"Enjoy it for what it is"

To Senior Safety Malik Golden, the Rose Bowl was far more than an exhibition 

By: Joe Smeltzer 
"F--- Sports"
Those are among the first words that popped into my mind the second USC kicker Matt Boermeester's kick sailed through the uprights as time expired on possibly the greatest contest in the 115-year history of The Rose Bowl.

Before the game, I had a "nothing the lose" attitude about my Penn State Nittany Lions. I figured that, as long as the game was close, as long as the team gave it their all until the final gun, that it would be an OK ending to my favorite Penn State season since I've been born. It was easy to envision that this is how I would look at it; until the game started.

It was one of those events where I felt every possible emotion that a sports fan could experience. Concern, joy, sadness, anger.  In a span of 3 and 1/2 hours, I felt it all. It is rare that one can experience the best and worst of being a sports fan throughout 60 minutes of football, and the 2017 Rose Bowl between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the USC Trojans was that type of game.

It started out with all the makings of my worst fears. Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley's first two passes were both picks, and the Trojans got out to an early 20-7 lead. But the Lions offense held their ground and went into the locker room down 27-21. For most of the second half, it was nothing but pure joy.

Three plays. Three touchdowns. Just like that, it looked like the Nittany Lions were on their way. But the bloody Trojans would not die, and their freshman QB who is a senior in everything except body, Sam Darnold, along with that great receiving corps, wound up tying things up at 49 with 1:20 to play. Now, it was all worry. And the funny thing is, my body was experiencing all of these different emotions because of, basically an exhibition game.

Yes, it was the Rose Bowl, and the history of that game needs no explanation. That said, it wasn't going to cost Penn State a conference or national title,  and, barring serious injury, it wasn't going to darken their outlook for next season. But yet, the game felt like a pretty damn big deal. I'm not quite sure why this is. Maybe it was the mystique of Pasadena. Maybe it was the fact that these two teams played much better football than we saw in the College Football Playoff semifinals. But this glorified exhibition had the feel of a Super Bowl level affair.

As I watched Trace McSorley throw an INT in the game's dying seconds, and as USC set up for the kick that would sink the Nittany Lions, I thought back to what my father had told me just a few minutes earlier, when the game looked to be headed for overtime.

After the Trojans had tied it up, I threw my Rose Bowl hat that I got for Christmas to the ground. Instead of yelling, my dad calmly told me "enjoy it for what it is." I didn't want to hear stuff like that at this intense moment. But now that it's been over with for a few days, it's easy to see what he meant.

Looking back, I should have  enjoyed the Rose Bowl for what it was. The 2017 Rose Bowl happened to be the biggest college football bowl game outside of the playoffs, and, as it turns out, much more attractive.  It also happened to be a tribute to Penn State football, as nobody on the planet ever thought that they could win the Big 10 title and get to the "Granddaddy of them all." It was a showcase of all the talent that Penn State has- and still will have in 2017, as SaQuon Barkley, Chris Godwin, and Trace McSorley all stole the show at various points in the game. What it was personified why I love sports.

"The Rose Bowl" was a drama, much like "Game of Thrones" or "The Walking Dead," only this was real life. That is, in a nutshell, why sports are so unique. To see James Franklin tear up during his final press conference of the season, minutes after his kids did the same on the Penn State sideline. To see Malik Golden drop to one knee seconds after the game was over, realizing that this was the last time he'd ever wear the Blue and White. To see all of this over what was, again, the world's greatest exhibition game, reminded us that the passion in our athletes is still there. Any doubts as to whether  Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffery would start a trend that would ruin bowl games were put at ease for anybody who watched the Rose Bowl. It was that damn good.

Yes, Penn State blew a 15-point second-half lead. But it didn't take me long to "enjoy it for what it was," meaning that the game, and the season, were both unforgettable. This has been my favorite Penn State team to follow, as they defied all of our wildest expectations. I can only hope that next year, they will justify much higher expectations.

