Hour 1: Matt Eberflus, Ryan Day, and a Bad Weekend For Football Coaches

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1: Matt Eberflus, Ryan Day, and a Bad Weekend For Football Coaches
Release Date: December 2, 2024
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Hosts: Dan Le Batard and Stugotz
Co-Hosts/In-Studio Guests: Chris Cody, Greg Cody, Jon Weiner, Mike Ryan, Lucy Rodin

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Introduction

In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, the hosts delve into a particularly tumultuous weekend in the football world, focusing on the setbacks faced by coaches Matt Eberflus and Ryan Day. Alongside these main topics, the show is peppered with humorous anecdotes, insider sports commentary, and engaging banter among the hosts and co-hosts.

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1. Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears' Turbulent Weekend

The episode opens with a heated discussion about the Chicago Bears' disappointing performance and the subsequent firing of head coach Matt Eberflus.

• Jon Weiner expresses his frustration:
  “...they lost. It was really dumb. And it cost him his job, literally, that press conference.” (02:05)

• Lucy Rodin sarcastically comments on the firing process:
  “Like, they could have just not let him talk and just fired him.” (02:10)

The conversation highlights the perceived incompetence in the Bears' play-calling and the quick decision to terminate Eberflus' tenure, emphasizing the emotional and strategic missteps that led to his dismissal.

Notable Quote:
Chris Cody on Eberflus’ potential longevity:
“There's just no way this guy ends up being a success.” (02:49)

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2. Ryan Day's Performance and the Ohio State vs. Michigan Showdown

A significant portion of the episode centers on Ohio State's head coach, Ryan Day, and his critically poor performance in the high-stakes game against Michigan.

• Dan LeBatard describes the game as one of the worst coaching performances:
  “It was just mind boggling how ill prepared they were for that game.” (27:10)

• Jon Weiner discusses the mishandling of quarterback decisions:
  “...their loss was Syracuse's gain.” (29:15)

• Chris Cody questions the depth of Ryan Day’s coaching qualifications:
  “What training does he have to be running an entire program?” (12:00)

The hosts dissect how Ohio State, despite being a 21-point favorite, succumbed to a disappointing loss against a seemingly underperforming Michigan team. They explore the ramifications of such a loss, questioning the future of Ryan Day and the structural issues within college football coaching strategies.

Notable Quote:
Dan LeBatard on the significance of the loss:
“They did have this one game you cannot lose and you lost.” (30:17)

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3. Humorous Sports Anecdotes and Highlights

Interspersed with the main discussions are lighter moments and funny stories from recent sports events.

• Mike Ryan shares a quirky incident involving a Bills fan during a snowy game:
  “...a Bills fan decided, you know what, I'm gonna do my part... throw a snowball at the football.” (07:29)

• Lucy Rodin pokes fun at Purdue's poor season:
  “Purdue could have started every game this season with a 34 point lead and they still would have finished 6 and 6.” (09:52)

These segments provide a balance to the more intense discussions, showcasing the show's signature blend of humor and sports commentary.

Notable Quote:
Greg Cody on Purdue’s coaching:
“He did the morning press conference. They fired him after lunch.” (02:17)

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4. Overtime Rules and Conference Championship Structures

The hosts engage in an in-depth analysis of current overtime rules and the broader implications for conference championships.

• Dan LeBatard critiques the structure of conference championships:
  “I think that they're hurting the playoff and they're hurting teams more than they're helping.” (34:53)

• Jon Weiner suggests potential solutions to the mega conference issues:
  “You're going to have little quads within these mega conferences…” (35:57)

The discussion touches on the chaos within the Big 12, the necessity of reinstating divisions, and proposed changes to the overtime rules to streamline gameplay and reduce player fatigue.

Notable Quote:
Chris Cody on overtime walks:
“Can we just stay put?” (38:18)

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5. Rose's Pepper Spray Incident

In a dramatic turn, the episode recounts an incident where Rose, presumably a team member or associate, was pepper-sprayed during the Michigan vs. Ohio State game aftermath.

• Dan LeBatard narrates the event:
  “Rose follows the Michigan team over to the Michigan band... Then she got pepper spray.” (39:11)

• Chris Cody reacts to the audio/video:
  “We cannot do better than that... Stugatz, who not only has not read his book...” (16:50)

The hosts recount the chaotic scene, highlighting the intensity and unpredictability that sometimes erupts in post-game environments. They also share their relief that Rose was unharmed, despite the initial panic.

Notable Quote:
Jon Weiner reflects on the incident:
“It hurts, but I'm fine.” (41:18)

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6. Community and Personal Updates

Listeners are treated to personal updates and community news, including book signings and personal milestones among the hosts.

• Greg Cody announces a book signing event:
  “...we'll be doing a little show together, a little Q and A, and then we'll sign some books.” (17:47)

• Chris Cody shares personal news about his marital status:
  “I have a new wife now. You know, me and Bianca didn't make...” (22:04)

These segments add a personal touch to the show, fostering a sense of community and connection with the audience.

