POPULARITY
In this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag, we're taking questions on how transfers develop, whether there's a panic level with Eli Holstein and a lot more. Plus: a send-off to long-time Pitt SID E.J. Borghetti.
Pope Francis (ATH, Vatican City) has entered the transfer portal. Will Pat Narduzzi & Co be able to land this star in the making? Anyway, Returning Champion Ian Labatch is back on the mic. We're talking spring game, and transfer portal, Pitt related and not. Anyway, welcome to Season 4. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter or Bluesky and rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com
Pitt's offense had a rough outing in the Panthers' first scrimmage last weekend; did Eli Holstein and company bounce back at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday? We're talking about Pitt's offense and more on the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt.
On their weekly podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey react to the Steelers' offseason moves so far. How do moves for names like DK Metcalf, Kenneth Gainwell, Darius Slay and -- potentially -- Aaron Rodgers compare to GM Omar Khan's action in his first two seasons? Does this group compare well with the 2023 NFL free agency class that included Elandon Roberts, Larry Ogunjobi and Isaac Seumalo? Or the 2024 group that included Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott? Will a lack of NFL draft picks naturally lead to a less bountiful offseason? And how should the stockpiling of compensatory picks for 2026 factor into this conversations? Later, the guys get into some college talk with Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia all stating spring practice. Are eyes on Drew Allar in Happy Valley as he looks to shake off a College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame? Can he get the most out of a loaded roster that includes returnees such as Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen and more? And are receiver transfers Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson enough to help the passing game as it loses Tyler Warren to the NFL? In Morgantown, what kind of difference can the return of coach Rich Rodriguez make? And can Eli Holstein, Desmond Reid and the Panthers emerge from mediocrity? Our duo tackles those questions. Then in the third segment, airing on the PG Pirates YouTube channel, Adam and Jason get into predictions for the Pirates and the MLB season. How many wins will manager Derek Shelton's club rack up? Can Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and the pitching staff push them over the .500 mark? Or will the lineup led by Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes continue to struggle like it has in years past? What should we make of Carmen Mlodzinski earning a rotation spot? How will the catching situation play out with Endy Rodriguez making the Opening Day roster and Henry Davis starting in Class AAA? And why haven't we hear from owner Bob Nutting this spring?
Eli Holstein is back after missing most of the second half of the season last year due to injury. What does Pitt need from the redshirt sophomore quarterback? We're talking about how Holstein played in 2024 and what he needs to do in 2025 on today's Morning Pitt.
On his weekly Saturday Conversations podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes Acrisure Stadium public address announcer Larry Richert to get his take on the team's offseason and a range of other topics. Will Larry be announcing the name of Russell Wison or Justin Fields at QB this coming season? What does he think of offseason angst over things like Mike Tomlin's future, NFL free agency and the NFL draft? And what is it like being the above it all on game days? Later, our duo discusses the future of Pitt football under coach Pat Narduzzi with key pieces including Desmond Reid and Eli Holstein returning in 2025; Larry's career in TV and radio at KDKA; and his fondness for Pirates spring training in Bradenton, Fla.
On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Is football coach Pat Narduzzi winning the overall transfer portal battle after retaining the likes of Eli Holstein and Kyle Louis but losing players like Sincere Edwards and Ryland Gandy? Would our opinion of the season have been any different if the Panthers had won the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Toledo? When will the men's basketball team see guard Damian Dunn back on the court after he's missed the last month with an injury? And what is the biggest thing Jeff Capel's team needs to improve as it heads into ACC play? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 48-46 loss to Toledo in Thursday afternoon's GameAbove Sports Bowl, with Stephen reporting from Ford Field in Detroit. What led to the defeat for the Panthers? How did coach Pat Narduzzi and Kade Bell affect the outcome of the contest with some of their late-game coaching decisions and play calls? How did David Lynch perform in the place of the injured Eli Holstein? What made true freshman Julian Dugger so successful in his time on the field? Did Desmond Reid put a bow on his fantastic season? And where do the Panthers go from here? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Is RB Desmond Reid's return a good sign for coach Pat Narduzzi and OC Kade Bell as NCAA transfer portal season gets into full swing? Will others including Eli Holstein and Kyle Louis stay put as well? And what are the guys' picks for the College Football Playoff this weekend? Our duo tackles those topics and more on the basketball front. Should coach Jeff Capel give Brandin Cummings a spot in the starting lineup? And how much longer will he allow Guillermo Diaz Graham to struggle?
