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Dan Le Batard
When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone.
Stugats
Learn more@WhatsApp.com this episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
Dan Le Batard
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Jon Weiner
Oh, that's so embarrassing with the take.
Dan Le Batard
That he had yesterday, which I heard on air, but he's still asking me off air. How is Miami -7 and a half against the Gators not free money.
Jon Weiner
What am I missing?
Stugats
The Hurricanes often Hurricane.
Jon Weiner
This team is different. They look different. What am I missing?
Stugats
They always do until they don't.
Jon Weiner
You know, Gators lost to the team that the canes just beat by 37.
Dan Le Batard
I worry about Georgia Tech. I don't worry about Florida because Florida may have something close to the athletes that Miami does. But I don't expect crystal ball to crystal ball in this one because he didn't crystal ball when they went up to the Gators with what seemed to me a better team the Gators had.
Stugats
But that's not how crystal balling works. Like crystal balling doesn't work against teams that like you tight it's against teams that you should win easily. That then you're like, oh, how did this happen?
Tony
It's inexplicable, not explicable.
Stugats
Thank you. Well, he gets it.
Dan Le Batard
Okay, and, and Tony does get it and you get it as well. But this isn't the team, program, atmosphere, culture that lost to Middle Tennessee State.
Stugats
This is.
Dan Le Batard
But this is not. Is it not a team that you're watching through the first two games and you're like, okay, that is physically strong and fast everywhere. And I'm not looking at a lot of teams and seeing that. And in the first two games, like, I know the Notre Dame game was close, but it should not have been. And that's crystal ball. Crystal ball. But they won anyway. They looked physically stronger and faster than Notre Dame. I'm not wrong there, right? Like the game, the game was. They had a two touchdown lead and should have expanded upon it and then did what they can do. I've told you before, as stunning a result as I've seen was Mario Cristobal with the team he had in Oregon losing a game to Stanford. That I'm sitting there watching it and I'm like, I don't understand how this just happened. Stanford at the end of the game didn't have anything.
Stugats
Cristobal. Yeah, that's how it happened and that's how it will happen at some point.
Dan Le Batard
Are those lines moving at all on the Dolphins and um, Gators? Are those lines staying the same? It started the dolphins were 12 and a half point dog against the Bills tomorrow night. And Miami has stayed a seven and a half point favorite against the Gators.
Mike Ryan
Didn't it open at eight and a half? I think seven and a half is bang on. That's a great line for people who.
Jon Weiner
Want to make money on the case.
Mike Ryan
This is a team that, this is a team that had five interceptions at lsu should have won that game playing an F minus game. Offensively, they shouldn't have lost usf. If you watch that game again, F minus effort, undisciplined. They found ways to lose that game. Their defense is talented. Now, I do know that they have some injuries here and Lagway, if you look at the tape, looks broken. But this is a rivalry game. It's a smell your own farts week for the University of Miami. Like this is. This should be tighter.
Tony
Not only that, did you see what the moneyline spread is for the. For the Canes on DraftKings -305.
Dan Le Batard
Football.
Football Promo Voice
Is back, Jack. Oh my. We've waited for so long we're so damn excited that we put it in a song no need, no check downs give me big hits and quarterbacks keep your fantasy team from falling off the track. Football is backjack Whether on the ground or through the air when the chips are down and you throw a prayer when your team is primed and on the hunt it's 4th and 10 you refuse to buck when the shoulder pads and helmets crack that's how you know that football is back. Jack, let me hear you say football is magic. This high is wild and out of control and we're gonna ride it every week till we reach the Super Bowl. No need, no checkdowns Give me big hits and quarterbacks. If you say this game's the best, I'll say it's a gag. Football is backjacked Football is backj Football is back. Football is back.
Dan Le Batard
Over the last 25 years of horrific Dolphin football, the longest playoff drought anywhere in the sport. You have heard me say that The Dolphins went from being a national team to being a regional team. They gave up all of the decades of excellence and now are a regional laughingstock. The Athletic today has a headline. Mike McDaniel was the NFL's next coaching prodigy. Then the Dolphins started losing what is presently around. McDaniel isn't around any other coach this early in the season. Correct. Because it wasn't that long ago that the Dolphins went to the Bills in a playoff game with their third string quarterback and almost won the game. And since then they're 8 and 14. That's fast how that happened. Because to go from prodigy to Rex Ryan's on television calling you nerd boy as if he's the cool one. Rex Ryan, comfortable calling you nerd boy creates a visceral reaction around this person that is polarizing and poisoned. Because the lack of trust that the fan base right now has in its leadership makes the Dolphins the only loud laughing stock like this early in the season that is surrounded by flying planes, booing and the expectation that the coach is going to be fired.
Mike Ryan
We did wonder aloud once. Mike McDaniel showed and showed up into town and he was a breath of fresh air. You don't necessarily hear head coaches talk like that for a reason. Because we wondered aloud, like, well, how does this look if they run into adversity? How does this approach work if they struggle? And I think we now know it doesn't help matters when he's out there in front of a microphone searching for the words. It gives off bumbling, confusing over your head rather than wow, what a breath of fresh air.
Jon Weiner
Step into the micro and say, today's a great day because we're one step closer to death.
Dan Le Batard
Death.
Jon Weiner
Does that mean.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, it's fine if you're three and oh, yeah, it's funny and refreshing if it's three and oh, but if you're 03, it screams, this guy should not be leading a football team.
Stugats
It's also, like, not that quick of a hook if they get rid of him after this year. Brandon Staley didn't last this long with the Chargers, and he was also viewed as, like, the next up and coming genius.
