Indian Creek grad to be Husker GM

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Pat Stewart, the New England Patriots’ director of pro personnel the past two seasons, will join Nebraska coach Matt Rhule’s staff as general manager, the school announced Tuesday.

Stewart, who was player personnel director for the Carolina Panthers when Rhule coached them from 2020-22, will oversee the Cornhuskers’ roster management and player acquisition, including high school and transfer portal recruiting, evaluation and retention.

“We are moving into an era in college football where roster management and retention more closely resembles the National Football League model,” Rhule said. “Pat Stewart will help us manage our roster and operate in a way that will help give Nebraska the opportunity to compete as one of the elite programs in the country. Pat and I have experience working together in the past, and I look forward to him joining our Nebraska Football family.”

Stewart, a 2000 Indian Creek High School grad, first worked in the NFL for the Patriots from 2007-17 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018-19 before he joined the Panthers. He returned to the Patriots in 2023.

Notre Dame tames Pitt

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Nikita Konstantynovskyi scored with a tip-in in the final minute and Tae Davis hit 1 of 2 free throws with 0.5 seconds left after a controversial foul to help Notre Dame rally for a 55-54 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

Tied at 54-all, Notre Dame inbounded with 19.2 seconds left. Markus Burton dribbled down the clock until about five seconds were left and drove to his right for a contested shot that came up short. Davis grabbed the offensive rebound, but his shot rolled off the rim as time expired. A foul was called on Zack Austin trying to prevent the putback and, after a review to see if the buzzer had sounded, Davis made the first of two free throws. He missed the second and Jaland Lowe’s three-quarter-court heave came up short.

The 12th-seeded Fighting Irish (15-17) will play No. 5 seed North Carolina in the second round on Wednesday. The Tar Heels beat the Fighting Irish 74-73 on the road in the only matchup during the regular season.

Davis had 11 points to lead Notre Dame. Konstantynovskyi totaled 10 points and nine rebounds. Burton had 10 points, four steals and six of the Irish’s 17 turnovers.

Lowe scored 17 on 6-for-18 shooting to lead the 13th-seeded Panthers (17-15). Cameron Corhen scored 10.

Konstantynovskyi had six points and five rebounds in the first half to help Notre Dame take a 25-22 lead at the break. Lowe had nine points for Pitt. The Fighting Irish shot 37% from the floor and missed 13 of 16 from 3-point range. The Panthers shot 28.6% and missed 10 of 12 from beyond the arc.

Bills sign Joey Bosa

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills turned to Joey Bosa to fill their pass-rush needs, agreeing to a one-year, $12.6 million contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the agreement won’t be official until the NFL’s new business year begins on Wednesday. ESPN.com first reported the deal.

Bosa joins the Bills after the team cut Von Miller on Sunday to free up salary-cap space.

Bosa was the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year after being selected by the Chargers with the No. 3 pick in the 2016 draft out of Ohio State. He played nine seasons with the franchise before being cut last week, also for salary-cap reasons.

At 29, Bosa is six years younger than Miller, though his production has dwindled because of injuries. Bosa’s 72 sacks are tied for 10th most since 2016, but he’s combined for only 14 over the past three seasons.

He played in 14 games with nine starts last season after agreeing to restructure his contract. But Bosa battled hip and back injuries, and his five sacks were his fewest in the six seasons during which he has played at least 12 games.

Bosa played 14 games total in 2022 and ’23 due to groin and foot injuries.

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