Local Hour: Dan's School Spirit

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Local Hour: Dan's School Spirit
Date: January 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

Broadcast live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this Local Hour captures Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew basking in the afterglow of a dramatic Miami Hurricanes football win—evoking nostalgia, school pride, and the complex Cuban identity at the heart of Miami’s sports culture. The conversation oscillates between analysis of the previous night’s landmark UM victory, playful banter about their own Cuban-ness, reflections on icons like Michael Irvin and Mario Cristobal, and explorations of generational shifts and Miami’s sports legacy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Lasting Power of School Spirit

• Dan’s Emotional Revelation: Dan shares that, for the first time in 20 years, he felt overwhelmed by genuine school pride watching UM’s victory. The win "ransacked" his usual media detachment.
  • Quote: “I was simply floored last night by the surprise of something swooning through me. That is not something I had felt in 20 years. Because I was scared. I was scared watching the game.” (01:15)
• Cultural Roots: The Miami Hurricanes program, for Dan, predates the city’s success with the Heat or Panthers and is deeply intertwined with his personal and professional identity.

2. Miami Hurricanes Game Analysis

• A Dramatic, Fluke-Filled Win:
  • The Canes dominated time of possession and amassed huge stats, but only barely beat Ole Miss because of repeated mistakes—including four dropped interceptions and numerous penalties.
  • Jeremy’s Stat: “Only FBS team or NFL team in the last two decades to hold the ball for 40+ minutes, amass over 400 yards, convert 10 third downs, convert multiple fourth downs, and have four drives of 13+ plays in the same game… and barely win.” (26:22)
• Standouts & Surprises:
  • Malachi Toney: A freshman phenom, praised for dynamic offense and “best blocker on the team,” with Dan placing him above prior UM legends.
    • Quote: “Malachi Toney is unlike any player they've ever had... This is different than Santana Moss. Different than Devin Hester.” (07:15)
  • Carson Beck: The “expensive quarterback” showed mental toughness, overcoming a reputation as a “broken human being” (10:00) to deliver when it mattered most.

3. The Michael Irvin / Mascot Metaphor

• Sad Clown Phase: The crew riffs on Michael Irvin’s role as the team’s symbolic mascot—still passionate but visibly exhausted, especially compared to what Deion Sanders is achieving elsewhere.
  • Quote: “I would like to explore... the sad clown phase of Michael Irvin’s career… He’s been above this for a long time... tired of being the mascot for this team.” (03:38)
• Deion vs. Michael: Both are icons built by the program, but Deion is now coaching while Irvin is “on fumes.”

4. The Cuban Super Bowl – Miami Identity & Generational Tension

• Cristobal as a Cuban Archetype: Dan and others describe Mario Cristobal, the UM coach, as the “Statue of Liberty for Cuban people in sports—crazy, bug-eyed, and willful” (13:54). His fierce demeanor represents a past, tough Cuban generation.
  • Quote: “If I could make a Statue of Liberty for the Cuban people in sports, it would be Mario Cristobal. Bug eyed. Crazed. As a representative of our people.” (13:54)
• The Generational Shift:
  • Younger Cubans like Fernando Mendoza (Indiana QB, potential opponent) are described as more Americanized, less defined by “chew-your-face-off Cuban will.”
  • Debate ensues about where each crew member falls on the spectrum between Cristobal's old-school toughness and Mendoza's more assimilated, artistic approach.
  • Dan’s Self-Assessment: “I am a coward compared to whatever Cristobal had going on in his family… Better to live as a coward than die a hero. And I’m telling you my father's an animal.” (38:37)

5. Miami's Place in College Football History

• Legacy & Front-Running:
  • The panel discusses how, when the Hurricanes win, there's an unparalleled energy in Miami—higher than even the Heat can generate.
  • However, Miami fans are often accused of front-running; the passion and pride are strongest when the team excels.
  • Zaslow’s Perspective: Even as a UF alum, Zaslow is a Canes fan because of Miami’s unique, almost professional place in the city’s identity.
    • Quote: “The Canes are… treated like a professional team. A small private school—no one went there who roots for the team… The earliest childhood memories are my father taking me to the Orange Bowl.” (30:51)

6. Playful Banter & Show Dynamic Highlights

• Cuban Boot Camp: Tony and Jeremy are tasked with giving Zaslow “a Cuban makeover” ahead of a potential Miami vs. Indiana (“Cuban Super Bowl”).
• Mike Ryan accuses Zaslow of being a “fake ass Florida fan”: “If you will betray your people, then how can we ever trust that you won’t betray us?” (36:02), leading to more debates about fan identity and loyalty.