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Conclusion and Insights

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a comprehensive analysis of recent missteps by prominent football coaches, intertwined with humorous stories and personal anecdotes. The hosts provide insightful critiques on coaching decisions, game strategies, and broader collegiate athletic structures, all while maintaining their trademark engaging and entertaining dialogue. The episode underscores the unpredictable nature of sports and the high stakes involved for those at the helm of major teams.

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Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• Jon Weiner:
  “I'm giving them their tears.” (01:31)
  “It was the most expensive roster put together in college football history.” (27:10)

• Jenn Weiner:
  “It's a good point. All right. Finally. Too late in the show.” (36:50)

• Dan LeBatard:
  “They are emotional. They're so emotional.” (25:27)
  “I started laughing because we are close friends.” (39:11)

• Chris Cody:
  “Can't we just stay put?” (38:18)
  “Why has it taken this long?” (42:00)

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Timestamp Reference Key

• 02:05
• 02:10
• 02:49
• 27:10
• 29:15
• 12:00
• 30:17
• 07:29
• 09:52
• 02:17
• 34:53
• 35:57
• 38:18
• 39:11
• 41:18
• 41:11
• 16:50
• 22:04
• 17:47
• 36:50
• 23:18

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Note:
This summary aims to encapsulate the essence of the podcast episode, highlighting key discussions and memorable moments. For a comprehensive understanding and firsthand experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.

[Billy Corben]

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[Chris Cody]

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[Jon Weiner]

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[Mike Ryan]

See [e-mail] this is the Dan Levator show with the St Guts podcast. Hey, people, tell us what in sport made you laugh hard this weekend. In this segment we call what made you laugh this weekend.

[Greg Cody]

Ha ha ha.

[Chris Cody]

Exciting.

[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Chris Cody]

It's been a minute since we did this. Let's go around the room. Mike Ryan, what do you believe was the funniest thing from the sports weekend? A lot of people would say, you're tears.

[Jon Weiner]

I'm sorry they feel that way about me. I think I've been pretty rational about this one. I'm giving them their tears. But for me, the funniest thing of the sports weekend is just I was screaming at the tv like a lot of people were at that final drive from the Chicago Bears that caused Eber Fluss, who then afterwards said, no, we executed. That's kind of how it was. It was designed. That was crazy. They went 33 seconds in between plays. They had a shot at a field goal. At the very least they could have ran three plays. But they, they ran one. They lost. It was, it was really dumb. And it cost him his job, literally, that press conference.

[Lucy Rodin]

Like, they could have just not let him talk and just fired him. But they're like, go ahead, do your press conference.

[Greg Cody]

He did the morning press conference. They fired him after lunch.

[Lucy Rodin]

You're fired.

[Mike Ryan]

Is that a man that knows I'm getting fired? I just want to give you absolutely nothing on the way out. Like, I will not even give you the satisfaction of acknowledging that I messed up the play calling at the end of the game, like, I know I'm done and you're not getting that. You can have my job, but you're not taking my dignity.

[Jon Weiner]

I don't know how to describe it, but when I saw the blurb, the Chicago Bears have hired Matt Eberfluss, I knew how it was going to end. I was just. There's no scenario just based on name. I'm sorry. And I don't know what I'm doing there, but.

[Chris Cody]

No, it's the name Eberfluss.

[Jon Weiner]

There's just no way this guy ends up being a success.

[Lucy Rodin]

You gotta change it. You gotta change it.

[Chris Cody]

You can't imagine Bill Belichick's record on someone named Eberfluss.

[Jon Weiner]

There's just no way. I saw that blurb. I'm like, oh, he's going to get fired inside a couple of seasons. This. This is a disaster. Look at that name.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, Eberfluss. The great coaches, their last names. Belichick, Lombardi. It's got to be someone like that. There is not a great coach with a name like Eberflusse anywhere. Anywhere in sports.

[Mike Ryan]

I would say. I think to prove your point, you'd have to pick someone that doesn't have all of the wins and just marry yourself to that name now, because what you did was you just listed the quarterbacks with the best records.

[Chris Cody]

Our coach. Yes. What I'm telling you is that right now, because Belichick isn't the most common of names. But I do think it's funny that Stugott doesn't take in the into account the idea that if Lombardi had been named Eberflusse, he would now be mocking someone named Lombardi for not being named Eberflutz.

[Jon Weiner]

Teams would be playing for the Eberflusse trophy, right?

[Greg Cody]

I'm torn on Ben Johnson.

[Chris Cody]

What do you mean you're torn on Ben Johnson?

[Greg Cody]

I don't know if it's a good name.

[Jon Weiner]

There's no way. Look, Ben Johnson. Safe name, Safe. Hire Eberfluz. No shot.