Jon Weiner
Year's a long time. Like, this is year four. Long time.
Dan Le Batard
The thing that bothers people a lot, though, you guys have heard me say this before, that in sports, the greatest crime, if you want, you know, outside of real crimes, the greatest optical crime, public relations crime, is thinking that you're better than everyone else or giving off something that seems like unearned arrogance. We don't mind so much when the arrogance is earned. It might bother us, but you'll beat the respect out of us if the arrogance is earned. But Staley and McDaniel suffer from the same thing. It's film room guy who's there for 12 hours, doesn't like when new young toddler comes in and thinks he can scheme everyone to death because he's smarter than they are. Charlie Weiss endured this at Notre Dame. He goes from Belichick side to Notre Dame, and in his first press conference, he says, I have a significant schematic advantage. And then they gave him a giant contract. They might still be paying that. I think it was a giant contract for Charlie Weiss that they paid long after Charlie Weiss was gone. But he got undressed, which is not great when you think of him and his physical features that we've mocked, because it looks like the bottom half of his body is turned reverse and the bottom half of his body, the back of his body is in the front, and the front of his body is in the back in the lower half.
Stugats
But Staley, McDaniel, like, they paid their dues. Like, it wasn't like they just were handed jobs. They worked their way up in both their situations. With Staley, it became a thing where Staley's smarter than everyone. He's the analytics guy. Look at him. He never kicks a field goal. He never punts. He always goes for it on fourth down. And then that didn't work. And then they said, you know what? We have our franchise quarterback. We're kind of wasting, and we have to get rid of him. McDaniel is almost a victim of being too successful too early. Right. Had you flipped last season and this season to his first two seasons and his first two seasons with these two, you'd be like, wow, this guy's figured it out. Like, we should maybe extend this guy. But the reality is he kind of peaked with this team a little bit early. So now everything that he's doing on the back end is a disappointment.
Mike Ryan
Instead of him figuring it out, it seems like he's been figured out. We've seen this before in the NFL. Guys come into the league, they look good early, and then the league figures them out, and then they got nothing in their bag to respond to.
Dan Le Batard
Well, but I don't believe McDermott actually is any smarter than McDaniel. I just believe he's got a quarterback that the Dolphins don't have and he's. He's made that quarterback someone who no longer turns the ball over. And we're going to get to some TUA sound here that kind of explains why it is the Bills are now the new Patriots of the AFC East. Listen to tua. This is not something you hear very often as, as preview to a Thursday night game. Bill's Dolphins, he's top tier. You know, if it's not with his arm, it's with his legs. You know, that dude can do literally anything he wants. So definitely different skill set. For me. I can't do half of what he does when it comes to running the ball and any of that. And then with how he can just chuck a ball down the field, you know, with how far and the arm strength that he has, you know, he's supreme when it comes to that. So it's gonna be fun.
Jon Weiner
It's not gonna be fun.
Stugats
That's embarrassing. I hate that. I wish they would inject him with lye serum.
Dan Le Batard
Honestly, some of that stuff Adam Silver's been taking lately.
Jon Weiner
Oh, my God, that guy.
Stugats
I am so furious listening to this sound. Honestly, he undersold it. He can't do three quarters of what Josh Allen does. He undersold it. He's too comfortable these last two weeks telling everyone what he can't do. Like in the post game press conference the other day, he's like, I can't throw the ball. 80 yard. Just like, don't say that. Yeah, this I think I'm excited to see Josh Allen, he's so much of a better quarterback than me. I can't do half the stuff he does. Like, don't, don't Say that like, this isn't what's on your say. What do you want? Not that I want him to lie. I want him to say, what, I'm.
Tony
Better than Josh Allen.
Stugats
Anything but what he's saying. Like, he's talking like a veteran who's 43 years old, on his way out of the league, and he's like, I can't keep up with these young guys. It's like, buddy, we just give you, like, a $250 million contract.
Jon Weiner
You know, it's a good point.
Stugats
Figure it out. What are you talking about? Your fourth season and, oh, he can throw it down the field.
Jon Weiner
Sixth year.
Stugats
That's a. Whatever it is, a quarterback should be able to throw it down the field. I hated that sound.
Tony
That's a guy that's got $250 million coming to him, and he's like, I don't really care.
Stugats
Listen, Buster, this is how it works in the NFL. That money's fake, okay? You don't have $250 million. There's someone that can do something that goes around over there, and then, boom, boom, boom, that money's gone real quick. NFL money is fake as hell. So if he thinks that that 250 million is guaranteed, he can just walk around saying, I'm not that good at my job. It's not how it works.
Jon Weiner
But it says on the contract that a certain amount is guaranteed.
Stugats
Yeah, that money is guaranteed. The rest of it is not. I'm going to look up guarantees right now.
Dan Le Batard
Zaslow, I know it's a Wild Willie Wednesday, okay? But I did not expect the escalation to go from you calling Buddy to calling him Buster.
Stugats
That buster was for Tony after you.
Dan Le Batard
After you bought a TO A jersey. And you.
Stugats
The frame was more expensive than the jersey. That's the part that I'm regretful of, if I'm going to be honest with you.
Jon Weiner
Frames easily 200 bucks.
Stugats
300.
Football Promo Voice
Whoa.
Stugats
It was crazy. I told this before. I don't know if you know this. The frame guy asked me. He's like, are you sure you want to frame this jersey?
Jon Weiner
No.
