Someone should have pounded that lesson into TE Eric Gill, and apparently his father, at some point.

Erik Gill, the Belle Vernon Area product who starts at tight end for Pitt, has been charged with drunken driving in the wake of a traffic accident that took place about six weeks ago in Fayette County.

There was no indication what impact, if any, the incident will have on his status for the Panthers’ opening game Saturday against Notre Dame at Heinz Field.

E.J. Borghetti, an associate athletic director who handles sports media relations at Pitt, said Thursday he had not been informed about the arrest.

Gill, 23, of Kelly Avenue, Belle Vernon, is charged with driving under the influence, recklessly endangering another person and driving a vehicle at an unsafe speed. The accident occurred July 24 on Fayette Avenue in Washington Township.

Gill’s father, Thomas Gill, who is an assistant football coach at Frazier High School, was charged with two counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution in connection with the accident, police said.

Over 5 weeks ago. Before training camp. Something, where if there was to be any disciplining it could have been handled right away.

Now, it’s a distraction and issue just before the one of the biggest season openers for Pitt in the last 20-some years.

Now what do you do if you are Coach Wannstedt? Do you bench him? How do you handle this?

It isn’t just the DUI — allegedly. It’s that he (and his father) tried to hide it. Irresponsible and foolish.

Oh, and just before this broke, Pitt named their team captains for the game. Anyone want to hazard a guess on who one of them is?

Thursday, coach Dave Wannstedt chose four captains — tight end Erik Gill , running back Tim Murphy , linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Josh Lay — for the Notre Dame game. “I could’ve named several others who were deserving,” Wannstedt said. The coach will name captains on a weekly basis until midseason, when the players will elect permanent captains.

And on a night when there will be a veritable “who’s who” of Pitt greats in attendance.

Pitt will honor its 21 first-round NFL draft picks by designating them as honorary captains and introducing them on the field before the game. Tony Dorsett , Dan Marino , Mike Ditka , Bill Fralic , Bill Maas , Jimbo Covert , Chris Doleman , Sean Gilbert and Randy Holloway are expected to attend. “That’s what makes Pitt a special place in my mind, the tradition,” Wannstedt said. “Those names, that’s what the tradition’s all about.”

The ABC sideline crew is going to be busy with interviews that night.