
Loading summary
Dan Le Batard
Look, every football game is a grind. And if you're like Dan and the crew, you know there's no such thing as one size fits all. Your sleep should be just as custom as coach's game plan. That's where sleep number comes in. You get to call your own plays. Softer, firmer, cooler, warmer. Your side, your comfort. Change it whenever you want. No more feeling stuck like a busted play. And for all the late night fights over the thermostat, climate series cools up 20 times faster than the competition. True temp betting kicks heat and humidity to the sidelines so you can actually stay chill all night. Bottom line, sleep number is like having a sleep coach in your corner adjusting to you all night. Because your best game starts with the right rest. Why choose a sleep number? Smart bed so you can sleep just the way that you like. The only bed that lets you make each side firmer or softer whenever you like. Your sleep number setting. Sleep number's biggest sale of the year is here. All beds on sale up to 50% off the limited edition smart bed, limited time exclusively at a sleep number store near you. Sleep number official sleep and wellness partner of the NFL. See store or sleepnumber.com for details. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast. This episode is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings crown is yours.
Stugotz
Okay, stugots, how you feeling this morning? You doing all right? Feeling pretty good, yeah. It's good to have you here again. Good to see you again. Thank you for having me on your show.
Dan Le Batard
I appreciate it.
Stugotz
That's not my show. Don't do that. That is not my show. It's zls. What's the matter with you?
Dan Le Batard
Zls. I like that.
Stugotz
Jessica Smittana joining us now. Hello, Jess. How are you this morning?
Jessica Smittana
Hey, Zaz.
Chris Cody
You should know, Smeti, that Chris Cody just broke into a round of applause all by himself.
Jessica Smittana
Oh, that's me.
Dan Le Batard
I'm sorry. I didn't know he was going to do that.
Stugotz
I thought you were going to point out that I corrected David's grammar in the last segment because that was very notorious.
Jessica Smittana
I loved that. I really enjoyed that. He called clearly a verb an adjective, and Chris Cody was there to save the day. I didn't love so much when you guys are making fun of blind people, but we'll move on.
Stugotz
Yeah, you guys took it like I wasn't trying to make fun of anyone. I was making fun of anybody.
Chris Cody
You said if they were playing against exactly you.
Stugotz
And then that visual was nobody was.
Dan Le Batard
Making fun of anybody.
Stugotz
No, I said it as. As if you would play like School for the Blind and that's not the case. They're playing a really good school.
Chris Cody
We were just pointing out the difficulties. If that were the case.
Stugotz
Did we make it any better, Jess?
Jessica Smittana
No, but that's okay. We'll move on.
Stugotz
Okay, so we haven't brought this up yet in the show today because I feel like we, we may need your help here and I certainly don't know anything about this. There's been a lot of talk over the last couple days about New Heights podcast, Taylor Swift. And this is Jess. I don't know if you'll wear this. Not my expertise. Did you watch or listen to yesterday Taylor Swift on the New Heads podcast does.
Jessica Smittana
I really didn't know what I thought. This could go any direction. I thought we were going to talk about sex toys again. I thought this could on the list about the. The three ejections last night in the sun sky game. All of those things. Well, maybe I shouldn't say I'm more of an expert on but I'm not a Taylor Swift expert either. However, last night the there was this big delay in the basketball game. I was watching Zaz and the play by play announcer for the Connecticut Sun. I think it's Brandon Glasheen was saying, I hope you don't tune out during this 15 minute long review of this call and turn on the Taylor Swift interview. Please stay with us.
Stugotz
And why would he even say that.
Jessica Smittana
That'S a good idea? It was. It was the longest review of any play. And this is coming from a league where the officiating tends to be more frustrating than any other leak. But anyways, so I was like, you know what? That's a good idea. I'm going to turn on this Taylor Swift thing and see what the buzz is about. Because I had heard about it. I didn't really know what was going on. And I said this on Mystery Crate this week. You'll hear it tomorrow. But this Travis Kelsey PR push, it has worked on me. Okay. I haven't thought about Travis Kelsey since January and all of a sudden I'm like, what's he up to? So I turned it on and it was very cute. It was very cute. It's not like I'm not. I'm not a Swifty. It's not like I'm not a new. I've never listened to New Heights before, but I was listening to three of them and I was like, Jason Kelsey is like, he's doing his best. Barbara Walters right now. Like, this is a great interview.
Stugotz
Oh, is that what it was? It was like, in the form of Jason interviewing the two of them.
Jessica Smittana
Basically, yes. And they were very cute together, and it was very adorable. And then she debuted her new album, which is called Life of a Showgirl, and they were very nice and talked about, you know, he was sort of complimenting her on how hard her job is, and she was talking about how hard his job is, and it was just. I don't know, something about it kind of tickled me, and I was like, you know what? I can kind of see the appeal here. And then after, like, 10 minutes, I turn it off and watch the basketball again. But there are 1.3 million live viewers. When I turn this thing on, it was absurd.
Stugotz
It's a hard off.
Jessica Smittana
Yeah. Hearts off, really? Because they love each other so much.
Stugotz
Like, just. Don't you think someone comes down? If this review was taken so long at the WNBA game, somebody comes down from wherever their review centers. Guys, the Taylor Swift podcast, like, it just dropped. Idiots. Can we hurry this thing up?
Jessica Smittana
I think that's the problem. I don't think they have a central review center. I think they need one. I think that that is an issue. I think that if I were negotiating the new cba, I'd be like, hey, I'm not. We're not playing until you guys fix the officiating, because this is bananas.
Stugotz
Every night there's. There's someone. Now, look, NBA officiating, We could say whatever we want as well. Like, they complain too, fans. We complain too.
Jessica Smittana
In NFL. NFL officiating, we complain about every sport.
Stugotz
Every sport. But it really does seem like in the wnba, every single night, there's complaining about the fish eating.
