The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: Billy Hates Priests (feat. Darren Waller & Lucy Rohden)

Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
Guests: Lucy Rohden, Darren Waller, Mike Ryan

Overview

This episode blends the show’s signature irreverent humor with commentary on the wild world of college football, the perennial misery of Arkansas fans, and an inspiring interview with newly resurgent NFL tight end Darren Waller. Lucy Rohden reports from a deflated Fayetteville, Arkansas, as the Razorbacks hit rock bottom, while the hosts riff on coaching controversies, college football drama, and internet gossip. In a different tone, Darren Waller delivers a candid discussion about overcoming addiction, injuries, and his triumphant NFL return.

Key Segments and Highlights

1. College Football Despair in Arkansas

[00:43–06:16]

• Lucy Rohden provides an on-the-ground report from Fayetteville, painting a vivid picture of a town more heartbroken than hopeful in the wake of another Arkansas football letdown.
• Tone: Wry and self-deprecating, focusing on the perpetual disappointment and gallows humor that define much of Arkansas fandom.

Key Points:

• The fan base is described as “apathetic” and “defeated,” with little enthusiasm even for tailgating (04:06).
• The team’s failures are blamed on a “Bobby Petrino curse,” which still haunts the program years later (02:00).
• There’s wild speculation about prospective next coaches—Jon Gruden and Nick Saban are mentioned facetiously, highlighting the desperation and unreality at play (03:08, 03:21).

Notable Quote:

“It’s always a big disappointment… We call them the Heartbreak Hogs.”
— Dan Le Batard [01:50]

2. The Bobby Petrino Farce and Arkansas’s Futility

[07:34–09:31]

• Petrino’s controversial return as interim head coach elicits classic Le Batard-style mockery and skepticism.
• Lucy points out the irony: Arkansas is a wealthy program with Walmart, Tyson Chicken, JB Hunt money nearby—yet continues to underperform.

Notable Quote:

“Going back to Bobby Petrino after everything that has happened is like the most Arkansas ever.”
— Lucy Rohden [07:53]

Commentary:

• The segment highlights how institutional dysfunction and strange loyalty to failed figures can shape college football.
• Lucy also advocates for Arkansas to break from old patterns: “You need to just go take a chance right now because… you have no other shot of succeeding.” [09:00]

3. Roster Woes, Coaching Critiques, and College Football Chaos

[09:31–13:54]

• A quick pivot to other coaching hot seats and upsets:
  • James Franklin’s underachievement at Penn State is dissected.
    • Lucy notes his self-awareness but also the program’s lack of in-game aggression: “You can't be all or nothing in the offseason, and then in-game, James Franklin is like, ‘Ah, let's just hope for the best.’” [10:09]
  • Dan Lanning’s energized (and possibly rumor-inspiring) demeanor is discussed humorously.

Notable Quote:

“You can't be all or nothing in the offseason, and then in-game, James Franklin is like, ‘Ah, let's just hope for the best.’”
— Lucy Rohden [10:09]

4. LSU, Ole Miss, and SEC Identity Crisis

[16:24–19:20]

• A classic Brian Kelly press conference meltdown is re-enacted, lampooning his defensiveness about LSU’s persistent run-game woes (16:33–17:33).
• Lucy praises Ole Miss and laments LSU’s offensive limitations: “It becomes like zero-dimensional... their defense is what's keeping them around. They're really getting close to Iowa territory here.” [18:04]
• The show laughs about the speed and chaos of recent field-stormings (World War Z comparisons), and SU’s shifting pecking order in the SEC.

5. College Football Name Game and Internet Minute

[19:20–22:30]

• The hosts and Lucy riff on spectacular player names (“Trinidad Chambliss” and “Joseph Manjack IV”), which always delights the show’s sensibilities.
• Lucy’s “Internet Minute” detours into pop culture: the (supposed) separation of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, to profound (and tongue-in-cheek) communal mourning.
• The panel discusses the odd realities of Nashville and bemoans (and then reassures) the future of famous relationships.

