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  • Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey carries the team, Paul George is rusty, and more from win vs. Clippers

    Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey carries the team, Paul George is rusty, and more from win vs. Clippers

    Paul George’s debut was OK, yet better than expected.

    The 76ers are going to have to live with the Andre Drummond factor for the time being. The center is a rebounding machine but struggles on defense.

    Tyrese Maxey must continue to log 40-plus minutes and carry the Sixers.

    And the team will cherish all victories, even the controversial ones.

    Those four things stood out in their 110-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Maxey carrying the load

    Sixers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged before Monday’s game that the minutes for Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are piling up, and they are expected to carry the scoring load.

    Nurse thinks things may settle down for the duo when George gets up to speed, as they do when Joel Embiid is playing.

    The coach actually spoke to both of them on Sunday. He asked them four questions: Are you OK? Are you playing too many minutes? You sure? Are you looking for some help?

    Maxey and Edgecombe responded “yes” to the first question and “no” to the other three.

    “I said, ‘Because we don’t know when it’s going to come,” Nurse said. “’Get ready to go out there and do whatever is necessary.’

    “And they’re both on board. I said, ‘Whenever these guys come back to help, we’re going to welcome them with open arms. But until that point, let’s stay focused on doing what needs to be done.”

    On Monday, the Sixers (8-5) needed Maxey to take over while playing the entire second half.

    That’s when he scored 27 of his game-high 39 points. It was the fifth time this season that the sixth-year guard scored at least 35 points. He also finished with three rebounds, six assists, one steal, and four turnovers while logging a game-high 40 minutes, 57 seconds.

    Maxey scored 13 points in the third quarter before tallying 14 in the final quarter. But he must do a better job handling the ball in clutch situations. All four of his turnovers came after the intermission.

    Sixers mailbag: Paul George and Joel Embiid’s trade value, need for backup point guard, and more

    There’s no denying that he’s having a special season, though.

    Maxey’s 39 points were the most by an NBA player on Monday night.

    He ranks second in the league in scoring at 32.5 points per game, fourth in made three-pointers (50), and first in minutes (40.4).

    What is Nurse looking at in the big picture with the kind of season Maxey is putting together?

    “I don’t know if I think about that at this particular time,” Nurse said. “I think that you know what I talked about before … that was pretty evident tonight. You’ve got to go, and the minutes are going to be 40. And you are going to have to carry a bunch of the load. And you are going to have to figure it out.”

    Sixers forward Paul George (center) scored nine points in his season debut.

    PG’s debut

    George hadn’t played in a game since March 4. Yet he’s been a full participant at practice since Oct. 19. As a result, it was hard to predict how the 35-year-old would perform against the Clippers (4-10).

    He moved well. He got his shots. He bulked up. And, as expected, he was rusty.

    George finished with nine points on 2-for-9 shooting along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 21:06 of playing time. He also made 4 of 7 free throws.

    “It felt great to finally play basketball again,” he said. “It’s been like eight months since I played. So it was a long journey, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of hiccups. But it felt good to finally get out there. I felt good. Just rusty, but I felt good.”

    Sixers need to be ‘mentally tougher’ against physical play while improving third quarters

    He played in only 41 games last season — his first as a Sixer — while hampered by various injuries. George was ruled out for the remainder of that season on March 17, the day he received injections in the left adductor muscle in his groin and left knee.

    He was expected to return in time for training camp. However, the nine-time All-Star had arthroscopic left knee surgery in July, which caused him to miss additional time.

    On Monday, George scored a three-pointer on his first shot attempt 34 seconds into the game. On the next possession, the 6-foot-8, 220-pounder was fouled while attempting a three. He made two of three foul shots to give the Sixers a 5-0 advantage.

    Paul George played 21 minutes in his season debut for the Sixers.

    George missed his subsequent five attempts before turning the ball over and later scoring on a three-foot driving floater.

    He missed three shot attempts after intermission. But George stepped up his game in other areas in the second half with three rebounds and a block.

    Sixers mailbag: Paul George and Joel Embiid’s trade value, need for backup point guard, and more

    Defensively, he looked comfortable and appeared to have lateral quickness.

    “Yeah, it was definitely a trusting — it was definitely a trust factor,“ George said. ”When I first went out there to see what all I could do, and right away, ‘I’m ready for this.’ You know, ‘I can move, I can react, I can play physical, I can beat the guy to a spot. I can rebound.’ So that was, I think, a huge checklist for me personally, that I was able to slide my feet, stay in front of guys, and just fly around. Be reactive.”