Jessica Smittana
Yes, correct. The Fever Wings game the night before, there were tons of complaints about Page getting a special whistle. And then, you know, the Fever head coach Stephanie White said after the game that the Fever weren't getting a good whistle. And it's just like, on and on and on. I don't really. There has been research done on this. There was a really long story in the Athletic by Chantal Jennings earlier this year during the Final Four about the NCAA officiating, because that has also been a huge issue. And as that sport gets more popular, people have more and more complaints about just the inconsistency that one game you can get away with this, and then the next game you can't. And you have to change from game to game based on who the officials are, how aggressively and physically you can play. But this doesn't seem like a problem that can be fixed overnight. It seems like there's just like this long pipeline issue. So it's really just not going to get better anytime soon.
Stugotz
Isn't part of the fix that the commissioner, Kathy Engelbert, like, can't she eventually send out a note to these teams where it's like, hey, no one wants to hear complaining about the officials every single night. We need to tone down on this rhetoric.
Jessica Smittana
I think they get fined if they cross a line like any other league. So I think that it's already frowned upon. But there's been, I guess, like conversations about if you do complain about it, do you get a better whistle in your next game? And so that's a tactic that coaches have maybe tried to take, but I don't know, it's just a mess and you kind of just expect it now. And so last night during this 15 minute long review where ultimately two sky players and one sun player got ejected for, I would say, a fracas, it wasn't really much. I did just decide, you know what? I'm, I'm going to.
Stugotz
I say fracas, you say, I thought it was.
Jessica Smittana
Frakus.
Stugotz
Okay, you know, wow, you gave in so fast. With you.
Dan Le Batard
Jess, the old adage is if you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one. Now we found out officially the Sunday night week one game at Hard Rock Stadium between Notre Dame and Miami will be a top 10 matchup. Both teams in the top 10. And right now, from what I'm reading, Notre Dame has a legitimate quarterback battle. Everyone thought that C.J. carr was going to be QB1. It seems like he's getting pushed by Kenny Minchi. Are you worried about this or do you think that, hey, we have two good quarterbacks. Echoes, echoes.
Jessica Smittana
I don't know why there was so much certainty going into preseason camp that it would be C.J. carr. I think that, like the vibe was that it's, you know, maybe he's the favorite just because I think there's expectation that his ceiling is higher. But he is a younger player than Kenny Minchi, and Kenny Minchi does have more of a, like, mobile aspect to his game that CJ Card doesn't have. And so with the offensive coordinator being Mike Denbrock, who's, you know, was offensive coordinator of Jaden Daniels and a number of other mobile quarterbacks, Riley Leonard, last season, that might be something that helps a player who has, you know, neither of them have started in a college football game before, so I don't like it seemed like, it was already a quarterback battle to me. And maybe just the national media perspective was that it was more one sided and that it was just kind of a formality to do it this way. But I wouldn't say I'm worried. I would say, like, you kind of just have to trust that the coaches make the right call because Notre Dame is going to run the ball a lot. They have a really good tight end that they have a lot of faith in going into this game. Eli Reardon. They have Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price returning in the backfield. The offensive line should be really good. So I wouldn't say that it's like I'm panicking by any means, but it certainly is. It's interesting because, like, this is, you know, the first season Notre Dame's had a quarterback battle in a long time. The last couple seasons they've taken these, like longtime starters out of the portal. And so this is just. And again, like, this is something that, like, it's going to be like this for a lot of college football teams this year. The COVID players are all gone. There's going to be a huge variation in quarterbacks in college football because players.
Stugotz
Don'T have Covid years anymore.
Jessica Smittana
You're not going to get a Dylan Gabriel coming in on a, on a really good Oregon team and just swooping in and running the playbook. Like there's not a five, five and six year players anymore. Zaz, it's. There's going to be a lot of quarterbacks debuting this season and more likely than not the quarterbacks that you're going to watch in the playoffs, a lot of them are going to be first year players, I think.
Stugotz
Jess, what's your plan for Miami Notre Dame?
Jessica Smittana
I don't have a plan. I'm just going to watch the game.
Stugotz
Like you're not coming down?
Jessica Smittana
Oh, no.
Stugotz
Oh, well. I mean, you said that like you hate.
Chris Cody
She doesn't really like it here. I don't know if you know, I.
Jessica Smittana
Mean, I was just there like, I don't need to come back already.
Stugotz
All right. Notre Dame, right?
Dan Le Batard
Sounds scared to me.
Jessica Smittana
I was at Hard Rock, like, I don't know how many months ago is that like four months ago for a game I don't need to go back to?
Dan Le Batard
Hard Rock sounds scared. Specifically to relive 2017. The greatest night of our lives.
Jessica Smittana
That's sad. I'm sorry. That was the greatest night of your life, Jess.
Stugotz
A loss that night hurts more for which team?
Jessica Smittana
I don't think it hurts either team. That much. To be honest, I think that Miami still can win the ACC even if they lose to Notre Dame and then they're in the playoff. Even if they lose maybe one other game, they could still make it to the ACC championship game depending on who that is to obviously Notre Dame. I think if they lose to Miami, there's more pressure to beat Texas A and M in Week three, but I don't think it necessarily eliminates either team from the playoff. I think that if you are someone who said that the 12 team playoff devalues the regular season, there's a little bit of truth to that. Of course there's not 12 play in games like in the, you know, 2014 season to the playoff where an 11 and one team may not make the playoff and it's going to be really tight. So the counterpoint to that is we should get more great week one games like this. We should get more non Conference Week 1 games. This game's obviously a little different because Notre Dame has the ACC scheduling agreement, but like Ohio, Texas or Ohio State Texas, we should get games like that every year. Lsu, Clemson, we should get games like that every year because I don't think it really hurts that much if you can then go on and win the rest of your games that season, especially in your conference.
Dan Le Batard
You start off thinking your little day to day purchases don't mean much. A coffee here, takeout there. No big deal. Until one day your credit score is out here looking like a struggling batting average. The Mendoza Line that's why something like Chime makes sense if you're trying to get your credit together without dropping through hoops. Head to chime.com dan with the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa Credit card Folks can build credit using money they already have. No credit check, no annual fees, no interest. Just regular spending and on time payments. Simple as that. And it's not just a card. You also get credit tracking tools, personalized tips and automatic credit reporting to help you stay on top of it without overthinking everything. If I had something like this earlier, let's just say things might have looked a little cleaner on paper. Make everyday purchases count with Chimes Secured Credit Builder Visa Credit Card get started today@chime.com Dan Chime feels like progress the.