7. Nostalgia and the Weight of History

• The narrative repeatedly returns to Miami’s central role in transforming college football—turning the sport “black,” teaching the nation how to win, and sparking controversy with swagger and race dynamics.
  • Dan: “When the sport got black, it got taken over by Miami and then it became too black because black sportsmanship run amok in a complicated… program that taught me everything.” (24:12)
• Miami’s pinnacle is contrasted with the 20 “lost” years since, making this new run feel cathartic and significant.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan on School Pride (01:15): “Be a prisoner. Lock yourself up, man. Throw away the key.”
• On Michael Irvin’s Melancholy (03:38): “I am wildly entertained by what he’s been for 30 years, but he’s been above this for a long time.”
• Dan’s Praise for Cristobal (13:54): “If I could make a Statue of Liberty for the Cuban people in sports, it would be Mario Cristobal.”
• On Malachi Toney (07:15): “Malachi Toney is unlike any player they've ever had.”
• Zaslow on Childhood Memory (30:51): “The earliest of my childhood memories are my father taking me to the Orange Bowl.”

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:21–01:15 — Dan introduces theme of game’s emotional resonance and school pride.
• 03:28–05:04 — Michael Irvin’s “sad clown phase” and his legacy as the program’s mascot.
• 07:01–08:08 — Malachi Toney’s performance and importance in program history.
• 09:48–11:40 — Carson Beck’s journey from “broken” to clutch performer.
• 13:00–14:24 — Cristobal as Cuban sports archetype; Cuban generational discussion.
• 26:22–27:23 — Statistical breakdown of the game’s historical uniqueness.
• 30:51–31:55 — Zaslow’s personal Miami sports/fandom story.
• 34:51–36:32 — Mike Ryan’s playful “callout” of Zaslow’s fan credentials.
• 38:37–40:10 — Dan’s reflection on the challenges of living up to Cuban tough-guy archetypes.

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Summary & Takeaways

• Emotional Stakes: This episode highlights how, for Le Batard and the Miami sports community, college football—and specifically Miami Hurricanes football—still evokes uniquely profound emotional and cultural resonance.
• Culture & Identity: The innovative segment about "types" of Cubans (Cristobal vs. Mendozas) adds richness and self-awareness to Miami’s sports conversation. This multidimensional pride is about not just wins and losses, but about how Miamians see themselves.
• Legacy Acknowledged: The hosts argue that Miami’s sporting edge, both in on-field swagger and off-field pride, shaped the character of the city and its sports discourse—a standard they cherish and hope to maintain.

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For listeners:
If you care about Miami, college football, or how sports intertwine with heritage and generational identity, this is a reflective, vivid, and very Miami episode—rich in nostalgia, wit, pride, and self-deprecation.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

New year, same extra value meals at McDonald's. So now get two snack wraps plus fries and a medium soft drink for.

[Chris Cote]

Just $8 for a limited time only.

[Dan Le Batard]

Prices and participation may vary.

[Chris Cote]

Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska and California.

[Dan Le Batard]

And for delivery. I don't know why Chris is dancing. I'm still waiting for the pass interference call.

[Chris Cote]

Hand fighting.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think a commissioner's going to announce something. There's going to be an appellate court like you guys think. This is over. This is not over. It doesn't get to end that way.

[Stugotz]

Mutual bet to wild.

[Chris Cote]

So we're going to be watching ESPN and then all of a sudden a yellow flag is.