Penn State-USC: 3 keys to victory

By: Joe Smeltzer 
Hello, all. Well, the Rose Bowl is upon us, and as we all know, my Penn State Nittany Lions are playing in it. Here are 3 things that they can do to ensure them their first victory in Pasadena since 1995.

Key #1: Stop Adoree Jackson

This man is a star. (Photo creds to Los Angeles Times)

Forget Jabrill Peppers. The best two way player in college football plays for Southern Cal, and his name is Adoree Jackson. As a receiver, runningback, shutdown corner, and return man, Jackson can do damn near everything, and there are many ways that he can hurt Penn State. Jackson is USC's most valuable player, and if Penn State can limit him as much as possible, their chancds will increase dramatically.


Key #2: Next man up

Penn State must atone for the sins of #13, Saeed Blacknall

Last week, unfortunate news came out regarding the big game, as James Franklin announced that two key players, receiver Saeed Blacknall and linebacker Manny Bowen, would not play in the Rose Bowl for violating team rules.  Bowen's suspension is not as big of a deal to me, as Penn State has a deep core of linebackers who gained valuable experience when starters were dropping like flies early in the season. Blacknell's suspension is more concerning, however, as USC's secondary, led by Jackson, is one of the best in college football, so Penn State cannot afford to lose much ground in the passing game. Luckily, DeAndre Thompkins and Irvin Charles are two guys who are capable of stepping up, and one of them, if not both, will have to do that for Penn State to put a dent into Troy.

Key #3: Trace McSorley 

Photo creds to Roar Lions Roar

As I said in my preview for the Big 10 Title Game, Trace McSorley is the leader of the Penn State offense. As he goes, so does the machine. I don't think McSorley will get flustered, as there is far less pressure on Penn State today then  in Indy a month ago, albeit there is a larger audience. Yes, USC has a great secondary, but so does Wisconsin, and we saw what Trace was able to do to them. I am expecting another big game from McSorley, as will likely be necessary for Penn State to emerge victoriously.

Final Prediction
It will be a close game that will lead to a lot of different emotions for us the fans. However, I think this Nittany Lion team is special. They have come too far for their season to end with a loss, and I don't think such an ending will happen today. No matter what happens on that field, this has been a season that we in Happy Valley will never forget. However, it'd be a lot nicer if things ended with a W, eh?

Penn State 31, USC 24. 

Penn State Fans: Do not forget Bill O'Brien, the man who saved football in State College

By: Joe Smeltzer

Photo creds to CBS Sports

On January 1st, 2012, my parents and I were on the road. We were headed home, after watching Duquesne's basketball team take on Houston Baptist and spending New Year's Eve in downtown Pittsburgh. It was a football Sunday, so we tuned our car radio into the games on the ride. During halftime of one of the games, I heard a report that my beloved Penn State Nittany Lions were on the verge of hiring a new football coach for the first time since 1966. His name was Bill O'Brien. My first thought upon hearing this was; who the hell is Bill O'Brien?

O'Brien's resume was one that seemed to fit a man willing to go to a place rocked with the biggest scandal in the history of sports just two months prior. He did have 18 years of college and pro coaching experience, but most of his stops were at lesser known places (Georiga Tech, Duke, Maryland, etc.), and thus, O'Brien was a lesser known name in the coaching world. His biggest coaching was his most recent one, which was in Foxborough, Mass as Bill Belichick's Offensive Coordinator. But that was just for one year, and how much credit should a man receive for "coaching" Tom Terrific? It is no stretch to say that before Penn State hired this man, Bill O'Brien's biggest claim to fame before taking the Penn State job was a shouting match with Brady that cameras caught. So, as can be inferred, the name Bill O'Brien did not conjure up a bubbly feeling in my stomach.