    It’s too early to know if he can be the dominant wing of the past. However, his basketball IQ, defense, rebounding, and leadership could help the Sixers once he gets in basketball shape.

    Drummond’s play

    Drummond is the Sixers’ lone healthy center.

    Embiid missed his fourth consecutive game on Monday. It will be the third game he has missed due to right knee injury management. The 2023 MVP also sat out the Nov. 8 home loss to the Detroit Pistons to rest his surgically repaired left knee.

    Sixers center Andre Drummond had 14 points and 18 rebounds against the Clippers.

    And reserve center Adem Bona missed the first of at least three games with a sprained right ankle.

    The 6-11, 279-pound Drummond held his own against Clippers center Ivica Zubac with 14 points and a game-high 18 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double and fifth of the season.

    Zubac, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds, was outplayed by Drummond in the fourth quarter. That’s when the Sixer tallied seven points and five rebounds.

    Drummond even made a pair of clutch foul shots to give the Sixers a 110-106 cushion with 1:08 remaining. Then he grabbed his 18th rebound on the ensuing possession.

    Controversial ending

    The Sixers will tell you a win is a win. And they probably couldn’t care less if people speak negatively about the controversial ones.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey and Trendon Watford celebrate their 110-108 victory over the Clippers on Monday.

    And that’s what they escaped with against the Clippers.

    With the Clippers down two points, video footage showed James Harden being fouled on a three-point attempt by Quentin Grimes with 6.3 seconds remaining. Crew chief Curtis Blair was asked after the game why the foul wasn’t called on the play.

    “During live play, it was deemed that Grimes legally contested Harden’s three-point shot,” Blair said.

    Based on the wording “during live play,” one has to believe there’s a great chance we’ll see a different answer Tuesday on the L2M report.

    But the Sixers still celebrated this victory. Maxey and Trendon Watford even sprinted down the court after time expired on the final possession.

  • Person stabbed on SEPTA subway platform in Center City

    Person stabbed on SEPTA subway platform in Center City

    A person was hospitalized in stable condition after being stabbed Monday night on a subway platform in Center City on SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line, an agency spokesperson said.

    The stabbing occurred shortly before 10 p.m. at the 5th Street/Independence Hall Station and the victim was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.

    No arrests were reported and no further information about the victim or what happened was immediately available.

  • Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers rally for 110-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers

    Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers rally for 110-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers

    Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points, Paul George had nine points and seven rebounds in his season debut, and the 76ers rallied for a 110-108 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.

    Quentin Grimes added 19 points and Andre Drummond had 14 points and 18 rebounds while filling in for Joel Embiid.

    James Harden scored 28 points for the Clippers, who have lost eight of nine. Harden became the 11th player to eclipse 28,000 career points with a first-quarter layup.

    Derrick Jones Jr. sat out after injuring his knee in Sunday’s 121-118 loss at Boston. The Clippers also were without Kawhi Leonard (ankle/foot sprain) for the seventh straight game.

    Embiid (right knee injury management) sat out for the third straight game and eighth of 13 this season.

    Los Angeles controlled the first 3½ quarters and led 91-81 with 8 minutes, 44 seconds left on Ivica Zubac’s 10-footer. But the Sixers used a 14-3 run over the next 2:49, capped by Maxey’s layup, to go in front 95-94. It was close from that point.

    Drummond made two free throws to put the 76ers ahead 110-106 with 1:08 left. Kobe Sanders made a pair of free throws with 13.8 seconds left to pull the Clippers within two before officials whistled Kris Dunn for a foul on Maxey. But that was overturned to a steal by Dunn after a challenge by the Clippers, giving L.A. a chance to tie or win.

    Harden misfired on two three-point attempts in the final seconds.

    In addition to Embiid, the Sixers were missing Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Adem Bona (right ankle sprain).

    George sat out the first 12 games while recovering from offseason left knee surgery. The nine-time All-Star played 21 minutes.

    Up next

    The Sixers will host the Toronto Raptors at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday (7 p.m., NBCSP).