[Chris Cody]

Let's talk for a second about the end of that game before we continue to go around the room, even though it was Thursday, because you rarely get confirmed as a fan base or a sports consumer. Ah, yeah. I knew I was right about that guy. That was a season of great expectations for the Chicago Bears. That particular game, under other circumstances, making the adjustments to come back to look in the second half the way the Bears looked versus how they looked in the first half would be a coaching clinic on Caleb Williams. Growth and looking great toward the end of that game, how bad Detroit looked at home the second half, but you screwed it up the only way that you could to get fired on the spot, which was In a situation. Stugotts. We make fun of a lot of broadcasters for getting it wrong. My God, Did Nance and Romo do a good job with no timeouts and no time to gather yourself to give everyone on television watching the panic of, oh, no, Jim, Jim, no. Like they knew what was happening as it counted down and they had the appropriate tone to it. And this is not a small thing because Tom Brady and a whole lot of others have to learn here at the 8 second mark. Jim Nance gave an elbow to Romo because Romo was going to start talking and he just cut. He clipped him because he's like, nope, I got to get this part right. Tony, get out of the way. Tony was in the middle of a thought and he clipped him because he had to.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, Brady's been accused of talking too much. It's a main criticism for him. But I think by comparison, it was a very bad week for Tom Brady because you had these isolated games where Tony Romo was really good. And considering what had happened in Greg Olson's broadcast, Olson really brought it and made people long for him. It was a very bad weekend. I think I have to capitulate on. On. On Tom Brady. I thought he was going to be a good broadcaster because who else has these stories? I wish he did a little bit more of that, but this is a kooky setup with him not meeting with teams and him just bombing in. And I'm not really sure what kind of opportunity he's going to have to get better.

[Chris Cody]

Olson did such a good job communicating in a small window. What I'm about to say, Stugant, where he's warding off the criticism. He's going to get by how he frames something at the end of the Vikings Cardinals game. A great game, incidentally.

[Greg Cody]

Yes. Sam Darnold. Jesus.

[Chris Cody]

At the end of that game, Olson ends up being happy for Aaron Jones, who's had a couple of tough weeks, has had trouble handling the ball and stuff.

[Greg Cody]

He had some tough plays in that game.

[Chris Cody]

Yes. Also in that game. And what Olson did was he said, and this is hard to do in small windows. And it's something Brady's struggling with. Concise thoughts, cleanly stated in small windows. He's like, we do not root for anybody out here. We are not rooting for any of the teams. But sometimes you're allowed to be happy for people you know, who are good people. And so you undercut all the criticism that's coming your way from Cardinal fans who are going to say you're Rooting against our team. You're rooting. You. You sound too excited about what Aaron Jones just did against our team. Billy what was the funniest thing from the sports weekend?

[Mike Ryan]

Dan I'm going to go to Highmark Stadium in Buffalo and it's just a series of I love a snow game. Yesterday felt like football. During the game, a Bills fan decided, you know what, I'm gonna do my part because the Bills, they do this thing, it's very weird where the Bills are like, you know what, why don't you come shovel all of our snow out here? Like I get to go to the game. Like, no, no, no, no, no. Just, just come shovel all of our snow so that, you know, the game can be playable. So that they, I think yesterday actually offered and they paid people like $20 an hour. Which if you like see the videos, it seems like there's. There aren't very many supervisors there because everybody's just playing in the snow, throwing themselves down the chutes. Then the game starts and like, well, the stands are still very much full of snow. So I don't know what you're paying 20 people $20 an hour for granted. There's two feet of snow. But like, seems like lots of fun is being had when we're inside the stadium cleaning up the snow. But a brave Bills fan tried to do their part in that game. Was early in the game, I believe the score was 00 at the time. 49ers were lining up for a kick, which is very difficult in the snow. I don't know if you're aware of Dan and a Bills fan. One lonely soul Bills fan said, you know what, we don't know how this game's going to go. To do my part, I'm going to throw a snowball at the football as it's going through the uprights and see if maybe I don't hit that darn football and prevent a field goal. And then we'd get in a scenario where I think we'd all learn together what happens if a fan throws a snowball and hits a football midair and the football falls. Is it just a do over? Is that part of the elements? Like, what do we do in this scenario? Because I'm not sure that there's a rule in the rule book about snowballs hitting balls in flight. I'm sure there will be next year though. So the one fan funniest thing in the sports weekend that decided to throw a snowball at the football.

[Lucy Rodin]

Enough with the guy on Twitter who's.

[Greg Cody]

Like you know that the snowball wouldn't have done anything.

[Lucy Rodin]

It's like we got you.

[Mike Ryan]

It's just a fun video guy. I don't know.

[Chris Cody]

This is from Danny Parkins of FS1. I also don't know what the ruling would be if a snowball did indeed change the trajectory of a kick. What the ruling on that would be. Maybe we should ask somebody. But this from Danny Parkins of FS1. The Bills lead the AFC in point differential 134 turnover differential plus 17 points per game, almost 30 per game, rushing touchdowns 21 and fewest sacks allowed. Fewest sacks allowed by any team through 12 games since 2020. It seems like a pretty important statistic when your quarterbacks are getting hurt as often as they are. Chris, what was the funniest thing from the sports weekend?

[Lucy Rodin]

Purdue pretty bad college football team. I could have just stopped there. Purdue, they went 1 and 11 this season but I saw a fun stat. Purdue could have started every game this season with a 34 point lead and they still would have finished 6 and 6.

[Chris Cody]

What was the one in the 1 in 11 for Purdue? Who did Purdue beat? Because all I saw every time I looked up was Purdue losing 60 to nothing.

[Greg Cody]

You're wondering who has the shame of losing to Purdue this season.

[Chris Cody]

Well, the teams I saw that were worse the team Oklahoma State won three games and watching them against Colorado, I don't understand how the worst teams I've seen this year in the big, you know, big name schools are Purdue and fsu. But Oklahoma State was in the conversation.