About three weeks passed, and O'Brien was officially the man in Happy Valley. I remember waking up for school one cold morning, and, as I always did in the winter, watching Sportscenter and drinking hot chocolate. On this morning, ESPN did a segment on O'Brien and Penn State. I don't remember the details of it, as it was almost five years ago and I cannot find the segment anywhere online. But the important thing that I remember from it is that it was practically a requiem for the Blue and White. The gist of it was; how sad is it that a longtime blue blood of the sport wound up with such a random guy like O'Brien? The segment was harsh, but I can't say I disagreed with it at the time. As winter turned to spring, I thought less and less about Penn State or football, in general, every day, and moved on with my life at West Allegheny Middle School. That was, until July 23rd, 2012.

On this date, as a result of the findings of the infamous "Freeh Report," Penn State was rocked with the hardest NCAA sanctions since SMU's "Death Penalty" in the late 80s. For four long years, Penn State would never be allowed to play in a bowl game and lost millions of dollars and several scholarships to go with it. Yikes. In the month that followed, I tried to keep a positive attitude, focusing on the Pittsburgh Pirates and their division title pursuit. But in the back of my mind, I had images from ESPN's "Pony Excess" of SMU getting torched for the next 20 years following their "Death Penality," and feared the same would happen to Penn State. As for the no-name head coach, well, it sure looked like he had bought himself a ticket to hell. Sure, Penn State's seniors took a stand in an attempt to rally the program together. But really, how good was this team going to be? Would Penn State ever return to the glory of old?

Well, after the first two weeks of the 2012 season, things looked pretty crappy. The Lions started 0-2, with both of their losses against less than stiff competition in Ohio (at home) and at Virginia. Well, here we go. Time to watch this whole thing blow up before our eyes for the next 20 years or so. Then, something funny happened on the way to the funeral.

Penn State started to win, and look pretty good doing it. The Nittany Lions won eight of their last ten remaining games, with notable victories over Iowa, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. The Northwestern win on October 6th at Beaver Stadium was particularly memorable for me, as it was the first game I had attended since everything had changed. When Matt McGloin ran into the end zone from five yards out for the winning score, it was the first time in over a year that I felt that Penn State might be ok. Not a powerhouse. Not a national title contender. But not too shabby, either.

Raiders QB Matt McGloin owes a lot of his success to BOB. (Photo creds to Sports World Report)

Speaking of McGloin, the walk-on from Scranton provides all the evidence in the world as to why Bill O'Brien is an excellent football mind. Before O'Brien took over at Penn State, McGloin, although a two-year starter, was a nobody. He had heart, sure, and there were stretches where he looked like he could be a good quarterback. But would anybody ever believe that a tall, scrawny, not real mobile walk-on QB without a strong arm could throw for over 3,000 yards in the Big 10? Well, thanks to the offense that O'Brien installed, which was multiple, pass happy and called "NASCAR" for the short amount of time between plays, McGloin became a star, and now, he could very well be starting for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL playoffs. How do you like that?

The next season was not as successful, as the seniors that took the stand were gone. This, along with injuries to some key starters led to an underwhelming 7-5 record. Nonetheless, the emergence of McGloin's successor, a true freshman named Christian Hackenberg, gave Penn State's fans hope that O'Brien would keep moving this program in the right direction. Then came New Year's Eve, 2013.

I remember being in Naples, Florida- which, oddly enough, is where I sit as I am writing this piece. My family was over one of our friend's part-time homes to watch the annual Times Square ball drop. In the meantime, I remember watching Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M take on Duke in the Chick-fill-A Bowl, when "Breaking News" showed up on ESPN's famed "Bottomline." The breaking news was that the man who played the biggest part in resurrecting our program was jumping to the pros, as Bill O'Brien agreed to become the head coach of the Houston Texans. Crushing.