[Dan Le Batard]

I expect it to be breaking news during the show. No, I expect during the show for there to be breaking news Sounder. Just like yesterday with McDaniel and it to just be. And just. They've declared because they can, because this is all for me, for TV entertainment, that the flag should have been thrown. And we're going to go play it again on Wednesday to see if we could change the result of that game because we like transaction. Listen, that's a fun story. I. I'm gonna. Without trying to be prisoner of the moment. I'm not even making this up.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, this is the time to be prisoner of the moment, man. You know, all the time we're like, oh, I don't wanna be prisoner of the moment. Don't be prisoner of the moment. This is the moment. Be a prisoner. Lock yourself up, man. Throw away the key.

[Dan Le Batard]

I was simply floored last night by the surprise of something swooning through me. That is not something I had felt in 20 years. Because I was scared. I was scared watching the game.

[Mike Ryan]

Scared to be happy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, yeah, I guess.

[Mike Ryan]

Scared to believe the happiness.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, so it's 20 years of football scars here after. This is the program that taught us that winning was possible. This has always been the pride of this community. This is the best sports thing we've had. It's the most professional thing we've had before the Heat, before the Pants Panthers, before any of it. It was this program growing out of this swamp, representing this city in a way that brought it pride. Like, this program is my school. So I had school spirit last night. And I'm like, what is this doing here? Jazz hands in the school.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, Dana with pom poms.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know, but this is so. I didn't. You may have been concussed, but I didn't recognize it. I didn't like. What is this feeling? I didn't like.

[Tony]

You'Re like the Grinch. Having a feeling.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm having feelings like a 14 year old.

[Dan Le Batard]

Can you get me the University of Miami mascot, Yamayama, please? Because I want visuals. There's a. There's a former, um, mascot. During the glory days, his name was Yamayama. And Michael Irvin, I just feel like is running on fumes. He's got very little material left. He needs a team of writers. He didn't think it was going to get this far. Somebody helped Michael Irvin get to the ending so he's not just spanking that cooler anymore with a belt. He's lived too much, he's won too much. He's worked too hard for his fame to be in the sad clown portion of. I don't have two games left in me. Look at what Deion's doing in Colorado. You got me on the sidelines with a belt.

[Stugotz]

This is the Don Levatar show with the Stu Guts podcast.

[Mike Ryan]

Who's more exhausted at being the mascot, Michael Irvin or Greg Cody? Because I'm watching that video and wow, he looks really tired singing that song. What's the size of Michael with the belt?

[Dan Le Batard]

I would like to explore with America just the sad clown phase of Michael Irvin's career where he's. I am wildly entertained by what he's been for 30 years, but he's been above this for a long time. Deion Sanders runs a whole program, and Michael's tired of being the mascot for this team because he thought he was going to end a couple of games.

[Mike Ryan]

Go.

[Dan Le Batard]

Now. It doesn't mean he doesn't love the program. And then it's not totally sincere because he does and he cares like that. But at this point, he doesn't have this energy for just the repeat of the same act. I've just got a belt. It's cameras following me everywhere. Stop following me. I've always wanted you. This is too much. This is too many. Quit making me perform for you.

[Tony]

He didn't have anything special last night. Nothing new. Like we should. I want to relive this.

[Jeremy]

I want to see.

[Tony]

Let's see if he brought, like, you know, advancements in the bit.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, but he's an old. He's an older person. He's tired. This is 60 that he's. Dude, he's been doing this for 35 years. He's been fame relevant for 35 years. And he does care about this program and he's the perfect mascot for it. He really does care. I'm not making up the stories When I say he went to the Dallas Cowboys. Okay, look, this is a. All right, forgive me for a second when I go historic on this, because this is what happened to me yesterday was weird. I've rarely experienced in my entire career all the things I felt yesterday that had very much the center of them. School pride.

