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Stephen Thompson's Pitt sports chat: 12.09.25
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Stephen Thompson
1:00
Good afternoon, everyone. Glad to be back for another Pitt sports chat. I only get an hour with these a week so no sense in wasting time. Let's dive right in.
Gary
1:00
Hey Stephan enjoy your Pitt football coverage.you do outstanding job. Question I have why didn’t the pinstripes bowl pick Pitt to play penn st . It was a no brainer, it would definitely sold out. It is great rivalry, they definitely dropped the ball.Thank you Stephan
Fort Mac
1:00
What actually went down with the Pinstripe Bowl.  Did the bowl pick Clemson over Pitt?  I think just about everyone would have been excited to see a Pitt-Penn State game.
Stephen Thompson
1:04
Gary and Fort Mac have essentially the same question so I'll take them together. The story about Penn State boxing Pitt out of the Pinstripe Bowl is little more than a rumor from what I have seen and it's not one that I would expect ever gets confirmed even if it is true.

The reality is Clemson was one of the more popular options available to ACC-affiliated bowls this year. It's a rare instance when the Tigers are not in the College Football Playoff picture or headed to a New Year's Six bowl, so everyone was eager to get a big brand into their game. It's not quite the conspiracy it might have seemed on Sunday.

I would have been interested in a one-game revival of the series, but Yankee Stadium has an open air press box, so I won't complain about bowl officials sparing my fingers from frostbite.
Retire21
1:05
Do you think the ADs on the bowl committee sent a little message to ND about their Indy status?
Stephen Thompson
1:10
I hesitate to dive into playoff discourse, Retire21, because there are plenty of valid arguments among bubble teams. But I don't see this as having anything to do with Notre Dame's status as an independent. In fact, beginning next year, the playoff format will show deference to the Irish despite their independence.

What this year came down to was clearly how few marquee wins Notre Dame owned. I wouldn't say either of its victories over USC or Pitt stacked up with Miami's win over Notre Dame or Alabama's win over Georgia.

The Irish have every right to feel like they deserved a spot in the field, but someone deserving is always omitted from the field. There have been few seasons without a crowded bubble. And to me, this isn't even close to the worst injustice the committee has leveled against a deserving team during the CFP's history.
Leemarvinwannab
1:11
Why is JC still the coach? Is it bc the last AD went crazy with contracts? Narlosie's contract as well.
Stephen Thompson
1:14
Capel's buyout certainly does play a part in why he's been retained despite making only one NCAA Tournament appearance in eight seasons. But I believe how he recruited high schools this past cycle (the Panthers have a top-10 class signed and set to arrive next summer) and the addition of a general manager are notable too. It reflects a financial commitment from the athletic department to help upgrade the talent for what could be a make or break season in 2026-27. But I'm less confident Allen Greene is willing to be patient and wait another year after those losses to Quinnipiac and Hofstra.
SVPanther
1:17
What’s with the Pittsburgh media reluctance to ask, Heintschel, his agent or Narduzzi if he’s signed his contract to play st Pitt next season? Seems just a Pittsburgh (Yinzer?) thing unique to Pittsburgh media vs other places whio are all over the query for who’s signed/not signed.  Sheesh.
Stephen Thompson
1:23
I understand everyone is extremely eager to know whether or not Mason Heintschel will play at Pitt next season, and both he and Narduzzi have been asked about it during the regular season. But decisions to transfer or return are something players typically announce on their own schedule, same as they do as a recruit coming out of high school.

For what it's worth Narduzzi said Sunday that Heintschel will play in the bowl game. Anyone intending to transfer, especially a quarterback who could command a lucrative market like Heintschel, would be best served to start that process as soon as possible.

I'd also have a little more faith in the Panthers' ability to retain star players. Ask yourself this: who did Pitt lose from last year's team that you miss dearly now?
Roger
1:23
What are some tips you'd give to getting going in sports media? I'm a college student who wants to write for a living. I've written some for my school's athletic dept. Appreciate your coverage ST 🫡
Stephen Thompson
1:25
I appreciate the question, Rodger and wish you good luck. The best advice I can give you is to read and listen more than you write and speak. And if you want to write about sports, show up as often as possible to press conferences, practices and games. Get there early, observe, talk to people -- that's how you grow a network. Sounds like you're off to a good start.
JuniataKid
1:25
Looking at the Pitt hoops roster, I still think they have some good pieces and will begin to gel into a decent team this year. Am I nuts?
Stephen Thompson
1:30
I wouldn't call you nuts, JuniataKid. I like the freshman Omari Witherspoon, a tough defender who can make difficult shots. Roman Siulepa seems to get better every day. Nojus Indrusaitis could become a more consistent shooting threat if he's able to play off the ball. Papa Kante even has immense potential in my opinion but they need hm healthy. There's certainly some talent there and who knows? Maybe even Dishon Jackson can get a medical redshirt year and take another run at things next year.