At that moment, it was easy to have hatred and bitterness towards O'Brien, as my dad proved by stating that O'Brien was "dead to me." But it didn't take long for me to realize that there was no reason to hate O'Brien or even blame him for leaving. Yes, O'Brien only stayed for two years. Yes, it is apparent that, to O'Brien, Penn State was a "stepping stone" for him to become a head man in the National Football League. But coaching in the pros often pays better, and is always a lot less time consuming than coaching in college, so one can see why O'Brien would be so tempted to go to the next level. Besides, the good that O'Brien did in Happy Valley far outweighs him leaving Happy Valley. As we rejoice in our Lions return to the upper echelon of College Football, we need not look down on O'Brien for not staying for the long-hull, but rather thank him. A lot.

Sure, O'Brien did not singlehandedly "save" Penn State football, as players like McGloin, Michael Mauti, and Mike Zordich certainly played a significant role in keeping the Titanic from the iceberg. But had a lesser man taken the job that nobody wanted, where would this program be five years later? Nobody can be sure, but I reckon that they would not be facing off with USC on January 2nd, 2017 at the Rose Bowl.

So, as we show our Lion pride and cheer on our boys as they tangle with the "Men of Troy," it is more than appropriate to appreciate James Franklin, Joe Moorehead, Brent Pry and the fantastic job the new coaching staff has done. But as we do that, we also need to remember that without O'Brien's turnaround, Franklin's job would have been much harder, if not impossible.

Thank you, Bill O'Brien. We Are. Penn State and we are in a much better position because of you.

College Football Playoff Preview/Predictions

By: Joe Smeltzer
Hello, all. It's New Year's Eve, which, for some reason, means that it's playoff time. College Football's grandest stage is upon us, and here's what we think will go down.

3:00
Da Peach Bowl 
#4 Washington (12-1) at. #1 Alabama (13-0)

Photo creds to Scout.com

I love Washington. I do. I believe they are the real deal. However, they happen to be running into the world's sharpest buzzsaw; "Jolly Ole St. Nicholas" himself. Alabama is the best amateur football team in the world, and that is a universal agreement at this point. Expect Jake Browning and John Ross (best QB-Wide Receiver duo in College Football, BTW) to keep the Huskies in it for the first 30 minutes. As for the next 30, well, the Tide gonna do what the Tide gonna do.
Alabama 42, Washington 20

7:00
Da Fiesta Bowl 
#3 Ohio State (11-1) at #2 Clemson (12-1) 

Photo creds to ScottManning's Blog

By far the most intriguing of the two games. The matchup to watch in this one will be Ohio State's Secondary vs. Clemson's Receivers. Whoever wins that battle, in my opinion, will win the football game, and my gut tells me that Mike Williams, Hunter Renfrow and the rest of the Clemson receivers will get the best of Malik Hooker and the vaunted Buckeyes secondary. The Tigers offense is a powdered keg, and nobody has been able to stop them in quite some time. It is true that Watson has thrown 15 interceptions this season, and that Ohio State loves the takeaway. However, I don't see the young, inconsistent Buckeye attack doing too a whole lot of damage, as Christian Wilkins will pummel J.T. Barrett at least once. Watson might throw a pick or two, but when the going gets tough, Brent Venables defense will hold true. I'm expecting a close, fairly offensive friendly game, with both defenses holding their own. However, in the end, the will of DeShaun Watson will get the Tigers back to the national title game. This is a battle of Experience vs. Youth, and I think the young bucks will fall to the determined Tigers. The bad news for Clemson? They will have to play Alabama again.

Clemson 31, Ohio State 26. 

Ryan and Brad are both Ohio State Buckeye die-hards, and they have the Buckeyes beating Clemson, which is fair enough. But Brad, the creator of our graphics, went as far as to have the young Buckeyes knock off Alabama in the title game. As much as I love the Big 10, I reckon that won't happen. Alabama is going to skate off with their 5th national title, and when they beat Washington, I will write all about that in my 3rd annual national title preview. It's gonna be awesome. I'm Joe Smeltzer. Thanks for reading, and God bless.

