The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: Lucy Rohden vs. Working Here (feat. Lucy Rohden)
Date: September 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off college football season with Lucy Rohden returning on the road for another year of her signature “off-roading” coverage. The panel broadcasts from Columbus, Ohio before a mammoth Texas–Ohio State matchup, and launches into a raucous, wide-ranging discussion about college football’s wild headlines: Michigan’s recent scandal and punishment, Alabama’s shocking setback under new leadership, the curious fortunes of Bill Belichick in college football, and Miami’s bounce-back victory. Along the way, the crew savor classic traditions, inside jokes, and the unpredictable chaos of college sports—especially as Lucy revels in still having her job for a third season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Lucy’s Return and the Off-Roading Experience

• Lucy Rohden expresses surprise at still being employed and embarking on another year of college football coverage.
  • "I am just as shocked as you all are. I still work here. Who knew? ...Not only do I still work here, they're letting me do this for a third year." (02:00)
• The team is in Columbus for the Texas–Ohio State opener, but jokes about being denied press credentials.
• Lucy shares her favorite aspect of traveling: “the little moments and communities” that define college football (04:27), including attending a 30-year tailgate tradition—complete with a quirky donut-and-drink initiation.

Tailgate Initiation & Mishaps

• The group participates in a comically ceremonial donut dunking at “J Back in Day Olds” tailgate, only for a recording snafu to force Lucy to repeat the ritual—leading to a lighthearted “punishment” for her teammate Rose.
• "Because I had to eat two soggy donuts, Rose has to drink the soggy donut water. Look at this." (05:16)

Michigan’s Scandal and Penalties

• Lucy presses Dan about Michigan’s recent scandal and insufficient punishment, setting off a passionate exchange:
  • Lucy: “Did Michigan get away with it?” (02:32)
  • Dan: "Absolutely, they got away with it. $20 million is not even close to a significant amount of money for them... That's just Michigan. Michigan always." (02:39)
  • Lucy: "What would have been fair?" (02:55)
  • Dan: "Vacate all the wins in the national championship and the three wins against us... I’m not sure about the death penalty.” (02:58, 03:04)
  • Lucy (joking): “Actual death penalty for Jim Harbaugh?” (03:07)
  • Dan: “Harbaugh should get punished in the NFL for just running away from your scandal.” (03:09)
• The panel skewers Michigan’s righteous reputation and Harbaugh’s perceived hypocrisy.

The Arch Manning Question

• Overhype or Proper Hype for College Football’s “It” QB
  • Lucy: “Is Arch Manning properly hyped, overly hyped, under hyped?” (03:24)
  • Despite Dan’s defense (“I do love Arch Manning... he’s got the stuff.”), most raise their hands for “overrated.” (03:37)
  • Mike Ryan: “He’s proved nothing so far except his name.” (03:42)
  • Dan: “You’re not gonna come out into the shoe Big Noon, biggest game of the year, and not be rattled.” (03:44)

Offbeat College Football Traditions

• Lucy quizzes the Miami-centric crew on Buckeye facts and pokes fun at their lack of local knowledge (“Do you know what a Buckeye is? ...Not an animal. Buckeye is a nut”). (04:11–04:17)
• The Lee Corso legacy and the goofy headgear tradition are celebrated as classic college football quirks (05:44).

Alabama’s Big Fall: DeBoer’s Rocky Start

• Major focus on Alabama’s humbling loss and the challenges for new coach Kaylin DeBoer
  • Lucy: “Alabama losing the way they did is far and away the most interesting storyline of this weekend...The way they were absolutely out-physicaled, out-coached... It was an embarrassing loss.” (08:20)
  • The panel considers whether DeBoer was set up to fail after Saban, and how NIL competition has changed recruiting dynamics.

    “Since Kaylin DeBoer took over at Alabama, they’ve never had a game where Alabama was the less penalized team... That’s stuff that Nick Saban does.” – Lucy (11:03)

  • Dissects how Alabama’s notorious discipline and physical edge have disappeared under DeBoer, fueling schadenfreude among rival fans.
  • Zaslow: “Is that all of college football laughing under its breath at Alabama, just tired of getting its ass kicked by Alabama for 17 years?” (12:57)
  • Buyout speculation: DeBoer’s is a staggering $70 million, making instant firing unlikely despite fan outrage. (12:43–13:15)

    "You take that Alabama job, you understand ... there’s no wiggle room. ...You have to succeed right away." – Lucy (13:15)

