Stephen Thompson
@stephenthompson.bsky.social
I write about Pitt athletics for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Boston Celtics fan | he/him | be where your feet are
Pinned
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
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
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
To expound on this -- of those 6 drives that started at the Notre Dame 40 or better, 4 ended in points for the Irish. Those remaining two drives, which Notre Dame didn't score on at all, started in Pitt territory.
Notre Dame had starting field position at its own 40 yard line or better on 6 of 11 drives today.
November 15, 2025 at 10:16 PM
To expound on this -- of those 6 drives that started at the Notre Dame 40 or better, 4 ended in points for the Irish. Those remaining two drives, which Notre Dame didn't score on at all, started in Pitt territory.
Notre Dame was the more penalized team today -- 8 penalties for 81 yards vs. 5 for 41 yards against Pitt.
But take that with the scoring (-22) and yardage differential (-168) and it only illustrates how much better, top to bottom, the Irish are as a team.
But take that with the scoring (-22) and yardage differential (-168) and it only illustrates how much better, top to bottom, the Irish are as a team.
November 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Notre Dame was the more penalized team today -- 8 penalties for 81 yards vs. 5 for 41 yards against Pitt.
But take that with the scoring (-22) and yardage differential (-168) and it only illustrates how much better, top to bottom, the Irish are as a team.
But take that with the scoring (-22) and yardage differential (-168) and it only illustrates how much better, top to bottom, the Irish are as a team.
Notre Dame had starting field position at its own 40 yard line or better on 6 of 11 drives today.
November 15, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Notre Dame had starting field position at its own 40 yard line or better on 6 of 11 drives today.
No. 22 Pitt 15, No. 9 Notre Dame 37 -- Final
Pitt falls to 7-3, 5-1 ACC. Fans created an electric atmosphere on the North Shore today but it died quickly as their team failed to meet the moment.
A visit to Georgia Tech is on deck for the Panthers.
Pitt falls to 7-3, 5-1 ACC. Fans created an electric atmosphere on the North Shore today but it died quickly as their team failed to meet the moment.
A visit to Georgia Tech is on deck for the Panthers.
November 15, 2025 at 8:37 PM
No. 22 Pitt 15, No. 9 Notre Dame 37 -- Final
Pitt falls to 7-3, 5-1 ACC. Fans created an electric atmosphere on the North Shore today but it died quickly as their team failed to meet the moment.
A visit to Georgia Tech is on deck for the Panthers.
Pitt falls to 7-3, 5-1 ACC. Fans created an electric atmosphere on the North Shore today but it died quickly as their team failed to meet the moment.
A visit to Georgia Tech is on deck for the Panthers.
And now Ryan Caretta is down on the field with an injury.
November 15, 2025 at 8:22 PM
And now Ryan Caretta is down on the field with an injury.
Eli Holstein is in at quarterback after a 4th down stop from the defense. 2:49 to play.
November 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Eli Holstein is in at quarterback after a 4th down stop from the defense. 2:49 to play.
CJ Carr rushes 5 yards for a touchdown to effectively put this one away. Notre Dame leads 37-9 and what Pitt fans had stuck around are heading for the exits with 9:55 left in the game.
November 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
CJ Carr rushes 5 yards for a touchdown to effectively put this one away. Notre Dame leads 37-9 and what Pitt fans had stuck around are heading for the exits with 9:55 left in the game.
At the end of 3 quarters, No. 22 Pitt trails No. 9 Notre Dame 30-9.
November 15, 2025 at 7:52 PM
At the end of 3 quarters, No. 22 Pitt trails No. 9 Notre Dame 30-9.
Rasheem Biles picked off Carr and waltzed in for a Pitt touchdown. The defense does what the offense can't and scores in the redzone.
Pitt had some life, but the 2-point pass from Heintschel is picked off and returned all the way to make it 30-9, Notre Dame. 1:39, 3rd quarter.
Pitt had some life, but the 2-point pass from Heintschel is picked off and returned all the way to make it 30-9, Notre Dame. 1:39, 3rd quarter.
November 15, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Rasheem Biles picked off Carr and waltzed in for a Pitt touchdown. The defense does what the offense can't and scores in the redzone.
Pitt had some life, but the 2-point pass from Heintschel is picked off and returned all the way to make it 30-9, Notre Dame. 1:39, 3rd quarter.