The 8 worst things about Pittsburgh Sports in 2016

By: Joe Smeltzer
Hello, all. 2016 is almost put to bed, and recently, I went over what I thought were the best things about our cities sporting scene  this year. Now, let's talk about the worst. Let's get into it.


#8: Paul Spadafora goes nuts (again)

It's a sad life for "The Pittsburgh Kid" (photo creds to www.thepghkid.com)

Talk about a fall from grace. For those who don't know, Paul Spadafora of McKees Rocks was once the IBF lightweight champion of the world. That's a pretty big deal. Unfourtanly, he was never able to escape his demons in the steel city, and his criminal history hopefully reached its climax last week, when he stabbed his brother, assaulted his mother, and threatened to kill police officers. The story of Spadafora is a tragic one, and we do not yet know how it will end. Paul Spadafora might not be well known to a younger generation, as his flame burned out fairly quick. Nonetheless, his epic fall deserves to be on any "worst of" list.

#7: Heartbreak at Mile High

Poor Fitzgerald Toussiant wrongly took the fall for the Steelers playoff loss (Photo creds to totalprosports.com)

The reason the Steelers playoff loss to the Denver Broncos is "only" at 7 is that although Pittsburgh certainly had a chance to knock off the eventual Super Bowl champs in the AFC Divisional round, at the end of the day, the Steelers were not supposed to win that game. Pittsburgh came into Denver missing the best wide receiver in the world and with their quarterback not at full strength, and ended up within seven points of knocking off a great Denver team. Although losing in the playoffs is always brutal, I think the underdog factor softened the blow a tad.

#6: Martavis Bryant can't stop rolling 

Photo creds to The Weed Sreet Journal

 "Stay off the Weeeeddddddddahhhh" -Stephen A. Smith 
That is some wise advice that the receiver from Clemson could not learn to follow. After getting busted for drug violations by the league in 2015, Bryant failed to learn from his mistakes, and as a result, the NFL suspended him for the entire 2016 season. Fortunately, the Steelers won the AFC North without him. However, it's hard to argue that Pittsburgh wouldn't be a better football team if not for #10 loving him some grass.

#5 Jamie Dixon leaves Pitt

And so ended the most sucessful coaching run in Pitt history. (Photo creds to spokesman.com)

Sometimes, you don't know what you have until it's gone. For years, Pitt fans would complain about their head coach not being able to get them over the hump. Well, Dixon finally left town, taking the head job at his alma mater, TCU. His replacement, Kevin Stallings, was less than well received by the Panther faithful, and no matter what Coach Stallings goes on to accomplish at Pitt (losing to Duquesne is not a good start), I will always remember the negativity surrounding his arrival. Dixon did a lot of great things in Oakland, and even as a non-Pitt fan, it was sad to see it come to an end.


#4: Andrew McCutchen's struggles 

Photo creds to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

For most of 2016, it was painful to watch Andrew McCutchen look like a shell of his former self. Sure, he came on towards the end of the year, and his final offensive stat line did not turn out terrible. However, anybody who watched Cutch on offense; and especially in centerfield, felt sad for the guy at times. Hopefully, 2017 will be much better for #22.

#3: Fawning over Neil "Ouch, my back!" Walker 

There goes my hero! (Photo creds to Pittsburgh Post-Gazzete

As bad as the Pirates trading "The Pittsburgh Kid" turned out, the reaction of the Bucco faithful to the trade was 100xxxxxxxxx worse. While it is understandable that giving up an above average second baseman for a bum like Jon Niese would garner some negativity, Pirate fans took it to a new level, and the bitching has not stopped in the year since. Walker did a lot for the Pirates, but if you ask most fans, you'd reckon the kid from Pine Richland was a perennial MVP candidate who averaged 60 homeruns a season and managed to cure cancer all while finding a different cat to rescue out of a tree on a daily basis. It was a bad trade, but it was not the worst in team history. Not close to it, and anybody who puts it in that category either does not know what they are talking about or does not have much respect for the history of Bucco baseball.