Jessica Smittana
Chime Credit Builder Visa credit card is.
Dan Le Batard
Issued by the Bank Corporation bank and.
Jessica Smittana
A or Stride bank and a Chime checking account required to apply. Money added to Credit Builder will be held in your secured deposit account as collateral and is your credit builder cards available to spend amount this is money you can use to pay off your monthly charges out of network. ATM withdrawal and otc. Advance fees may apply. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Results may vary. Go to chime.com disclosures for details.
Dan Le Batard
Howdy everybody. It's Mike Ryan and we're starting to see stock footage of sprinklers spraying over football fields. That means two things. Summer is almost over and football is almost here. So let's make the most of your summertime by making it a Miller Time. Haven't you shared some moments this summer that you wish lasted forever? I know I have, especially around the hockey team. Right there by my side were my friends, family and an ice cold can of Miller Lite. That's right. Miller Lite has been making superlative summertime memories for 50 years. That's right. It's our 50th anniversary. So whether it's a long weekend coming up or a full on vacation, just know it's a perfect time to get your crew back together and go to the beer that's been your go to. Way to stock the cooler and celebrate great moments. That's right. I'm talking about Miller Lite. Brewed for flavor with simple ingredients like malted barley, it delivers that rich balanced toffee flavor and golden color that just hits different Miller Lite great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlite.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Stugotz
What does Zynn give you?
Chris Cody
Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards.
Stugotz
With Zyn Rewards, you can redeem points.
Chris Cody
For premium tech outdoor gear and gift.
Stugotz
Cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zinn and keep finding rewards.
Chris Cody
That fit your lifestyle@Zinn.com rewards.
Stugotz
Warning this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Don LeBatard Elton John does not like performing Crocodile Rock, but to the point we were making, I think he still does because he just knows the crowd.
Chris Cody
Wants to hear it, right?
Dan Le Batard
I feel like that's safe. He might be litigious, but that was such a poor imitation of the song Stugats.
Stugotz
We can all agree Piano Man My good shot. The crowd needs to sing Piano Man. Yeah, but I want to hear Billy Joel sing.
Dan Le Batard
So obsessed. She just wants Sui nominations. That's what she wants. She just wants A Rack up Suey nominations. Is that what she's going to fake Crocodile Rock? Fake Billy Joel's piano? You got it. It's all right.
Stugotz
This is the Dan lebatar show with the stugats.
Chris Cody
Jess, I wanted to bring up a topic while you were on here, because Michael Porter Jr's been doing.
Stugotz
I don't know if it's what you say, vlogs or I don't know if.
Chris Cody
It'S like a podcast. We don't know a name.
Stugotz
Willie Collinstein.
Chris Cody
But he's doing Stymie. He's facing the camera and talking, let's just put it that way. And he's. It's come up with, like, a bunch of conversation starters. Like, he talked about his situation with his brother and the gambling John Tay Porter. He talked about a couple other things. I wanted to play a clip and discuss any of those things, but specifically for me, one topic that Michael Porter Jr. Gets into and tries to sound very profound.
Dan Le Batard
Everybody has different vices. Everybody has different things that they struggle with that can go from people that struggle with alcohol, people that struggle with drugs. You know, my brother, for example, struggled with gambling. My vice has always come in the form of women. My brother Jonte, he never seemed to struggle with that vice. You know, I never struggle with the gambling addiction.
Stugotz
Low risk. Damn low risk.
Chris Cody
One of the topics that come up is how you speak about your siblings in public, because that was a shot at his brother. He's like, he doesn't get any ladies. But also, Jessica, correct me if I'm wrong here. Did he just not make monogamy sound like the most difficult thing in the world? Now, before anybody gets on, there are some people that are sex addicts, and I understand that. I don't believe that that's what he was describing there. But monogamy, is it the greatest vice or is it just MPJ's?
Jessica Smittana
Well, I wanted to ask you that, Izzy. Like, do you think monogamy is difficult? Because I feel like it's way more difficult to be in multiple relationships than just one balance.
Chris Cody
I only know one way. And I've done the monogamous thing in both of my relationships, and I think it's pretty, pretty easy for me.
Jessica Smittana
But, like, your partner, it's not that hard.
Chris Cody
Precisely this, actually. I actually had interviewed one of my heterosexual teammates at the flag football league that I play in, and he basically said the same thing. Like, I don't. Is this, like, a straight people thing? Like, he said, effectively, you know, my problem is being loyal to my wife. Yeah, Kind of like what your problem is is wanting to sleep with men.
Stugotz
I was like, what?
Chris Cody
Like, that is not, like, the one.
Dan Le Batard
Monogamy.
Stugotz
It's apples to apples.
Chris Cody
Come on now.
Jessica Smittana
Yeah, I mean, I feel like, you know, I've been watching a lot of Mad Men recently, so my opinions on monogamy gotten firmer as I've just. I watched Don Draper have sex with so many women outside of his marriage.
Chris Cody
So nowhere am I judging people who are not monogamous, who have open relationships, anything like that. I'm just not putting on the same level. Being gay and not being able to be loyal to your wife, two different things. Do they think that all gay people either, like, all have open relationships and we don't have to fight that, or we're, like, super willpowered?
Stugotz
No, it's just an orgy. That's what they're expecting.
Dan Le Batard
Jess, in your Mad Men rewatch, are you still surprised at the PTO policy for Dom Draper? This is crazy. He just goes away months, months on end, and everyone's cool with it.
Jessica Smittana
Yeah, I mean, he just goes to LA for a month and then comes back and they're like, cool you came back? Because they kind of didn't think he would. All of it's crazy. I mean, the amount of chain smoking and like, midday whiskey drinking or rye drinking.
Stugotz
How are they not always drunk? That's the thing.
Jessica Smittana
They are. John Slattery is always drunk. It makes so much more sense when you rewatch it as an adult. You're like, oh, he's making these. These terrible choices because he has, like, a horrible alcohol problem.
