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Talking elite and getting there are different Is the glass half empty or half full for Penn State with James Franklin’s new contract? While the contract keeps Franklin in tow for awhile now it also deprives the Penn State faithful of seeing an elite coach. It would be nice to think that a nationally recognized or relevant coach might be leading the football program one day, but sadly the Penn State fan base won’t get that opportunity anytime soon. They certainly don’t have a nationally recognized or relevant head coach in Franklin. Those coaches mentioned in Neil ...

Steelers at home when they’re away

By Ira Kaufman For the Mirror Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles is the most expensive stadium ever constructed in the history of the world and is nearly 2,500 miles from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ home stadium, Heinz Field. The Los Angeles Chargers (and Rams) play at Sofi and have one of the best young quarterbacks, Justin Herbert, and a solid team with a chance to make the Super Bowl this year — which ironically will be played at Sofi. So why in the world, two Sundays ago, were a vast majority of the 70,000 fans in the stadium, wearing the Steelers’ black and gold and ...

Women’s tennis leading fight for human rights

By Paul Newberry The Associated Press If Thomas Bach or Adam Silver need some pointers on standing up for human rights instead of the bottom line, they should give a call to Steve Simon over at the women’s tennis tour. Finally, someone picked right over the almighty yuan. Treading courageously into territory that Bach’s International Olympic Committee and Silver’s NBA steadfastly avoided — not to mention other sports organizations and countless corporate giants — the WTA suspended its tournaments in China because of concern for Grand Slam doubles champion Peng ...

Mailbag

Here’s an elite timetable for Franklin to follow The 10-year contract extension given to James Franklin as head football coach at Penn State is sure to raise some alumni eyebrows — including mine. He himself has used the word “elite” to describe his vision of what the program aspires to. During the past eight years of his head coaching tenure his teams have not even rated the ranking of very good, let alone elite. According to Associated Press national rankings since 1936, the top 10 colleges that have been ranked number one, and thus might claim to be elite, are Alabama ...

Tailgates as valued as touchdowns

By Jim Caltagirone For the Mirror Soon after a fourth loss and freefall from the national rankings, it seemed only natural that 2021 would be declared by some as a “lost season” for Penn State football. The deflation of lofty expectations tends to elicit blunt critiques of the apocalyptic variety. When a national championship, or even a College Football Playoff appearance, is the primary goal, the balm of secondary achievements has minimal effect. Our society has become one of absolutes. Political discourse and societal norms, especially, separate individuals into camps ...

Sizing up 10 teams with best Super Bowl chances

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Close games and unpredictable outcomes have been a staple this NFL season. Thanksgiving Day was the latest example. The Bears beat the Lions on a last-second field goal. The Raiders upset the Cowboys on a field goal in overtime. The league and the networks must love it, and fans stay entertained. Going into Thursday, the 23 games decided by a winning score on the final play were the most such games through Week 11 in league history. Victories by Chicago and Las Vegas increased that total to 25. So far, 39 games have been decided by a ...