It was a bad trade. Teams make bad trades sometimes. It happens in sports, and the idea that the Pirates should have treated Walker differently based on geography (He played football at Three Rivers Stadium n'at!) is absurd. Niese was suspossed to be a reclamation project, and it didn't work out. Bad trades happen. The Pirates are a well-run organization, no matter what the sometimes whiny and entitled Pittsburgh narrative tells you. If Walker turns into Joe Morgan in the next five years, I'll eat my hat. But if he stays where he is; which is a solid, but not spactacular second baseman, then Pirates fans overreacted big time.

#2: The Pittsburgh Pirates

How Bucco fans felt for most of 2016

Of the three pro sports teams in our great city, I am sad to say that my pride and joy was by far the most underwhelming in 2016. After three consecutive playoff appearances, which a lot of goofy yinzers forget ever happened, the Pirates took a step back in 2016, winning just 79 games and missing out on the postseason. Injuries to players like Jung-Ho Kang and Gerritt Cole, combined with disappointing seasons from Andrew McCutchen and Francisco Liriano, were some factors that contributed to the Pirates downward spiral. All we can hope for is that the Bucco swagger returns, starting on April 3rd at Fenway Park.


#1: The Death of Arnold Palmer 

Long live "The King." (Photo creds to Breaking Christian News)

Yes, Arnie lived a life that was full and did it his way. Nonetheless, when word got out on the evening of September 25th, 2016, that "The King" was no longer with us, it was shocking. Very few people from this area have had as great an impact on the sporting world than Arnold Palmer, and his death signified the end of an era. Here is a write-up that I did on Palmer, along with Miami Marlins hurler Jose Fernandez, who passed away on the same day. Golf's first superstar will live in the hearts of sports fans and anybody who was lucky enough to know the man. Long live "The King," and may his legacy live forever, as we continue to bask in his great drink.



So, that concludes the worst of Pittsburgh Sports in 2016. Agree? Disagree? Let me know. God bless.

College Football Bowl Predictions Part 2

Hello, all. Part of our bowl predictions is here, and so is our graphic. In case you folks are wondering, I will be posting my Penn State/playoff picks in seperate articles. Let's get into it.

Georiga (7-5) vs. TCU (6-6)
Both of these teams have had disappointing 2016's, and although I see TCU bouncing back next season, and the SEC, aside from Alabama, is pretty bland, I'll take the Bulldogs. Look for Nick Chubb to shine.

Georiga 30, TCU 21 


#18 Stanford (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Forget Christian McCaffery. Mitch Trubinsky is the man to watch in this game. Without McCaffery, I expect the Cardinal offense to sputter a tad, and the combination of that, and Turbisky being a stud will propel the Tar Heels to victory. Trubisky is smart, he is athletic, and he is built like a prototypical NFL QB, and in my mind, he could be the most pro-ready quarterback coming into this April's NFL draft. Yes, I did initially pick Stanford before McCaffrey decided to skip the bowl game. Disregard that.

UNC 34, Stanford 23

Nebraska (9-3) at #21 Tennesse (8-4)

Yes, Tennesse has been a disappointment. But of all the 8+ win teams in Power 5 conferences, is there any weaker than Nebraska? We're talking about a team that lost to Ohio State by 59 points and lost it's last game at Iowa by 30 points, and somehow manage to be unranked despite going 9-3 in the toughest conference in America. The Huskers also don't have any particularly impressive wins on their resume. Therefore, Nebraska is terribly overrated, and I feel that the Tennesse is better on both sides of the ball. Expect Josh Dobbs to shine in his final game in Orange.