[Tony]

Love how you say it that way.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, but it's just like how many good things you. How many things are there in the world that you have a relationship with that is prideful that that is because you invested a bunch of time in that school and money and it invested in you by birthing our entire careers. Because that program taught me to love sports, taught me to care about sports. And the only other time I felt like last night was when Jimmy Johnson lost with a clearly superior team against Penn State cuz he wouldn't stop throwing the football. And Jimmie Johnson, it's the worst regret he has. But his greatest allegiance, Jimmy's wasn't to the champions in Dallas. Michaels isn't to the champions in Dallas. Their greatest allegiance is that they appreciate what this school built for Miami in this city to teach all the other people how to win. Michael Irvin was at the very start of that. He cares that way, but he's tired. He preferred to be coaching the team than doing this. You want. You guys do understand that, right? Like that this is the. Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin were fighting for the very same things. 40 years of Florida football, it's the top of the food chain. It's crazy. It's best athletes you've ever seen, keeping themselves famous for 40 years. Because it was Deon coming out of a limousine at Florida State. This is as good as sports can feel right here. And this team and this program is the one that helped us make it feel. It like helped us understand what that would feel like.

[Mike Ryan]

I learned a new name last night. And the funny thing is I've heard it a million times on the show and never put two together. But this Malachi Tony kid is pretty good, huh?

[Jeremy]

Malachi.

[Chris Cote]

You just noticed?

[Mike Ryan]

I just got that.

[Tony]

That you've heard the malaki sound.

[Dan Le Batard]

I didn't know what that was.

[Mike Ryan]

I thought he was saying malarkey, but he kind of misspelled misspoke. And I was like, oh, you didn't.

[Dan Le Batard]

Realize that Greg Cody's expertise about Malachi Tony, who did like some wizard, you've got to make that a catch just on general principle because he was able to do that. Like you've got to overturn, you've got to Keep the ruling of. That was a catch. And don't talk to me about the heel. Just on general artist principle toe went down first.

[Chris Cote]

Come on.

[Stugotz]

What are we doing here?

[Dan Le Batard]

Come on.

[Tony]

We all did the thing last night. I'm at my house with my wife and she's like, whoa, what? It wasn't a catch. It ended up being out.

[Stugotz]

But she, she.

[Tony]

The replay. What a catch. I'm like, kids, 18 years old, should be a senior in high school.

[Jeremy]

Dwyane Wade won an NBA championship with the Heat before he was born.

[Dan Le Batard]

So this program taught us what excellence looks like at the top of the food chain. And what I'm telling you what, Malachi Toney is unlike any player they've ever had. This is different than Santana Moss. This is different than Kevin Williams. This is different than Devin Hester. Although Devin Hester is probably the closest thing there was to it. But Devin Hester was not this on offense. He was this on only special teams.

[Chris Cote]

Not only that, offensively, what he's able to do from a blocking perspective as a guy who's undersized at his. At his position is unreal. He's the best blocker they have on that team.

[Tony]

You're putting him past these legends that you're.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's a movie.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm gonna say this, man, like, that was Tony. That was a play where he blocked for Fletcher. And I was like, he's 18, and he's doing that, like, set the edge on the physicality as an 18 year old to do that. The desire for someone who's that talented to say, no, no, no, I'm gonna mix it up.

[Tony]

I'm gonna block football iq, That's.

[Mike Ryan]

Hey, man, that's. That's special.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay? But if you. If you agree with the history and understand the history of Florida, right, And just how it is that athletes in this state have ruled football and made it matter and been a source of pride to the nation. And it begins in Miami. And with the recruitment on Miami and kids like this, where you're like, okay, that sport requires its players to stay in school for several years because they don't have the man enough of a body to do the violence in the adult world. What do you mean? A freshman is putting up numbers there that everyone knows the ball's going to him and you can't do much of anything about it. And he's jumping 10ft in the air and is clearly an athlete that's being feared by all the other athletes, even though he doesn't look physically like he's Very big and got braces. And he looks. And he did. And he looks young. He looks young out there, except he's an electric power current and you don't. You're watching in that game. So let's. Let's go over some of the details of last night's game because it was the flukiest thing. Miami was clearly better than Ole Miss. Like, just clearly and obviously better. And Trinidad Chambliss, James, everyone enjoyed the idea of him possibly coming back in that fourth quarter was wild, wild fun. And then Carson Peck at the end won Miami a game in a different way than they won the other two because they bought an expensive quarterback so that they could beat you a lot of different ways. When the games came and the opponents were different.