[Jon Weiner]

What I was watching they did beat Arkansas. SEC just means more.

[Chris Cody]

What I was watching against Colorado made me feel bad for Oklahoma State fans who are always been fine being third in that conference because they didn't win a game in that conference this year. They were.09 and didn't deserve to win any of the games in that conference. And I don't know, I don't actually know what it looks like if one of these coaches just can't keep up with nil, doesn't have the ability. I don't know what that how I could tie the two things together to say that coach there got left behind by everything that happened because so much has changed about the sport.

[Jon Weiner]

Well you can see what happened with Stanford which they don't really take on people from the portal and they found the solution. Andrew Luck is back.

[Greg Cody]

Oh yes.

[Lucy Rodin]

First game of the season. Purdue beat Indiana State 49. Nothing.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow, they did fire their head coach yesterday by the way. Ryan Walters gone.

[Chris Cody]

Andrew Luck Being the general manager of Stanford football, I think all of us would say, yeah, like that face and voice of a program. I would also ask, what are his qualifications for that particular job?

[Greg Cody]

He's Andrew Luck.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's a Stanford grad. He's smart.

[Jon Weiner]

He's smart. And his dad has loads of administrative experience.

[Chris Cody]

So Chris Cody that's getting sued by.

[Jon Weiner]

Vince McMahon, works hard.

[Chris Cody]

His dad has administrative experience. His Andrew Lux qualifications.

[Greg Cody]

Sometimes that's all it takes.

[Jon Weiner]

Dan Woj got named GM for Saint Bonaventure. This is a new position.

[Greg Cody]

Great hire.

[Mike Ryan]

Hold on a second. What did he go to college for? Check. He graduated a bachelor's degree in architectural design.

[Dan LeBatard]

Gotta be smart to do that building a program.

[Greg Cody]

Who would you hire?

[Chris Cody]

I mean, somebody with qualifications.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, but he's not Andrew Locke.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's gonna go work for Stanford football, though.

[Chris Cody]

Somebody who has to wait in a line and do training to get one of the great jobs that there are in sports because he's trained to have that. He or she has trained to have that great job.

[Greg Cody]

But again, he or she, not Andrew Luck.

[Chris Cody]

Agreed.

[Greg Cody]

Yep. I mean, that's the perfect hire for Stanford. It is.

[Mike Ryan]

It's Colgan, like ear thing 4 right now. Cause like, we' all cool with Angela getting this job.

[Chris Cody]

Why do you guys think that I'm doing the opposite of the Hulk Hogan ear thing? The ear thing is because you want something heard. I'm saying something unpopular. Everyone universally applauds this. And I'm. I'm simply asking, what training does he have to be running an entire program?

[Greg Cody]

Training, schmaning.

[Dan LeBatard]

What training does any of Stanford football have?

[Greg Cody]

Exactly?

[Chris Cody]

I was just asking the question. That's all I was doing.

[Mike Ryan]

People should pay their dues. Nah, Andrew Luck, it's fun. He'll say something crazy.

[Chris Cody]

Okay.

[Greg Cody]

It's good for us.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, I. Yeah, that's really matters.

[Mike Ryan]

Really. Who cares how Stanford football goes, right? I mean, I think that's really the bottom line here. No one cares if they'd win or lose as long as we get Andrew Luck back.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

During the break, Stugatz, who was saying it's good for us, runs everything through the prism of what's good for me. And during the break, he actually had a good idea, which is that the 12th team in the playoffs should be chosen by a randomly selected committee of just fans and the team they want to see in.

[Greg Cody]

Thank you.

[Chris Cody]

The 12th team that the committee chooses, the first 11. But a group of 30 just randomly selected fans decide who they want to see in the 12th spot.

[Greg Cody]

Now, I Think a lot of people would say Miami. This year I would go Colorado. So this is a year. This is a trick. Florida state.

[Mike Ryan]

Wow.

[Jon Weiner]

Bodie McBoat, face.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let him in. Finally.

[Chris Cody]

Wow. Florida State. Lucy, what was the funniest thing from the sports weekend?

[Dan LeBatard]

I have a one and I have a bonus one. So my first one, a little personal bias. Iowa beat Nebraska this weekend, 13 to 10. They did score more points than Ohio State did. Iowa won this game while only converting five first downs. Nebraska had 20 first downs. Iowa had five, went 0 for 10 on third down conversions and won this game.

[Greg Cody]

Amazing.

[Dan LeBatard]

Pretty cool.

[Greg Cody]

Lucy Rodin, Iowa Correspondent I believe they.

[Dan LeBatard]

Had 20 yards in the first half and that was it. So it was very impressive. My bonus one is a fun little stat. Out of the 2021 Ohio State recruiting class, the only player who beat Michigan is Quinn Ewers.

[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Chris Cody]

I want to get back to the Ohio State and Michigan game, but Stu Gotz, what was the funniest thing from the sports weekend?

[Greg Cody]

For me, it was Adam Feld saving Billy's life.

[Jon Weiner]

Aaron or Aaron.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, he saved his life, Dan. It's that or there was a new world record for the longest putt ever made. Did you see it?