  • FEMA acting chief David Richardson departs after 6 months on the job

    FEMA acting chief David Richardson departs after 6 months on the job

    SAN DIEGO — The acting chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency left his job Monday after just six months, according to the Department of Homeland Security, the latest disruption in a year of mass staff departures, program cuts and policy upheaval at the agency charged with managing federal disaster response.

    David Richardson, who in his brief term remained largely out of public sight, is leaving the post after he faced a wave of criticism for his handling of the deadly Texas floods earlier this year. He replaced previous acting head Cameron Hamilton in May.

    DHS did not comment on the details of Richardson’s departure, but a FEMA employee familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Richardson resigned. The employee spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the changes with the media.

    “The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security extend their sincere appreciation to the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, David Richardson, for his dedicated service and wish him continued success in his return to the private sector,” a DHS spokesperson told The Associated Press.

    The Washington Post first reported the news about Richardson’s resignation.

    A former Marine Corps officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and also led the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office, Richardson had no previous emergency management experience when he assumed the role of “senior official performing the duties of administrator” in May.

    After replacing Hamilton, who was fired one day after telling a House appropriations committee that he did not think FEMA should be eliminated, Richardson vowed to help fulfill President Donald Trump’s goal to push more disaster recovery responsibilities to the states and told FEMA employees he would ” run right over ” anyone who tried to obstruct that mission.

    But Richardson’s leadership was questioned by members of Congress and FEMA employees, particularly after remaining largely out of sight after the deadly Texas floods last July that killed at least 136 people.

    When asked by a House committee in July why he did not arrive on the ground until one week after the disaster, Richardson said he stayed in Washington, D.C., to “kick down the doors of bureaucracy,” but also said he was camping with his sons for the July 4 weekend when the floods first hit and initially helped manage the response from inside his truck.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also kept a tight grip on FEMA programs and spending, requiring that she personally approve any agency expenditure over $100,000. Richardson had denied reports that the approval policy slowed down FEMA’s response in Texas.

    FEMA Chief of Staff and former cybersecurity official Karen Evans will assume the role on Dec. 1, according to DHS. The FEMA administrator is required by law to have emergency management experience, but the Trump administration has circumvented those requirements up to now by appointing temporary leaders.

    The agency has undergone major upheaval since Trump returned to office in January promising to vastly overhaul if not eliminate the agency. About 18% of the agency’s permanent full-time employees had departed as of June, including 24 senior-level staffers, according to the Government Accountability Office.

    The Trump administration also has slashed mitigation funding, placed requirements on preparedness grants that compel recipients to comply with Trump’s immigration agenda, and denied several states’ requests for major disaster declaration requests.

    DHS did not respond to questions about whether Richardson will still lead the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

    Trump appointed a 12-member review council led by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deliver recommendations on how to reform FEMA and push more responsibility to the states for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. The council is expected to deliver its recommendations in December.

  • Judge scolds Justice Department for ‘profound investigative missteps’ in James Comey case

    Judge scolds Justice Department for ‘profound investigative missteps’ in James Comey case

    WASHINGTON — The Justice Department engaged in a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps” in the process of securing an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, a federal judge ruled Monday in directing prosecutors to provide defense lawyers with all grand jury materials from the case.

    Those problems, wrote Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick, include “fundamental misstatements of the law” by a prosecutor to the grand jury that indicted Comey in September, the use of potentially privileged communications during the investigation and unexplained irregularities in the transcript of the grand jury proceedings.

    “The Court recognizes that the relief sought by the defense is rarely granted,” Fitzpatrick wrote “However, the record points to a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps, missteps that led an FBI agent and a prosecutor to potentially undermine the integrity of the grand jury proceeding.”

    The 24-page opinion is the most blistering assessment yet by a judge of the Justice Department’s actions leading up to the Comey indictment. It underscores how procedural missteps and prosecutorial inexperience have combined to imperil the prosecution pushed by President Donald Trump for reasons separate and apart from the substance of the disputed allegations against Comey.

    The Comey case and a separate prosecution of New York Attorney General Letitia James have hastened concerns that the Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of Trump’s political opponents. Both defendants have filed multiple motions to dismiss the cases against them before trial, arguing that the prosecutions are improperly vindictive and that the prosecutor who filed the charges, Lindsey Halligan, was illegally appointed.

    A different judge is set to decide by Thanksgiving on the challenges by Comey and James to Halligan’s appointment.