[Tony]

Can we just talk about their decision to trust Carson back there when they had enough time? Everyone was like in the group chat, like, they should be running the ball here. And they just put the ball in Carson's hands and it was. And he responded.

[Dan Le Batard]

The caretaking duties that Carson Beck. I don't know if you guys have read about some of the humanity to this, because the. The recruiter for Miami was quoted in interview that Carson Beck was a broken human being, that he's never was quoted as saying, I've never seen such a broken human being.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, Mike said that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Angry, mad at the world, lacking confidence as Carson Beckman and not wanting to come back to college because of whatever the experience was of being 18, 19 with a world of pressure on you. But what you just saw last night was seven years of college experience. Like, that guy's been playing professional football for a while. His record, he's got 41 of those games. Okay, he's won, what is it, 36 of them. And 16 of the wins are against ranked teams. Like, he's played in a bunch of these. We've made a professional quarterback a little bit faster than we used to make them. And he's being paid like he's the professional quarterback at the top of that food chain. You saw what Lane Kiffin did with. With Ryan Clark in the pivot yesterday, right? Did you guys see that?

[Tony]

That's not a new clip, but, yes, it resurfaced. He did it when he was still with Ole Miss.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's right. And Lane Kiffin was bragging, look at what I did to that kid. When you look at storylines in college sports and the business of it. The business of it. That's been fairly shocking the last five years. So shocked that you are that Lane Kiffin would laugh Ah, what does Carson Beck know these people, these adults can ravage these kids in the pursuit of these things. Like Carson Beck was a young man and had his psyche challenged by what this sport requires. And in the biggest moment last night, when they needed him to be the most expensive player he was, and while running the football, when he could have gotten sacked, when all of us were saying, Mario, why are you throwing here? Are you lunatic a sack? You want to get an interception? Like, why would you just not hand the ball off? It's the most common and easiest thing.

[Mike Ryan]

I was like, mario, no, the championship game is when you do this so.

[Dan Le Batard]

We can have the greatest hit.

[Mike Ryan]

It was exactly what Chris predicted.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know it's too early. I cannot believe that, that, that Carson Beck had the wisdom to scamper to his left when he was sacked. If he, if he decided to just roll out a little more to his right. He sacked and it's a disaster. And you're looking at why did they throw the ball there?

[Chris Cote]

Especially when a couple plays before, in a drive before he had the, the pressure to the right side and he had Marion running completely butt naked, wide open on a crosser. If he just steps up and throws it to him, it's a touchdown there. So it was like the complete opposite. Learned from it, said, I'm going to run out this way and score a touchdown.

[Dan Le Batard]

The play was to Tony because all the plays are to Tony because you know that Tony.

[Tony]

I thought he had Tony. Like there was a window for Tony, I thought.

[Stugotz]

But they wore that, that Mississippi defense down, man, and that primary ball for 45 minutes.

[Tony]

Ole missed tackles.

[Stugotz]

But Primus example would be on that big touchdown because that defensive tackle just collapsed.

[Dan Le Batard]

I heard get up. I heard the five seconds.

[Tony]

The Joe Zagaki call that the guy who. I don't know like the play, but the guy with Joe Zagaki. Jake yells in. It yells in the thing.

[Dan Le Batard]

Go right, go right.

[Tony]

And he doesn't go right. He goes left because it was. That's crazy. That in the. You hear the guy telling him to go.

[Dan Le Batard]

How disrespectful are you of Miami royalty that you just did the guy with. The guy with John Bailey Jr. Like TBJ Chris Cody. How are you a journalist and sitting next to your father and you don't know the legend in this market?

[Tony]

He said his initials. I don't even know Tony knew until Roy said, what are you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Dude, he was offended behind you.

[Chris Cote]

I was sickened by that look.