Stugats
He's like, I heard that they may cut him on Sunday. Almost rejected business. Yeah, he almost rejected business because this was right before they signed with the extension. Like, I heard they might cut him this week. Are you sure you want to do this? I'm like, brother, you're the worst businessman I've ever heard.
Jon Weiner
I mean, it's a TUA jersey. He's a starting quarterback for the Dolphins.
Stugats
Yeah.
Jon Weiner
Like, what kind of jerseys Is he also saying that about like, this is starting quarterback of the Dolphins and this.
Stugats
Is coming off of year two where they made the playoffs without him, where it's like, once he's back, we're good. It's that stupid wrestler was going on there telling Dan that his brain was he's arrest Mike McDaniel.
Jon Weiner
Can't stand that guy Nowinsky.
Stugats
Oh, please.
Jon Weiner
Can you imagine watching sports with him?
Stugats
No.
Jon Weiner
He's sitting there just, well, my God, this order their headquarters tweet.
Stugats
What a drag. That guy is not even a good wrestler. Probably a worst doctor terrible wrestler.
Dan Le Batard
Put it on the poll, please. At LeBatard show most condescending because I did not have this happening in the first 20 minutes. Buster, buddy or brother? Because you've hit people with the trifecta here over the first 20 minutes of wild Willie Wednesday. One of the things happening with McDaniel that I wanted to examine with you guys for a second because I don't. Maybe Staley got some of this, but to my recollection, the time that I saw this thing happen the most when Michael Lewis explained Moneyball and what the A's were doing by sort of gaming the analytics to view the game differently than everyone else. And they were doing it differently at the time. A whole bunch of pot bellied scouts wandered over 80 years old and they're like, what does that guy know that we don't know? I feel the game in my bones. What does that computer say? I don't care about that. People are enjoying what's happening here with the Dolphins. Rex Ryan calling him nerd boy because a football coach is supposed to be the guy who curses a lot and then says, let's go get a snack. And it's just violence and caveman grunting. And when you ask Jon Gruden about, hey, your math seems wrong on fourth down and he says, what are those computer guys know about making a call on fourth down? I feel the game in my gut. That's what's happening around this coach. People are enjoying life, laughing at him because, oh, you didn't actually have any advantages with all your analytics and your scheming.
Mike Ryan
Can I, can I ask you a question? Why do people still invoke Moneyball?
Stugats
I don't know.
Mike Ryan
As if, as if, like they were any kind of successful. First off, the movie's all about Scott Hatteberg and not one of the greatest pitching staffs in the 21st century. It's like they made a movie about the Wildcat. Same exact level of success. Oh, we found this incredible thing where Ronnie Brown takes a snap and we don't win jack shit with it. Can we stop talking about Moneyball?
Dan Le Batard
Well, I would say that the reason that we talk about it is because not unlike the Tampa Bay RA have also not won anything. They found a way to compete with less money with the teams that had the hundred and two hundred million dollars money advantage.
Mike Ryan
Right? But can we make a movie about how they got good draft picks and pick good pitchers?
Jon Weiner
Can we at least agree that it's ridiculous that not once in that movie where Zito, Hudson or Mulder mentioned they.
Mike Ryan
Had Jason Giambi they were really bad? Like it's not about necessarily winning within the margins. It's about like the sport rewards the bad teams with good draft picks and they they draft well.
Stugats
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Dan Le Batard
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Stugats
Thursday Night football is on, and it's only on Prime Video. This week, an AFC rivalry ignites as the Miami Dolphins battle the Buffalo Bills in a heated division showdown in the Empire State. Coverage begins at 7pm Eastern with football's best party TNF. Tonight presented by Verizon. Not a Prime member. Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial. It's the Dolphins and the bills, Thursday at 7pm Eastern, only on Prime Video. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details.
Mike Ryan
Don Lebatard I went in the margin. I'm like, I'm like, you're money ball of sex. I'm basically Scott Hatterberg.
Dan Le Batard
Stugats a lot of walks, but I'm.
Mike Ryan
On base when it comes to sex. A lot of foul tips. Other, other dudes, they can be Giambi.
Tony
You know your role, you play.
Mike Ryan
I know my role.
Dan Le Batard
This is the Dan Levatar show with the stug. That's part of it. But I would say that in a salary capped sport like football, you want to have the management team that knows how to find inefficiencies better than the other management teams. And it's one of the places if you're going to make the money equal, which you're, it's equal to has how much guaranteed? It's 160. What million?
Mike Ryan
167 million.
Dan Le Batard
So. So if you're gonna make the money equal and if you can't actually overcome, oh, if you miss on Deshaun Watson, you're done. Like, if you give that kind of guaranteed money, if that's the mistake you make, it's gonna set you back for years. We're spending so much time these days talking in football about what guys make and who's the highest paid offensive lineman, et cetera, et cetera. We're doing a lot of money talk. So what we had that excited us with McDaniel when they were scoring 70 points is, oh my God, they figured something out. And then I can make the criticism you just made a moneyball. What they figure out they got Tyreek Hill, they got the fastest player. Of course they score 70 points in a game. It would have broken the record if they, you know, I think McDaniel didn't even go for a field goal late in that game or they would have broken the record for points in a game.
Stugats
But that game wasn't even just Tyree Kill, that was Devon H's like coming out party were like, oh my God, like it's more than just Moster we have reinforcements. Like, this team is fast and it's young and, like, there's depth here that they can continue with this offense. If someone goes down, they can keep reloading here.