[Chris Cody]

I did not.

[Greg Cody]

139 yards. The guy swung the putter like he was swinging a driver and it went in the hole.

[Chris Cody]

A football field and 39 yards.

[Greg Cody]

Yep. 139 yards. Yes. It's great. You gotta watch the video.

[Chris Cody]

That's like. That's like a hole in one on a par three, isn't it? To do 139 yard putt. What was the previous record?

[Lucy Rodin]

Because 138.

[Chris Cody]

That. That is what I will do if I'm on a golf course on the fairway. Yeah. Well, just because I don't know how to hit the correct wedges and anything like that. The putter I can hit. I can always hit the putter. That is crazy. That's a crazy amount of distance to.

[Greg Cody]

I have played par threes that are shorter than that. We all have. If anyone's played golf, it'd be funny to see you go to a par three with a putter. Mike did it with a driver. I mean, he stuck it within five inches of the hole. I got four inches to go. I mean.

[Chris Cody]

My funniest thing of the sports weekend, because I did have a smile on my face for four days about what I am now claiming is in contention for the funniest joke that this show has ever told in 20 years. The idea that Stugott has not read his own bestselling book is funny enough. The idea that Random House didn't get the audio version of that book, unlike it has with every other author it has ever asked to do that, even though it was paying Stugatz to read read his own book and he still hasn't read his own book and it's a bestseller. We cannot do better than that. As a joke, stugottsbook.com is where you go if you want to get your significant other a funny gift for the holidays. And on Thursday, Stugott's who is too big for a bookstore. Bookstores are outdated. Stugotts is not. Is going to be at a church near the bookstore so that all of the overflow capacity at the bookstore ends up at the church instead worshiping our funny hero. Stugatz, who not only has not read his book, didn't do the audio version of his book, even though he was being paid essentially to read his own book.

[Greg Cody]

But by the book, it's not just me. The reason it was moved to the church was it's also. It's Greg Cody. Greg Cody and I will be out there. We'll be doing a little show together, a little Q and A, and then we'll sign some books. And so me and Greg Cody, the response was so big that books and books needed to move it to a church down the street. I'm excited for this. I really am. Me and Greg Cody cutting it up.

[Chris Cody]

We should give the people the information over the course of the week of where it is that you and Greg Cody will be on Thursday going back to the apocalypse. That was the end of that Bears game. Do you know how wonderfully succinct it is in a broadcasting moment for Tony Romo to say no for the second time during three seconds prefaced by Jim no. Like just the personal the Jim no. When there's seven seconds left and we're all. But it's just. It's whimpered. We're all thinking it, but I don't know. I knew that there was pity in his voice and I didn't know whether it was for Caleb Williams or Eber Fluss or just football in general for being disrespected by that clock management.

[Jon Weiner]

Tony Romoisms have infiltrated every aspect of my life. Should we go out to dinner with Nicole?

[Chris Cody]

Jim Jim no.

[Jon Weiner]

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[Chris Cody]

Don LeBatard, you are very comfortable talking about how you met your wife, how much you love her, how important she is to you, and that's the reason that I asked the question. I've always admired that about you, that you are. You have no problems whatsoever. Professional. Well, the thing is, I have a new wife now. You know, me and Bianca didn't make.

[Greg Cody]

It, so I moved on.

[Chris Cody]

We moved on. It was for the better for both of us. Still got.

[Greg Cody]

Things just got a little awkward there. So let me be the first on this show to congratulate you on the new wife. Vince, congratulations on. On feeling whole. Feeling complete, you know, let's talk tailgating. Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

Don't be, don't. Don't feel awkward, buddy.

[Greg Cody]

You know, I don't. I mean, it's much too late for that.

[Chris Cody]

I appreciate you soothing me in this regard, but I already feel terribly awkward. And then my teammate comes to my defense with not a question congratulations, just a healthy congratulations. And the further pointing out of that awkwardness because he's always good for me in those spots. I'm also thinking of divorce, Vince, after many, many years. 18 years with a partner who does things like that to you.

[Mike Ryan]

This is the Don Levatar show with these two gods.

[Chris Cody]

Is there a lot of rosary bead clutching when it comes to the flag planting in the Ohio State Michigan game? Because Ryan Day, I found myself more bothered by the general caveman ness of Ryan Day after that. Matter of factly saying, well, we're not going to allow that in our home field like we're.

[Greg Cody]

That you can beat us on our home field, but you cannot plant the flag after you beat us.

[Chris Cody]

But just the whole idea of here's this bad, ugly optic thing, even though we all kind of know this is emotional, this is violent. And throughout the weekend there were times that people are fighting because there's physical stuff all over the place that escalates. And the most emotional time is right after you've lost on your home field. So I get why it is that he would be bothered by that. I'm speaking to the climate of caveman that after that loss takes a certain pride in. We wouldn't allow that. That's a bridge too far. But people talking about me being fired when I'm one of the winningest coaches there is by percentage over the last five years. Because I can't beat that team anywhere. The culture of football that surrounds some of this stupidity, which is, well, you know, this is war for us, right? And at the end of war, what do you do when it's violence? That is a real estate acquisition, what do you do? You plant your flag to tell everyone that you've been there. When the historic echoing thing of that isn't going to be the flag or any visuals of that flag. It's going to be what they've done to your dye job the last four years.

