PK Sport - Raleigh Sports Examiner

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Penn State shakedown and resurrection

The students' faces say it all - Patrick Smith, Getty Images

You take two weeks off and what happens - the NCAA hands down its harshest penalty ever to Penn State University and its football program.

Not the dreaded 'Death Penalty', but something deemed to be worse.

The punishment includes fines, bowl bans, loss of scholarships, probation and having someone from the outside being there to hold their hands through it all.

Now all Penn State football has to play for is pride and going back to what the fundamental purpose of intercollegiate athletics is about - supplementing a college education

They will do it

Believe it or not, the tireless effort and work ethic required to 'be the best' and overcome this adverse situation will carry the Penn State football program forward.

They owe it to the coaching and teaching legacy of Joe Paterno to succeed, and they will do it without the 'extra bells and whistles' that their opponents have to work with.

Do not be surprised if they continue to win, even with less scholarships than anyone else.

They have just as many quality facilities and support personnel or more, than many Division I programs already.

The next four to eight, even twelve years will truly show what the have and have nots in college football truly possess.

Back to fundamentals

The true test of quality coaching and teaching will determine how well committed and talented student-athletes will perform.

The added consolation to it all will be that everyone will be able to witness it on TV.

Though the legacy of former coach Joe Paterno has been tainted by the Jerry Sandusky scandal that created all of this mess, JoePa's teaching and coaching philosophy, if learned properly, will help to teach true student-athletes to be successful.

What will the NCAA and its member institutions do then?

Only time and history will tell.

More news from the Raleigh Sports Examiner on Examiner.com:

Removing Paterno statue won't erase Joe's legacy at Penn State

A day before the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) imposed historic and precedent-setting sanctions upon Penn State University on Monday, the University removed the iconic statue of former head coach, Joe Paterno, located at the front of Beaver Stadium..

NCAA sets historic precedent with Penn State sanctions

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) handed down the harshest penalty to a member institution in its history as it announced sanctions to Pennsylvania State University on Monday during a press conference held in Indianapolis, Ind.NCAA President Mark Emmert...

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Sunday, July 8, 2012

The latest offseason news in the Triangle

The Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team is hitting the road - the sky actually - in mid-August.

The team will travel to France and Italy on its first preseason international trip since 2001.

The preseason journey presents a great opportunity for the team's 10 returnees and three incoming freshmen to bond and get acquainted while playing three games against European opponents.

Duke women’s basketball hosting events and traveling to Europe

The Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball program continues to prepare for the upcoming season and is putting out a lot of effort in doing things at home and abroad.The program announced on Friday that it will hold...

Carolina Hurricanes understand the power of two

The Carolina Hurricanes figured out early on what seemed to be the underlying theme for making offseason moves this year – ‘home is where the heart is’.The Hurricanes traded for and subsequently signed center Jordan Staal to..

Hurricanes sign free agents early, make pitch for Parise, Suter

Jim Rutherford, Carolina Hurricanes President and General Manager, announced at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Sunday that the Hurricanes had made three free agent signings since the Noon starting time of NHL free agency.The team had..

Carolina Hurricanes changing perceptions around NHL

As Noon came on Sunday, the National Hockey League (NHL) initiated its signing period for unrestricted free agents to agree to terms on new deals with their current team or a new one.The waiting game for the Carolina Hurricanes..

Learning to stop pucks with the Carolina Hurricanes

With temperatures staying above 100 degrees for the latter part of the past week throughout the Triangle, you would think that it would be a lot cooler in a hockey rink.For obvious reasons it is, but the faces of..

Carolina Hurricanes ready to shop during NHL free agency

The Carolina Hurricanes are expected to be active buyers during National Hockey League (NHL) free agency – the league’s annual auction of sorts.After negotiating a trade to get Jordan Staal from the Pittsburgh Penguins last week, Hurricanes..

Olczyk brothers working hard to impress at Hurricanes camp

Taking the road less traveled to prove that you belong is a challenge that many people take on in life.The Carolina Hurricanes continued on-ice work for their current group of prospects at Raleigh Center Ice in Raleigh, N..

Carolina Hurricanes prospects hit the ice

The Carolina Hurricanes selected their new group of prospects last weekend at the NHL Entry Draft and without providing any time for them to even have time to process it all, the team put them on the ice in Raleigh..

Carolina Hurricanes select large draft class

Even while trading away their first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft that took place over the weekend at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., the Carolina Hurricanes are bringing in a large group of young players with..

Hurricanes’ MacDonald led amateur draft with eye on development

After throwing a boulder into the pond during the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft taking place at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Friday night, the Carolina Hurricanes allowed the ripples to settle on Saturday and...

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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Catching up on summer sports news

Duke Blue Devils women’s hoops show set for 2012-2013

As the summer heat starts to kick in, so does the offseason promotional work in preparation for the upcoming season for Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball in Durham, N.C.The Duke Athletic Department along with Blue Devil...