    Though grand jury proceedings are presumptively secret, Comey’s lawyers had sought records from the process out of concern that irregularities may have tainted the case. The sole prosecutor who defense lawyers say presented the case to the grand jury was Halligan, a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience who was appointed just days before the indictment to the job of interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    In his order Monday, Fitzpatrick said that after reviewing the grand jury transcript himself, he had come away deeply concerned about the integrity of the case.

    “Here, the procedural and substantive irregularities that occurred before the grand jury, and the manner in which evidence presented to the grand jury was collected and used, may rise to the level of government misconduct resulting in prejudice to Mr. Comey,” Fitzpatrick said.

    The Justice Department responded to the ruling by asking that it be put on hold to give prosecutors time to file objections. The government said it believed Fitzpatrick “may have misinterpreted” some facts in issuing his ruling.

    Fitzpatrick listed, among nearly a dozen irregularities in his ruling, two different comments that a prosecutor — presumably, Halligan — made to the grand jury that he said represented “fundamental misstatements of the law.”

    The actual statements are blacked out, but Fitzpatrick said the prosecutor seems to have ignored the fact that a grand jury may not draw a negative inference about a person who exercises his right not to testify in front of it. He said she also appeared to suggest to grand jurors that they did not need to rely only on what was presented to them and could instead before assured that there was additional evidence that would be presented at trial.

    The judge also drew attention to the jumbled manner in which the indictment was obtained and indicated that a transcript and recording of the proceedings do not provide a full account of what occurred. Halligan initially sought a three-count indictment of Comey, but after the grand jury rejected one of the three proposed counts and found probable cause to indict on the other two counts, a second two-count indictment was prepared and signed.

    But Fitzpatrick said it was not clear to him in reviewing the record that the indictment that Halligan presented in court at the conclusion of the process had been presented to the grand jury for their deliberation.

    “Either way, this unusual series of events, still not fully explained by the prosecutor’s declaration, calls into question the presumption of regularity generally associated with grand jury proceedings, and provides another genuine issue the defense may raise to challenge the manner in which the government obtained the indictment,” he wrote.

    The two-count indictment charges Comey with lying to Congress in September 2020 when he suggested under questioning that he had not authorized FBI leaks of information to the news media. His lawyers say the question he was responding to was vague and confusing but the answer he gave to the Senate Judiciary Committee was true.

    The line of questioning from Sen. Ted Cruz appeared to focus on whether Comey had authorized his former deputy director, Andrew McCabe, to speak with the news media. But since the indictment, prosecutors have made clear that their indictment centers on allegations that Comey permitted a separate person — a close friend and Columbia University law professor, Dan Richman — to serve as an anonymous source in interactions with reporters.

    The FBI executed search warrants in 2019 and 2020 to access messages between Richman and Comey as part of a media leaks investigation that did not result in charges. But Fitzpatrick said he was concerned that communications between the men that might have been protected by attorney-client privilege — Richman was at one point functioning as a lawyer for Comey — were exposed to the grand jury without Comey having had an opportunity to object.

  • The USMNT’s players appreciate the team’s tough schedule leading up to the World Cup

    The USMNT’s players appreciate the team’s tough schedule leading up to the World Cup

    TAMPA, Fla. — Once the U.S. men’s soccer team knew it wouldn’t have to qualify for next year’s World Cup as a cohost, it faced a different challenge.

    Having no qualifiers to play meant the program would have to fill its calendar with exhibition games, which the world’s game calls “friendlies” even when they aren’t polite. (Look no further than the brawl that ended Saturday’s U.S.-Paraguay match in Chester.)

    Since it started to matter in June, U.S. Soccer could have picked several lesser opponents to try to rack up wins for public perception. But it knew those would have been empty calories, and many fans would have agreed.

    So manager Mauricio Pochettino and his staff chose the harder path: aim high, suffer along the way, and come out the other side sharpened.

    U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino at Monday’s practice in Tampa.

    There was certainly suffering for a while: a 2-1 loss to Turkey and a 4-0 blowout to Switzerland in June, and a 2-0 loss to South Korea in September.

    Pochettino’s words after the Switzerland game were as true then as they are now, with the U.S. on a four-game unbeaten run against Japan, Ecuador, Australia, and Paraguay.

    Gio Reyna seizes his moment with the USMNT, and is now in the World Cup race

    “We knew that we wanted to play with two important teams in Europe like Turkey and Switzerland,” he said. “When we decided to play them, it’s because we wanted the players to feel the high level. And when you take the risk, this accident can happen.”