Pitt had some life, but the 2-point pass from Heintschel is picked off and returned all the way to make it 30-9, Notre Dame. 1:39, 3rd quarter.
Pitt drives 14 plays and 74.5 yards while converting twice on 4th down, but it comes up one yard short of its first touchdown of the day. Poppi Williams is one yard short.
Turnover on downs, Notre Dame ball inside the Pitt 1. 4:16, 4th quarter.
Turnover on downs, Notre Dame ball inside the Pitt 1. 4:16, 4th quarter.
November 15, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Pitt drives 14 plays and 74.5 yards while converting twice on 4th down, but it comes up one yard short of its first touchdown of the day. Poppi Williams is one yard short.
Turnover on downs, Notre Dame ball inside the Pitt 1. 4:16, 4th quarter.
Turnover on downs, Notre Dame ball inside the Pitt 1. 4:16, 4th quarter.
Mason Heintschel hasn't been great, but it's hard to give him a proper evaluation when the supporting cast isn't playing well either.
November 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Mason Heintschel hasn't been great, but it's hard to give him a proper evaluation when the supporting cast isn't playing well either.
Desmond Reid converts a 4th down for Pitt with a big catch and run, but he's down in a lot of pain, holding his right rankle after the play.
November 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Desmond Reid converts a 4th down for Pitt with a big catch and run, but he's down in a lot of pain, holding his right rankle after the play.
Touchdown, Irish. Fields on a 6 yard reception makes it 28-3, visitors. 10:43, 3rd quarter.
Pitt had a 3rd down stop earlier in the drive, but Tamon Lynum's DPI flag wiped it out. "Let's go Irish" chants coming from the visiting fans at Acrisure Stadium.
Pitt had a 3rd down stop earlier in the drive, but Tamon Lynum's DPI flag wiped it out. "Let's go Irish" chants coming from the visiting fans at Acrisure Stadium.
November 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Touchdown, Irish. Fields on a 6 yard reception makes it 28-3, visitors. 10:43, 3rd quarter.
Pitt had a 3rd down stop earlier in the drive, but Tamon Lynum's DPI flag wiped it out. "Let's go Irish" chants coming from the visiting fans at Acrisure Stadium.
Pitt had a 3rd down stop earlier in the drive, but Tamon Lynum's DPI flag wiped it out. "Let's go Irish" chants coming from the visiting fans at Acrisure Stadium.
No. 9 Notre Dame 21, No. 22 Pitt 3 -- Halftime
Pitt is being out-gained by 159 yards, but a turnover on downs and interception have kept the game nominally close. Panthers have 7 rushing yards and Heintschel's been sacked thrice.
Irish get the ball to open the 2nd half.
Pitt is being out-gained by 159 yards, but a turnover on downs and interception have kept the game nominally close. Panthers have 7 rushing yards and Heintschel's been sacked thrice.
Irish get the ball to open the 2nd half.
November 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
No. 9 Notre Dame 21, No. 22 Pitt 3 -- Halftime
Pitt is being out-gained by 159 yards, but a turnover on downs and interception have kept the game nominally close. Panthers have 7 rushing yards and Heintschel's been sacked thrice.
Irish get the ball to open the 2nd half.
Pitt is being out-gained by 159 yards, but a turnover on downs and interception have kept the game nominally close. Panthers have 7 rushing yards and Heintschel's been sacked thrice.
Irish get the ball to open the 2nd half.
Pitt attempts a 53 yard field goal with its backup placekicker Sam Carpenter and it goes wide left. Pitt had been moving the ball but stalls and gets no points out of what was a promising drive.
21-3, Irish. 0:13, 2nd quarter.
21-3, Irish. 0:13, 2nd quarter.
November 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Pitt attempts a 53 yard field goal with its backup placekicker Sam Carpenter and it goes wide left. Pitt had been moving the ball but stalls and gets no points out of what was a promising drive.
21-3, Irish. 0:13, 2nd quarter.
21-3, Irish. 0:13, 2nd quarter.
Touchdown, Notre Dame. Carr took advantage of another free play and hit Fields for a 25-yard scoring strike. Pitt is being out-gained 248-36.
Now 21-3, Irish. 1:56, 2nd quarter.
Now 21-3, Irish. 1:56, 2nd quarter.
