Friday’s “First Call” dismisses the idea of a Steelers position change. We also look at this week’s dud of a matchup for the Pitt football team.

Plus, we preview what Penn State, Duquesne and West Virginia have on their respective schedules.

And the RMU hockey team is already enjoying the unique qualities of Alaska.

Not Nick

The Steelers may be getting thin at inside linebacker. But that doesn’t mean a position change is coming for Nick Herbig.

Ever since the rookie outside linebacker was drafted this spring out of Wisconsin, there has been some speculation that Herbig could get some time inside. His 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame suggests he may even be better suited physically for that position.

But despite some recent injuries inside, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin insisted Herbig won’t be bumped off the edge.

“Nick? Oh, no, man, Nick is an outside guy,” Austin told reporters Thursday. “Nope, we’re good. We’d better not blow through three linebackers this week.”

The Steelers lost Cole Holcomb to a season-ending knee injury during the team’s victory over the Tennessee Titans last Thursday. Elandon Roberts was a limited participant in practice with a knee problem of his own on Wednesday. Then he didn’t practice at all Thursday.

Kwon Alexander has 353 snaps under his belt this year for the Steelers, second most at the position after Holcomb. If Roberts can’t go against the Packers on Sunday, the other starter inside will likely be Mark Robinson, the second-year player out of Mississippi. Practice squad players Mykal Walker and Tariq Carpenter are also options.

“(Walker) has been a starter in this league. He’s made a lot of tackles. He’s played football. That’s comforting in that way,” Austin said. “How he adapts to our system and the things that we’re doing, that always is a matter of time and how fast a player gets it.”

Walker started 12 games last year in Atlanta, registering 107 combined tackles.

Bronx bust

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

On Jan. 30, the ACC announced that Pitt and Syracuse would play a football game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The goal was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first football game at the original Yankee Stadium, featuring the Orange and Panthers (Syracuse won 3-0) on Oct. 23, 1923.

Unfortunately, now, though, it feels like it’s been 100 years since either team has won a game. Pitt has lost three in a row and is 2-7, 1-4 in ACC play. Syracuse (4-5) is riding a five-game losing streak. At 0-5 in conference, they are the only ACC team without a conference win.

Both coaches (Pat Narduzzi of Pitt and Dino Babers of Syracuse) are catching some heat from local media and fans. Both quarterback situations have been a problem. Phil Jurkovec got benched for Christian Veilleux at Pitt. Garrett Shrader is battling an injury in Syracuse and missed last week’s game at Boston College. His backup, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, threw four interceptions against BC.

So, let’s just say enthusiasm for the game has been … dampened for both fan bases. According to Vivid Seats, you can get tickets for less than $30.

As for Penn State and West Virginia, the Nittany Lions (8-1) are 4.5-point underdogs versus Michigan (9-0) Saturday at noon. The Mountaineers are 13-point underdogs at Oklahoma (7 p.m.)

• Penguins beat Kings in overtime, extend winning streak to 3 • Encouraged by debut calling plays from sideline, Steelers OC Matt Canada ready for encore • Pirates GM Ben Cherington promises to 'attack free agency, trade market' on MLB Network

On the cusp

The Duquesne football team is one win away from clinching the outright NEC title and a berth in the FCS playoffs. They can accomplish that feat at noon Saturday with a victory over Stonehill.

Jerry Schmitt’s club wrapped up at least a share of the title last Saturday with a 34-26 win over Wagner. The Dukes have won all five of their conference games so far. Every other member of the NEC has at least two losses.

Stonehill is 3-5 but won last year’s meeting, 24-20.

If the Dukes win, it’d be their second outright NEC title and third trip to the NEC playoffs. If the Dukes can’t get the job done on Saturday, they have another chance to secure the title at Merrimack next weekend.

As for Robert Morris, the 3-6 Colonials host the 4-5 Charleston Southern Buccaneers at noon.

Buckle up

Meanwhile, the Duquesne men’s basketball team plays at 6 p.m. Friday against Charleston.

The game will be held in Annapolis at the U.S. Naval Academy for Game 1 of the 2023 Veterans Classic. Temple vs. Navy is the nightcap.

This will be the first game of a tough early stretch for the Dukes. After Friday night’s game, they play next week on Monday night (Stony Brook), Wednesday night (Princeton) and Friday night (Rider). All three of those games will be at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

As for Pitt, the Panthers host Binghamton at 7 p.m. The Robert Morris men’s team beat Point Park 66-56 on Thursday. They visit Towson on Sunday.

Snow day!

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team is in Alaska. And their Thursday morning practice was canceled due to Anchorage’s first big snowstorm of the year.

Forecasts were for 1-2 inches of snow. Instead, Schooley said on his coach’s show that 12-13 inches fell. So the Colonials’ team bus couldn’t make it to the hotel.

Assuming the teams can dig out, they’ll play each other Friday and Saturday night. The Colonials are 2-3-2 to start the year. Alaska-Anchorage is 4-6.

Schooley and company will have a split series against Niagara next week, with the Colonials playing on the road Friday night and then hosting the Purple Eagles on Saturday.

The women’s team is idle after sweeping Syracuse last weekend.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)