[Dan Le Batard]

Tony, Tony, I saw Josh Darrow on the sidelines Tony is Miami to its core. And what we're headed toward here is the most Miami Cuban championship. Tony is such a huge Indiana fan today. Like Fernando Mendoza against Mario Cristobal. This is two. Two generations of very different Cubans. And Mario Cristobal would chew the face off of. Chew the face. Rabid dog.

[Chris Cote]

Dan of.

[Dan Le Batard]

Of the Cuban Fernando Mendoza's birth after Cristobal. Look, man, Crystal ball's crazy. He's the best of us. He is the best of us. As a Cuban man more willful than all the other Cuban men will absolutely be more man than you are a man always and always and forever. He's nuts. Nuts. Nuts.

[Tony]

There was one point where his eyeballs were about to come out of his head.

[Stugotz]

He did not want to be hugged.

[Tony]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's not done yet. This is a crazy person. Look. This is the best of us. Look. I'm not kidding you when I say if I could make a Statue of Liberty for the Cuban people in sports, it would be Mario Cristobal. Wow. Bug eyed. Crazed. Crazed. As a representative of our people and what they can do. No time for joy. Get out of my face. I'm going to go punch Indiana in the face. Where's that Mendoza? Where's that Mendoza so I can chew his face off and show him the younger generation doesn't owe shit in sports.

[Stugotz]

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[Miller Lite Announcer]

Hey, Jeremy. Happy holidays.

[Jeremy]

Happy Januka.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

I want to toast you. Actually, I don't. I will toast with you.

[Zas]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

We're co workers.

[Chris Cote]

Mm.

[Jeremy]

Friends. You could say.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

No, we cannot say that. But we both enjoy an ice cold Miller Lite.

[Jeremy]

That's true.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

Especially around the holidays. You know, it's a 50th anniversary Miller Lite.

[Jeremy]

It's really amazing. Every time we say that, I can't believe it.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

Well, it's crazy because, like, they've basically been partners with the Dan LeBatard show for half of their existence. When I put it to you that way, we got an old ass show.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, we do. That's crazy.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

Hey, let's look around at our friends, not each other and our family, even though they're not here. I do miss your brother, though.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, I know.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

I'll bring him back and take that first sip. Look around and know that we made the right decision. When it comes to a domestic light lager, Miller Lite is the best. And it's the holiday season, as we mentioned. Why don't you enjoy that holiday season by drinking a beer that won't weigh you down? The original light beer since 1975, still hidden different 50 years later. Brewed for flavor with simple ingredients like malted barley, rich balanced toffee notes, and that iconic golden color that you can see from across the room. The best holiday beers are the ones you don't expect. 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. Tis Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Jeremy]

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[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, wow.

[Mike Ryan]

It's in there.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's better, I think.

[Chris Cote]

I haven't been practicing.

[Dan Le Batard]

I didn't realize we had a substitute. Complicated legacy brought to you by headquarter Toyota 441 power line road.

[Chris Cote]

Second down to nine.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with.

[Chris Cote]

The ST. We're on the precipice of the most Cuban campionato ever.

[Dan Le Batard]

They were doing cafecito before the game yesterday.

[Chris Cote]

That's something they've been doing for a long time, which is a beautiful thing. I think everybody needs to get a little extra juice.

[Tony]

Right?

[Chris Cote]

That's what people are realizing. If you get the Cuban coffee right before the game starts, you have an unfair.

[Dan Le Batard]

You got a pd. Yeah, absolutely. We've been saying situation.

[Tony]

You have to go poop. So happens to me.

[Mike Ryan]

It makes you run faster.

[Dan Le Batard]

Trey Wingo's entire career was getting. You guys saw it happen at the Super Bowl. Trey Wingo's career was derailed by. When he started having cafecitos around here. Couldn't handle it. He went too fast, he went too far, and he got addicted to them. And his career was never the same after that.

[Tony]

Cannot believe that guy tried to hug Mario crystal ball during the game.

[Mike Ryan]

He's pissed. That's legitimate. That's not performative. He's legitimately pissed.

[Dan Le Batard]

So, Tony, but you recognize this person? This is your father.

