MERCER COUNTY AREA —
FORMER LAKEVIEW standout Cory King was in the news recently and in an age when almost all news is bad news, King’s foray into the news is quite positive.
For him, that is.
University of Pittsburgh offensive linemen have been coming up gimpy left and right and has led new coach Paul Chryst to shuffle his o-line to put experienced bodies in starting positions.
King, a redshirt junior, is one of those experienced bodies.
Instead of competing with sixth year senior Chris Jacobson for a starting spot at right guard, the Panther coaching staff have moved King to left tackle.
“Every day I’ve been focusing on something to improve on,” King said on the official Panther football website. “This is a big opportunity for me and I’m going to do everything that I can to maximize it. When I first got here I played tackle, but the left side is a bit harder to play. It’s transitioning pretty well and I’m picking some stuff up. I just have to keep focusing on getting better.”
The former Sailor, though, is battling through an adjustment period at tackle, especially considering he has spent most of his college days at guard.
“There is a lot more responsibility (protecting) the blind side of the quarterback,” King told the Tribune-Review reporter Jerry DiPaola. “I think the pressure is really going to help me.”
Jacobson, for one, has faith in King, who started five games at guard in 2011.
“Cory is a guy who works hard, and I believe in Cory,” Jacobson told DiPaola.
With the offensive line being virtually rebuilt this year – only center Ryan Turley back in the same spot this fall – there’s a lot of pressure on the offensive line to get to work and gel quickly.
“There are a lot of young kids right now who are running second team who need to step up; they need to hit the film room,” Jacobson told DiPaola.
King credited uber strict offensive line coach Jim Hueber for helping the Panther linemen come together.
Hueber, Chryst and Co. kind of had an idea they would need King to change positions this fall.
“We had an idea that something could happen with Cory (moving positions),” said Hueber, who formerly coached the offensive line for the Minnesota Vikings. “We kept talking to him about it over the summer. We had a plan. We told him to keep thinking about the guy next to you. Keep thinking about that position and watch what he does.”
Sports
COLLEGIATE NOTEBOOK: Former Lakeview star Cory King doing well at Pitt
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STAIRWAY TO SEVEN: Mike Adams is an example about making good decisions
ANOTHER OFFSEASON AND another Pittsburgh Steeler in the news for all the wrong reasons.
This time, it was second-year offensive tackle Mike Adams, who was stabbed in the stomach and forearm last weekend during a reported carjacking.
According to police reports, a witness flagged down police around 3 a.m. near Carson Street in Pittsburgh and Adams was found bleeding in a nearby restaurant. -
EXTRA INNINGS: Nobody hit home runs like Willie Stargell
THE MOST IMPORTANT fact about Garrett Jones’ monster two-run home run Sunday is that it tied the Reds-Pirates game at 4 in the eighth inning. But the most historic fact about the achievement is that the shot made him the first Pirate in the 13-year history of PNC Park to hit a ball on the fly into the Allegheny River.
Before Sunday, the only other player to reach the water on the fly was Houston’s Darryl Ward, when he connected off Kip Wells in July 2002. -
THE CHECKERED FLAG: Holtgraver doubles up at Mercer
LAST FRIDAY I planned on taking in the World of Outlaw Sprint Car show at Attica (OH) Raceway Park, but Mother Nature had other ideas washing out the event for the second straight year. Storms were all throughout the Buckeye State that washed out just about every venue including the first ever Patriot 360 Sprint Car event at Raceway 7.
The weather though was clear at Lernerville Speedway and I finally made my first visit of the season to the Sarver oval. -
NCAA Football: Rock 6-1 after 17-3 win over Cal U
Slippery Rock University rode a length-of-the-field scoring drive by its offense and a goal-line stand by its No. 1-ranked defense late in the first half of action Saturday to a 17-3 win over 14th-ranked visiting California (Pa.).
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NFL: Steelers top Jags as Mendenhall makes return
Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to say the Pittsburgh Steelers are back. Not after watching his team sleepwalk through the second half against Jacksonville on Sunday.
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IndyCar Racing: Crash takes Wheldon’s life
Every race car driver heads onto the track understanding this race could be the last and hoping it won’t be. On Sunday, IndyCar drivers got a harsh reminder when the worst happened to one of their own.
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NHL: Sabres beat Penguins 3-2
The Buffalo Sabres have had trouble with the Pittsburgh Penguins whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin play or not.
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NHL Quick glance: Montreal at Pittsburgh
A breakdown of the National Hockey League game Thursday night between the Pittsburgh Penguins and visiting Montreal Canadiens.
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High School Highlights: Oct. 19, 2011
A look at the last few days in local high school fall sports action.
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Leading Off: Oct. 19, 2011
News and notes from the local, regional and national sports scene.
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