[Dan LeBatard]

Men are so emotional. They're so emotional. Oh, my God. God. I'd actually like to talk about that. Like just the game. Everything that sort of transpired before Rose got pepper sprayed, that felt like just one of the most botched coaching jobs I have ever seen. Where the entire time, to me it really felt like Ohio State went in with the plan of we are simply more talented than them. They are a bad football team. We will win. Before the game, there was no sort of feeling in the air that this could be a potential loss. Like the fans were taking it very seriously, but there was no vibe that made it seem like it had the past few years where Michigan was a very good football team. They won the national championship last year. But it was just mind boggling to me to lose this game when you know exactly what Michigan is going to do. They cannot throw the ball to save their life. You know they are going to run. You know, you need to have a plan in place for their defense and you have the best receiving core in the nation. And it was just so like watching, I was like, they are so unprepared for this. Will Howard played like shit. Like you knew what Michigan was going to do and you had nothing ready for it. Like, I think that is one of the worst coaching jobs of Ryan Day's entire career. And I know that he has an insane winning percentage. 471 against all Big Ten teams except for Michigan. 1 and 4 against Michigan. Like, do I think he should get fired for this? No. He's a very good head coach. Every team in the country would be lucky to have him. But that's. You're at Ohio State. That's the one game you cannot lose. That is the one thing you cannot do. It's just the whole time it was just. I could not wrap my brain around how this was happening. Three touchdown, three touchdown. Favorite, three touchdown.

[Jon Weiner]

Favorites 20 and a half, I think.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. And it's. And it was funny as the game was getting closer. It kept growing. Like no one saw this happening. Will Howard played like shit. Like it was so interesting to me. We watched the first half of this game up in the press box where we're looking from above and I'm like Michigan clearly watched film that that Will Howard interception. He threw the exact same pick at Penn State. Like it was so clear that Michigan was prepped and ready for this game and Ohio State wasn't the full we're going to the Big Ten championship. They had this just like insane of we are so much more talented. We are not worried about it. It's just mind boggling how ill prepared they were for that game.

[Chris Cody]

Can you guys give me some examples just to put some context for the audience? On three touchdown favorite. Give me some of the other games this weekend that would illustrate to people because I know when it's Ohio State and Michigan people expect it to be close. They're giant programs. But if you have not been paying attention, Michigan is very limited this year. So give me some other examples in the sport this weekend of teams that were a 21 point favorite. So I can explain how weird it was to watch this particular Michigan team win that game at Ohio State. And Ohio State did what it has done. They've got the best goal line defense in the sport by percentage dugout. So they stop people on the goal line. It's how they won the Penn State game. They did it to Michigan early. I didn't expect Michigan to score very much at all in that game and Michigan didn't score at all in that game. To watch Ohio State's offense look like that was the part that I was not getting. Having watched Michigan's Michigan over the course of the season and being wildly unimpressed with what that team is.

[Greg Cody]

It was such a bad day all the way around for Ryan Day because you had what happened on the field, you had what happened after the game. You have video of him saying what happened to one of his players after the game. So there's a coach not knowing. And then later that night you have Kyle McCord or later that day, I should say, you have a quarterback that started for Ohio State last year tear up the Miami Hurricanes and you let that kid go. He's the leading passer in college football, is he not?

[Chris Cody]

Did he not break all of Donovan McNabb's records at Syracuse like this? He. He is somebody who holds all of the Syracuse passing records. It's. Does he not?

[Greg Cody]

I think he does. I'll look it up. But he had a Tremendous year in that guy. Played quarterback for Ohio State last year and he's beating Miami and Ohio State's quarterback is throwing interceptions and losing at home to Michigan.

[Dan LeBatard]

I believe that was Ohio State's like largest loss considering how much they were favored by since like 1998 or something. And it's just, I cannot emphasize enough. It's not that you lost to a team that you were favored to beat by 21 points. You lost to Michigan when you were favored to beat them by 21 points. This is a bad Michigan team. Washington beat this Michigan team. They were six and five. There was a graphic before the game that Michigan had like the second lowest winning percentage after winning the national championship the year before, like in college football history. And you lost to them the one game you could not lose, you lost.

[Jon Weiner]

I would say also the quarterback decision, he was trying to be delicate because he was trying to keep one of the kid, one of the younger freshmen on his roster. They let McCord go. McCord kind of played a lot more hurt than people knew last year and it made him a little jumpy in the pocket. And their loss was Syracuse's gain. But I think maybe one of the bigger mistakes that Ryan Day made was. I'm very familiar with what the transfer portal quarterback market was. Miami was talking to all those guys in the portal. They were talking to Will Howard. Cam Ward was there for the taken. Ohio State didn't show genuine interest in Cam Ward and they wanted Will Howard.

