Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Episode: Hour 3: Cardale Jones Joins the Show
Date: August 31, 2025
Hosts: Myron Medcalf & Matt Jones (ESPN Radio)

Overview

This lively episode centers on college football’s latest shocks, the aftermath and implications of Alabama’s upset loss, listener-driven “King of the Mountain” hot takes, and a special guest appearance by 2014 National Champion Cardale Jones for an in-depth breakdown of quarterback performances and the changing face of big-program football. Matt and Myron blend their signature banter and humor with real analysis, direct fan interaction, and playful cultural quips as they unpack the weekend in sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "King of the Mountain" Listener Hot Takes

(Begins ~[01:44])

• Format: Listeners call in with their best, most original sports takes. Each winner becomes the reigning "King of the Mountain" until dethroned by a better take.
• Listener Participation: The takes ranged from concise predictions to elaborate rants full of regional color and sports grudges.
• Winning Take: Mark from Ohio’s “Elmer Fudd with a headset” jab at Texas coach Steve Sarkisian unseated 4-week champ Russ from Indiana, whose McRib/primal college programs analogy had reigned supreme.

2. Best of Listener Calls

([03:47] – [14:50])

• Russ in Indiana: "Nebraska football and Indiana basketball are the McRibs that think they’re prime ribs...haven’t been relevant since the Clinton administration." ([04:10])

• Mark in Ohio: "At what point are we gonna realize Sark is Elmer Fudd with a headset? ...I think you and I could put a headset on out there in a big game and be less nervous than that guy." ([07:50])

• Willingham in VA: Riffed colorfully on Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, ending on, “Don’t worry about the mule being blind. Just hold on to the line.” ([08:51])

• Jason in Vermont: Wild, poetic Celtics take: "Gap year. Pap smear. Jolie Wallah's got a kung fu grip on this team... Pritchard’s gonna practice witchcraft across the league. Now none of that’s true, but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong." ([10:18])

  Hosts' Note: The more memorable, energetic, or hilarious the delivery, the better the reception—mere stats won’t do.

• Rick from Raleigh: A passionate, petty dig at NC State and ECU—a tribute to the obsessive world of Carolina rivalries.

3. Alabama’s Upset & Coaching Drama

(Begins [18:25])

• Discussion: In-depth exploration of Alabama’s shocking loss to Florida State and the implications for first-year coach Kalen DeBoer.
• Finebaum Quote: “His path is very narrow and his hot seat is very scorching.” ([19:28])
• Myron’s Analysis: "This isn't...the Tua, Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones kind of quarterback... They look fairly regular... This is a team that could lose five, six games. And if that happens, no, Kalen DeBoer is not going to be back." ([20:14])
• The SEC Gauntlet: Matt marvels at the difficulty of being merely “27th in talent” nationally but “15th in the SEC.” ([22:04])

4. Cardale Jones Interview: Quarterbacks, DeBoer & The Portal Era

(Begins [24:43])

- On Arch Manning’s Performance

• Jones: “I saw a guy that was going out there and trying to find and get into a rhythm versus a really good opponent... all the things that we’ve heard about Arch Manning have come from people who have not been in that facility... I saw a guy out there what I expected to see—taking over the starting role and being on the road in a hostile environment.” ([25:23])
• Matt: Says he saw “no moments of wow” from Arch, unlike early Vince Young or Lamar Jackson. ([26:09])

- Grading Ohio State’s Julian Sayin

• Jones: “I give him a solid B... both of these quarterbacks just played well enough with the playmakers around to help get them wins.” ([27:48])

- On Alabama’s Loss and Coaching Issues

• Jones: “Alabama lost three of their last four outings... They weren't as physical and they're not as disciplined as we used to see... That's just coaching errors." ([29:04])

- Transfer Portal and NIL Era

• Jones’ Take: “I actually think it’s easier to create that depth with NIL and the portal... You can get more creative... not just to be a part of your program, but to stay a part of your program.” ([30:31])
• “Every time [Ohio State] doesn’t rebuild, they reload. And I think Alabama is in that position too…It’s more about the staff bringing it all together.” ([30:31])

- On Dabo Swinney’s Approach

• Matt (joking): “I find him to be the most annoying dude. He’s always whining...” ([31:41])
• Jones: “You have to get with the change in times... if not, you’ll be left behind.” ([32:30])

- Portal and Future of Quarterback Stacking

• Myron: “The five star kid will go to another school and be the star rather than sitting behind someone… People wouldn’t have...waited at Ohio State.” ([33:54])

5. Show News & Banter

(Throughout; see especially [36:32]-[38:13])

• The show teases a name change: "Starting next week the show has a different name... But it will be a different name. Are you sad...?" ([36:32])
• Nostalgic farewells to “Easy Like Sunday Morning” as the show's theme song.
• Myron: “That name has been doing the same kind of show with the same same name for a long time. But I mean, Matt & Myron looks better on a resume...” ([37:36])

6. Picks Segment

(Begins [39:39])

• Matt and Myron make game picks for college football and MLB; Matt’s confidence in South Carolina and Miami, and ribbing about “the big dumper” for Mariners-Guardians, stand out.
• “You play football with Rex Specs, get my respect.” ([40:49])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On a bad take:
  “The way he starts out by saying 'with the Giants departing Micah Parsons,' it sounds like they killed him. Like, they threw him off a ship or something.”
  — Myron ([03:09])

• On listener Willingham's rant:
  “I can tell you that he skipped church to give us that take.”
  — Myron ([09:21])
  “Everything about him, I was a fan.”
  — Matt ([10:04])

• Mark’s Winning Take:
  “At what point are we gonna realize Sark is Elmer Fudd with a headset?...I think you and I could put a headset on out there in a big game and be less nervous than that guy.”
  — Mark from Ohio ([07:50])

• On the portal era:
  “I actually think it's easier to create that depth with nil in the portal...you can get more creative on recruiting and enticing the guy...to stay a part of your program.”
  — Cardale Jones ([30:31])

• On Alabama’s struggles:
  “This isn't an Alabama team with all those defensive stars who’ve gone on to the NFL. They look fairly regular.”
  — Myron ([20:14])

• On show changes:
  “You can say many things about me, but I'm not easy. Like Sunday morning, I'm, I'm like Tabasco sauce. You might like it, but...it's gonna be a unique taste.”
  — Matt ([38:13])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Show start & "King of the Mountain" intro: [00:33]–[04:33]
• Hot Take Calls (Russ, Gary, Mike, Mark, Willingham, etc.): [04:33]–[14:50]
• SEC/Alabama upset, DeBoer on hot seat: [17:25]–[22:26]
• Cardale Jones interview (Ohio State/Texas/Alabama/Portal): [24:43]–[33:43]
• Show/segment banter & upcoming name change: [36:32]–[38:13]
• Picks segment (college football, MLB): [39:39]–[44:09]

Overall Tone & Style

The episode is quick-witted and easygoing, highlighted by the hosts’ playful roasting—of both themselves and their callers—balanced with sharp, on-topic football analysis. Listener interaction is celebrated, sometimes lampooned for "bad takes," but always encouraged for its entertainment value. The addition of Cardale Jones brings gravitas and insight, particularly on the realities for modern big-program quarterbacks and coaches.

For New Listeners

Even if you haven’t listened, this episode is a primer on college football’s shifting dynamics and the quirks of sports fandom, delivered with the blend of humor and realness that defines Matt and Myron’s style. The “King of the Mountain” segment provides a unique, community-driven flavor, and the Cardale Jones interview gives a firsthand look at the stakes and uncertainty facing even the premiere programs and players in today’s college football landscape.