We're bringing it back, baby. After a year's hiatus, our friend Mike hops on to discuss the football team's best players of 2024, and his yearly spot to talk all things Pitt hoops. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter @semplefipod rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com
On their weekly Pitt football mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Did coach Pat Narduzzi leave the door open to Eli Holstein returning from injury in 2024? Either for the regular season finale this week against Boston College or the Panthers' bowl game? What is RB Rodney Hammond's future with the program? And on the basketball side, who does coach Jeff Capel need to step up amid the injury to Damian Dunn with a big game against Ohio State looming?
One Pitt fan blames injuries to the offense line and Eli Holstein as significant reasons Pitt is losing. Emotions are high between Starkey and caller Jim in Jefferson regarding Pitt's problems and how to fix them.
Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 37-9 loss to Louisville on Saturday afternoon, with Stephen reporting from L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Simply put: What happened to the Panthers' once promising season? How exactly did the wheels come off during this four-game losing streak? What does Eli Holstein's injury mean for the Panthers for the rest of this season — and beyond? Why has Kade Bell's high-powered offense slowed down in recent weeks? And what does this mean for Pat Narduzzi's program heading into next season? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson break down the Panthers' 24-20 loss to Clemson on Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. What led to the Panthers' heartbreaking loss to the No. 17 Tigers? Who is ultimately responsible for the discipline issues and penalties that have plagued the Panthers all season? How did Nate Yarnell fare after starting for the injured Eli Holstein? Why did Pitt's defense have so much success against Clemson's stars like Phil Mafah and Cade Klubnik in the second half? And where do Pat Narduzzi's Panthers go from here? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Fuck the 8PM time slot. All my homies hate the 8PM time slot. Recapping Pitt's brutal home loss to UVA, what's gone wrong with the offense, and charting the narrow path to victory against Clemson this Saturday. Recapping Week 1 of hoops and what we're liking early in the season from this team. Check out last week's volleyball episode on Apple and Spotify. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter @semplefipod rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com
Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 24-19 loss to Virginia on Saturday night from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The guys break down what exactly went wrong for Pitt in dropping its second straight defeat of the season and look at how the Panthers' deteriorating quarterback play has sunk the offense as a whole. Our duo also discusses the poor officiating late in the game and analyzes the performances of both Eli Holstein and Nate Yarnell, as well as what it all means for Pat Narduzzi's team moving forward in ACC play. For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.
In this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag, we're taking questions on Allen Greene's top priorities, Eli Holstein's leash and a lot more.
We've got a lot of things to talk about on today's Morning Pitt. How will Pitt bounce back from a 23-point loss? Do the Panthers need to run the ball more? And should we remember how good Eli Holstein has been? All that and more on the Thursday edition of the Morning Pitt.
On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: What is Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi's biggest problem following a blowout loss to SMU and with tough games against Clemson, Louisville and Boston College looming? Is it quarterback Eli Holstein's play? Or is it poor tackling and offensive line play? How soon could Holstein be benched in favor of backups including Nate Yarnell? Later, they get into some basketball topics. How deep will coach Jeff Capel's rotation go this season? Will Brandin Cummings prove to be a big-time shot maker like his brother Nelly? And will Pitt have another ACC sixth-man award winner in 2024-25 after Nike Sibande and Ishmael Leggett won the honor the past two years?