[Dan LeBatard]

This was the most expensive roster put together in college football history. And you lost to a 6 and 5 Michigan team at home when you were a 21 point favorite. That is batshit crazy. And I was watching like the ESPN sort of post game coverage and their college football live or whatever and Joey Galloway was like, you know, I think the thing that's worth noting is, you know, when I lost and player and we lost a game, it was never, this is the coach's fault. You know, Ryan Day can't make their field goal kicker, you know, make those two kicks or whatnot. But like you were a 21 point favorite. This was the one game you needed to win and you lost. It is, I still cannot believe it. And then Rose got pepper spray.

[Chris Cody]

We're going to get to that in a second. We got to get to that. But I do believe that even though you're correct to emphasize again and again twice, 21 point favorite, I believe that means less than it ever has in college football. Georgia Tech, I think was a 17 and a half point under hook no what, to Georgia?

[Jon Weiner]

Georgia, yeah. They were 19 and a half. It opened at 20, it got down to 17.

[Chris Cody]

So you're in a situation. I know you've heard Mike around here talking about the SEC getting a reputation it deserves from the past, but not from this year. The idea that Georgia has to go eight overtimes against a 17 and a half point dog, eight overtimes, and that Georgia would have two losses already and now doesn't have to play in its conference championship game. Like that's. That's something broken in the way that we're.

[Greg Cody]

They're getting in and they're getting in.

[Chris Cody]

But there's something broken in the way that we're doing all of that. And that game was poorly officiated. Like one call goes a different way. And Georgia Tech clearly wins the game. And now Georgia's got three losses like that. That part's a little bit crazy that Georgia doesn't have to play in the conference game was a 17 and a half point favorite. Needed eight overtimes and referees.

[Jon Weiner]

They are playing in the conference championship game. Just to be clear, they're playing Georgia, plays Texas.

[Chris Cody]

But. Okay, go ahead. I'm sorry.

[Jon Weiner]

That was going to have to be their only path in if they. If they lost that game. They were in regardless. But yeah, I'm with you and I know this is coming. It's going to sound bad coming from a Miami fan because there was a Cal targeting call and there was the Virginia Tech thing, but let's just one play. The tip pass that they ended up calling a DPI on. That's not a judgment call. A call. They reviewed the targeting. It clearly caused the fumble there. He led with his head. You would think that that's called targeting. It wasn't. That's fine. Still a judgment call. What's not a judgment call is. Was this ball tipped at the line of scrimmage? I kind of felt like there were so many missed calls in that game. So many calls that went for Georgia. That was a heist. That game was stolen from Georgia Tech.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, I agree. I mean, Georgia Tech. Tech did give up a big lead. So I always kind of think that, like, you don't want it to be in that position, but there's a rivalry game and there were a lot of bad calls that if they had gone differently, it's very clear Georgia Tech would have won. We would never have gotten eight overtimes, which I can't pretend I'm not happy that we got eight overtime because they were really fun. It was a really good time. But I Talked about this on God Bless Football today. I think that, that we're going to have to, after this season, look and evaluate is conference championship games. Do they mean anything? Do we even want them? Like, I know it does mean something to a school to say I am the Big Ten champion, but I think that they're hurting the playoff and they're hurting teams more than they're helping. Because you can have an amazing season. You can make it to your conference championship game and you can lose and it's going to bite you in the ass because now you have to play another extra game. You're not getting that extra bye. You're getting beat up. Then two weeks later you have to play again. We're like Ohio State losing to Michigan is bad and no one is happy about that. If you were an Ohio State fan, helps them just a teeny tiny bit.

[Greg Cody]

Bye week.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, they don't have to play Oregon this week, which is a very tough team to play. You've already lost. That's a physical game. And now you get extra time to prepare and you're probably going to get a home playoff game.

[Jon Weiner]

I'm so happy you opened the door for this because I think the NCAA got really lucky this year with these mega conferences and not having divisions. It's a shitstorm. Look at all the scenarios. Texas, now that Texas A and M isn't ranked because they beat them, no ranked wins. You have a situation where Indiana can exist in one of these mega conferences and only play three teams with winning records. In the acc, you have essentially three teams in the final week of the season gunning for a buy in the cfp. Neither of them played each other during the regular season. You have to institute some divisions and I wouldn't be surprised if ultimately the solution is you have multiple divisions inside these conferences and you actually have a semi and then a final. Because all too often we're looking at and trying to compare these resumes and these teams are in their gigantic conferences and they're not actually playing. The teams are in contention with.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think something that's interesting to look at is going into this weekend, the Big 12, nine teams that were still mathematically alive to make the Big 12 championship game. Going into the last week of the season, nine teams were still alive. I miss divisions a lot, and I know that I'm saying that as someone who benefited from playing in a very, very bad division. Bring back legends and leaders. By the way, that was so funny and it was so cool and I miss it a lot. But like, I Totally see what Mike is saying, and I think that's going to be the case. You're gonna have, like. What I think's gonna happen is you're gonna have little quads within these mega conferences that are gonna look exactly like what the old conference.