    Had the Americans not turned results in their favor, as they have over the last four games, the ride would still be bumpy. Perhaps some critics would claim to prefer the easier path.

    But the good results have further justified a correct decision.

    Gio Reyna (left) celebrating after scoring the opening goal for the U.S. against Paraguay at Subaru Park on Saturday.

    Now the hill grows steeper. After facing Turkey and Switzerland in June, South Korea and Japan in September, Ecuador and Australia last month, and Paraguay last week, the U.S. closes its year by facing South American superpower Uruguay at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium on Tuesday (7 p.m., TNT, Universo).

    Next March’s games, the last before the World Cup is set, are expected to be against Portugal and Belgium at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium — a fittingly glamorous stage in U.S. Soccer’s new hometown.

    The USMNT’s new tactics seem made for Sergiño Dest, but how much will he play in them?

    ‘A real, raw passion’

    All 10 of those teams were or will be in the top 40 of FIFA’s global rankings at the time of the matchup, with nine in the top 25 and five in the top 20. (The U.S. sits 16th, and has for all but one ranking period over the last year.)

    And since the opponents had their own World Cup qualifiers to play, U.S. Soccer earns more credit for getting them over here in the rare times they were available.

    Alex Freeman (left) defending Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma during their matchup in September.

    “That’s ultimately what you want,” former Union centerback Mark McKenzie said. “I think any competitor wants to play against the best of the best, and as you go into a World Cup where we don’t have the luxury of a qualification period, you want to play against opponents who ultimately you have the potential to see in the World Cup. So I think when you play against those teams that are especially high-ranked, it puts you up to bat, and to figure out where you stand against those kinds of teams.”

    The competitive juices especially come out when the U.S. plays South American opponents. Though big-name European nations draw more fan interest, South American teams deliver an unmatched mix of talent and passion.

    Six years since leaving the Union, Auston Trusty comes full circle with the USMNT

    “There’s a real, raw passion that comes along with that,” McKenzie said. “There’s a sense of real pride that South American teams play with. You hear it with the national anthems — the stadium is rocking because their supporters are all singing and screaming their anthem.”

    McKenzie tries to bring the same mentality to playing for his country, and to his teammates.

    “We have that mentality of, it’s not every day you get the chance to represent your crest, [or] every day you get to be one of 20-some-odd players to step on that pitch,” he said. “So, yeah, we’re going for the same mentality. We approach each game [as] it’s not a friendly match, but this is a preparation for what’s to come.”

    Gio Reyna (second from left) and Tim Ream (right) are among the U.S. players shown stretching at Monday’s practice.

    The U.S. has a long history of big games against South American foes. Its first guest appearance in a Copa América, South America’s continental championship, was in 1993 — a year before facing Colombia and Brazil in the first men’s World Cup hosted here.

    Kasey Keller’s 10-save masterclass against Brazil in 1998 still lives in the history books, as does a 1999 upset of an Argentina squad that Pochettino played for. More recently, the U.S. hosted two Copa Américas, in 2016 and last year, and in them faced six of the continent’s 10 teams.

    That Uruguay landed the knockout blow in last year’s group stage makes this meeting even more of a benchmark.

    Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie relished their USMNT homecoming on the Union’s turf

    Among the players who have gotten the message is outside back Alex Freeman, one of the younger members of this group but with a fast-rising profile.

    “I feel like it’s a good test for us,” he said. “I feel like, especially in our home country, we need these tests. We need to show what we’re capable of and what we can do, and I feel like just knowing that we’re able to compete against these teams, it’s just a good step for us, and for the U.S. in general for soccer.

    Long before he was the Union’s sporting director from 2015-18, Earnie Stewart (left) scored a historic goal to help the U.S. men upset Colombia at the 1994 World Cup.

    The USMNT’s pre-World Cup friendly opponents

    Here’s a look at the teams the U.S. has played in friendlies since the start of June, and will play leading up to the World Cup.

    After the World Cup roster is announced in late May or early June, the tournament squad will play two friendlies against teams and in cities that are still to be announced.

    The FIFA rankings below are as of the date of the matchup, or as of this week for games that haven’t happened yet.