Stugotz
Zaz mentioned last week about watching Boardwalk Empire. That show always made me like, anytime I have a conversation with someone, I just want you for a little glass of scotch. I. I'm pretty sure when I watched that show, I asked for from my mother in law for a decanter for Christmas just because I wanted to have a thing with some whiskey in it. So if I ever need to make a big life decision or have a big conversation with someone, I'll go pour a couple glasses.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Stugotz
I love the idea that just anytime someone walks into your home or into your office, it's automatically expected. You have to pour them a drink. I want to live that life. Oh, I just want to have you.
Jessica Smittana
Let's talk about this.
Stugotz
Yeah.
Jessica Smittana
I think the. The Levitard show studio office dynamic is already weird enough without everyone drinking scotch at 2:00pm so, yeah, we only throw.
Stugotz
Alcohol in the mix.
Jessica Smittana
Can I throw one thing out there? I was listening earlier to your Kyrie Eleison. I was like, what? So I don't know that song, but I was like, I know that phrase, and I think it's from church. And then I remembered it's from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. That is it means the Lord have mercy. And it's part of, like, a chant that Christians say.
Dan Le Batard
And reggae artist as well.
Jessica Smittana
Yeah. It just reminded me of Monty Python.
Dan Le Batard
This morning, there's a Venn diagram of Greek orthodoxy and reggae artists that both say handshake, Lord of mercy in the middle.
Chris Cody
That actually reminds me of my latest Internet trend that I am a huge fan of. Have you guys seen these videos? And maybe it's just one or two guys, but it's Jamaican men narrating cooking posts. And it is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Trust me, when you say it out loud, you're just like, why is that so funny? Just go watch them. There's one in particular where somebody was just doing so much homemade stuff while they were making chicken wings. And the line that I laughed so hard I nearly jumped off the toilet. I don't know if that happens for anybody else. When he's like, why? You know, make wa tattoo? And I was just like, oh, my God. It's just like when you say things hilarious in a special accent. Like, it's otherworldly and it's hilarious. And I encourage everybody to go listen.
Dan Le Batard
Lot of mercy.
Chris Cody
But, you know, make wa tattoo.
Stugotz
Jess, are you watching Mad Men again? Because you don't have anything else to watch on TV these days? Like, are you out of things to watch?
Jessica Smittana
I. I need a show between the hours of, like, 5pm and 7 most evenings. Like, I just need something before the sports start. And there's like, a couple weeks in there in, like, August. We're like, not a lot of sports on. I. I watch baseball sometimes, but, like, Monday nights, there's no basketball games. I'm like, I just need something.
Chris Cody
What is it like having that window open?
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Chris Cody
Because that's a big kid time.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. That's a huge kid.
Stugotz
So much kids. I am that window busiest time. Yeah.
Jessica Smittana
This is exactly why I'm very happy right now in my life because I have those.
Stugotz
Because you have no kids.
Jessica Smittana
Well, I wasn't going to go that far, but I have those two hours because I don't have kids.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Jessica Smittana
And then there's also, like, the hour when you're, like, getting ready for bed, but you're not falling asleep yet. That's a special time. I love that 45 minutes to an hour where it's just laying in my bed scrolling on my phone. Maybe I put on a madman episode. I don't know, to be. To be honest. Like, I just turned it on and I was like, wow, the show is so freaking good. And so now I'm like, balls deep in season five.
Stugotz
It's so good. I remember that I've only gone through it once, but I remember the first time that I saw Mad Men. It's a phenomenal show, obviously, but I was. It was jarring to me. And one of the most fascinating things about it to me, the way that they treat women like. I can't believe that that was a real time where this was the way they were treated. Oh, it was.
Dan Le Batard
Oh, it was quite 1940s going back.
Jessica Smittana
Everything has been fixed. And now at work, women are treated very, very, equally.
Chris Cody
Zaz. I'm not gonna say any names, but I've worked with a lot of gentlemen who are older, who. When I see their interaction with women, it's jarring. They treat them like maids. They're so dismissive. And these are men, like, people that I like, and it's just like, wow, the time that you grew up, like, what was okay is wild.
Jessica Smittana
Yeah, that doesn't happen anymore. Especially the men that treat you like you're a little kid because you're a girl to them. That. I have never experienced that at work.
Dan Le Batard
That's what the money's for.
Stugotz
Israel, how much money do I have to give you right now to name a name? I'll double it.
Chris Cody
300 million.
Stugotz
Take it back.
Dan Le Batard
You'll double it, too.
Stugotz
Nice. Well, that doesn't have 300, so I'm good.
Dan Le Batard
We can't let Florida get this edge on Miami. We can't have busy with 300.
Stugotz
Yes. If you were able to afford it, would you donate $300 million to Notre Dame?
Jessica Smittana
Oh, that's a good question. I mean, I think that it would depend on what the money goes towards. Like, do I need a practice facility in my name? Probably not, but if I could donate it towards, like, scholarships or something like that, research, that would be good.
Stugotz
I feel like if you're throwing in, if you're able to afford it, kind of. Yeah, if I'm able to afford it, I'll do it.
Dan Le Batard
Well, truth be told, I'm not able to afford what I give presently. So is that group of folks.
Stugotz
Just tell everybody how they could catch your podcast.
Jessica Smittana
Yeah, we're on Apple, Spotify. We're weekly on YouTube. I'm also on a Vice TV show that I. A new episode came out last night on Vice. It's called Sports Gone Wrong. I think I'll be on Katie Nolan's show this week or next week.
Stugotz
Nice.
Jessica Smittana
I don't know if I'm supposed to spoil that or not, but I'm excited to talk to her. But, yeah, Zaz, life is good. I've been just hanging, fishing, enjoying my walks, watching Mad Men. I'm the happiest little clam in the sea.
Stugotz
Are you starting to bail on Caleb Williams?
Jessica Smittana
I was never really that bought in on him to begin with, but I think my opinion of him is the same. I think he could work well if he had a coach and a offense that worked with him and what he's good at. And it remains to be seen if the Bears can pull that off.