Tennesse 35, Nebraska 14


#6 Michigan (10-2) at. #11 Florida State (9-3) 

One of the best non-playoff games. Michigans had some tough luck over the past month, and although the Seminoles usually have success in their home state, I think Michigan will be too pissed off to handle on Friday Night. Last season, Michigan lost their season finale to Ohio State, and wound up facing the Florida Gators in the Citrus Bowl, which is in Florida. The Maize and Blue pounded the Gators, 41-7. See the similarities? Although I think Florida State will give the Wolverines a fight, I see UM's defensive line, which is regarded as the best in the country, to make life tough for Dalvin Cook, and that will be a big difference in Michigan's victory. Also, expect Amara Darbow to have a hell of a night.

Michigan 23, Florida State 17

Georiga Tech (8-4)  vs. Kentucky (7-5)

Georiga Tech's famed triple option offense is alive and well, as the Jackets rank #10 in the country in rushing offense. Kentucky, on the other hand, is ranked just #62 in running defense. Because of these numbers, I see Justin Thomas and the Jackets running the ball down UK's throats, and getting that W. Believe that.

Georiga Tech 42, Kentucky 28

#17 Florida (8-4) at Iowa (8-4) 
If you like love offense, then hide the kids and wife for this one. Both of these teams are built on defense, and I think that the Gators have the better athletes on that side of the ball. Teez Tabor leads a unit that will make interim defensive coordinator Randy Shannon proud on New Years Day. It will be low scoring, but, contrary to what I said about Florida, I do trust Iowa's bread and butter, which is their running game, to do enough against the Gator defense to pull out the W. Just have a feeling, man.

Iowa 21, Florida 16

#15 Western Michigan (13-0) vs. #8 Wisconsin (10-3) 

Again, one of the better games of the bowl season. I'm going to  go against the grain and put my faith in the Broncos. I just have a feeling that the Cotton Bowl will be the day that all doubts are put to rest about P.J. Fleck's team. Look for wide receiver Corey Davis to boost his already high draft stock, and the Broncos to have some fun on their way to a landmark victory.

Western Michigan 31, Wisconsin 24

#14 Auburn (8-4) at #7 Oklahoma (10-2) 

Oklahoma is a playoff caliber team. If not for a brutal non-conference slate, they would be in the top 4. With all due respect to Auburn and their solid running game, I think that Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook will flex their muscles. Auburn, like many SEC teams these days, is good, but not great, and they will get exposed in the Superdome, baby.

Oklahoma 35, Auburn 21

The 8 best things about Pittsburgh sports in 2016

By: Joe Smeltzer

Hello, all. As 2016 draws to a close, it's time we reflect on some of the good things that happened in our city over the past 365 days. Lots of special games and moments happend over the past year, and here are eight that I think stand above the rest. Let's get into it. 

#8: The U.S. Open returns to Oakmont 

DJ finally got that elusive major tournament win (Photo creds to sbnation.com)

Yes, the USGA almost ruined the whole thing, yes it poured down rain on the only day that Joseph Arthur Smeltzer was in attendance. Nonetheless, the U.S. Open making it's return to Pittsburgh was fantastic. Seeing the world's best golfers is never a bad thing, and Dustin Johnson finally getting the major monkey off his back in our town was a feather in the cap. The U.S. Open doesn't come around here very often, and seeing it here in 2016 was special, and for that, it deserves to be on this list.

#7: Pitt-Penn State makes it's return 

Pitt's George Aston scored 2 TD's in Pitt's 42-39 victory on September 10th (Photo creds to theodysseyonline.com)

If not for personal bitterness, this would easily be in the top five. Although my men came out on the short end, the resurrection of the Pitt-Penn State rivalry was something that needed to happen in this area, especially for Pitt. Weather die-hards want to admit it or not; Pitt football hasn't been a huge deal in this city since God knows when. But with a renewed hatred for Penn State, fans now have reason to be excited about the Panthers and being at the game; it was evident that, at least for a few hours, Pitt was It in this city. It seems that a lot more people care about college football in the 412 than they have in years, and a lot of it has to do with 42-39, not to mention an exciting Panther team in general. As much as I'd hate to admit it, Pitt getting the W was the best thing for this rivalry going forward, as State College now has a little more hatred for the Panthers than they'd like to admit. Hopefully, I am singing a different tune about Pitt-Penn State for my 2017 year in review.

