’ helmets. The logic behind this 11th-hour decision was that it “follows previous interpretations of not allowing social media handles to appear on a uniform.” Head honcho Mike Gundy had previously deemed this latest innovation an “evolutionary step forward,” which was ...

Withers left mark on Altoona gridiron

Many of us were in awe when he was out on the gridiron. Some of us marveled at how he excelled from the Altoona Parochial League, through Roosevelt Junior High School and dominated on the field for the Altoona Mountain Lions. He led Altoona to the 1969 WPIAL championship game and was recognized by the Pennsylvania All-state football team, playing in the Big 33 Classic before moving onto West Virginia University. Fortunately, I personally am able to say that I was one of his teammates at both St. Mary’s Parochial Grade School and later at West Virginia. What an awesome ...

Eagles know talent offers no guarantees

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Vince Young’s infamous “Dream Team” declaration of the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles came to mind when general manager Howie Roseman added another playmaker to a loaded offense. How’s Jahan Dotson for a third receiver? The 2024 Eagles may have more talent than any team in franchise history, including the underachieving 2011 club and the Super Bowl champion 2017 squad. Jalen Hurts. Saquon Barkley. A.J. Brown. DeVonta Smith. Dallas Goedert. Now Dotson joins the mix after the Eagles acquired the 2022 first-round pick from Washington for draft ...

Heart for football still in Central PA

By Jordan Tracy For the Mirror I’m not going to lie to you, Central PA: I certainly miss it. For the past eight years, the summer winding down meant another season of District 5, 6 and 9 football for me at WTAJ. As I scroll through X and see all of the faces and names of football in the 814 preparing for a new season, it reminds me of how different it will be. The posts shift from weight room sessions, 7-on-7 recaps, and seniors announcing their commitments to the next level, to now season schedules and where you can get copies of the Mirror’s Blitz magazine. Typically ...