    Mauricio Pochettino reflects on the USMNT’s progress during his time as manager
  • Temple preps for No. 24 Tulane, needing one more win to become bowl eligible

    Temple preps for No. 24 Tulane, needing one more win to become bowl eligible

    After two straight losses and a bye week, Temple will try again to win one more game and clinch its first bowl berth since 2019.

    The next opportunity for the Owls to pick up that win comes against No. 24 Tulane (8-2, 5-1 American) on Saturday (3:45 p.m., ESPNU) at Lincoln Financial Field. The Green Wave have been a part of the last three American Conference championship games, winning in 2022.

    “We’re two one-point games away from being tied for first in this league,” Temple coach K.C. Keeler said at his Monday news conference.

    The last loss was a gut-wrenching 14-13 defeat to Army on Nov. 8. The Black Knights held the ball for the last nine minutes of the game, spoiling a chance for the Owls’ sixth win.

    “One of those games where it was a death by a thousand cuts,” Keeler said. “They had five fourth downs … and a lot of those spots could have gone either way. … So that’s a tough way to lose.”

    The bye week gave Temple (5-5, 3-3) a chance to retool an ailing defense. The Owls missed safety Dontae Pollard against Army as well as defensive tackles Demerick Morris and Sekou Kromah.

    The status of Pollard (knee) is not clear. Morris (leg) was back in uniform at practice. Kromah (shoulder) dressed for practice but did not take part in drills.

    K.C. Keeler has coached Temple to a 5-5 record in his first season.

    “So he’s going to be a kind of a game-time decision,” Keeler said of Kromah. “He’s still battling through some injuries. It’s been disappointing because not having your best defensive lineman against Army because Demerick didn’t play either and that’s not a team you can be shy defensive linemen. You need to be rolling guys in.”

    Linebacker Eric Stuart and safety Avery Powell also returned to practice after being limited by injuries.

    Tulane is still one of the best in the American, but it has been vulnerable at times. The Green Wave have beaten Northwestern and Duke along with two schools that topped Temple, Army and East Carolina.

    However, Tulane lost to Texas-San Antonio on Oct. 30 when the Roadrunners had 391 passing yards in a 48-26 rout. Memphis also nearly pulled out a comeback victory against the Green Wave after falling behind 35-17 at halftime.

    Temple can still make a bowl game, but heading into the bye week it’s about ‘moving forward’

    ”They’re a team that if you get them down, they’re going to fight their way back,” Keeler said of the Green Wave. “They’ve been very inconsistent, and I think that probably frustrates their coaching staff.”

    The Owls offense has the ability to turn the game into a shootout. Tulane is ranked last in the conference in pass defense, giving up 269 yards per game. The Green Wave also allow 412 yards per game, third-worst in the American. The Owls offense has been dormant the last two games, but quarterback Evan Simon is tied for second in the American with 22 passing touchdowns.

    Simon is among 27 players who will be honored Saturday on Senior Day.

    “Thank God we had him during this transition,” Keeler said. “It’s tough when you’re a senior and all of a sudden a new guy comes in … I think we came to respect each other and like each other. They’ve been a really good senior class for me. It’s been rewarding having them go through this journey with me.”

  • Rick Tocchet is using this week’s extra practice time to attack some worrying trends with his Flyers

    Rick Tocchet is using this week’s extra practice time to attack some worrying trends with his Flyers

    Standing in the hallway outside the visitors’ locker room at American Airlines Center after his team got trounced by the Dallas Stars on Saturday night, Flyers coach Rick Tocchet offered some insight about the coming week.

    “We’ve got some practice time here, and we’re going to have to really work on some two-on-two and three-on-three battles I think it’s going to be the majority of the four days,” he stressed with the Flyers’ next game not until Thursday when the St. Louis Blues, who they just beat 6-5 in a shootout on Friday, visit (7 p.m., NBCSP).

    That’s just what the Flyers did on Monday in Voorhees.

    Flyers ship veteran defenseman Dennis Gilbert to the Ottawa Senators in trade

    Behind the scenes, the team watched video,” on how we can be better and kind of just get back to how we were playing at the start of the year, plus improvements,” defenseman Jamie Drysdale said.

    But for many players, like Drysdale, watching on video only takes them so far. They need to put it into action.

    “Get a feel for it,” he said. “It’s all comfort. It’s all feeling, feeling your gaps, feeling the pressure, feeling your reads, things like that. So we got the best of both here, and it was a good day.”

