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West Virginia and Pitt kick off Week 1 of college football season with Backyard Brawl rivalry game

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West Virginia and Pitt kick off Week 1 of college football season with Backyard Brawl rivalry game

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It has been 11 years since West Virginia and Pittsburgh soccer squared off, the consequence of a altering faculty soccer panorama and convention realignment. 

The 2 colleges will lastly renew their rivalry Thursday night time at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh with the one hundred and fifth version of “The Yard Brawl.” The rivalry dates again to 1895 with Pitt holding the sting within the sequence 61-40-3.

Pittsburgh quarterback Kedon Slovis, #9, scrambles throughout their annual NCAA soccer intrasquad Blue-Gold scrimmage sport, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Pittsburgh. Veteran quarterbacks are plentiful within the Atlantic Coast Convention this season. In all, 12 of the 14 league groups have a minimum of one quarterback with 9 or extra profession begins. 
(AP Picture/Philip G. Pavely, File)

Via the years, “The Yard Brawl” has been one of many extra heated rivalries in all of faculty sports activities, with the 2 colleges separated by simply 75 miles. 

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“There’s loads of hatred on their finish however going to be loads of hate on our finish,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi stated. “That’s what it comes all the way down to in rivalry video games.”

The Panthers enter Thursday night time’s matchup because the No. 17 crew within the nation, following an 11-3 document in 2021 with Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett main the best way. Pitt might be debuting a brand new quarterback in week one in USC switch Kedon Slovis.

“I believe the primary factor was you noticed the expertise final yr, and everybody had an important yr,” Slovis stated when requested why he selected Pitt, in response to SB Nation. “From afar, I sort of assumed that it was an older crew and that everybody could be leaving. However once I received the decision, I sort of realized everybody was staying apart from Kenny [Pickett]. Trying on the alternative, it was sort of a no brainer, and [Pitt] jumped to the highest of my record instantly.”

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West Virginia may have a brand new quarterback of their very own underneath middle in JT Daniels, who transferred from Georgia in April. In an fascinating twist, Daniels and Slovis had been teammates at USC. 

West Virginia quarterback JT Daniels passes during an NCAA college football practice in Morgantown, West Virginia, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2022. The Backyard Brawl returns after a 10-year hiatus on Thursday night, Sept. 1 when 17th-ranked Pitt hosts West Virginia. 

West Virginia quarterback JT Daniels passes throughout an NCAA faculty soccer observe in Morgantown, West Virginia, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2022. The Yard Brawl returns after a 10-year hiatus on Thursday night time, Sept. 1 when Seventeenth-ranked Pitt hosts West Virginia. 
(William Wotring/The Dominion-Put up through AP)

“He’s performed in massive video games, so I don’t suppose the ambiance goes to rattle him,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown stated, in response to Metro Information. “He’s performed in some of these video games earlier than. He’s actually correct with the soccer. He’s thrown the ball down area at a excessive completion proportion throughout camp. He does a very good job on run and go selections.”

The Mountaineers are coming off of a disappointing 6-7 season in Brown’s third yr as head coach in Morgantown, however a win over hated Pittsburgh would go a great distance with the West Virginia fanbase. 

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A member of the West Virginia Mountaineers holds up his helmet before the take the field against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers during the 2011 Backyard Brawl on November 25, 2011, at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia.  

A member of the West Virginia Mountaineers holds up his helmet earlier than the take the sphere in opposition to the College of Pittsburgh Panthers throughout the 2011 Yard Brawl on November 25, 2011, at Mountaineer Area in Morgantown, West Virginia.  
(Picture by Jared Wickerham/Getty Photos)

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“In a primary sport, particularly a primary sport when you may have a rivalry sport that is coming again for the primary time in nevertheless lengthy it has been, over 10 years, there’s going to be loads of feelings,” stated first-year West Virginia offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. “The secret’s going to be to not beat your self in these conditions no matter who you are taking part in. Do not let the feelings get probably the most of you.”

It’s faculty soccer at its most interesting as outdated rivalries might be renewed Thursday night time at 7:00 p.m. Jap. 

The Related Press contributed to this report

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Hawks get No 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft despite 3% chance to win lottery

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Hawks get No 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft despite 3% chance to win lottery

The NBA Draft Lottery saw a shocker as the Atlanta Hawks were awarded the No. 1 overall pick despite having just a 3% chance of winning it. 

This is the Hawks’ first time getting the No. 1 pick since 1975, when they ended up drafting David Thompson, a five-time All-Star and NBA Hall of Famer. However, the Draft Lottery was not established yet, so it is the first time they won it. 

Hawks general manager Landry Fields was all smiles when he heard his team’s name called and was likely in disbelief because his team had a very small chance of getting the selection. 

The Atlanta Hawks win the first overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Kena Krutsinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

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The Detroit Pistons, who owned a league-worst 14-68 record, and Washington Wizards could not believe it as they had the best odds at 14% to get the No. 1 pick.

Instead, Washington was given the No. 2 pick, and the Pistons got the No. 5 pick for the third straight season despite owning the worst record in the league in back-to-back seasons.    

Now, Atlanta has the opportunity to choose whoever they deem the best overall prospect.

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Hawks GM Landry Fields after getting No. 1 pick

Landry Fields of the Atlanta Hawks smiles after winning the number one overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Kena Krutsinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

French small forward Zaccharie Risacher and center Alexandre Sarr are up there, as is UConn standout center Donovan Clingan. 

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However, there is not a Victor Wembanyama like last year’s Draft that makes having the No. 1 pick easy. 