But at the same time, Pitt's biggest contributors -- Damarco Minor, Barry Dunning Jr. and Cameron Corhen -- are players who I expect to be out of eligibility after this season. From where we stand now, it looks like Pitt is going to have to make some magic in the transfer portal or lean on its freshman class to be successful in 2026-27, assuming everything stays in place.
Wheresthebeef
1:30
What bowl game did Pitt deserve?  Many think the one they got was disrespectful.  But is it because Clemson, for example, just has a better reputation based on past seasons?
WaltHarrisInstituteForElegantSpeech
1:32
What an absolute disaster for Pitt football and men's hoops this past weekend.  Can you discuss the impact and/or influence that a school's Athletic Department has with regards to Bowl Game destinations?  Or is that all hashed out by the Conference and you get what you get?  Since joining the ACC, Pitt's been to Detroit three times, El Paso twice, and now Annapolis twice.  The one "destination" game, Pitt earned their way there on their own.  Seems to me that year after year the ACC basically tells Pitt to kick rocks.
Stephen Thompson
1:34
Coming into Sunday, Pitt had a chance to land anywhere from the Military to the Holiday Bowl. It was a wide range of options complicated by Notre Dame's decision to decline a bowl invitation and Duke reaching eight wins with an ACC championship game victory.

Pitt didn't get the best option from that range of outcomes, but when you're an 8-4 football team without an especially large fanbase or famous brand, you can sometimes draw the short straw. If the ACC has it out for Pitt, I don't think their bowl assignments are a reflection of it.
Wheresthebeef
1:34
Why do so many people think that a Pitt- Penn State matchup is a great idea for a bowl?  Does anybody not an alum outside of PA care?  Outside of Allegheny County?  The TV ratings and area broadcast would surely be limited.  Best attendance ever at the Pinstripe was PSU versus Boston College.  It will be interesting to see if Clemson fans travel.
Stephen Thompson
1:37
I think you are underestimating how compelling people find the Pitt-Penn State rivalry outside of the Keystone State, Wheresthebeef. Penn State's brand and fanbase is big and Pitt's, while smaller, is within driving distance. That's extremely compelling for a game eager to sell as many tickets as possible. Plus, pitting two natural, in-state rival against one another in the postseason gives stakes to an otherwise inconsequential bowl game. That helps you standout during a crowded bowl schedule.
Bruce
1:38
Good afternoon Stephen. I was a little disappointed with our bowl pick, but all things being equal it's not a bad place to land. Annapolis is a really cool town and East Carolina is an interesting opponent. If we can pick up that  ninth win nobody will care where we played
Stephen Thompson
1:41
Your last point resonates with me quite a bit, Bruce. Nine wins, a feat achieved by Pitt only five times this century, is nothing to scoff at. And East Carolina is a more quality opponent than most are giving them credit for. It's logically inconsistent to say the bowl games are meaningless while also complaining about where you were invited.
Wheresthebeef
1:41
Given how Pitt gets treated as an ACC member, isn’t it time to join the Big 10.  Could they get in?  The men’s basketball team wouldn’t suffer.
Stephen Thompson
1:43
The Big Ten has shown no signs it is interested in expanding further after adding the former Pac-12 schools. Pitt has some of what the conference might look for in a potential addition -- namely a robust research arm, strong academics and convenient geography. But Pitt certainly can't afford to move, even with an invitation, before the ACC's grant of rights agreement has expired.
Mr Ed
1:45
Pitt BB could turn in a 10-21 season. Quite the quandary for powers that be. On one hand, seems like easy decision to part ways with Capel. Then again, I wouldn’t be opposed to giving him another year due to freshman class and this GM supposed to be really adept at transfer portal. If a season like that comes to pass, what do you think they will do?
Stephen Thompson
1:48
I would say it comes down to the eye test. How did the team play? Did any young bright spots emerge? And of them who can come back the following year? But if the Panthers fall into a 10-21 rut like Mr Ed says, that in all likelihood means few players showed something promising down the stretch of the season. At that point, it would be hard for me to imagine three freshman will meaningfully change their fortunes the following season.
John Capel
1:48
It's blatantly clear that Capel can attract talent but can't coach. Why hasn't Pitt forced him to hire an assistant that can run something more complex than an AAU circuit offense?
Stephen Thompson
1:51
To your second point, John I am surprised there haven't been any major assistant coaching changes during these past eight years. I can't say there's one staff member I believe should be fired over another, but staff changes are one way to try and create different results. Football is different, but Pat Narduzzi completely turned over his offensive staff following the 2023 season and it's been, on the whole, effective.
JKfromVA
1:51
Has any reporter asked Matt Campbell, the new PSU coach, if he's interested in renewing the Pitt Penn State game?
Stephen Thompson
1:52
This hasn't happened to my knowledge. Honestly, the Penn State beat should have some more pressing issues to address with him like who will be on the coaching staff and roster for next season.
Rob
1:52
Does the Matt Sieg situation concern you at all about Pitt's ability to recruit anyone prominent locally?
Stephen Thompson
1:55
It's not something I believe Pitt fans should be concerned about. Local recruiting is cool when it works out but you want good players, not the local ones. They got some good players in this latest recruiting class, including four-star Peters Township defensive end Reston Lehman. But plenty of Panthers stars have come from outside Western Pennsylvania too.
JKfromVA
1:55
Is Pitt going to replace Wisconsin with a different opponent in next year's schedule? I was hoping Penn State would.be opened to it but they have a game with National power Temple.
Stephen Thompson
1:56
My expectation is that the 2026 Wisconsin game is replaced with an FCS opponent while UCF remains on the schedule ahead of a new, nine-game ACC slate.
1:59
That's all I've got for today's live chat. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing Pitt basketball revive another interstate series with Villanova on Saturday and visiting Annapolis after Christmas. See you there, hopefully.
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