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Stephen Thompson

@stephenthompson.bsky.social

840 followers 360 following 4.1K posts

I write about Pitt athletics for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Boston Celtics fan | he/him | be where your feet are

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · Mar 19

Re-sharing this here because:

a) I want to pin it to my profile again
b) it's my favorite piece of original published writing and
c) it's 70° and I'm playing pickup later.

“Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School.” — Robert Fulghum

Column | All I need to know, I learned at Trees - The Pitt News

Outgoing sports editor Stephen Thompson has spent four years playing on and learning from Pittsburgh’s pick-up basketball courts. This is what they taught him and why he’s sad to leave them behind aft...

pittnews.com

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 32m

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In his return to the field, Desmond Reid was every bit the thrilling playmaker he was a year ago. He silenced the war chants of a home-state school that had overlooked him with 200 yards, 2 touchdowns and one massive win for Pitt.
www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/...

Instant analysis: Desmond Reid's return powers Pitt to upset victory at No. 25 Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The biggest win of the day for Pitt, which hit the road for the first time in ACC play, was when Desmond Reid walked out...

www.post-gazette.com

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 48m

Mason Heintschel: "I like to put a lot on my shoulders and I was frustrated after those two interceptions. But I knew we were still there and I knew the guys had my back and they all told me that as well. I made sure that they knew I wasn’t going to let that phase me."

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 56m

Pat Narduzzi: "It’s hard to win on the road. Our kids deserve it. They’ve fought all year. We’ve been in some games. We had a couple tough ones. We’re this far from being an undefeated football team right now. I think we’ve got one heck of a football team.”

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 1h

Des Reid, after hanging 200 yards and 2 TDs on FSU, said he had this game circled since they didn't recruit by him. He attended camps, but they had no interest.

"I showed my face on their campus and they didn’t recruit me. I don’t hate them, but I took this game very personal."

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 1h

Des Reid laughed a bit when I asked him about this.

“O-line did their thing ... The big talk about Florida State was their defensive line and our o-line did their thing. I’m super proud of them boys. I can’t even say too much about it, but I’m just so happy for them.”

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Pat Narduzzi said there was some trash talk on the field pregame, allegedly some FSU players telling Pitt's o-line that it "wasn't any good."

"I guess they're pretty damn good. ... I'll take them any day. I'll take them over that o-line for sure."

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 1h

Des Reid confirms he was throwing up on the sidelines during the game today, but feels good now.

“First game back, I had been out for three weeks now. It was tough out there. Threw up a couple times but I tried to find a way just to be there for the team.”

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Pat Narduzzi said he thinks Desmond Reid was not just healthy today, but came out of the game healthy too. So I wouldn't expect him to carry an injury designation into next week.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Pitt players were singing the warchant and doing the tomahawk chop in the locker room after taking down the Seminoles. It’s loud down here underneath the seats and by Pitt’s locker room.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Final: Pitt 34, No. 25 Florida State 31

They had blarred it all week at practice, to the annoyance of their neighbors in Pittsburgh, but Panthers silence the warchants in Tallahassee.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Not quite over yet, FSU strikes for a long touchdown through the air. It's being reviewed but will stand. 34-31 with 1:45 left to play.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Ja'Kyrian Turner slips in for his second touchdown of the day. Pitt, 10.5 point underdogs coming into today, have a 10-point lead over No. 25 Florida State with 2:28 to play.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

The collective gasp in the press box during that play was pretty funny.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Reid back on the field for Pitt to start this drive.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2h

Florida State was going to run a fake punt, but couldn't get the snap off in time. Probably can't try it again on 4th and 13.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

Kenny Johnson's first reception of the day went for 42 yards and set up Butkowski for a 39-yard field goal that gives Pitt it's first lead since the 14:21 mark of the second quarter.

27-24, Pitt. 7:16 to play.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

Turner on the field at tailback for Pitt after the defense forces a stop.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

Trey Butkowski ties the game at 24 with a 28-yard field goal. 11:38 to go.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

Both of Pitt's 0's - Des Reid and Braylan Lovelace - got hurt on consecutive plays. Reid went down at the end of a big catch and run to set Pitt up inside the 15.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

Definitely was punched out but seemed like a FSU player had it for a moment. Or at least the FSU guys up here thought so.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

For the moment, it seems like Pitt has recovered a fumble. Not sure if they'll review it. But Harrison had the punch, Whittington the recovery.

Panther ball at the +49. 13:25 to play.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

At the end of the 3rd quarter, Pitt trails No. 25 Florida State 24-21.

Seminoles have the ball at the 39 yard line. 1st and 10 when we come back.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

I'll be honest, I didn't know you could stop play to review a play for intentional grounding.

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Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 3h

Florida State drove 55 yards in 9 plays, but gets just 3 points out of the possession. FSU run game was leaning on Pitt a little but the defense bows up inside the 30 yard line.

Noles back in front 24-21.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4h

That was unreal. Mason Heintschel hits a step back to avoid the rush, then finds Des Reid in the back of the endzone running wide open. A spectacular play from the freshman knots it back up at 21. 10:15 mark of the third quarter.

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