6. SEC Parity, Missouri Hype, and the Big Ten Claim

[22:50–25:30]

• The SEC’s identity is questioned; Lucy makes the case for the Big Ten as the best college football conference at the moment.
• Lucy is optimistic about Mizzou’s chances due to an “easy schedule” and exciting offense.

7. Alabama, Georgia, and the 350-Pound Receiver

[25:30–26:45]

• The absurdity of a 350-pound offensive lineman catching and running with a screen pass against Georgia provides comic gold.
• Discussion centers on Georgia’s unexpectedly shaky defense and the talent discrepancy in quarterback rooms.

Notable Moment:

“It was great fun watching... Georgia’s defenders... look like sixth graders trying to attach themselves to somebody.”
— Stugotz [25:51]

8. NFL Interlude: Nerds, Rex Ryan, and McDaniel

[28:19–31:13]

• Discussion about “nerdiness” in NFL coaching, with Mike McDaniel as a prime example.
• The semantic debate: Is being called “nerdy” a compliment? The consensus is yes—at least in the show’s context.

Main Interview: Darren Waller — Redemption on the Gridiron

[31:13–43:33]

• Darren Waller joins after a two-touchdown game for the Dolphins—his first such game in five years.
• Topics:
  • The mental and physical struggles that took him away from football.
  • Overcoming substance addiction, injuries, and his journey to sobriety.
  • His emotional return and the joy of rediscovering football for its own sake, away from stats and external validation.

Key Insights:

• Waller credits his “higher power” and personal growth practices for his recovery and success.
• He and Mike McDaniel connect over their shared struggles with addiction; Waller praises McDaniel’s leadership and philosophy of process over results.
• He candidly discusses his coping (alcohol, cocaine, pills), the importance of humility, and re-engaging with football from a place of gratitude and mindful presence.
• Reflects on the importance of appreciating younger, less-perfect versions of himself and the journey towards self-compassion.

Notable Quotes:

“I’m not gonna lie. I felt like I was on drugs most of the night. It was kind of crazy. But, yeah, definitely a lot of joy, man.”
— Darren Waller [31:55]

“If I’m not right internally, mentally, and staying with the practices that help me reinvent my life on multiple occasions, if I drift from those, whatever I’m doing, I’m probably going to lose joy.”
— Darren Waller [35:53]

“I always need [humbling]. I feel like everybody needs it... it gets me back to the things that really matter, that keep me grounded, whether the success is there or not.”
— Darren Waller [40:17]

Memorable and Funny Moments

• The “Billy Hates Priests” running joke is referenced but never directly explained, playing into the show’s fondness for recurring, unexplained gags.
• Constant Arkansas self-roasting: “This team might actually leave you.” — Lucy Rohden [02:23]
• The surreal imagery of SEC fans’ apathy, wild boar fears, and hail-mary coach wish lists.
• Nerd debates, odd player names, and the hallucinatory idea of linemen as receivers.
• Lucy’s dry Internet Minute and her offhanded dunk on Nashville.

Conclusion

This episode offers:

• A microcosm of college football’s absurdity and drama, especially as seen through the eyes (and jokes) of long-suffering fans.
• Earnest and insightful storytelling in Darren Waller’s candid tale of struggle, absence, and joy in his NFL return.
• A blend of satirical sports analysis, self-deprecating humor, and cultural commentary, staying true to the show’s offbeat, inclusive energy.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:43] – Lucy Rohden in Arkansas / Razorbacks Despair
• [07:34] – Bobby Petrino Discourse
• [09:31] – Penn State & James Franklin Critique
• [16:24] – Brian Kelly/LSU Meltdown & SEC Weirdness
• [19:20] – Field Storming & ACC/SEC Musings
• [20:56] – Lucy’s Internet Minute: Urban/Kidman Separation
• [22:50] – SEC/Big Ten Debate; Mizzou Hype
• [25:30] – Georgia/Alabama Absurdity
• [28:19] – NFL Coaching “Nerd” Debate
• [31:13] – Darren Waller Interview
• [43:33] – Waller on Jets/Dolphins; Defensive Stats

For listeners who missed the episode:
You’ll get a strong sense of the cultural chaos, football follies, and real-life comeback stories that make both the sport—and this podcast—so compelling.