Dan Le Batard
This is interesting, though, to me, as the Eagles now fight back on, like, pridefully. Really, you're going to change the rules because we do something that can't be stopped. The Dolphins, as a study, were trying to win the game by scheming and being faster than you and looked faster. And as soon as it got to the playoffs, we're all like, yeah, fast but soft. And so football is all about. No, we're going to keep hitting you in the mouth, especially now that all the quarterbacks are thrown for 150 yards.
Mike Ryan
Just.
Dan Le Batard
We're going to keep pounding you in the mouth. And who's going to be the champion? The team that Tush pushes.
Mike Ryan
I do feel for Mike McDaniel and this dolphins regime a little bit in that they've made it to the playoffs twice. They had Skyler Thompson in there. This isn't exactly what the whole franchise was built.
Stugats
Almost won that game with Skyler Thompson right at Buffalo.
Mike Ryan
I know. Look, we're a speed team. We're going to put up points. We're more finesse. Let's have the coldest playoff game in the history of this franchise. And against the team of the generation in the Kansas City Chiefs. It is a little bit of tough luck. Okay, but where.
Jon Weiner
Where are we now? Like, it doesn't end at that point. Yeah, they had. They were unlucky with all the injuries and the weather and they're playing the super bowl champions in the Chiefs. Okay, let's keep it moving.
Stugats
But.
Jon Weiner
And then last year was last year. Now this year it's this downward trajectory, like, whatever. So they made the playoffs the first two years. Who cares? Like, let's keep moving here. And look at them. They're embarrassing, but it was.
Stugats
I wasn't just bad luck because they had though those seasons came down to loss to the Titans. Like two. Like last. Last season makes the playoffs because they lost the Titans early in the week. That's our fault. That day, the season before, they lost the Titans on Monday Night Football when they had control of the division.
Jon Weiner
They were up three games with five to play. And somehow they did. They still did not win the division.
Dan Le Batard
Lost to the Titans two years in a row.
Stugats
Like last year. They missed a place by a game and they lost the Titans like week three or week four.
Jon Weiner
And the Monday night one were ahead by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Stugats
Three minutes left, not just the fourth quarter.
Dan Le Batard
Well, that. That is. You could point to that as ground zero.
Mike Ryan
He does that to everyone. If you squinted that night, Dan Pu.
Dan Le Batard
That game is where the dissent started and it happened pretty quickly. I do want to, before we get to UM and uf, though, just examine the glee around the downfall. Because when Rex Ryan is on television calling you nerd boy, that is not a level of disrespect. Like, he's talkative and he's outspoken. That's not a level of disrespect that he ever gives another head.
Stugats
When he wants the job, he kind of goes after them. He's done this.
Jon Weiner
He was pretty hard on Brandon Staley.
Dan Le Batard
He.
Stugats
When he sees a job that he might get, he goes after him.
Mike Ryan
He's pretty good at speaking, too. And I think Philly was right in invoking Brandon Staley because it's an affront to not just football people, but you watching at home, Brandon Staley literally cost his team a playoff opportunity because he thought he was smarter than everybody else. And everyone's just applying conventional wisdom. So I do think that people do relish in these people struggling because they gave off. I'm smarter than you.
Tony
The other thing, too is some guys are just built to be coordinators.
Stugats
Right?
Tony
Staley B flow, maybe. Mike McDaniel's not a CEO, head of the company kind of guy.
Jon Weiner
Spagnolo, like, not a head coach. Amazing.
Tony
All of the guys that are.
Dan Le Batard
You know why I don't.
Jon Weiner
Wade Phillips is like the all time guy, you know?
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. You know why I don't agree with that? Is because I remember when Belichick was only a coordinator. Everyone said that about Belichick. Didn't have what it took.
Stugats
They were right.
Mike Ryan
They were right.
Jon Weiner
I think they're right.
Mike Ryan
He got Tom Brady.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, I think they're right.
Mike Ryan
And look at him without him.
Jon Weiner
Do you watch that game against tcu?
Dan Le Batard
I would argue that very often we make these assessments over here and the sport hasn't quite been taken over by all of the schemers and analytics guys. But you're not going to convince me that Sirianni is a great deal smarter than the other people he's coaching about against and certainly not Andy Reid. You're just not going to convince me of it. You're not going to. You're going to tell me that Sirianni's head coaching material and I'm going to be like, okay, if you say so. But that seems like an ideal guy given his initial press conferences. Like, you're Doing it because they win. You're not doing it because you can make the assessment. Like, I can say this. Mike March was that. Mike March was that only offense, only coordinator and didn't end up winning in the Super Bowl. But come on. Like, you guys can't make that assessment from your couch because you don't like the personality of somebody. You can't do it. Like, you know you could do it. You're going to do it based on the results. You can't do it accurately. When I remember Belichick, everyone said when Belichick was hired by the jets and then resigned on a napkin, that guy's not a guy who can be running your franchise. Like, that's. That's somebody who's very good at coaching defense, and that's what he's going to do. And then you guys told me that Charlie Weiss is just a coordinator and Matt Patricia is just a coordinator. And yeah, they. They were just coordinators, but before that, they learned from the guy who was just a coordinator until he won, what, how many championships?
Mike Ryan
Seven.
Dan Le Batard
How many did he win?
Jon Weiner
Six.
Dan Le Batard
Six. Sorry.
Mike Ryan
As head coach, what is the percentage point of head coaches that get to say, hey, good run. You were great. You are awesome. You can have this job as long as you like. It's a transient position. This is the life cycle of head coaches about four years where you get frustrated because someone else in your division is beating your ass because they have better players than you, and you think that, well, it's clean house. That'll be the way when really, you need to strike on a quarterback. And Dolphins fans thought that they did, but he couldn't take the hits in the league.