The Bill Belichick “Experiment” & Fallout

• Bill Belichick’s disastrous college debut with North Carolina is compared (gleefully) to Alabama’s collapse.
• Skip Bayless' tweet about Belichick's “national championship offense” (18:21) is mercilessly mocked after UNC's epic flop.
  • Lucy: “You are the oldest coach in all of college football trying to relate to 18 year olds. ...This isn't going to work.” (18:53)
  • Dan: “He’s been nasty for years... I love what I watched last night.” (19:46)
  • Lucy: “If this is how he’s choosing to end his career, then fine, take the consequences.” (20:27)
• Extensive debate over how his UNC tenure might (or might not) tarnish his legacy, especially compared to Tom Brady's post-Patriots success.
  • Fellow Panelist: “The lead story of ... his obituary is six-time Super Bowl winner. North Carolina is maybe lower in the story.” (22:02)
  • Mike Ryan: “But if this can't tarnish legacy, then legacy cannot be tarnished... the stats of him with Tom Brady and apart from Tom Brady are jarring.” (22:37)
• Comedy moment: Belichick releases a “depth chart” with no player names—an empty misdirection move, met with the panel’s mockery. (29:08)

Miami Hurricanes’ Big Win Over Notre Dame

• Miami’s disciplined, physical win gets focus, with more optimism than complaints—though conservative play-calling is debated.
  • “We saw how Miami will win and we saw how Miami will lose... those teams ...have not been that. ...That team would have played with anyone.” – Dan (31:10, 35:22)
  • Zaslow lauds Miami’s newly-found discipline, recounts previous seasons marred by meltdowns from lack of poise. (32:39–34:44)
  • Discussion about Mario Cristobal’s decision-making and the risks of conservative strategy—even when justified by improved defense.
    • Dan: “I would have rather not kicked a 47 yard field goal... these kickers miss from everywhere.” (37:56)
    • Zaslow: “That kick also would have been good from 65.” (38:06)
    • Mike Ryan: “If he misses it and Notre Dame comes back and scores, you guys would be so confused about how Miami lost.” (42:16)
  • Final word: “If you want to go at Mario Cristobal for being conservative ...then give him credit for having that defense that was atrocious last year win the game.” – Zaslow (41:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lucy on precarious employment:

  "Even better to still have a job. Cause that was up in the... I didn't know. I really didn't know. But thank God." (06:50)

• On Harbaugh/Michigan:

  "Harbaugh should get punished in the NFL for just running away from your scandal." – Dan (03:09)

• On Alabama’s decline:

  "Welcome to the real world. This is how we've all been living for the last 20 years." – Lucy (13:06)

• On Belichick’s UNC disaster:

  “He’s always been a not nice guy. I don’t care for him and I hope he has the day he deserves.” – Lucy (30:18) "That's a great kind insult... it's leaving it to the cosmos to sort it out." – Mike Ryan (30:34)

• On Miami’s victory:

  "That team that I watched on Sunday night... that team there plays with anyone." – Dan (35:22)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:33] – Show begins; Lucy returns, talks about Columbus trip
• [02:32] – Michigan punishment debate
• [03:24] – Arch Manning’s hype/overhype conversation
• [04:27–05:16] – Tailgate traditions and donut initiation
• [08:20] – Alabama’s shocking loss under DeBoer analyzed
• [11:03] – Alabama’s discipline issues post-Saban
• [12:43–13:15] – Buyout for DeBoer and fan expectations
• [16:16] – Lucy’s friend helps pick Rangers for hockey, sparking playful banter
• [18:21] – Skip Bayless/Belichick segment begins
• [19:46] – Dan on why everyone delights in Belichick’s loss
• [20:27] – Should Belichick’s UNC stint tarnish his legacy?
• [22:37] – Mike Ryan: "If this can't tarnish legacy..."
• [29:08] – Belichick’s empty “depth chart” prank
• [31:10] – Discussion of Miami’s newfound discipline vs. Notre Dame
• [35:22] – Dan’s praise for Miami’s game
• [37:56] – Field goal controversy in Miami's play-calling
• [41:11] – Defense as key for Miami; fan expectations vs. reality

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The hour is playful, sharp, and deeply rooted in football’s rowdy fandom, with constant ribbing (both amongst panelists and at the expense of sports' biggest institutions). Lucy Rohden’s irreverent charm is a focal point—her incredulity at keeping her job, her joyful immersion in fan culture, and her ability to stir up contentious debates. The panel blends enthusiasm for the game, skepticism of its traditions and leaders, and a delight in seeing dynasties falter.

Listeners come away with:

• Fresh, firsthand stories from college football’s beating heart.
• Candid, often hilarious analysis of major scandals and shocks.
• A sense of change and vulnerability in the sport’s top programs (Alabama, Michigan, now Belichick!)
• And plenty of the show’s trademark banter—reminding you: sports are at their best when you can still laugh about them.