#6: The rise of Jameson Taillon 

Taillon in his MLB Debut against the New York Mets on June 8th at PNC Park (Photo creds to SI.Com

It's hard to think of great Pirate memories in 2016, as it was a forgettable season for my beloved Buccos. However, one point of light is the debut and the rise of a long time blue chip prospect, Jameson Taillon. Injuries had delayed the kid's debut for two years, and once JT was able to step foot on that PNC Park mound, he lived up to the hype. In 18 starts, the rookie from the great state of Texas went 5-4 with an ERA of 3.38 and a fantastic WHIP of 1.12 to go along with 85 strikeouts over 104 innings of work. Taillon is on his way to being a superstar, and 2016 was the first we got to see him in The Show. That is important.

#5: Duquense/RMU Womens Basketball teams go to the dance

April Robinson led the Dukes on a historic run to the big dance in 2016 (Photo creds to DKPittsburghSports.com

Some of you may be surprised to see this, but I feel it deserves to be on here. For most people, college athletics in the 412 are dominated by the University of Pittsburgh. That makes it ironic, and, as a Pitt hater, kind of cool, that the Panthers were the only Divison 1 woman's basketball program in our city that did not make it to the NCAA Tournament. Robert Morris made it to the dance for the fourth time in their history, and although mighty UcConn demolished them in the first round, the season was a fitting tribute to coach Sal Buscaglia, who's last team was a winner. Duquesne, after many close calls in the past decade, finally got selected as an At-Large out of the A10. Led by 3rd-year head coach Dan Burt and senior point guard April Robinson, the Dukes made it in as an #9 seed, and won their first game, 97-76 over Seton Hall, before falling to the mighty Huskies themselves. It was great to see our cities womens basketball teams having success, and hopefully, the sport continutes to gain traction in our town.

#4: Wilcard Wackieness 

Photo creds to Yahoo Sports

This could well end up on my "wost of 2016" list as well. It was everything but pretty, but nonetheless, the Steelers won that ugly game at Paul Brown Stadium, their first playoff win in almost six years. It was a big win, and at the same time, our rivals looked like clowns. When you think of it that way, maybe that night was pretty damn beautiful.

#3: The Reach 

The most recent moment of this list, and damn sure one of the produst. I don't feel the need to refresh anybodys memory of this picture, as it happened just three days ago, so here is an article that I wrote on the signifigance of AB's shining moment. 

#2: James Conner's recovery/return to Heinz Field 

#24 is a fighter, and one who we all can learn something from. (Photo creds to theplayerstribune.com)

I'm the furthest thing from a Pitt diehard, but James Conner trandscends the game of football. For those who don't know, the star Pitt runningback found himself diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma last November. Rather then feeling sorry for himself, Conner chose to be an inspiration to all of us, fighting back to find himself back where he belongs; on the gridiron for Pitt's home opener with Villanova on September 3rd. Here are two videos the depict Conner's struggle, and his return. What a man.

#1: The Pittsburgh Penguins 

Photo creds to WPXI.com

No brainer here. The Penguins were the Stanley Cup Champions, giving Pittsburgh their only major sports title in 2016. They did it with class. They did it with speed. They did it with heart. They took us on a thrilling two-month ride that I will never forget. Here is a piece I wrote shortly after the Pens won the Eastren Conference Title, and every bit of it holds true.  From a man who is a casual hockey fan, thank you, Penguins. Do it again in 2017.


So that is my list of the 8 best things about Pittsburgh Sports in 2016. Agree? Disagree? Let me know, either with a comment, through my twitter (@joesmeltzer775 or @briefcasejoeeee), or any other way you can reach the great Joseph Arthur Smeltzer. Thanks for reading!