Dan Le Batard
Okay, but we didn't imagine, all right, when Mostert was scoring 18 touchdowns and we knew that wasn't an 18 touchdown player, that that was Mostert's ability.
Jon Weiner
That's not.
Dan Le Batard
That's. None of us were doing that. We're like, that's a really fast player.
Mike Ryan
But we're doing, like, this. This offensive scheme dating back to Mike Shanahan has gotten Mike Anderson into the area.
Dan Le Batard
We were giving the coach the credit for. Mostert being what?
Mike Ryan
But Mostert was a J. Yeah. Like, it's a scheme. It's a scheme. Which made the first year so confusing because the running game wasn't what. Mostert did it. And he showed you versatility. I can do it either way. Hey, third year tight ends are a thing. Now.
Dan Le Batard
The thing about him, McDaniel acting, quote, unquote, acting like he's smarter than everyone else. Is we wouldn't sound howling with laughing betrayal right now if all of us hadn't believed it. Like, that was something we were believing.
Mike Ryan
When they were scoring 70i out of the three key pieces here. Let's throw Tyreek Hill in there. We all know Tyreek Hill is a problem. Super talented, four key pieces, quarterback.
Stugats
Two.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, well, that's what I'm saying. The only reason we all thought Tua was any good was because the stats that he put up in Mike McDaniel's offense. The only time you've ever seen Tua be good and had belief in Tua was with Mike McDaniel.
Stugats
Well, no, in college, he was under Nick Saban. Everyone believed in him. And then, fair enough. When he came here, he came to Brian Flores, who did not want him to succeed.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, I'm talking about the pros, though. I mean, I've seen him do it with Tua. So I'm more inclined to believe Tua is an issue than Mike McDaniel.
Dan Le Batard
I think.
Jon Weiner
Look, it's an easy answer. I think they're both issues because Mike McDaniel's job, when he got here, he had two jobs. All right? When he first got here, the first job was, can you show us if Tua can play quarterback? That was his first job, and he succeeded at that. All right.
Stugats
Right.
Jon Weiner
Once he. Once we found that part out, okay, step two of your job is, can you actually coach the entire team now? And what we're learning is not sure. Not sure if you can coach the entire team. And the TUA part, he did his job there. Except based on what I'm seeing, I think two is broken. I don't think he's the quarterback he was three years ago.
Stugats
He also had no success without two. Like, every time Tua's been out, he has. Has not won those games. So I don't think that we can just say that Mike McDaniel's great at his job, and two is holding him back.
Tony
I think the other thing, too, is he runs a tough scheme.
Stugats
Right.
Tony
Didn't Tyreek Hill say, I just learned the scheme? Like, this year, it's been three years, possibly. But again, as you're a quarterback coming in, you're Snoop Huntley being like, all right, I have to learn this super complicated scheme in a week. Let me figure it out.
Mike Ryan
Like, it's really tough bounding, folks. It's Mike Ryan. It's football season. That means I'm gonna be traveling to watch some quarterbacks I love in the NFL. I got my eyes on Tennessee. I got my eyes on Tampa. They're not where I'm from. I gotta go to them. Thankfully, there's an app that can help me go to these unfamiliar markets, navigate these stadiums, and come away with the very best deal. The GameTime app gives the advantage back to football fans. It's a hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use, and the Game Time Guarantee means you can Trust you'll get 100% authentic tickets on time and at the best price. Plus, fees are always included. See what you pay at checkout. No surprises. It's huge. Zone deals, favorites, panoramic seat views, the low price guarantee, and again, the best customer service policy. The most flexible in the ticketing industry. Take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code DAN for $20 on off your first purchase terms. Apply again, create an account and redeem code dan for $20 off swipe tap ticket. Go download the Gametime app today. Howdy, it's Mike and football season is here. It is quite possibly every sports fan's favorite time of year. It's a real special time. Make your football special timey. Miller Time, please, because I know from experience having that beautiful white can by my side or a draft at the sports bar while the big game is on. Man, all those memories having that Miller Light there, knowing that it's a beer that just hits different. Look at the tailgate. There's nothing like cracking open a Miller Lite with your crew, whether it's that touchdown you didn't see coming or just arguing about fantasy lineups you already know you're going to lose. Miller Lite has been the taste you can depend on for 50 wonderful years. Rude for flavor with simple ingredients, rich toffee notes and that iconic golden color. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. Miller Lite Great Taste 96 calories go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Tony
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Mike Ryan
The glass, by the way.
Tony
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Dan Le Batard
Dan Lebatard.
Jon Weiner
My algorithm on Instagram is Dan. It's all boobs.
Mike Ryan
Stugats.
Jon Weiner
It's a good algorithm.
Stugats
This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.
Dan Le Batard
This stuff happens very quickly where you go from genius to Rex Ryan calling you Mick genius and nerd boy. It happens so quickly that I know people are going to listen to this Dabo Swinney sound and they're going to hear the arrogance of what it is that Dabo Swinney does. But I'm going to play that sound for you so that you guys hear him remind you of what. What he is and what Clemson's been. Because you start with a loss, you start with a couple of losses. If you're Clemson and you see how quickly the whole thing evaporates on you, you create the expectations you've heard. You guys have heard me say this before. I can cannot imagine what it's like to be Vrabel in New England because you create such unreasonable expectations that an entire generation of people forgets that the Patriots were bad for 40 years before that. They were terrible for 40 years before that. And it was a miracle that they made the super bowl and then got slaughtered with Steve Grogan at quarterback. And then everyone just gets real forgetful. And it's not just decades over which they get forgetful. They get forgetful the first two games of a season in college football.
