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, we're handing the mic over.

It's a Players on Players special, pairing Pitt volleyball's Blaire Bayless and Ayanna Watson for a conversation that goes beyond the box score — big moments, big personalities and everything that makes this team click.

Plus, a look back at a big weekend across Pitt Athletics, from football's 27-13 win over Syracuse to a ranked win for men's soccer.

0:27 – Recapping the past week

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.

Eight names joined the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame — and two of them are joining us. Marcedes Walker, Pitt's all-time leading rebounder turned 2024 Olympian, and Antonio Bryant, the Biletnikoff Award winner who still holds Pitt's career receiving records, sit down with Jason to look back on the careers that got them here.

Plus, a rundown of the rest of this year's Hall of Fame class.

Also, a look back at a big weekend across Pitt Athletics, from football's 12-7 win over UCF to volleyball closing out a perfect 10-0 non-conference slate.

Weekend recap: 0:33 

Recapping last weekend: 00:35

Freshman Elli Johnson (women's soccer) and senior Jack Moxom (men's soccer) had never met before this episode — so instead of Jason asking the questions, the two goalies interview each other. 

Recorded on 9/1, before both had ever spoken, the conversation covers what it's actually like living between the pipes, how talking to your defense changes from program to program, and the saves each of them still thinks about. Two goalies, no host in the middle, comparing notes on a position only they really understand.

Plus — a look back at a big weekend across Pitt Athletics, from Mason Heintschel's record-setting day in football's season-opening win to volleyball's climb to 6-0, and a look ahead to what's coming next for the Panthers.

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 Pat Bostick, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, and Chief Marketing Officer Matt Smith, as Pitt football's season opener against Miami (Ohio) approaches. What does the new UPMC patch on Pitt jerseys signal about the future of the program's business side? With Mason Heintschel solidified at quarterback and a retooled offensive line, what is this team building toward? And what will fans feel the moment they walk through the gates at Acrisure Stadium this season? Pat and Matt break down the roster and the game day experience — beyond the script.

1:15 – Pat Bostick joins

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 — defensive tackle Jeremiah Warren and linebacker Alex Sanford Jr. — for Players on Players. What's it really like lining up next to each other on defense every day? What was it like transferring into the program and finding their footing at Pitt? And how competitive are these two with each other, really?

Jeremiah and Alex take over the conversation in this special edition of the show that takes you inside Pitt Athletics — beyond the script.

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 takes you inside Victory Heights. Deputy Athletic Director Dustin Gray breaks down what opening weekend actually looked like — the Fan Fest, the Blue-Gold volleyball scrimmage, and the first real test of a building six years in the making. Then, Assistant AD for Sports Performance Aaron Duvall goes inside the Martchek Family Strength and Conditioning Center — what's new, what it means for Pitt's 16 programs, and what he's already seen change for the athletes training there.

From the arena floor to the weight room, Jason gets the full picture of Pitt's newest building — beyond the script.

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 cross country and track & field coaches Alonzo Webb and Alonzo Webb III, Griff Graves, and men's basketball head coach Jeff Capel. What does it mean to coach alongside your own son — and how does that relationship shape the culture of a program? What’s next for cross country as the Panther Open opens the season at Schenley Park? And with 13 new faces and a near-total roster turnover, how is Capel building chemistry and identity into a Pitt basketball team that barely knows itself yet? Jason sits down with our coaches to answer those questions and more — beyond the script.

2:50: Track & Field nationals

7:39: Father-Son coaching duo

8:52: Zo’s coaching journey

14:58: Coach Webb and Graves talk culture

21:12: The best dressed coach in track and field

26:30: What to expect this XC season

29:42: Jeff Capel joins the show

33:23: Looking at the roster

41:42: Players stepping up 

45:14: What to watch for in 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

Welcome to Beyond the Script — the podcast that takes you inside Pitt Athletics, past the press conferences and into the real conversations. This episode, Abby Schnable sits down with women's soccer head coach Ben Waldrum and senior defender Olivia Lee.

2026 marks the 30th season of Pitt women's soccer, coming off a 2025 campaign that closed with a 1-0 win over No. 1 Notre Dame — the program's first-ever victory over a top-ranked opponent. What does it take to build on a season like that? How does a roster with 17 returners and a wave of new talent find its identity? And what does the program's growing pipeline to the professional ranks say about where Pitt soccer is headed? Ben and Olivia take us inside a program building on its best season yet — beyond the script.

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 men's soccer head coach Jay Vidovich and assistant coaches Bryce Cregan, Will Marshall and Robby Dambrot — all three former Pitt players themselves. What does it mean to protect the culture behind the crest as rosters turn over year after year? How does a program build a coaching staff almost entirely out of its own alumni? What does staying true to that culture look like heading into 2026? Jay, Bryce, Will and Robby take us inside the program they helped build — beyond the script.

1:25 - Welcome/Summer