Dan Le Batard
How do you feel about hated rivals coming over to your franchise? Because I know it was always being a Browns fan. I always disassociate it, but there was, like, a big. It was a big deal when Braylon Edwards became a Cleveland Brown because so many. There's so much shared fandom between Buckeyes and Browns fans. Do you. Are you a little harder on Caleb Williams because he's an SC guy or you really don't give a shit?
Jessica Smittana
Well, I think there's a lot of confused Bears fans who are like, yeah, that guy's so overrated. And in 2023, we're like, he's like the most, you know, Chicago. The Chicago Notre Dame fans, I should say, like, he's most overrated quarterback in college football. This guy stinks. And then, like, the Bears continued to lose all season and they were like, shoot, now what do we do? So I do think that that does put people's brains in a little bit of a pickle, Mike. But, I mean, like, the Steelers drafted Will Howard and Jack Sawyer, and, yeah, I don't love Ohio State and they beat the national championship game, but now I don't really care that much if. If they do well on the Steelers because I want the Steelers to win. I care more about Aaron Rodgers being on the Steelers because he is super annoying.
Dan Le Batard
He's got a whole new helmet now, and he is already making a big deal about.
Stugotz
It never ends. It never ends with him. Just shut up.
Dan Le Batard
Shut up.
Stugotz
Good job, Jess. Good seeing you.
Jessica Smittana
Thanks.
Stugotz
We'll talk to you later. Thank you, guys.
Dan Le Batard
Next week, FaceTiming you in a couple of weeks.
Jessica Smittana
That's okay. You don't have to.
Stugotz
Not if you're down 14. Nothing.
Dan Le Batard
No it ain't gonna happen.
Jessica Smittana
You can text me. I'll give you my old number.
Dan Le Batard
UFC 319 hit Chicago for the first time in six years. Bet the card with DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of the UFC. New customers bet just five bucks. Get 200 bucks in bonus bets instantly.
Stugotz
We've got a banger of a main event. We've got Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat.
Dan Le Batard
Chimaev for the middleweight world title. It's going to be crazy. Don't miss out on any of the action at UFC 319. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app now and use Code Dan. That's Code Dan for new customers to get 200 bucks in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours.
Stugotz
Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8-HOPENY.
Chris Cody
Or text HOPENY at 467-369 in Connecticut.
Stugotz
Help is available for problem gambling.
Chris Cody
Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play.
Stugotz
Responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino, Kansas, 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void. In Ontario, bonus bets expire seven days after issuance.
Chris Cody
For additional terms on responsible gaming resources.
Stugotz
See DKNG CO Audio.
Dan Le Batard
The Disney Plus Hulu HBO Max bundle plants starting at just 16.99amonth. No one will ever break us apart.
Stugotz
Catch Marvel Studios Thunderbolts, the New Avengers on Disney plus.
Dan Le Batard
You can't escape the past.
Chris Cody
Alien Earth on Hulu, this Ship Electric.
Dan Le Batard
The Monsters and Final Destination Bloodlines on HBO Max.
Stugotz
Death is coming for our family.
Dan Le Batard
The Disney Plus Hulu HBO Max bundle plan starting at 16.99amonth.
Stugotz
All these and more streaming soon.
Dan Le Batard
Visit Disney Plus Hulu hbo max bundle.com for details.
Stugotz
Don Lebatard I've never stepped foot on that campus. I. If you told me right now, your life depends on it. Go to Santa Fe University and just, just, just take a picture.
Dan Le Batard
Stugats.
Stugotz
I would die. I don't know where it is. This is the Dan Levatar show with the mike. Where do you watch the game from? Like, where you. Like. You're not in, like, a suite or anything, right?
Dan Le Batard
50 yard. But he's in a suite.
Stugotz
He's high. Is he really? He's got those seats with the names.
Dan Le Batard
He's got TVs in his seats. He watches other games. I got the leather couch seats.
Stugotz
Okay, hold on. You're. You're in, like, Club 72, you're saying? Yeah, I've never been in that.
Dan Le Batard
It's nice.
Stugotz
You're asking him to go right now, aren't you?
Dan Le Batard
You're on the short list for the Gator game. I know you went to Santa Fe.
Stugotz
I'm. You know what? See, now you're saying things that are going to insult me, and I don't feel like that's a direction I want to go in right now. Okay.
Dan Le Batard
That. That week you went to Santa Fe.
Stugotz
Yeah, maybe. Maybe that week I did. Maybe for that week I did. You know, I'm going to be here for it because I travel every weekend for college football. Tailgate for ESPN Radio. Got. Yes. So I'm literally away every single weekend. It's great. Me and Amber Wilson, we do the show from the big. Every single week. So you'll be here for that game because that's the game they chose that week doing. Wow. Yeah. I'm really excited.
Dan Le Batard
I actually had to specify. I had to. You're there. I have a nameplate on the box seats that I have, and it was actually directly next to part of the other Ruiz family that is associated with. With Miami, so I had to change.
Stugotz
That up and make.
Dan Le Batard
Specify. No, it's just, you know, I don't want to. I want people to think I'm.
Chris Cody
I'm John, who doesn't like being Hispanic.
Dan Le Batard
I. I. Whoa. No, that's not it.
Stugotz
Like, you don't want to arrive and someone in their party is sitting in your seat.
Dan Le Batard
Right. Well, I also contribute a lot every year.
Stugotz
I understand.
Dan Le Batard
You know, Whereas some other people just like to get that shine.
Stugotz
Oh, but do you want to name any names?
Dan Le Batard
No.
Stugotz
I mean, someone name a name, literally.
Dan Le Batard
I already kind of did. Yeah. So I specify Mike, Ryan, Cynthia, Juliet.
Stugotz
So you have three.
Dan Le Batard
I did. I did the. No, I have four.
Stugotz
You have four?
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, four. Leather John Zaslow could be one of them.
Stugotz
Wow. I don't know if you heard. I'm gonna be in town for that game.
Dan Le Batard
We already.
Stugotz
The.
Dan Le Batard
The. The comp. It does get. The. The competition does occasionally get fierce amongst the friends, but we've already.