Mike Ryan
But certainly it's easier to be Mike Vrabel than it was to be Jarod Mayo.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, correct.
Stugats
He's the savior that's going to come in and get them right back on track. I think, by the way, they were on track at the end of the Belichick.
Dan Le Batard
All right, make it Alabama, then don't make it the Patriots. If you don't want to make it.
Mike Ryan
That job, don't take these jobs. Don't follow the legend. Just don't take these jobs. Look what happened to Mush. Champion in Florida makes it to an SEC championship game. Recruits at a top 10 level out of here. In fact, they fired three coaches, each of them with an improving winning percentage. Just because I read that Billy Napier has to win his 28 next games to match Dan Mullen's winning percentage. Just don't follow the legends.
Stugats
I mean, if you're Kaylin DeBoer, though, it's hard to say no to eight years, $87 million. Like, I'll take the ego hit because maybe it works, but if it doesn't, you're good.
Tony
Got a house in the keys.
Mike Ryan
There are also examples in college football where guys keep the machine going because Larry Coker and Ryan Day would laugh right in my face saying, we can. We can follow the legends.
Tony
Yeah, Ryan Day's been great.
Dan Le Batard
Larry Coker, not great.
Dabo Swinney
Perfect.
Dan Le Batard
Just a coordinator.
Jon Weiner
Sweet man.
Dan Le Batard
But one more at the beginning of his career than any coach in college football history. But only a coordinator. Used up all of the Butch Davis talent and couldn't get another job after that. But did almost win two consecutive championships if not for Terry Porter, that cheating bum that needs to be interviewed by the assembled media.
Jon Weiner
And when's Pablo going to get on.
Stugats
That grilled Larry Coger also tried to rebuild UTSA afterwards.
Mike Ryan
I mean, built it from the ground up.
Stugats
Yeah, I love that.
Jon Weiner
Sweet man. Don't. Don't you dare. Don't nobody dare say he went to my church. I love him. He a sweet man.
Stugats
He seems like a really nice guy.
Mike Ryan
He was. No, he's not Greek Orthodox. I went to University Baptist Church when I was in high school.
Dan Le Batard
Was. You didn't kill. That's not a $50 fine.
Mike Ryan
No, no. I'm just saying was in the past tense from when I shook his hands.
Stugats
No, he recently embraced the devil.
Mike Ryan
Yes, that's right, Ghost.
Dan Le Batard
He's still a nice guy. I think. Larry Coker did not put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Has Larry Coker recently embraced the devil? I don't know. Why Billy Coker?
Stugats
Well, because you said he used to be. I was trying to coach him, Mike. Hey, not dead. So when he said he used to be, how did he used to be? Did he die? No, he didn't die. He just, you know, embraced the devil.
Mike Ryan
No longer Greek Orthodox coordinator Brian Flores, maybe Coordinator Juice.
Stugats
Listen, I'm gonna come right out and say it. I don't know that for a fact. In fact, I may have invented that just for entertainment purposes. I don't know. His stance on the devil. Probably. Probably anti devil.
Mike Ryan
Very anti devil from. From my limited engagements with a man.
Stugats
Now, if we're pro devil, like whatever, that's you. No judgment here, but I don't think that's.
Jon Weiner
I would judge someone who's pro devil.
Stugats
Really? Yeah.
Jon Weiner
Why put that on me? I'll judge the hell out of you if you're pro devil.
Stugats
Why is that?
Jon Weiner
Because the devil sucks, man.
Stugats
How do you know?
Jon Weiner
I. Believe me, I know.
Stugats
Have you ever met anyone that you're like, you know what? I heard really bad things about this person. They're not that bad.
Jon Weiner
Look, I. I know, I know it's wild Billy Wednesday, you're going to start this shit here. You're going to defend the devil.
Stugats
No, I'm not defending the devil. I'm just. I don't know the devil personally. So I don't want to judge or judge others that may have a more intimate relationship with.
Mike Ryan
He's already been judged.
Dan Le Batard
You don't want to judge the devil? I feel like that's an okay one to judge, even if you want to be non judge.
Stugats
It's a slippery slope.
Dan Le Batard
I don't think that's slippery slope.
Stugats
You ever start with the devil? Condemned guys start with the devil. And then I'm out there and someone telling me, hey, fatso, why are you eating that French toast today?
Jon Weiner
And I'm like, whoa, that slope is so dry. It's not slippery.
Dan Le Batard
It's on fire too. There's fire all around lava, though.
Stugats
Lava, lava. Slippery until it dries.
Dan Le Batard
Since 2011, Clemson has had double digit wins every season but one since 2011. So this is why Dabo's mad when people yell at him about losing to a very well coached Georgia Tech team.
Dabo Swinney
If they want me gone, if they tired of winning, they can send me on the way because that's all we've done is win. So if they tired of winning, we've had, We've won this league eight out of the last 10 years. Does that not come good? I'm just asking, is that good? I don't know if that's good or not. To win your league eight out of 10 years to go to the playoffs seven out of 10 years. Be in four national championships. Win it twice. Yeah, we look down right now. Take your shots. But I got a long memory in case y' all don't know. We'll be all right. We'll bounce back. This is a program built to last. Always has been, always will be. And I would just say if you give up on us after, if you don't believe on us because we've lost two games down to the last straight and we're one, you didn't believe in us anyway, so it don't matter. You wasn't all in anyway. If you're all in, you burn the ships, man. There ain't no exit strategy like you're freaking all in. And hey, listen, I mean, if Clemson's tired of winning, they send me on my way, but I'm gonna go somewhere else. And coach, I ain't going to the beach. Hell, I'm 55. I got a long way to go. Y' all gonna have to deal with me for a while. Got a long way to go.