On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to a busy weekend of ugly college football for Pitt and Penn State. Were the Nittany Lions outplayed by the Buckeyes in a 20-13 loss at Beaver Stadium? Or was James Franklin outcoached? Why didn't Tyler Warren see the ball on a late-game possession inside the 5-yard line? How damaging was Drew Allar's interception at the end of the first half, on which receiver Trey Wallace had the ball ripped away? And why weren't Franklin's players including Abdul Carter and Elliot Washington more disciplined on plays that resulted in costly penalties? Jason tackles those questions, then ponders the fate of Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers following a 48-25 loss to SMU. Are ACC championship and College Football Playoff hopes dashed for coach Pat Narduzzi and Co.? And what is the team's future at QB after another shaky performance by Eli Holstein? Jason then ends the show by previewing the beginning of college hoops season for the various local teams.
Hour 1 with Joe Starkey and Bob Pompeani: Pitt and Penn State both lost their undefeated seasons and are 7-1 on the year. Eli Holstein hasn't played well in the last three weeks and Pitt fell 5 spots in the AP Poll. James Franklin continues to fall flat in big games as Penn State lost to Ohio State again. Franklin is 1-10 against Ohio State.
It was now time to jump on the Pitt Panthers after an abysmal showing against SMU Saturday night. It was ugly. Did it help having the lower expectations going into the season? Pitt got exposed and in a big way. The Panthers looked shell shocked and played like it. A month ago, the questions were about how Pitt would keep Eli Holstein or Kade Bell around – now that doesn't seem like much of a worry. The QB looked tentative and the scheme didn't work. Things were bad for everyone on Saturday – even Bill Hillgrove lost his spotter board
It was now time to jump on the Pitt Panthers after an abysmal showing against SMU Saturday night. It was ugly. Did it help having the lower expectations going into the season? Pitt got exposed and in a big way. The Panthers looked shell shocked and played like it. A month ago, the questions were about how Pitt would keep Eli Holstein or Kade Bell around – now that doesn't seem like much of a worry. The QB looked tentative and the scheme didn't work. Things were bad for everyone on Saturday – even Bill Hillgrove lost his spotter board. What did we learn most about Pitt on Saturday night? Multiple heckling situations Saturday in State College.
Wow, that game sucked. We're talking about Pitt's blowout loss in Dallas against SMU this Saturday, and how this team can get back on its feet after their first loss of the 2024 campaign. Also, we're previewing hoops because we forgot to do that earlier in the year. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter @semplefipod rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com
Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 48-25 loss to Syracuse on Saturday, with Stephen reporting from Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. What went wrong for the Panthers? What led to Pitt's defenders missing so many tackles, and how can defensive coordinator Randy Bates, Pat Narduzzi and the rest of the coaching staff fix this going forward? Are Eli Holstein's struggles just part of having a freshman quarterback? Or are they becoming a bigger issue for Kade Bell's offense? Does Pitt have any chance to make the ACC championship game now? And what about their hopes of potentially sneaking into the College Football Playoff? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Which quarterback is under the most pressure? Eli Holstein, Drew Allar, Will Howard, or Kevin Jennings?
Hour 1 with Joe Starkey and Donny Football: Garrett Wilson made one of the greatest catches of all time last night to score the game-winning touchdown for the Jets. What is the greatest catch of all time? The Immaculate Reception and Santonio Holmes' catch are our top candidates for the Steelers' best catch. Which quarterback is under the most pressure? Eli Holstein, Drew Allar, Will Howard, or Kevin Jennings?
Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson react to the news released on Wednesday that QB Eli Holstein will be healthy to play for Pitt Football this weekend!
Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi joined the show. Pat is hoping Poni sends out another tweet this weekend willing the Panthers to victory. Coach raved about his linebackers and the big plays they made against Syracuse. Pat talked about the atmosphere he is expecting in Dallas this weekend against SMU in what is their homecoming game. He got into how his team is keeping focus through each week of the season as the Panthers try to keep their undefeated season alive. Pat was asked about the changes that he had to make after a bad 2023 season that has sparked his program in a positive direction. Pat reconfirmed that Eli Holstein is good to go for Saturday night.
