Connect with us

Published

on

EAST LANSING, Michigan — Despite an NCAA investigation into alleged sign stealing, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his players said there was a laser focus within the program this week.

Michigan played in-state rival Michigan State and came away with a convincing 49-0 victory on Saturday. Harbaugh said his players never let the reports or investigation permeate their preparation and how they took on this opponent.

“I think there’s been attempts to diminish the team in a lot of ways,” Harbaugh said after the game. “‘Starting with this is too easy of a schedule. These guys aren’t very good.’ And that kind of thing. But they just play, and they’ll do that again today, we’ll get on to the next one and move on with humble hearts.

“Their focus was laser, laser like. Staying strong, focused, just on a mission.”

The NCAA is investigating Michigan for allegedly scouting future opponents in person at games, which would be a violation of NCAA rules. Michigan has since suspended staffer Connor Stalions, who is the focus of the investigation.

Despite the news coming out this week, Harbaugh and his players said it wasn’t a distraction and didn’t limit their goal of winning this game.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy said that Harbaugh did address the team this week about the allegations, but there was no rah-rah speech given. It was a message of staying focused on the task at hand and not letting outside noise take away from their season.

“We do a tremendous job of keeping the main thing the main thing and staying in the present moment,” McCarthy said. “Controlling what we can control, just striving to get better and we know this is a special group. We just strive every single day to see how good we can really get, and all the outside distractions and all the allegations against Coach Harbaugh, that doesn’t do anything to us, because we’re just out there trying to play ball, have fun with our boys.”

Tight end Colston Loveland echoed McCarthy, adding that the Wolverines believed they had to stay focused to remain undefeated.

“Really had a single mindset of getting prepared, beating State. That was pretty much, if anyone around the building wanted to talk about anything else, they didn’t want to,” Harbaugh said. “They wanted to just talk about the game, preparation and practice and get ready to play and execute and I thought they played their best. We have a little saying around here that says what you do speaks so loudly, we can’t even hear what you’re saying.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Bedard hurt on last-second faceoff, out for Sat.

Published

on

By

Bedard hurt on last-second faceoff, out for Sat.

ST. LOUIS — Chicago star Connor Bedard was injured on a last-second faceoff in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night and will miss the Blackhawks’ game Saturday.

With 0.8 seconds left, Bedard attempted to win the draw to give Chicago one last chance, but he was knocked down by Blues center Brayden Schenn. Bedard grasped at his right shoulder and immediately headed to the locker room, accompanied by a trainer, while his teammates remained on the ice and the bench.

“He won’t play tomorrow,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said of the team’s game at home against Detroit on Saturday night. “I won’t know more info tomorrow, so don’t ask me tomorrow. At some point through the weekend, I’ll know more, so I’d probably have more info come Monday.”

Asked whether Bedard’s injury would be only short term, Blashill offered few details.

“I’d hate to say that without knowing the information,” he said. “Until we get the information, again, he’s not going to play tomorrow.”

Bedard ranked fifth in the NHL in points heading into the game, and he assisted on both of Chicago’s goals in the loss. He now has 12 goals and 25 assists.

He was pushed into desperation mode when the Blues iced the puck and a half a second was put back on the clock. Blashill said he’d have to see the play again, but his initial impression was that nothing dirty occurred on the play.

“Honestly, I think it’s a freak accident,” Blashill said, “to be honest with you.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Canucks trade Hughes to Wild for 3 players, pick

Published

on

By

Canucks trade Hughes to Wild for 3 players, pick

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was traded to the Minnesota Wild, the teams announced on Friday. It was a blockbuster deal in which Vancouver received three roster players — defenseman Zeev Buium, center Marco Rossi and winger Liam Ohgren — as well as a first-round pick.

It’s one of the boldest moves in Wild franchise history, and signals GM Bill Guerin’s hunger to win now after signing Kirill Kaprizov to the richest contract in NHL history this summer. The Wild have not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2015.

Hughes, 26, is a 2018 first-round pick of the Canucks and considered one of the best defensemen in the league. He is one of six players already named to the Team USA Olympic men’s hockey team. Hughes won the Norris Trophy in 2023-24 when he recorded a career-high 92 points for a first-place Canucks team.

However, a Hughes trade became increasingly inevitable after the Canucks got off to a poor start. Vancouver entered Friday in last place in the Pacific Division at 11-17-3 with a minus-24 goal differential. Late last month, the Vancouver front office sent a memo across the league that it was open to trading any of its pending unrestricted free agents. That did not include Hughes, who is under contract through the end of next season.

However, it empowered many general managers across the league to inquire about Hughes, who did not have any trade protection.

The Canucks got plenty in return. Buium, 20, is a 2024 first-round pick of the Wild and can inherit Hughes’ role as a true power-play quarterback. Rossi, 24, and Ohgren, 21, are also former first-round picks of the Wild.

Though Hughes never asked for a trade, many around the NHL believed he did not want to re-sign in Vancouver after his contract expired in the summer of 2027. The prevailing belief is that Hughes preferred to play for a United States-based team on the East Coast. Hughes spends his offseason in Michigan. His brothers, Jack and Luke, play for the New Jersey Devils.

According to sources, the Devils did make a trade offer for Hughes to reunite him with his two younger brothers. However, New Jersey couldn’t match what Minnesota gave up.

Minnesota began engaging with Vancouver about a week ago, according to sources, and the deal came together quickly. The Canucks received at least six other offers, according to sources, but Vancouver believed Minnesota presented the strongest overall package that can best set the team up for the future.

Hughes is not eligible to sign an extension with the Wild until July 1.

Continue Reading

Sports

San Jose State receiver Scudero to enter portal

Published

on

By

San Jose State receiver Scudero to enter portal

San Jose State wide receiver Danny Scudero, the leading receiver in FBS this season, will enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens in January, he announced Friday.

The 5-foot-9, 174-pound redshirt sophomore caught 88 passes for 1,291 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season with the Spartans, becoming a semifinal for the Biletnikoff Award and earning first-team All-Mountain West honors.

Scudero is expected to be one of the more coveted wide receivers available when the transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2 and has two more seasons of eligibility remaining.

Scudero spent two years at Sacramento State before transferring to San Jose State after the 2024 season. He broke out with 189 receiving yards to open the season against Central Michigan and surpassed 100 yards in five more games, including a career-high 215 and two touchdowns against Hawaii.

Scudero’s 88 receptions ranked fourth-most in FBS, and he leads all receivers this season with 16 catches of 30 or more yards.

The Spartans produced the No. 14 passing offense in FBS this season but went 3-9 in their second year under coach Ken Niumatalolo.

Continue Reading

Trending