    On the ice, after splitting into two groups to focus on rush coverages, the Flyers converged onto the main sheet for five-on-five, three-on-three, and two-on-two drills.

    It was physical, with Matvei Michkov getting into it with Adam Ginning and then taking a few cross-checks from Noah Juulsen as he went to the net. Captain Sean Couturier described it as “grinding” practice with a focus on winning battles.

    And it was competitive, as noted by Tyson Foerster’s reaction after scoring during a two-on-two small-area game. After colliding with his partner Travis Sanheim — they were both OK — the winger stuck with it and scored on a wraparound between the left post and the skate of goalie Dan Vladař. His teammates in the black jerseys cheered too.

    “I love them,” forward Travis Konecny said about having an intense and spirited practice. “It was getting a little competitive, little chippy. I think we need it. It’s good. I think you get in that competitive mindset … [and] everyone’s bringing the intensity. Guys are leading the right way, competing, doesn’t matter who you are out there, you’re just setting a good example for the next guy, the next rep.”

    The Flyers have started slowly too often this season, trailing in 12 of the 18 games they’ve played, including the last five. That has forced them to chase games pretty quickly. Tocchet said on Monday that he’s “a trend guy” and is focused on stopping a bunch of trends he’s seen from his group.

    “When trends hit, that’s when you’ve got to attack it. So these three days were attacking the trend. Too much containment,” he said of his team playing too passively and not stepping up on the opposition defensively.

    “Not enough support of the puck. And then, backing it at the blue line — it’s not just the defense, it’s a five-man thing — so it’s just been a trend the last three, four games, and we have to stop it.”

    Juulsen thinks these types of practices can help the Flyers get “into the battle right away,” as does working on things through small-area games. USA Hockey is a big proponent of playing small-area games as they increase puck touches, competition, quickness in decision-making, and battles.

    It helps the next generation focus on that while working in small spaces. It helps the older kids, too.

    Grading the Flyers so far: Special teams have soared but offense can’t get off the ground

    “I think the majority of the game is like, won and lost in those little battles,” said Konecny. “There’s the flashy open ice stuff that you get on the highlight reels, but it’s probably the play, two plays before, whatever, that actually allowed that to happen. I mean, a lot of the time, it’s kind of what is the difference for some guys to even make the NHL, is just those little battles and being good with your stick and learn[ing] how to do that stuff.

    “Yeah, it’s difficult. Because that’s why the teams that win the Cup every year, they’re the best at good sticks, details, winning those little battles.”

    Breakaways

    Defenseman Cam York had a maintenance day, with Tocchet adding that “He’s fine to play. … He could have practiced, but I felt two days, try to help him out get over what he’s got. It’s a little minor thing, nothing major.” … Defenseman Oliver Bonk was on the ice for the start of the practice, skating with the orange team on the second sheet of ice. It is the next step for the 20-year-old, who just turned pro and is dealing with an upper-body injury that kept him from participating in both the rookie series against the New York Rangers in early September and training camp.

  • Virginia Tech hires James Franklin as its next football coach

    Virginia Tech hires James Franklin as its next football coach

    Just over five weeks after being dismissed by Penn State, James Franklin has landed his next coaching job.

    Franklin finalized a deal on Monday to become football coach at Virginia Tech, succeeding Brent Pry, who was fired in September. Franklin will become the program’s 36th head coach.

    “Laura and I enthusiastically welcome Coach Franklin and his family to Virginia Tech and Hokie Nation. His experience, passion, and record of success embody our commitment to compete at the highest level,” Virginia Tech president Tim Sands said in a news release. ” … James will provide the leadership and inspiration our student-athletes need, and the performance on the field that our university community, alumni, and fans expect and deserve. I can’t wait to be in Lane Stadium when he leads the team out of the tunnel for the first time, the crowd starts jumping, and we launch this winning journey together.”

    Franklin spent more than 12 seasons with the Nittany Lions, compiling a 104-45 record. He won a Big Ten title in 2016, earned a College Football Playoff berth last year, and had six seasons with 10 or more wins.

    His buyout with the Nittany Lions, once valued at $49 million, reportedly will be reduced to $9 million after negotiations with Penn State.

    Since longtime Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer retired after the 2015 season, the Hokies’ program has struggled to find consistency, with just four winning seasons over the last decade. Justin Fuente followed Beamer, had a strong start with 10 and nine wins in 2016 and 2017, respectively, but mutually agreed to part ways with the school in 2021 after compiling a 43-31 record.

