University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Beyond The Script | Episode 1.5 | Pat Narduzzi & Sean FitzSimmons
Podcasts
Published on 8/4/2026
Podcasts
Published on 8/4/2026
Welcome to Beyond the Script — the podcast that takes you inside Pitt Athletics, past the press conferences and into the real conversations. Host Jason Earle sits down with the coaches, athletes, and administrators who are doing the work every day to build something special in Pittsburgh.
This episode, Jason is joined by football head coach Pat Narduzzi and redshirt senior defensive lineman Sean FitzSimmons as they preview the season ahead. From a returning quarterback to a defense built around experience up front, what does Pitt have to prove after another year of hot starts and tough finishes? Pat and Sean break down the roster room by room and get honest about what it'll take to finish what they start — beyond the script.
Narduzzi's 12th year: 1:01
Return of Mason Heintschel: 6:20
Look at the offense: 9:45
Breaking down the defense: 11:48
Special team thoughts: 16:00
Sean FitzSimmons joins: 18:12
Going down the roster: 22:37
Mentality for 2026: 27:09
Listen Now
View All Podcasts
Welcome to Beyond the Script, the podcast that takes you inside Pitt Athletics, past the press conferences and into the real conversations. Host Jason Earle sits down with the coaches, athletes, and administrators who are doing the work every day to build something special in Pittsburgh.
For this special episode, Jason hands the mic over to two of Pitt's own, fifth-year tackle Ryan Baer and senior guard BJ Williams, for Players on Players. What's it like to line up next to the same guy for years on the right side of the offensive line? How have they changed since the day they met? And what does it take to keep a line steady through changes at quarterback?
Ryan and BJ take over the conversation, then wrap with a round of quick hits, in this special edition of the show that takes you inside Pitt Athletics, beyond the script.
Published on 11/3/2026
Welcome back to Beyond the Script, the podcast that takes you inside Pitt Athletics, past the press conferences and into the real conversations. This week, two basketball programs, two new-look rosters and two conversations about how it all comes together before tip-off.
First, Abby Schnable sits down with men's basketball head coach Jeff Capel to talk about how the team has come together, what the Providence exhibition revealed and who fans should watch when Pitt opens against Rider on Nov. 2.
Then, Jason Earle talks with new women's basketball head coach Robin Harmony, fresh off a championship season at the College of Charleston, about building a program from the ground up and bringing 11 newcomers together.
That's this week on Beyond the Script: inside Pitt Athletics, and this time, two programs just getting started.
- Recap: 0:25
- Upcoming: 5:04
- Capel: 8:46
- Harmony: 26:53
Published on 10/27/2026
Welcome back to Beyond the Script — the podcast that takes you inside Pitt Athletics, past the press conferences and into the real conversations. Host Jason Earle sits down with the people making it happen, and this week, that means two seasons about to get underway.
Pitt wrestling opens in the brand-new Victory Heights Arena, and head coach Keith Gavin and senior heavyweight Dayton Pitzer preview the year, from the trip to Tulsa for the National Duals Invitational to the wrestlers that make up the team.
Then, men's basketball general manager Jay Kuntz breaks down how this roster has come together, what the exhibition against Providence told us and whether the work on next year has already begun.
That's this week on Beyond the Script.
- 0:28: recap
- 8:47: what's next
- 10:39: previewing the wrestling season
- 24:27: Jay Kuntz joins the show
Published on 10/21/2026
Welcome back to Beyond the Script, the podcast that takes you inside Pitt Athletics, past the press conferences and into the real conversations. Host Jason Earle sits down with the people making it happen.
This week, Jason is joined by Pitt football kicker Antonio Chadha to talk about his journey to Pitt, his first field goal as a Panther and his love for the movie Rocky. Then Abby Schnable steps in as guest host to chat with Pitt volleyball setter Izzy Starck. Starck shares what it was like growing up in a volleyball household, why she wanted to play for the Panthers and her relationship with teammates Olivia Babcock and Blaire Bayless.
All that and more, beyond the script.
- Recap: 0:25
- What's coming up: 6:14
- Antonio Chadha discusses his journey to Pitt: 9:43
- Izzy Starck talks settling in at Pitt: 22:54
Published on 10/13/2026