Carolina Hurricanes news on Examiner.com:

Carolina gets Jordan Staal in trade with Pittsburgh

The Carolina Hurricanes had the eighth pick overall heading into the 2012 NHL Entry Draft held at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Friday night.When the time came for President and General Manager Jim Rutherford to make the..

Carolina Hurricanes to start season on the road

For Carolina Hurricanes fans, aside from catching some exhibition games in late September and early October, the 2012-13 NHL season will open at PNC Area in Raleigh, N.C. on October 26.The National Hockey League announced the 2012..

Carolina Hurricanes set intense preseason schedule

As the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs have come to an end, the Carolina Hurricanes are ready to start the next season.On Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., Jason Karmanos, Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager, announced the team's...

Carolina Hurricanes reinforce off-ice operations

While the 2012 Stanley Cup final series is nearing an end, the Carolina Hurricanes announced adjustments to its Hockey Operations staff on Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C.President and General Manager Jim Rutherford announced that several staff members had received..

Hurricanes dab some ink with recent signings

As PNC Arena sat silent, void of the noise emitted from sharpened metal blades cutting through the smoothened ice surface that occupies the facility for most of the year, another sound was heard – the gliding of pens atop paper..

Hurricanes’ 2006 Stanley Cup win is now history in North Carolina

The Carolina Hurricanes became a part of sporting history in the Tar Heel state at the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on Wednesday afternoon.The Hurricanes and the sport of ice hockey were officially honored as...

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Saturday, June 9, 2012

College lacrosse finishes a strong season of play

Duke's CJ Costabile in pursuit - Chris Baird, Baird Photography

The 2012 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship was claimed by a new winner - the Loyola Greyhounds.

Earning the school's first-ever NCAA championship, a dominating 9-3 performance over the Maryland Terrapins capped off an impressive 17-1 season by the top-seed Greyhounds.

It seemed that the Terps' energy and ability to dominate at both ends of the field had run out after an impressive 16-10 victory over the #3 Duke Blue Devils during the tournament's semifinal round.

Blue Devils receive awards

For the Blue Devils, an impressive sixth-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Final Four of lacrosse came to an end again at the hands of the Terps.

However, the team's success bore fruit as postseason honors were bestowed upon various individual players.

Senior longstick midfielder CJ Costabile's selection as one of five finalists for the prestigious Tewaaraton Award was the team's most high-profile individual recognition for the season.

Costabile and Robert Rotanz were both selected as United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-Americans - Duke’s 24th and 25th USILA Scholar All-America honorees since 1995.

Costabile and Rotanz also received USILA All-America first team honors while teammates Michael Manley and Jordan Wolf both picked up second team honors, and Justin Turri was voted to the honorable mention squad.

The Blue Devils were one of four teams - Virginia, Princeton and Notre Dame being the other three – to have two players represented on the first team.

Overall, Duke was the only team to have four players picked for the first two teams and one of five schools to have at least five players represented by the end of the season.

Though not winning another championship, the Blue Devils concluded another successful season of play finishing at 15-5 and with a bright future to look forward to for next year.

College Lacrosse news from the Raleigh Sports Examiner on Examiner.com:

Tewaaraton Award is like no other

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Final moment in Duke’s season arrives in 16-10 loss to Maryland

The #3 Duke Blue Devils (15-5) fell behind early and eventually lost 16-10 to the unranked Maryland Terrapins (12-5) in the semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament in front of 31..

ESPN coverage of NCAA lacrosse grows with the game

As the 2012 NCAA Lacrosse Championship Tournament reaches its apex this weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., the country’s top-contending teams will vie for this year’s trophy in their respective division of play in..

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

NCAA Lacrosse 2012: Final Four rounding out

Duke got past Syracuse - Colgate is next - Chris Baird, Baird Photography

By dinner time on Sunday, the 2012 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament field will have reduced itself to determine the Final Four that will head to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. during Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28.

Saturday's results revealed that the Loyola Greyhounds and Maryland Terrapins had punched their tickets while the winners of the Virgina Cavaliers-Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Duke Blue Devils-Colgate Raiders match-ups will round out the field.

The tournament's top-ranked Greyhounds outlasted the upstart Denver Pioneers 10-9 while the Terps upset the #2 John Hopkins Blue Jays with a commanding 11-5 victory.

Sunday's match-ups feature #4 Notre Dame taking on defending champion #5 Virginia while #3 Duke will match-up with Colgate for the first time in NCAA tournament play.

Will a new champion be crowned in 2012?

A few more clues will be revealed by the end of the day.

More College Lacrosse news from the Raleigh Sports Examiner on Examiner.com:

Danowski’s Duke lacrosse squad plays for the moment

Successful head coaches utilize different motivational language and techniques to keep things in perspective for their players.After beating the Syracuse Orange 12-9 in their opening round game in the 2012 NCAA Lacrosse Championship Tournament, Duke Blue Devils coach..