Here is the entire top 10 draft order. 

Landry Fields smiles after getting No. 1 pick

Landry Fields of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a photo after winning the number one overall pick during the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2024 at McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

  1. Atlanta Hawks
  2. Washington Wizards
  3. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
  4. San Antonio Spurs
  5. Detroit Pistons
  6. Charlotte Hornets
  7. Portland Trail Blazers
  8. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors)
  9. Memphis Grizzlies
  10. Utah Jazz

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UCLA completes perfect season with women's water polo championship

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UCLA completes perfect season with women's water polo championship

Adam Wright knows the drill.

At the final horn of UCLA’s 7-4 NCAA championship win over Cal on Sunday, the UCLA head coach carefully took off his sneakers and placed them on the bench. He gathered several players and assistant coaches in a group hug on the pool deck before sharing a consoling hug with Cal head coach Coralie Simmons.

Then he dove into the pool head first.

After coaching the UCLA men’s team to four NCAA championships, Wright led the women to their first national crown since 2009 and completed the program’s first undefeated season since 2008. The Bruins (26-0) are the first team since USC in 2016 to complete a perfect season and just the fifth team in NCAA women’s water polo history.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Wright told reporters at Cal’s Spieker Aquatics Complex. “It feels so good to see UCLA back on top because that’s what I was used to when I was at school at UCLA, and I’m just lucky to be a part of it.”

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Wright, who also won NCAA titles as a player in 1999 and 2000, took over the women’s program in 2017. The Bruins were coming off a streak of close calls, advancing to the NCAA title game three times in four seasons only to come up short each time. After UCLA won seven of the first nine NCAA women’s water polo championships, including five consecutive titles from 2005-09, Stanford and USC split the next 13.

But with a talented young roster, the Bruins could be starting a new dynasty.

Freshman Panni Szegedi led UCLA with three goals in the championship game, moving her into a tie for the team-lead with 39 goals on the season. Underclassmen scored six of UCLA’s seven goals, and freshman Lauren Steele starred in the cage with 17 saves.

The relationship between the young players and veterans including graduate students Brooke Doten and Hannah Palmer exemplified the culture that powered the Bruins to their eighth NCAA championship and 12th national title overall.

“Our connections outside the water go so far in the water,” Steele told reporters.

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The former Orange Lutheran star figures to be a mainstay of UCLA’s future success. She graduated from high school early to join the Bruins in December then started all 26 games, earned MPSF newcomer of the year honors and was named MPSF tournament MVP as UCLA won its first conference championship since 2017. She is still slated to attend her high school graduation ceremony next month.

“Just an absolute stud,” Wright said on the ESPNU broadcast while his hair was still soaked from celebrating in the pool. “Changed the complexion of UCLA women’s water polo.”

Szegedi scored all three of her goals in the second half after the teams were tied 2-2 at halftime. The freshman from Hungary broke the tight game open by giving the Bruins a two-goal lead with 5:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the first time either team led by multiple goals in the defensive battle.

Seeing Steele’s eyes from the pool deck, Wright said he knew the freshman would finish the job from there.

Steele put the exclamation point on UCLA’s championship celebration after players and coaches climbed out of the pool. Standing in front of an oversized poster of the bracket, teammates waited for Steele to finish her on-camera interview before handing her a blue sticker with UCLA printed on it. She stuck the badge on the national championship line.

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

The “City of Love” was the latest sighting of Travis Kelce at a Taylor Swift concert, and he had some A-list celebrities dancing alongside him to his significant other’s chart-topping hits. 

The Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end was seen at Paris La Défense Arena in Paris where Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid were next to him to enjoy Swift’s 87th Eras Tour show. 

Coincidence on the number, anyone?

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are shown at Coachella. (Gilbert Flores)

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Videos have circulated on social media of Kelce dancing to Swift songs, including “… Ready for It?” “Lover” and the classic “You Belong with Me.”

It’s significant that Kelce has been spotted at this show as he hasn’t been seen since she went back on tour. Swift has been in Paris for three nights prior to this fourth and final show, where Kelce was spotted.

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Of course, this isn’t the first time Kelce has reciprocated the love and support Swift showed during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning season last year. During the Chiefs’ bye week, Kelce was seen in Buenos Aires for one of Swift’s Eras Tour dates. 

They will clearly go the extra mile to support each other; Swift famously flew from Japan to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl after a tour date across the Pacific.

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And fans, whether it was of Kelce first or Swift, have fallen in love with the couple throughout the process as they continue to be one of the world’s power couples.

Taylor Swift looks lovingly up at Travis Kelce in his red Chiefs uniform after the Super Bowl

Taylor Swift celebrated with Travis Kelce on the field after his Super Bowl win. (AP Photo/John Locher)

While love isn’t something to rush, many are clamoring to know if Kelce has any thoughts of proposing to Swift to take their relationship to the next level. 

Recently, Chiefs long snapper James Winchester said on the “Like a Farmer” podcast that he thinks his teammate will be engaged at some point because he sees “they’re very similar in a lot of ways.”

“Being around Trav for the last nine years, I mean, I think they’re more similar than you would think. I wish the best for them,” he added.

Other than supporting Swift, Kelce has had a great offseason thus far. The Chiefs made him the highest-paid tight end in the game with a new contract extension that’s worth $34.25 million over two years, with $17 million fully guaranteed for the upcoming 2024 campaign. 

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Travis Kelce smiles

Travis Kelce attends American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH on May 5, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH)

So, personally and professionally, Kelce had a lot of things to dance about in Paris with some of his friends while watching Swift kill it onstage.

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