Dan Le Batard
I'm just.
Dabo Swinney
Just getting going. I'm just now good enough to be a head coach.
Jon Weiner
Is there a profession on earth that talks more highly of himself than the college football head coach?
Stugats
It's kind of right, though.
Mike Ryan
He's absolutely right. He's absolutely right. He did that at Clemson. He beat Nick Saban's Alabama when they were absolutely rolling. He had the season last year that Clemson fans were pining for for three decades. He is absolutely right. I remember what they were saying last year and they ended up winning the ACC and playing admirably well at Texas in the College Football Playoff. He's absolutely right. That guy can stay in charge at Clemson as long as he wants.
Dan Le Batard
There's a generation of people who do not know that Clemson used to have a verb, Clemsoning. That was super negative. That the team was going to collapse under every circumstance. That has been eliminated since 2011. They do nothing but double digit wins since 2011. 2011.
Mike Ryan
Beat Nick Saban's Alabama twice. Yeah, with DeSean Watson and a true freshman, Trevor Lawrence. And both of which are ass in the pros right now. Ass.
Jon Weiner
That is important to point out. He won with two terrible quarterbacks.
Mike Ryan
Well, great college NFL quarterback number one, draft terrible. That's why I said right now. But I mean, Trevor Lawrence was a true freshman.
Dan Le Batard
Those are not terrible quarterbacks.
Stugats
Great college quarterbacks.
Mike Ryan
Trevor Lawrence has never look better than he did with Dabo as a freshman. Never looked better.
Dan Le Batard
I've been doing this too long. If we're going to take number one draft picks and say that they're terrible college quarterbacks.
Jon Weiner
Have you not watched Charlotte Lawrence?
Mike Ryan
They're ass right now. Their ass right now. Dabo absolutely should get a lifetime contract from that. Go ahead, let that get away. Alabama will be the first phone call that he gets and with that support system, he'll get that train moving again.
Stugats
I think if Trevor Lawrence went back to Clemson today, he would light up college football.
Dan Le Batard
That's true. When you say their ass, I believe that the ass gets a bad rap here. I believe that the ass is a very functional thing.
Jon Weiner
There's some good ass.
Dan Le Batard
There is a lot of.
Mike Ryan
They're the badass. Do you want to fight me on Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson being ass? Presently there they are. Ass. Ass.
Dan Le Batard
I am fighting you on ass as an insult. The ass is necessary. There are many fine asses. And the way that you guys are describing this right now. And trust, trust me, I had Jacksonville on the money line Sunday. So when he dropped back to pass, what I saw was a body with an ass on top with a face mask. There was an ass on his.
Tony
He was wearing number seven, Dan.
Mike Ryan
That's what he was wearing. Mike Williams is out of the league now. He's retired. Christian Wilkins ass. I'm just saying those Alabama teams that they beat, they got guys still in the league. We could be talking about a donkey.
Dan Le Batard
You know, a mule.
Jon Weiner
That type of ass, not all ass is bad. I'm telling you, there's a lot of ass on my algorithm and it ain't that bad.
Mike Ryan
He works hard.
Stugats
Christian Wilkins is injured and then released from his team because of something weird. Something that we don't exactly know he was expendable.
Dan Le Batard
Where is he now? Did he resign?
Stugats
Nowhere. I think he's still recovering from whatever his injury was.
Dan Le Batard
He kissed someone on the head. That's what allegedly. Okay.
Mike Ryan
And other people have gone at. Like you're softening your reporting. That's not actually what happened. There's a whole thing and then the game started. We're like, we don't give a shit anymore.
Dan Le Batard
Justin Tucker anywhere. Is someone going to sign Justin Tucker when they get into a panicked situation with me?
Mike Ryan
Justin Tucker, I don't know if anybody's kicking situation is going to be that desperate. I'm pretty sure Justin Tucker is done. Done.
Stugats
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
I'd be shocked.
Stugats
Yeah. I got ball sacked not too long ago where I'm like, the Browns signed him and then I was. That's why I remember. I Was like, yeah, he's. I was like, no, that was fake.
Dan Le Batard
Is that the verb you want to use with Justin Tucker that you got ball sacked without any context?
Stugats
I think that without any context, no one would know what that meant. Precisely with the context is why it becomes bad.
Mike Ryan
You're the problem.
Stugats
You made this bad.
Dan Le Batard
Um, and UF is this weekend. And while they don't play all the time, I'm old enough to remember when that was the University of Miami's biggest game and biggest rival, that there was no rival bigger than Florida. I think some of that has dissipated. Right, because the games were against Florida State. And Miami doesn't hate Florida State. Bobby Bowden's part of the reason for that. But when you think of rivalries with Miami, Notre Dame goes to a higher level than Florida because all those games in the past were always for the championship. But Florida, Miami is still. I thought that that's why the point spread is where it is, honestly, because people are just giving the money. Is giving respect to the idea that teams that don't like each other and have rivalry games, that those games are often very close or closer than you expect them to be.
Jon Weiner
I think sportsbooks are just trying to help boost the economy. That's free money.
Mike Ryan
I think it's a perfect line. Florida showed last year that when their backs are up against the wall, they play hard for their head coach. To me, this is my most hated rival. I know it's not the feelings not mutual. Florida, even though they would readily admit that they hate Miami, they'd consider Georgia their biggest rival. I go, I got a Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, and then like the Virginia Techs of the world. But I think that Florida's defense, the.