[Chris Cody]

Other thing that's happening here. Stugots. And I know. I know no one cares about what I'm about to say, but when Mike says, and now we'll need a semifinal before the final, perhaps to alleviate some of this. The amount of games that you're making these people play.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, but it's not an extra. It's not an extra game. Like, you're actually whittling down their conference schedule because you're in a division of four, and. And where you'll get pushback from the coaches. Like, now I have two opponents that I don't have an ability to really prepare for because I don't get my schedule before the year. I see it as really the only logical solution because you had way too many instances here, and they got lucky this year. It could have been really bad where you have all these teams all bunched up. They're supposed to be in these power conferences where they play one another, and they don't. Texas and Indiana really showed you you can get really lucky if your schedule is decent.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like, look specifically at Indiana vs Ohio State. Indiana had to play Ohio State and Michigan. Ohio State had to play Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, and Penn State. It just. It just happened to work out either, if you. However you want to phrase it, either for Ohio State because they got a tougher schedule, or against Ohio State because they got a tougher schedule. Like, I know that they got rid of division specifically because of Iowa and the Big Ten West. And I get it. That's fair, and I completely understand it. But in that case, you're now opening it up for everything to be the Big Ten West. We're like, oh, sorry, your schedule just worked out that you're playing Purdue, Northwestern, and Illinois instead of Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

[Greg Cody]

The Georgia. Georgia Tech game was ridiculous. I don't want to do the Show, Dan, where we changed the overtime rules, but what they were playing at the very end of that game was not football. What I want to change about overtime is why do we have to go to the opposite side of the field for each new overtime?

[Dan LeBatard]

It's so embarrassing.

[Chris Cody]

Can we just stay put?

[Jon Weiner]

Well, I just got. I have a babysitter, and I'm losing, like, 90 seconds every time they're walking down these sides of the Field.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's got to feel so embarrassing to do the little walk and everybody's just walking you watching you walk all over there. I said this. I think it has the same energy of, like, riding around on a bird scooter. You're just like, ew, this is so embarrassing. Or like walking back when you've just rolled and bowling. You're like, this is embarrassing. Everybody's looking at me.

[Chris Cody]

We just showed a putt that is twice as long as this walk. That is making Mike pay his babysitter overtime.

[Greg Cody]

No, just stay on the same side and the next team gets the ball first. We get it.

[Chris Cody]

It's a good point. All right. Finally. Too late in the show. Lucy, take us through what happened to you and our beloved Rose. Where it is. She got pepper sprayed because she thinks that Meadowlark Media needs a war photographer.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, well, Rose was just doing her job, and she's done nothing wrong ever in history. Except for sometimes she doesn't set her alarm so we almost miss her flight. That's wrong. But she doesn't do that as much anymore. So. So by the end of the game, so we were down on the field and like, towards the end of the fourth quarter, I think we all realized Michigan was going to win. So we had a game plan in place. Rose, follow the Michigan football team, go into the field for all the post game stuff, and then we're going to run right out of the stadium and try to talk to sad Ohio State fans. Like, that was the primary goal. So as the game ends, Rose follows the Michigan team over to the Michigan band and the cheerleaders and stuff. And that's where they get the flag and they run back to the middle of the field. Rose follows. Harry and I are like 10 yards behind her. So we're like. Harry and I are a little backed up. Rose is, like, right on the outside of the action. And some of the videos, you can see her, you're like, oh, yeah, good for you, Rose. Then she got pepper spray, so it's not a happy ending. And so we're standing there and a Michigan player runs up to us and starts throwing up. And I'm like, oh, my God. Guess it was a tough game. Guess it was. You know, it's really cold outside, and so I just didn't assume that someone got pepper spray because we're watching the fights happen. We saw people get tackled. We saw student assistants, like, on the ground with, like, three cops holding them down. It was crazy. And then another Michigan player runs up and he's Sobbing uncontrollably, Harry starts to, like, feel the pepper spray. I didn't feel it. So he's like, let's go. We run. We look back, Rose is on the ground. And I. I'm so sorry. I'm just gonna be honest. I started laughing because we are close friends. It was funny. Okay? And then we went and checked on her. We ran back, went into the line of action to make sure our dear Rose was okay. And all the Michigan players really helped her out. They gave her their towels, and they had, you know, medics come. She was okay. She got pepper sprayed in one eye. A state trooper came and helped her. Not one who did the pepper spray, but, you know, someone else.

[Chris Cody]

Let me play for people some of the sound here and video of you and Rose. I don't know if this has pepper spray in it, but we'll see.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, little check in. As you may know, I got pepper spray, but now I'm fine. I do not recommend getting pepper spray.

[Jon Weiner]

It hurts, but I'm fine.

[Chris Cody]

Thank you for asking, everybody.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm a survivor. Yeah, good luck. Pepper spray bringing her down.

[Chris Cody]

So they were in the middle of people throwing up and crying. Something you might actually see in a war. Like, if it were an actual. Like, just.

[Jon Weiner]

That was me watching Syracuse Miami vomiting.

[Chris Cody]

Crying, and pepper spray.

[Dan LeBatard]

We do have a video of her yelling and she's getting pepper sprayed.

[Chris Cody]

Where is that?

[Dan LeBatard]

It's actually a little bit funny.

[Jon Weiner]

That's the great. That's the shot. Where is that? Where is that?

[Dan LeBatard]

I'll send that.

[Jon Weiner]

Is it embargoed?

[Greg Cody]

Get that.

[Jon Weiner]

Get it immediately. Who's embargoing this?

[Chris Cody]

Why are we waiting? How has it taken this long?

[Jon Weiner]

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