Stugotz
Bring it up again.
Dan Le Batard
We've already settled on the Notre Dame.
Stugotz
You're on a short list. I mean, what else can you ask for? Yeah. And. And if I could just add one more thing, it's the only weekend I'm in town. All right, that's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying.
Dan Le Batard
All right. You're on the short list. If you went. If you. Indeed. Went to Santa Fe, and that is going to be a big one.
Stugotz
I might have went to Santa Fe that week. Poor Ethan. Me. Oh, that's right.
Dan Le Batard
Oh, it'll be a hard week for Ethan. You and Ethan fight to the death.
Stugotz
Zaz, Is Ethan on the short list?
Chris Cody
Short list?
Stugotz
No way is he on any list.
Dan Le Batard
So Zaz is a lot like you. Donna's Haslam in that they're both champions.
Stugotz
That's one of many things UD and I have in common.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, they both went to Gainesville as a business decision, but they rep the Canes.
Stugotz
That's right. That's. That's hardcore. You can't tell me I'm not a great Kanes fan. I'm as good a Cane's fan as there is.
Chris Cody
How far down the list am I? Because I'm sitting right here and I haven't heard my name as a former.
Dan Le Batard
Florida Gator, Pretty far down the list. I gotta be honest with you. Because you don't like the Canes. It's a prerequisite. You gotta love the Canes.
Stugotz
Yeah, he doesn't want someone sitting next to him who's gonna cheer for the other team.
Dan Le Batard
That's not something that you do, is it?
Chris Cody
Because I said you don't want to be Hispanic, man.
Dan Le Batard
That didn't help matters.
Stugotz
Move you up.
Dan Le Batard
In my defense, I had to explain to you what a Dominican egg was.
Stugotz
Fair that umuf games be fun, man. Oh, I'm looking.
Dan Le Batard
Well, I wonder who's at quarterback for Florida because.
Stugotz
Oh, you're down on Lagway, right?
Dan Le Batard
I. I like DJ Lagway when he's on the field and healthy.
Stugotz
He's never on the field and healthy.
Dan Le Batard
It's becoming a thing.
Stugotz
Yes.
Dan Le Batard
Like he went an entire off season without throwing, and it was one of those dicey situations. He had that shoulder injury during the regular season when they opened up. Well, over the summer, they had him throw for the first time. And it was one of those things from. I happen to know. We don't know if this guy. I happen to know that they're being quiet about it. And finally Billy Napier's given voice to it. But go ahead. I happen to know this part. He happens to know.
Stugotz
Great Scott. He happens to know. He happens to know.
Dan Le Batard
Gather everyone, get the children.
Chris Cody
He happens to know.
Stugotz
So wise.
Dan Le Batard
So the first time he threw over the offseason, everybody at Florida was waiting with bated breath because we don't know if he actually can play this season. He may need to get the surgery now it appears like he's toughing it out because he threw and he didn't get the surgery. He's dealing with this other calf strain injury, which in the NBA is like, oh, we gotta watch out for the. The calf strain, because that could lead to an Achilles. He has this existing shoulder injury. If he can't fully plant, that's only gonna put more stress on that shoulder injury. He's limited to 70 passes a practice. This my sauces. That's not a lot. You. You go in the backyard. That's about five minutes worth of tossing the pig skin. Yeah, that's not a lot.
Stugotz
I'll make 70 throws like it's nothing. Your shoulder is sure sore the next day. It is. I mean, come on. Let's be honest. 70 throws right now. I don't think I can make 70 throws right now.
Dan Le Batard
Billy Napier admitted for the first time. Yeah. DJs on a modified schedule right now. The report is he's only doing 7v7 drills. Not. He hasn't really thrown a pass. 11 on 11. And I'd be really worried if I were a Florida Gator fan. And I'd also be googling the depth chart and familiarize myself with some of the names behind him, because this can be a thing for DJ Lagway until he shows that he can stay healthy for a consistent amount of time.
Chris Cody
Well, that's what I was wondering. Do we have imaging for the opposite of I happen to know. Because Ethan and I have been doing research for the past three days. We have no idea who the backup is.
Dan Le Batard
You don't happen to know?
Stugotz
I happen to not know.
Chris Cody
I mean, I would love to know the person's name. The next time I hear it will be the first time I've heard the quarterback of the Florida Gators probably in the opening game.
Stugotz
You feeling good about Carson Beck?
Dan Le Batard
I am. I'm going to practice tonight, though, so we'll see. But, yeah, he's way the next few weeks.
Stugotz
You can be, like, out of practice.
Dan Le Batard
He had an arm injury, right? Yeah. You want to see? He lives because of that arm. That's his occupation. That is his tool. And he was throwing before DJ Lagway was throwing. And he's looking real good. Usually you want to keep these things. I know when Cam Ward showed up to Miami, he's like, we kind of need to be quiet about how good this guy is because we don't want it to be out there. It's harder to keep the secret because everyone's wondering, hey, do these passes still have zip? Does it look like he Just had shoulder surgery. He looks like the same guy. It's going to look very different for Miami. He's not going to be as improv as Cam Ward, which sometimes came. Ward was so brilliant, but he also dug himself in a hole, and he was brilliant enough to dig himself out of it. That Carson Beck knows exactly where he's going with the football. He makes his progressions really quick, very decisive, and we'll see which. Which wide receivers can meet him on that level. But he is. He's really good, Mike.
Stugotz
I. I think you'd like to know that we had the bear on. God bless football. It's out right now. And I asked for a Heisman Trophy flyer, and he said, Carson Beck. He thinks Carson Beck is going to have a monster season. Now, he loves the um, so perhaps he's biased, but that was his choice.
Dan Le Batard
Bears shoots it straight.
Stugotz
Didn't he go to um?
Dan Le Batard
He did, yeah. Yeah, he. He shoots it straight, though, when it. When it comes to Miami. But I think Carson Beck, because he had to follow Stetson Bennett and because his wide receivers, to a very large degree, they. In terms of. Drops just the flat number and also dropped yardage. Georgia was the worst in the nation out of a major program. He got let down a lot by those wide receivers. But it. It led to a perception that Carson Beck isn't that good. And look, the cabinder thing kind of added to a circusy element there.