Jon Weiner
Kids are probably fourth on Georgia's list. Georgia, on Florida's list, they would have Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, lsu, but only.
Dan Le Batard
Because they stopped playing.
Mike Ryan
They stopped playing. And this was absolutely Florida's choice to stop playing Miami. Miami would absolutely play Florida every year if they could. And it dates back to the Gator flop. It dates back to recruiting battles. Over the last five years or so, the fiercest battles between these two teams have been on the recruiting trail.
Jon Weiner
But why have they been so readily willing over really like the last 10 plus years, 15 even, to start playing again?
Mike Ryan
I mean, these were scheduled years ago when Florida had their program running and Miami was desperate to get back to the that level. And it's a, it's a big time moneymaker. I, I think we'll go several years again without seeing these two teams play.
Jon Weiner
But is this the last one scheduled?
Mike Ryan
Yeah, last one scheduled.
Stugats
I believe this is the big rivalry for the, like you guys are talking about. From the fans perspective. From the players, though, a lot of these kids, like, grew up together. I, I would argue Miami, Florida, like, the players think this is the biggest rival mo.
Mike Ryan
Most of the players on this field had a decision to make, do I go to Florida or do I go to Miami? And they pick their side.
Dan Le Batard
The way that Florida played, you said they could have won that game and they could have. And it's hard to win a game when your quarterback is throwing five interceptions. I don't know how many there have been in history where your quarterback is.
Jon Weiner
Throwing five interceptions, usually get taken out after four.
Mike Ryan
Or your. Jared Goff.
Dan Le Batard
I have not seen quarterback play that was quite that catastrophic this year. 5. And they were all these throws. All. What you saw on almost all of the throws was, ooh, he's lobbing it in there super soft. And he's just giving a lot of time for that. He doesn't have the AR strength. He thinks Lang White thinks he's got a stronger arm than he does trying to make those throws against the secondary that can move.
Mike Ryan
I, I'm a Lagway believer in watching that game live. I haven't done a rewatch, but I do know people that do, like, break down film and they say, like, this guy is broken, but you can tell, like, he entered fall camp. He, we all know about the shoulder injury, but then he got a calf strain. And you can see in his throws, he is not using his lower body to, to throw these balls. And that's why they don't, they don't look the same way. That, and also I think it played a role in his conditioning. DJ Lagway's a big dude. He's like 250 pounds. He's a big guy. And it doesn't look particularly in.
Dan Le Batard
You saw the interceptions, though, right? Like the way he's throwing the ball two places where it's a bad throw, bad decision, thrown too softly.
Jon Weiner
Yeah.
Dan Le Batard
And he's telegraphing in a way that's giving the corners and safety plenty of time to size it up, and they're not there. LSU wasn't making great plays to make those interceptions.
Mike Ryan
No, no. In fact, I, I watching that game, I'm like, I think Brian Kelly is maybe not the first question, but is your offense ass also? It's a very reasonable question.
Dan Le Batard
I wish someone opened Brian Kelly's next press conference by trying to provoke him. Why is your Offense so ass. Excuse me, Brian.
Mike Ryan
We just need one run to not be ass.
Dan Le Batard
Did you not see it?
Mike Ryan
Did you not see it?
Jon Weiner
I already told you, there's a lot of ass out there. That's good. My algorithm.
Dan Le Batard
Okay, you've mentioned this before. I thought it was boobs. I thought your algorithm was boobs.
Jon Weiner
There's a lot out there on the algorithm. I don't discriminate.
Mike Ryan
Howdy. It's Mike. And football season is here. It is quite possibly every sports fan's favorite time of year. It's a real special time. Make your football special timey. Miller time, please. Because I know from experience, having that beautiful white can by my side. Or a draft at the sports bar while the big game is on. Man, all those memories having that Miller Lite there. Knowing that it's a beer that just hits different. Look at the tailgate. There's nothing like cracking open a Miller Lite with your crew. Whether it's that touchdown you didn't see coming or just arguing about fantasy lineups you already know you're gonna lose. Miller Lite has been the taste you can depend on for 50 wonderful years. Rude for flavor with simple ingredients, rich toffee notes and that iconic golden color. The original light beer since 1975 and still hittin different five decades later. Miller Lite Great Taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Date: September 17, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
This episode, titled “Buddy, Buster, or Brother,” centers on the Miami Hurricanes’ prospects, Miami Dolphins’ coaching drama, the nature of football “genius,” and South Florida’s deep history with its local teams and rivalries. Dan, Stugotz, and co-hosts mix laughter, pop-culture banter, and sharp sports takes, frequently revisiting the thin line between perceived genius and scapegoat in sports, while drawing on Miami’s long relationship with both college and pro football. The tone is irreverent, self-deprecating, and deeply enmeshed in the love/hate rollercoaster of being a South Florida fan.
“Buddy, Buster, or Brother” is classic Le Batard: heavy on Miami sports angst, blending the outrage of fans with inside jokes about coaching, analytics, contracts, and college football’s self-importance. The hosts examine sports culture’s quick embrace and rejection of “genius,” the impossible standards set by prior successes, and the uniquely South Floridian experience of watching great athletes and coaches cycle through local teams.
If you haven’t listened, expect a hilarious, pointed dissection of fan psychology, coaching narratives, and the evolving definition of success in football—seasoned, as always, with the group’s signature sarcasm and camaraderie.