UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 17, 2026

Mason Heintschel

Press Conference

Pitt 27, Syracuse 13

Q. What's up, Mason. You missed some throws that you saw. What went into what happened?

MASON HEINTSCHEL: Yeah, you know, flat out, I just didn't play well. That can't happen. Shout out to our guys. Everybody around me, you know, picked me up a ton. Our running game was great today. Super proud of those guys. Receivers were great in separation, I just couldn't hit them. Defense, they played their tails off and were able to come out with a win. It's frustrating, but if you can be frustrated after a win, that's a pretty good sign. We got a lot of things to clean up but it starts with me, I got to be better.

Q. Syracuse kind of held you down last year. Is there something they're giving you? Anything like that?

MASON HEINTSCHEL: No, I don't think so. They're a great team and they have a great game plan for us, but like I said, in the end, I didn't play well. That's the key right there. Missed a lot of throws, like you said, and just got to be better. Got to execute. That's on me.

Q. Mason, what do you personally take from a game where you don't perform well but yet you guys are able to find a way to win in.

MASON HEINTSCHEL: It's huge. Like I said, we ran the ball really well today. I'm super proud of our guys up front. They played a heck of a game. Running backs played really well and like I said, defensively we played really well, too.

Again, I think if you can be frustrated after a win, just with how you play and things we need to clean up, I'd say that's a pretty good thing. We just got to attack next week and come ready to go offensively.

Q. First rushing touchdown. You were running up the field with him. Is that (indiscernible)?

MASON HEINTSCHEL: Just carrying out a fake and was fortunate enough to get in the way a little bit to allow him to score. He's such a special player. I don't think my block really made a difference, but he's a special player. To cut that back and go score, it's a testament to how good of a player he is. We're excited to have him and get him some touches.

Q. What was your view and reaction assessment on the interception?

MASON HEINTSCHEL: Just not a great thrown ball. We just got to do some things to clean it up. We knew we had man and just got to execute better. I'll take the blame for that, that's on me.

Q. Such a strong game without your starting running back. What does that say about the rest of the room?

MASON HEINTSCHEL: It's exciting to allow those guys to get more touches. Like I said earlier, it's exciting for them and, you know, it just shows how exclusively we can be when we're able to run the ball effectively. I'm proud of those guys. Damon ran for 102 yards as a freshman. He's a great player. I'm excited for the country to kind of start realizing how good of a player he is. And La'Vell was running his tail off, too. We came out in the second half and ran it really well. Couldn't throw the ball. I just couldn't complete a pass but we were able to run it effectively and thankfully the defense played well too.

Q. (No microphone).

MASON HEINTSCHEL: Yeah, it shows how hard he works to learn the offense and I understand what we're trying to do. But just shows how halted of a player he is, too. Some of the cuts that he makes and how he doesn't usually get tackled by the first guy. It's impressive, especially for a freshman. Like I said, he works his tail off and we're excited for what he's going to be able to do and continue to do for the rest of the year.

Q. The juke on the touchdown run and then the spin move at the end, are you Josh Allen built -- (inaudible).

MASON HEINTSCHEL: I don't know, that spin move still looked pretty unathletic. I fell after. I probably should have scored but I kind of spun myself out of my own shoes. The wiggle on the touchdown felt like it was in slow motion too. To be a dual threat, you got to be able to throw the ball too, and we did not throw it well today, so we gotta clean that up.

Q. There were things you just weren't seeing well? You weren't seeing the field well or were there physical things happening?

MASON HEINTSCHEL: No, I thought I saw it pretty well for the most part. It just came down to execution, just missing throws and not putting enough air on certain throws and not driving the ball and not using my legs a little bit more. I think it was more the physical aspect, not so much the mental aspect but we got to be better in all facets.

Q. (No microphone).

MASON HEINTSCHEL: Absolutely. They were run-blocking really well and they were pass-blocking really well, too. I thought they did a great job up front when we threw the ball. The two sacks I took I think were both on me. I thought they did a great job and I'm excited for those guys. They're really coming into their own and I'm excited for them to keep improving and get better as an offense. Appreciate y'all.