November 15, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Touchdown, Notre Dame. Carr took advantage of another free play and hit Fields for a 25-yard scoring strike. Pitt is being out-gained 248-36.
Now 21-3, Irish. 1:56, 2nd quarter.
Now 21-3, Irish. 1:56, 2nd quarter.
Heintschel almost threw his second pick of the day. Instead, it's a 3 and out and punt for Pitt. Notre Dame has had good field position all day and they will start this drive only 2 yards behind midfield.
November 15, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Heintschel almost threw his second pick of the day. Instead, it's a 3 and out and punt for Pitt. Notre Dame has had good field position all day and they will start this drive only 2 yards behind midfield.
What a stop from Pitt on 4th down at the goal line. Not sure it's the play I would have called if I was Notre Dame. But take nothing away from Javon McIntyre, who's playing an outstanding game so far.
Pitt takes over at the 2. 5:29, second quarter.
Pitt takes over at the 2. 5:29, second quarter.
November 15, 2025 at 6:22 PM
What a stop from Pitt on 4th down at the goal line. Not sure it's the play I would have called if I was Notre Dame. But take nothing away from Javon McIntyre, who's playing an outstanding game so far.
Pitt takes over at the 2. 5:29, second quarter.
Pitt takes over at the 2. 5:29, second quarter.
Notre Dame is on a 12-play, 70-yard march, but facing 3rd and goal from the 5. Pat Narduzzi calls timeout with 6:05 left in the 2nd quarter.
November 15, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Notre Dame is on a 12-play, 70-yard march, but facing 3rd and goal from the 5. Pat Narduzzi calls timeout with 6:05 left in the 2nd quarter.
Notre Dame's offensive line is doing its best to keep Pitt in the game.
November 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Notre Dame's offensive line is doing its best to keep Pitt in the game.
Illegal formation penalty on third down against Pitt is declined by Notre Dame. Panthers opt for the short field goal and get 3 points off the boot of Sam Carpenter following the interception.
14-3, Irish. 13:55, second quarter.
14-3, Irish. 13:55, second quarter.
November 15, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Illegal formation penalty on third down against Pitt is declined by Notre Dame. Panthers opt for the short field goal and get 3 points off the boot of Sam Carpenter following the interception.
14-3, Irish. 13:55, second quarter.
14-3, Irish. 13:55, second quarter.
Kavir Bains Marquez. What a player.
November 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Kavir Bains Marquez. What a player.
At the end of the first quarter, No. 22 Pitt trails No. 9 Notre Dame 14-0.
The Irish were backed up inside their own 20 but Malachi Fields made an absurd catch over the middle of the field to convert on 3rd down and get the Irish to midfield.
The Irish were backed up inside their own 20 but Malachi Fields made an absurd catch over the middle of the field to convert on 3rd down and get the Irish to midfield.
November 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
At the end of the first quarter, No. 22 Pitt trails No. 9 Notre Dame 14-0.
The Irish were backed up inside their own 20 but Malachi Fields made an absurd catch over the middle of the field to convert on 3rd down and get the Irish to midfield.
The Irish were backed up inside their own 20 but Malachi Fields made an absurd catch over the middle of the field to convert on 3rd down and get the Irish to midfield.
Big time stop for the Pitt defense and fantastic tackling across the board. Nick James crushed Carr to force an incompletion, then Kavir Bains Marquez and Javon McIntyre level Irish receivers for short gains.
Pitt offense takes over at its own 8 yard line.
Pitt offense takes over at its own 8 yard line.
November 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Big time stop for the Pitt defense and fantastic tackling across the board. Nick James crushed Carr to force an incompletion, then Kavir Bains Marquez and Javon McIntyre level Irish receivers for short gains.
Pitt offense takes over at its own 8 yard line.
Pitt offense takes over at its own 8 yard line.
Jeff Persi was in at left tackle on that drive, but he can't help Pitt gain any ground. After Heintschel is sacked for the 3rd time today, Notre Dame returns the punt back into Pitt territory. Defense needs a stop to keep this game from getting out of hand.
November 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Jeff Persi was in at left tackle on that drive, but he can't help Pitt gain any ground. After Heintschel is sacked for the 3rd time today, Notre Dame returns the punt back into Pitt territory. Defense needs a stop to keep this game from getting out of hand.