First Call: Steelers legend's career-ending realization; Penguins rival repositioned in Metro; unreal college baseball finish

Tuesday’s “First Call” features a self-reflexive Pittsburgh Steelers legend. A well-traveled hockey coach is looking to become a Penguins’ divisional rival once more. The Brewers are gearing up for an interleague series before the Pirates come calling.

And you’ll see a highlight of one of the most painful NCAA baseball losses of all time.

Polamalu tells all

Steelers Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu always had a gift for understanding the nuance of football. That isn’t lost on him when reflecting back on his career.

While making an appearance on the “All Things Covered” podcast with new Steeler Patrick Peterson and former Steelers teammate Bryant McFadden, Polamalu told the audience about a moment in time when he realized his career was coming to a close. The game came against the Indianapolis Colts during a victory in 2014 — Polamalu’s last year in the NFL.

“When I realized I was done was in the middle of a game,” Polamalu said. “I loved running around, switching up positions, playing Cover 2 from linebacker depth, and blitzing from safety depth — pushing the envelope on how the safety position was played. In (the Colts’ game), I get an assignment where I really had a lot of freedom in what I wanted to do. In my mind, I was, like, ‘do this,’ but I had already done that. Then ‘do this,’ but I had already done that. Then I just played my position. That was the moment I realized, man, I had exhausted the creativity in myself. That was the first sign of me being done.”

The Steelers won that game 51-34, but it didn’t make the All-Pro safety feel any better about the result. The team went on to lose in the first round of the playoffs at home against the Baltimore Ravens.

After the season, the franchise told Polamalu if he didn’t retire, he’d be released. Polamalu had other options, such as with the Tennessee Titans, but he decided that retirement was the best course of action. He ended 2014 with 61 tackles (five for loss), no sacks, no interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

Familiar face

Barring a late change in direction, Peter Laviolette is coming back to the Metropolitan Division.

After coaching the Capital, Islanders, Hurricanes and Flyers, Laviolette is now likely to be named head coach of the New York Rangers. That’s according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

There is word this afternoon the NYR and Peter Laviolette are gaining momentum. Nothing is done until it’s done, but, barring a swerve, looking like Laviolette as next Rangers head coach.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 12, 2023

Laviolette left the Capitals organization April 14 after missing the playoffs during the last year of his contract. He has 752 career victories, the eight most in NHL history and the most wins of any American coach.

He also led the Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017 before losing to the Penguins. Laviolette is the fourth coach in NHL history to lead three teams to the Stanley Cup Final.

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Oh, no!

You have to feel bad for the University of Texas baseball team. Their season ended in a 7-6 loss to Stanford during the NCAA Super Regional when, apparently, at least two different outfielders lost a routine flyout above the lights.

After opening the ninth inning with two straight outs, Texas pitcher Lucas Gordon yielded a double to Stanford’s Alberto Rios and walked Malcolm Moore.

Gordon then induced an easy fly ball from Cardinal hitter Drew Bowser. However, Texas’ outfield couldn’t locate the ball in the lights.

Longhorns right fielder Dylan Campbell failed to find the very catchable ball as it landed a few feet away from him, giving Stanford the 7-6 walk-off win.

WALK-OFF
WALK-OFF
WALK-OFF
WALK-OFF#MCWS x ESPN / @StanfordBSB pic.twitter.com/jiG32MVeBT

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 13, 2023

Stanford will advance to face No. 1 ranked Wake Forest in Omaha, with games scheduled to begin on Friday.

Battlin’ Brewers

As the National League Central-leading Pirates head to Chicago to play the Cubs for three games, the second-place Brewers are going to Minnesota to play the Twins twice.

As of Tuesday morning, the Pirates (34-30) have a one-game lead on the Brewers (34-32) for first place. As for the Cubs, they are struggling at 28-37.

Meanwhile, the Brewers’ next opponent is in first place. The Twins lead the American League Central. But much like the NL Central, that’s not saying a lot. The Twins are just 33-33. Plus, Minnesota has lost six of eight.