Stugotz
They're still on the outs.
Dan Le Batard
They're still on the outs. But I gotta tell you, Carson Beck has been a total pro. He went to media day, knocked that assignment out of the park. He's a better leader than what was led on to believe. And a lot of people thought he was a bad leader at Georgia because when Gunner came in, everyone's like, ah, this is the team's guy. Different leadership style, but a more mature guy.
Stugotz
Well, part of that. I mean, it. It did. Look, I'm on the outside looking in, but part of that, when Gunner took over, like, it did seem like the team liked him better.
Dan Le Batard
Yes, it did. But this is a different setup down here in Miami.
Stugotz
They.
Dan Le Batard
They got used to Kane Ward's type of leadership style, which was accountability. But Carson Beck is better than advertised in terms of leadership. He's out there, he's talking to the guys, he's developed his handshakes. He seems like. To be like, he's getting along well.
Chris Cody
That's important.
Dan Le Batard
It is. It is building up camaraderie with your wide receivers, especially when you have some questions about the Wide receivers, like when.
Stugotz
You say develop the handshakes, it's like LeBron where he's got a different one for all his teammates.
Dan Le Batard
Right.
Stugotz
How do you remember?
Dan Le Batard
That's one of the things that you look for in practice, as if a wide receiver has a special unique handshake. With a quarterback, you go to your notes app, you write that one down.
Chris Cody
You know what I find very difficult in assessing quarterbacks is differentiating between somebody who makes quick decisions and somebody who predetermines their throws. Because obviously, unless you're inside of the brain of the quarterback, you don't know if they said, oh, I'm definitely going to go here on this pass. But the guys who make those quick decisions all the time, whether it be TUA or whether it be Carson Beck, as Mike is telling us, sometimes I wonder, is that just a predetermined throw that was successful in college? Maybe you get away with it better because your talent somehow is maybe a little bit higher than, than the opponents that you're playing. But that's the most difficult thing for me when somebody says, this guy makes quick decisions. I wonder if half of those throws are just not predetermined.
Dan Le Batard
The ball comes out at an NFL type of rate. I understand that, but I think it's amplified because of Cameron Ward's because he did the opposite ability in the pocket. And Miami still has a very good offensive line. They are very deep there. David Lake for 247Sports. A great article and that we can have our questions about the wide receiver room all you want. You can win a national title with a what is viewed as a non elite wide receiver room. But to win a national title, you need to be really good at corner. You need to be really good in the trenches. D line, O line and at quarterback. Miami's checked all those boxes.
Stugotz
Carson Beck is. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Carson Beck is tied for sixth as far as odds go. Shortest odds to win the Heisman, what are the odds? Do you want. Do you want to guess what Beck is if he's tied for six, do you want to guess what it is.
Dan Le Batard
When you get those standalone TV windows? We saw this with Cam Ward when he got the SEC 330 window week one. If you perform well at that position, right, Wearing that helmet, that school, again, say marquee opponent, right? That is a huge platform to set yourself apart early in the Heisman conversation. We saw it with Cameron Ward last year. Carson Beck has that opportunity Sunday before labor.
Stugotz
You're seeing it with Arch right now. At Texas. It's because he's playing quarterback at Texas. So of course he has a chance to win the Heisman.
Dan Le Batard
If he's great, we come out the gates with he's the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the big noon window.
Stugotz
That is. It's unbelievable to me.
Dan Le Batard
As big as it gets.
Stugotz
Arch Manning has the shortest odds. I still want you to guess Carson Beck's who gots but Arch Manning has the shortest odds to win. He's the favorite to win the Heisman. He has no collegiate resume. Has this ever happened in the history of college sports?
Dan Le Batard
He did come in for a couple of games.
Stugotz
Oh, get out of here. It's against, it's against UO Monroe and UT San Antonio. But I think that's what me and Mike are talking about. There was a time where if you just played quarterback for Florida State, you were in the Heisman conversation. Because without any resume. With no resume. Yes. I mean, whoever the next Florida State quarterback was, was going to be in that conversation before the season started.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, Florida also favorite.
Stugotz
Yeah, Florida had.
Dan Le Batard
Florida had that reputation. Maybe not favorite when Spurger there. What's, what's funny, especially when you consider the narrative that was around Mario Cristobal and I think to the uninformed still there, this guy's a quarterback killer. If Carson Beck gets drafted next year.
Stugotz
There was a time last year where he was thought that he was going to be the number one overall pick. Carson back.
Dan Le Batard
He was the odds on favorite. He was the odds on favorite last year entering the league, entering the college football season to be the number one pick. And then he had what is considered to be a season not up to their standards. And then he got hurt and he came back. He was going to enter the NFL draft draft decided against it to come to Miami, much like Cam Ward there. But if he does progress to be a high round draft pick and start next year, that means Mario Crispal has 10% of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Not bad for a guy that was reputed to be a quarterback killer.
Stugotz
How much I want to win soon. How much do you think it played a role in Carson Beck coming to Miami if a year ago he was Heisman favorite, possible number one overall pick in the draft, you know, when the time comes and it all falls apart from last year, but you see what happened with Cam Ward and Cam Ward has the season that he had and he goes number one overall in the draft. Like did that play any role to Carson Beck? Choosing, coming, choosing to withdraw from the draft and go To Miami.
Dan Le Batard
You have proof of concept. Everyone saw that Miami put out the number one overall draft pick at that position. That's been hard for Miami to do recently, but it's also Shane and Dawson.
Stugotz
And that second time ever the Canes.
Dan Le Batard
Have done that at quarterback, I think. I think. Yeah, Vinnie.
Stugotz
Vinnie, yes.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. Vinnie was the only other guy. That's a long time.
Stugotz
Yes.
Dan Le Batard
So. But also, Miami had had questions about Carson Beck. They did their due diligence. They spoke to coaches that brilliant offensive minds that had had the privilege of working with Carson prior to. And that really convinced Miami because I think there was this whole attitude towards Carson Beck. Is this guy that good? What kind of teammate is he? Because that. That. That SEC narrative was out there where.