NCAA championship coaches converge in the Triangle

Championship-winning coaches with a combined 12 NCAA men’s lacrosse titles on their resumes faced one another during opening round play in the 2012 NCAA Championship Tournament over the weekend in Durham and Chapel Hill, N.C.Syracuse..

Duke’s Costabile named as Tewaaraton Award finalist

Duke Blue Devils senior longstick midfielder CJ Costabile, the ACC’s co-Defensive Player of the Year, has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2012 Tewaaraton Award as announced on Thursday.The award, the most prestigious..

Duke, UNC to host NCAA lacrosse playoff games

The #3 Duke Blue Devils (13-4) and the #8 North Carolina Tar Heels (11-5) will host opening-round games for the 2012 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament in Durham and Chapel Hill, N.C. on Saturday..

Duke lacrosse win streak ends in Denver

The #3 Duke Blue Devils (13-4) ended their recent 10-game win streak and succumbed to the #16 Denver Pioneers (8-5) with a 15-9 loss at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo. on Friday night.The loss..

Duke crowned ACC champions, beat North Carolina 12-9

The #7 Duke Blue Devils (13-3) earned their seventh ACC Lacrosse Championship Tournament title with a 12-9 victory over the #9 North Carolina Tar Heels (10-5) at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. on Sunday.Christian Walsh led..

Duke takes on North Carolina for ACC tournament title

The Duke Blue Devils men’s lacrosse team (12-3) is on a roll and seeking to add the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship Tournament title to its resume of accomplishments this season.The top-seeded Blue Devils..

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Monday, April 23, 2012

NCAA lacrosse action heating up as posteason approaches

The 2012 ACC Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament concluded with the #7 Duke Blue Devils winning their seventh conference championship with a 12-9 victory over the #9 North Carolina Tar Heels in Charlottesville, Va. on Sunday.

The Blue Devils are peaking at the right time and are currently riding a 10 -game win streak with one more regular season game remaining before the NCAA postseason begins.

College lacrosse action was hot throughout the weekend with conference tournament play taking place around the country.

As the final remnants of winter disappear, depending on where you live, the heat will be cranking up very soon and very quickly.

Don't miss it!

Duke crowned ACC champions, beat North Carolina 12-9

Duke takes on North Carolina for ACC tournament title

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

2012 NCAA Tournament In-Game Notes: #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs #2 Maryland Terrapins

2012 NCAA Tournament: Notre Dame beats Maryland, headed to Final Four

The top-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish dominated the second-seeded Maryland Terrapins in securing an 80-49 victory and earning the Raleigh Regional title in the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament held at PNC Arena in...

The Raleigh Regional final of the 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament takes place on Tuesday night as the top-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish and second-seeded Maryland Terrapins will meet for what should be a well-contested defensive battle to the end.

It's the best of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) against the best of the Big East Conference (Big East) in NCAA Tournament play.

Follow In-Game notes below during the game - tip-off is 9 p.m.

Maryland celebrates after beating Texas A&M - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting

Never count the Terrapins out

Maryland has come from behind to win each of its three NCAA tournament contests.

The Terrapins trailed by as many as 18 in the first half and 12 in the second half against defending national champion Texas A&M.

They trailed by five points with six minutes remaining in its second-round contest against Louisville.

And they trailed by four points in the first half against Navy.

The Fighing Irish Faithful will want to celebrate again - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting

Fighting Irish know how to shut it down

Notre Dame’s 44-point margin of victory over St. Bonaventure matches the largest ever in a Sweet 16 contest, a 91-47 win over Purdue in the Midwest Regional semifinal on March 22, 1990.

It was the fewest points Notre Dame has ever allowed in an NCAA Tournament game.

Notre Dame has participated in three previous regional finals, including last year, and this is the first time in school history that the Fighting Irish have made back-to-back Elite Eights.

Recent NCAA Women's Basketball Championship news on Examiner.com:

Skylar Diggins leads Notre Dame in warm-ups - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

In-Game Notes:

Tip-off at in 45 minutes

1st half:

Maryland gets the tip with Anjale Barrett contolling the ball but a pass inside goes out-of-bounds
Skylar Diggins with the ball for Notre Dame and finds Devereaux Peters for an easy layup - 2-0 Fighting Irish lead
Terrapins come back and Alicia DeVaughn gets the layup to tie it
Diggins gets it and puts up a nice floater to take the lead
DeVaughn gets another two and Notre Dame tries to even it up, but miss and Alyssa Thomas comes the other wasy and hits a jumper - 6-4 Terrapins lead
Kayla McBride hits a three-pointer to take the lead
Barrett comes back with a layup and Maryland leads 8-7 with 15:50 to play
Fighting Irish tie it up - 8-8 with 14 minutes to go
Notre Dame's takent the lead 12-8 but Thomas hits a jumper from the FT and causes a turnover and drives in for the layup - tie game 12-12 with 11:30 to play
Maryland's Lynetta Kizer drives the lane and through Natalie Ochonwa - she's going to get checked out - took an elbow to the mouth
Notre Dame with the ball and they fight hard to score two on the rebound and put-back by Diggins
Terrapins come down and Thomas is fouled while going to the hoop - she scores one - 14-13 Notre Dame lead
Achonwa gets the layup for Notre Dame to extend the lead to 16-13 with under 10 minutes to play
Diggins scores and then Achonwa gets antoher layup and the Fighting Irish now lead 20-13 with 8:29 to play
Maryland misses on their possession and then Diggins drives to the hoop and kicks it out to Brittany Mallory who passes it to McBride and she hits a three-pointer - lead increases to 23-13 with 7:41 left
Kim Rodgers tries the three but misses and Mallory brings it up and passes to Diggins who drives for the layup - drops it and is dropped herself by Rodgers - she's get a FT and drops it
As Notre Dame leads 26-13 Maryland can't seem to get any offense going and are not getting their own rebounds
Notre Dame threatens again and Thomas fouls McBride - shot shoots two FT's and drops them both - 28-13 Irish lead
After a turnover by Maryland, Notre Dame turns it over and Thomas feeds Mincy for the easy layup
While scoring Mincy's shoe comes loose and as the Fighting Irish bring the ball up she's trying to put it on - Diggins drives by her as she can't keep up with her because her shoe is falling off
After a few baskets traded back and forth - Notre Dame leads 32-17 with 3:42 to go
Novosel hits and three-pointer after getting a screen on Barrett
Tiana Hawkins starting to crash the boards with success and scores
Notre Dame comes back and Achonwa scores on two successive possessions - 38-19 Fighting Irish lead with 2:13 to go
Notre Dame on an 8-2 run over the last 1:47 of play
Maryland's offense has not rhythm as Thomas attempts a three but misses entirely and Notre Dame rebounds it
DeVaughn cleans up the rebound after Thomas is quadruple-teamed - lead is 17 points in Notre Dame's favor with under a minute to play
Maryland can't convert on its first try to score before the half ends - Fighting Irish defense is tight
With 12.2 seconds remaining Diggins finds a seam and drive into the lane and gets the basket and the foul - she misses the extra point and the Fighting Irish lead 40-21 at the half

Halftime score: Notre Dame 40, Maryland 21

Interesting notes at the half:

Notre Dame: shooting 43% - leading scorer - Skylar Diggins - 13 points

Maryland: shooting 38% - leading scorer - Alyssa Thomas - 7 points

Difference-maker: Notre Dame is outrebounding Maryland 24-15

2nd half:

Mincy misses but so does Notre Dame
Barrett drives the land and scores the layup - 40-23 Fighting Irish lead
Diggins drive and is fouled - she drops one of two FT's
Diggins steals it and passes to Novosel for and easy layup
Notre Dame causes a turnover and McBrideMallory drives for the layup and is followed up by a layup by McBride - Notre Dame leads 45-24 with 17:32 to go
Hawkins scores for the Terps and the Fighting Irish come back with Diggins to Novosel for three points
Hawkins scores four more points for the Terps but Ochonwa answers back
Kizer drops a jumper - 52-32 Notre Dame leads
Both teams trade baskets and its 54-34 with 14:13 left in the half
Another two points by Thomas and Novosel - 56-36
Diggins steals it and score while Barrett scores on a layup
Novosel with a three-pointer and the Notre Dame lead is now 22 points - 60-38 with 11:15 left
Notre Dame on a 8-0 run over the last 1:49 - lead 66-38
Highlight of the half - Mincy goes up for a shot that is swatted away by Ochonwa and save by Peters who outlets a long pass upcourt to Diggins for the easy layup
Thomas makes two FT's but Ochonwa's layup from Diggins gets the lead back up to 28 - 70-42
McBride scores another two points
Thomas hits a jumper and Maryland trails 74-46 with 5:20 to play
Both teams getting a little slopping with turnovers and traveling calls
Novosel drives the lane and scores two more - has 14 so far
Fighting Irish have continued to build their lead up to 80-48 with 1:19 to play as all Notre Dame starters have been substituted
Maryland scores a FT but it is only a matter of time in his one
The Terps can't score on their last possession and Notre Dame holds on to the ball as time runs out

Final score: Notre Dame 80, Maryland 49

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - NCAA Raleigh Regional Winners - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC

The Fighting Irish win the Raleigh Regional final game and move on to the Final Four as the last and fourth number one seed that will compete in Denver next weekend.

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Monday, April 23, 2012

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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