Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stephen Thompson

@stephenthompson.bsky.social

840 followers 360 following 4K posts

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

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

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

3 5 18

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 7h

I hate a “$1 off drafts” ass happy hour.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 1d

How come all the football players at ACC media days wear suits but when the basketball players do it, they're in their uniforms? Either let the hoopers wear suits or put the football guys in pads.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 1d

- ACC opener @ Miami on 12/30 at 7p, ACCN
- 1/3 @ Clemson, noon, The CW
- 1/10 vs Cuse, noon, ESPN2/U
- 1/14 @ GT, 7 pm, ACCN
- 1/17 vs Louisville, 8p, ESPN/2/U

2/2

2 2

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 1d

Some updated start times/TV designations for early Pitt men's basketball games:

- 11/20 vs UCF (Daytona Beach), 7p, ESPN2
- Black Friday vs Ohio St, 7p, ESPN/2
- 12/2 vs TAMU at 7p, ESPN U
- 12/13 @ Nova at 4:30p, TNT/TruTV
- Tip times, TV designation for WVU, PSU games TBA

1/2

1 2 2

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 1d

Another Pitt football live chat coming up at 1 pm today. You've got questions, I've got answers.
www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/...

Stephen Thompson's Pitt football chat: 10.07.25

www.post-gazette.com

1 2

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Fun Mason Heintschel fact I learned while doing research this afternoon: growing up, Mason played pee wee football with Tre Poteat, currently a freshman cornerback at Tennessee and the son of former Pitt All-American Hank Poteat.

The Heintschel-Pitt connections go way back.

2 10

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Not a huge surprise, but Mason Heintschel is the ACC Rookie of the Week after his stellar starting debut against Boston College.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Pitt currently leads the FBS in yards allowed per rush at 1.72. That's 0.57 yards better than the FBS runner up in that category, Texas Tech at 2.29.

For context, Texas Tech is 0.58 YPR better than 19th-place Ohio State, who's at 2.87.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Here's who is on the call for a national TV broadcast of Pitt-Florida State on Saturday.

1 2 3

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Pat Narduzzi on getting freshman Mason Heintschel ready for an intimidating atmosphere in Tallahassee next weekend: "It's not going to be how he handles it, it's how we handle it."

2 1

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Here's Pitt's latest depth chart. Mason Heintschel is officially QB1.

1 5

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Pitt's Week 8 contest at Syracuse on Oct. 18 will be a 7:30 pm kickoff broadcast on the ACC Network. First night game of the season for the Panthers and just their second non-noon start.

1 5

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Wanted to double check, but yes, that one on the run to Kenny Johnson in the endzone would have been 20+. I was thinking of the TD to Hicks that got called back because of a hold/excessive celebration.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Wait actually I'm thinking of the wrong play. One moment.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Yeah that play started on the +37.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

An interesting thing about Mason Heintschel's outing vs BC was that he only completed 1 pass of 20+ yards through the air all day, but still threw for 323 yards because he was efficient every where else. Big difference from the feast or famine offense Pitt had been operating.

2 1 4

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 2d

Mason Heintschel was good on Saturday, damn near flawless, and it's encouraging to see what Pitt can be when the offense is clicking.

But don't anoint him yet. Bigger, better foes are on deck, so he'll have to keep proving himself over and over again.
www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/...

Analysis: Pitt gets momentary relief from Mason Heintschel, but now the hard work begins

The worst-kept secret in Pittsburgh football this week was the impending starting debut of true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel. Pitt entered the...

www.post-gazette.com

1 2 1

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

Matt Hawley would have gotten you a nice shot of it if that happened today, which would have made for a cool side by side.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

Honestly, good for UVA. That's a fun team.

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

Pat Narduzzi: "Last time we went with a starting freshman quarterback was ... where we beat No. 2 Miami, and it was Kenny Pickett. We think [Mason]'s got that kind of ability. Again, one game doesn't define you. He's got a lot of work to do. We've got a big game this week against Florida State."

2 5 22

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

Pat Narduzzi on the play of his defense, but really a heightened level of execution overall from Pitt too, this afternoon:

“I didn't make a tackle, didn't get an interception. I didn't block anybody or catch or throw the ball. But our players make plays. We focused all week, talked about pounding the rock and just continue to pound it, and it's going to eventually break. Our kids got the message and, again, I'm just proud of our kids. Lessons from the last couple weeks paid off today.”

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

Pat Narduzzi: “I told you guys in late August and so forth that we've got confidence in all three of our quarterbacks. Got great confidence in Eli. Love him to death. He's like a son, like they all are. Again, I've got confidence in Cole as well.”

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

When did Jimmy Scott first realize Mason Heinstchel could really play?

"Probably as soon as he got here. ... Just the stuff he was doing, for a freshman, it isn't normal."

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

"We're high level, Sunday linebackers." -- Kyle Louis on him and Rasheem Biles

Stephen Thompson @stephenthompson.bsky.social · 4d

Boston College entered today averaging north of 300 passing yards per game. Pat Narduzzi said he'd be "fired up" if they held the Eagles under 250 yards this afternoon.

After 60 minutes, BC had gained 189 yards through the air.

1 5