Stugotz
His teammates had his birthday party.
Dan Le Batard
That's. That's, as we know, important. That is a huge, huge piece of the puzzle when it comes to draft evaluation.
Stugotz
Su got. What do you think his odds are tied for six. Wow. Shortest odds, I'm gonna say. According to DraftKings, I'm gonna say plus eight. 800. Jesus. A terrible guess.
Chris Cody
Wow.
Stugotz
Anyone else want to make. What is it? What is it?
Dan Le Batard
That's like that. Plus two. Well, plus 2000 territory.
Stugotz
Yeah. What is it? Plus 1800. What?
Dan Le Batard
Haynes King is plus 9000. So you're just right there.
Chris Cody
Does anybody play that game better than Stugats?
Stugotz
No one.
Dan Le Batard
Hains King is a dog.
Stugotz
I used to ruin that game all the time, purposely.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Stugotz
Now I have mastered it. Terrible. Yeah, you ruined it for me, too, Zaz.
Chris Cody
If he would have gotten it right on the money, if he would have nailed it. Plus 1800. What if you've jumped off your toilet?
Stugotz
I mean, if it was. If you nail something, that's plus 8,800. Yeah, like, that would shock me. All right. How do you jump off a toilet?
Chris Cody
I'm gonna give you one time. All right, so look, you're just sitting there, and, you know, sometimes I don't have the squatty potty situation, so you gotta have maybe a little lean forward sometimes. And if I see something that is ridiculously hilarious occasionally, I might just go and then, you know, kind of sit back down. But that's the only one. You've been on there for a while.
Stugotz
Because, you know, it's tough, though, if your leg is falling asleep, then that could be a little bit dangerous.
Chris Cody
You get the pins and needles, you fall down, and then you die.
Dan Le Batard
Howdy, everybody. It's Mike Ryan, and we're starting to see stock footage of sprinklers spraying over football fields. That means two things. Summer is almost over and football is almost here. So let's make the most of your summertime by making it a Miller Time. Haven't you shared some moments this summer that you wished lasted forever? I know I have, especially around the hockey team. But right there by my side were my friends, family and an ice cold can of Miller Light. That's right. Miller Lite has been making superlative summertime memories for 50 years. That's right. It's our 50th anniversary. So whether it's a long weekend coming up or a full on vacation, just know it's the perfect time to get your crew back together and go to the beer that's been your go to way to stock the cooler and celebrate great moments. That's right. I'm talking about Miller Lite. Brewed for flavor with simple ingredients like malted barley, it delivers that rich, balanced toffee flavor and golden color that just hits different Miller Light. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you or you can pick up some Miller Light pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – Episode: Hour 1: The Happiest Little Clam In The Sea (feat. Jessica Smetana)
Release Date: August 14, 2025
In this engaging episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz are joined by guest Jessica Smetana. Filmed from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, the trio dives deep into a variety of topics ranging from sports officiating issues to college football dynamics and pop culture insights.
The episode kicks off with playful interactions between Dan, Stugotz, and Jessica. Stugotz humorously asserts his ownership of the show, setting a lighthearted tone. Jessica reflects on her recent experience correcting Dan and Stugotz's grammar, highlighting the show's casual and humorous atmosphere.
Notable Quote:
Jessica shares her thoughts on Taylor Swift's appearance on the New Heights podcast, which coincided with a lengthy review of a basketball play during a WNBA game. She describes the interview as "very cute" and "adorable," appreciating the chemistry between Swift and her guest Jason Kelsey.
The conversation shifts to the inefficiencies and frustrations surrounding officiating in the WNBA. Both Jessica and Stugotz express frustration over lengthy game reviews, inconsistent officiating standards, and the impact these issues have on game flow and viewer experience.
Notable Quotes:
Notre Dame vs. Miami Showdown: Dan introduces the major highlight of the episode—the Sunday night Week One game between Notre Dame and Miami, both ranked in the top 10. The focal point is Notre Dame's quarterback battle between C.J. Carr and Kenny Minchi. Jessica analyzes the strengths and potential of both quarterbacks, expressing confidence in the coaching staff's ability to make the right decision.
Broader Quarterback Landscape: Jessica elaborates on the evolving landscape of college football quarterbacks post-COVID, anticipating a surge of first-year QBs entering the playoff conversation. She emphasizes the importance of team dynamics, offensive strategies, and individual player development.
Notable Quotes:
The discussion narrows down to Miami's quarterback Carson Beck. Jessica praises Beck's leadership and progress despite previous challenges, drawing parallels with former Miami QB Cam Ward. They delve into Beck's potential impact on Miami's season and his prospects for the Heisman Trophy, with Jessica asserting his underrated capabilities.
Notable Quotes:
The conversation takes a cultural turn as Jessica discusses her rewatch of "Mad Men," highlighting the show's portrayal of monogamy and workplace gender dynamics. This segues into a broader discussion on modern relationships and the challenges of maintaining monogamy, contrasted with the exaggerated behaviors depicted in the show.
Notable Quotes:
The hosts engage in light-hearted banter about favorite TV shows, favorite whiskey drinking scenes reminiscent of "Boardwalk Empire," and playful jabs at each other's taste in shows and personal habits. They also touch upon their personal lives, such as Stugotz's travel schedule for college football tailgates and Jessica's involvement in upcoming TV appearances.
Notable Quotes:
As the show progresses towards its conclusion, the hosts reflect on Miami's football prospects, the potential of Carson Beck as a Heisman contender, and the importance of leadership on the field. They also promote their podcasts and upcoming TV appearances, ensuring listeners stay connected through various platforms.
Notable Quotes:
This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a blend of insightful sports analysis, candid pop culture commentary, and the trademark humor of its hosts. Jessica Smetana's contributions provide a fresh perspective on the discussed topics, making it a must-listen for fans seeking a comprehensive and entertaining take on current sports and cultural events.
Notable Quotes Recap:
This summary captures the essence of the episode, providing a structured and detailed overview for those who haven't tuned in.