It's a gigantic weekend in college football around here. Pitt has a massive game against SMU on Saturday night. Penn State welcomes Ohio State in a battle of Top 5 teams at noon Saturday. Are you believing in your teams? Callers weighed in on a big college football weekend. Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi joined the show. Pat is hoping Poni sends out another tweet this weekend willing the Panthers to victory. Coach raved about his linebackers and the big plays they made against Syracuse. Pat talked about the atmosphere he is expecting in Dallas this weekend against SMU in what is their homecoming game. He got into how his team is keeping focus through each week of the season as the Panthers try to keep their undefeated season alive. Pat was asked about the changes that he had to make after a bad 2023 season that has sparked his program in a positive direction. Pat reconfirmed that Eli Holstein is good to go for Saturday night.
On today's Morning Pitt, we're thinking about SMU's offense, how Pitt can force turnovers, Eli Holstein's availability and a lot more.
You'd best know how to swim. The boys are back to talk about Pitt's huge win over Syracuse in a dominant defensive performance by the linebackers. We're talking poll disrespect, a murky QB situation, and previewing a huge ranked matchup in Dallas against SMU Saturday Night. And a sidebar into Petty Duzz and Indiana football. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter @semplefipod rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com
Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 41-13 win over Syracuse on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. What led to the defense's huge night, with five interceptions of Syracuse QB Kyle McCord and three pick-sixes? How has the defense found its footing to be able to carry Pitt to wins over Syracuse and Cal? Are the Panthers legit College Football Playoff contenders? How can the offense get back on track? And should there be any injury concerns with Eli Holstein? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey previews No. 19 Pitt's Thursday night matchup with Syracuse at Acrisure Stadium. Can coach Pat Narduzzi's team win its sixth-straight Thursday night game? Can QB Eli Holstein get OC Kade Bell's offense back on track after a rugged victory against California? And elsewhere on the Pitt front, what did we learn from new AD Allen Greene's introduction this week? Jason tackles those questions; highlights the Pitt and Pittsburgh ties of Curt Cignetti, Mike Shanahan and Tino Sunseri amid their success at Indiana; and evaluates the contributions of Steelers rookies including Zach Frazier, Payton Wilson and Beanie Bishop.
On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the Penguins' shootout loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Why can't coach Mike Sullivan's team hold a lead? Is his message not getting through defensively? And how does the volume of high-danger scoring chances allowed impact the goalie conversation about Tristan Jarry, Alex Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist? Jason tackles those topics, looks ahead to the Steelers' NFL Week 8 matchup with the New York Giants and wonders whether there are too many transfers in Pitt's important Thursday night matchup with Syracuse at Acrisure Stadium, from the Panthers' Eli Holstein, Desmond Reid and Konata Mumpfield to the Orange's Kyle McCord.
On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Are coach Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers at any risk of losing QB Eli Holstein to the transfer portal at the end of this season? Or can they keep richer programs like Alabama or Georgia away? Is Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord a threat to the Pitt defense in the teams' critical matchup Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium? And on the basketball front, what's a reasonable record prediction for coach Jeff Capel's squad?
Eli Holstein is the catalyst behind Pitt's run and the offense leading the way. Pat Narduzzi's defense is typically a big strength, but Kade Bell's offense is taking Pitt to completely new heights. Jeff Patton join to tell us about Starkey's Card of the Week.
Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 17-15 win over Cal on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. What led to the role reversal — where the Panthers defense had to bail out the offense instead of the other way around? Why did Eli Holstein struggle and have his first truly bad game as a college football player? Why were Jimmy Scott, Braylan Lovelace and the Panthers defensive front able to pressure Golden Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza? And is it time Pitt fans start considering a trip to the College Football Playoff as a possibility? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Notes on Eli Holstein, Pat Narduzzi's success as a favorite by four or less, and T.J. Watt.
After an insane weekend of college football in which four of the top eleven teams in the country lost, we take stock of the best teams in the country and try to see if we believe that anyone should be the outright favorite to win a national championship. UGA, Texas, Ohio St, Alabama, Miami, Penn St, Tennessee Ole Miss, Clemson... WHO IS ACTUALLY REAL? (just realized we forgot about Oregon). Plus, I want to celebrate some stars from the weekend, Kurtis Rourke and Indiana, Washington Husky fans, Eli Holstein and Pitt, SMU and finally Army and Navy. COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS SO FUN! Enjoy!