    Pry, the former Penn State defensive coordinator, took over in 2022 but had just one winning season and was fired after a blowout loss to Old Dominion earlier this year.

    Virginia Tech’s football team is 3-7 this season.

    Virginia Tech is 3-7 this season and hasn’t won the ACC since 2010.

    Franklin was an active recruiter in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area while he was at Penn State, and that ability should aid him in Blacksburg, Va. At Penn State, he finished with a top-10 recruiting class twice (2018, 2022).

    Franklin took Penn State the furthest it has been in the College Football Playoff era last season, losing to Notre Dame in the semifinals. With minimal roster turnover, Penn State was ranked No. 2 to start the 2025 season and was expected to be a serious title contender.

    Instead, the Nittany Lions lost to Oregon on Sept. 27 in overtime, then followed it up with losses to UCLA and Northwestern, prompting Franklin’s dismissal on Oct. 12.

    Less than a week after his firing, Franklin appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay and spoke publicly for the first time since he was fired. He said the decision was a “shock” to him but chose to focus on the “unbelievable moments” he had in State College.

    “I had a great run there. Twelve years. Penn State was good to me and my family,” Franklin said. “I’m a players’ coach, so walking away from all those young men in that locker room, the recruits that were committed to us, that’s the challenging part. It’s [about] the people at the end of the day.”

    Now Franklin gets a fresh start with a program desperate to compete again for conference titles and a playoff spot. He’ll be introduced at the university on Wednesday.

    “I’m honored and humbled to join the Hokie family,” Franklin said in a news release. “My vision is simple: to restore unmatched excellence, to build something that lasts, and to serve this university, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our amazing fan base with honor, integrity, and passion. I look forward to getting to work with our players, our staff, and the entire Virginia Tech community.”

  • Flyers acquire defenseman Maxence Guenette in trade with Ottawa Senators

    Flyers acquire defenseman Maxence Guenette in trade with Ottawa Senators

    Trader Danny is at it again.

    On Monday, Flyers general manager Danny Brière pulled off yet another deal, shipping veteran defenseman Dennis Gilbert to Ottawa for defenseman Maxence Guenette. Both players were playing in the American Hockey League.

    The move sees Gilbert, 29, return to Ottawa, where he finished up last season after being dealt by Buffalo at the deadline in the Dylan Cozens-Josh Norris trade. The Flyers signed the rugged blueliner to a one-year, $875,000 contract on July 1 to provide defensive depth, especially given that Rasmus Ristolainen was expected to miss the first few months of the season while recovering from triceps surgery. Gilbert had one assist and six penalty minutes in six games for AHL Lehigh Valley.

    In Guenette, the Flyers are getting back a 24-year-old defenseman with good size (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) and mobility. Ottawa’s 2019 seventh-rounder, who has played eight career NHL games, has spent the majority of the last four seasons playing for the Belleville Senators in the AHL.

    An offensive defenseman, Guenette tallied nine goals and 23 points last season in 58 games. In 236 career AHL games, he has 27 goals and 116 points, twice leading Belleville’s defensemen in scoring, He had a career-high 40 points in 2022-23.

    Guenette, a restricted free agent, has not played yet this season and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Flyers following the completion of the trade. PuckPedia says that the contract is worth $775,000.

    Monday’s trade is the fifth deal — most of them minor league transactions — executed by Brière since September. Last month, the Flyers traded Samu Tuomaala for Christian Kyrou. Kyrou has brought instant offense to the Phantoms’ blue line with a goal and nine points in seven games. Carl Grundström and Tucker Robertson, two other players acquired in recent deals, are also contributing regularly with the Phantoms.

    Brière also has pulled off bigger deals in his two-plus years as Flyers general manager, including a shrewd move for Trevor Zegras in June and previous subtractions and future-centric moves involving Ivan Provorov, Scott Laughton, Cutter Gauthier, Jamie Drysdale, Sean Walker, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and Kevin Hayes.

    Don’t be surprised if Brière has a few more trades up his sleeve ahead of next offseason, as a once-promising free-agent class has all but evaporated and made a trade the most likely route if the Flyers are ready to try and acquire a star or bolster their options down the middle or on the blue line.

    For Trevor Zegras, the trade to the Flyers is not just a refresh, it is also a homecoming of sorts