North Carolina lost its third straight game, this time a 34-24 loss to Pittsburgh in Kenan Stadium. Mack Brown's team played well enough to be in a tie game in the fourth quarter but could not get critical stops late as Eli Holstein and the Panthers won for the first time ever in Chapel Hill. Buck Sanders, Jason Staples and Tommy Ashley break down the loss as the Tar Heels continue to fall after a 3-0 start to the season. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Should QB Eli Holstein and the Panthers be favored by more than two points this week against North Carolina amid the Tar Heels' mediocre start? Are the problems on OC Kade Bell's offensive line more about talent? Or scheme? Was Miami's near loss to Virginia Tech last weekend a reason for hope that coach Pat Narduzzi's Panthers can compete seriously for an ACC title? And on the basketball side, what will guard Amsal Delalic's injury have on his ability to be ready for the season with coach Jeff Capel's squad? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the Steelers' NFL Week 3 victory against Los Angeles Chargers at Acrisure Stadium. Are T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward's elite defense turning this team into a legit contender for coach Mike Tomlin? How can Tomlin bench Justin Fields as the starting quarterback when Russell Wilson is healthy? Should we feel good about the running game with Najee Harris and Cordarrelle Patterson at running back despite a slow start? And how legit is Calvin Austin III as a receiving threat after his long touchdown? Jason answers those questions, and reacts to some Pitt football and Pirates topics as well. How did Eli Holstein continue to prove himself in the blowout victory Saturday against Youngstown State? And is Paul Skenes now the odds on favorite with win National League rookie of the year?
Cory Pereira (@FF_Guitarist) is joined by C2C Co-Founder Austin Nace (@devydeets) to go over some of the biggest surprises of the college season and if we are buying their rise: Tai Felton, Savion Williams, Eli Holstein, Corey Kiner and more! We'll also touch on some standouts from this weekend and reactions through 3 weeks of the college season.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-2-canton/donations
On today's Morning Pitt, we're digging into some numbers to put Eli Holstein's start in perspective, to identify the biggest issue on offense and to find a surprising stat about Pitt's defense.
Pitt beat West Virginia in epic fashion on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. After the game, we went live for the Panther-Lair Post-Game Show and talked about the win over the WVU, another big comeback, Eli Holstein and a lot more with comments and questions from Pitt fans.
It's time for the Backyard Brawl! Greg Macafee breaks down the upcoming game against West Virginia and how he thinks Eli Holstein is the real deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From West Virginia-Pitt to Washington-Washington State, from Boston College-Missouri to Kansas State-Arizona, the best Northern college football games are previewed and picked on Kings of the North. Just as they do every Thursday, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis check in on every game involving one of their 28 Northern teams.The Big Game Breakdown on this ep is Boston College at Missouri (check Wednesday's episode for the Alabama-Wisconsin breakdown.)Special additions this week -- a Backyard Brawl preview with both Pitt and West Virginia fans talking trash to each other, and Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai stopping by for an interview after a career game last week rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns.Plus Doug and Bill fantasy football picks for the weekend.Thanks for joining Kings of the North.Chapters:• First five game predictions including Notre Dame vs Purdue, Arizona vs Kansas State, and two rivalry games (03:40)• Backyard Brawl trash talk (33:20)• Eli Holstein interview (36:31)• Pitt vs Cincinnati Tailgate Report (48:15)• Kyle Monangai interview (58:00)• Big game breakdown of Boston College vs Missouri (1:15:22)• Rest of the game predictions (1:26:45)• Fantasy picks (01:40:50)
On the Monday after Pitt's win at Cincinnati, we've got thoughts on Eli Holstein's play, the offense overall and a lot more.
On the Monday after Pitt's win over Kent State in the season opener, we've got thoughts on Eli Holstein and the Panthers' offense.