[Chris Cote]

100.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is your. Your father. You tell me, Tony, you're confident about a million different things. You tell me, how would this go? A fight with your father?

[Chris Cote]

Not well. Got the old man strength. He still grabs my wrist sometimes.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm like, hey, no, but it's not that. It's. It's. Your father's got the chew. The chew your face off Cuban will that Cristobal has. It's a different gener of people. Look, I'm scared of Mario Cristobal. I've always been next to him at school. I went to school with him. I'm next to him. The critic. And he doesn't respect that. You went to school with him? Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Why hasn't he been a guest on our show? He's a guest on every other show.

[Chris Cote]

Zaz got him.

[Dan Le Batard]

But because he looks at me like, look at what this guy did with the Cuban stuff. He just criticized people, and he's a clown, and he makes jokes and stuff. Look at me. I'll eat your face. I'll go to FIU and eat your face and then work for Saban and eat your face and levitate. I'll eat your face. And I'm like, yes, Mario, you would. You and your brother got me. You were all, mario, you've always been tougher than I've been.

[Mike Ryan]

What kind of Cuban are you, Dan? You say, oh, Mario's this kind of Cuban. What kind of Cuban are you?

[Tony]

Can't tell if this is helping us get him or not get him.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is the most Cuban. We're headed toward the Cuban Super Bowl.

[Chris Cote]

We need Indiana tonight, Dan, in the worst way possible, because Oregon. Who cares about. Or Dan Lanning cares about these people.

[Mike Ryan]

Isn't it crazy that Crystal Ball was the coach at Oregon? And probably there's, like, sports television executives all over the country, like Oregon versus Cristobal versus Former two. That's a good story.

[Dan Le Batard]

And we're here like, no, bring us.

[Mike Ryan]

The kid that went to the same high school as him.

[Chris Cote]

Bring us the kid that wants revenge that Miami didn't recruit him. Bring us the kid that almost beat Miami last year with Cam Ward. And that's where we have the beautiful Michael Irvin on all fours. That's where the first.

[Mike Ryan]

That's where it started.

[Chris Cote]

That was the. Genesis, was the cows.

[Dan Le Batard]

Genesis is here.

[Chris Cote]

But we have that situation brewing now where Fernando Mendoza is one win away from Joe shoving it back down Miami's throat if they can get to the national championship game.

[Dan Le Batard]

Dad, who were you performing Genesis is here for?

[Tony]

I got crushed in this.

[Mike Ryan]

Laughs in that room.

[Chris Cote]

How to stay the course there, Dan.

[Tony]

A lot of laughs.

[Mike Ryan]

Well done.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, but I. So I like. Yes. Tony, I appreciate you doing the show for America. And. And I don't appreciate. I mean, doing the show just for himself and you guys. You know what? No, no, no, no, no. I mean, that joke was great. Better not be ruined under penalty. Two minutes delay a show.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, I'll take it.

[Dan Le Batard]

You'll take it? If you said ruining cop, you'll take it.

[Mike Ryan]

And I know I could beat you because you're not that kind of Cuban, apparently.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, no, no.

[Mike Ryan]

You're Mario Kris of like. What kind are you?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, what kind are you? Okay, look, he's my kind. First you get out of here. We're going to. We're going to teach you a Jeremy or Cristobal we're going to teach America about Cuban Miami for the next week. You do not get these opportunities, okay? I'm just telling you, you don't. This best thing of ours in the history of the city, the thing that has created more personal pride in sports allegiances across generations. Miami was us against them, us against the world. Own, own personality. Long before LeBron, Chris Bosh. Us against the world started here with this team and this Cuban Miami. Fractions of community, where you've got black people over here. And the Cubans have never been allowed to play in this game. Cuz it's always Edgar and James and Ray Lewis and they're a lot better. And the Cuban quarterback has been held down.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

Thank you, Dan.

[Chris Cote]

And that's the only point that was making the other day when I was doing the top five and Dan was like, you know, systemic racism against humans. Like, no, we've just never been good.

[Dan Le Batard]

Enough to do it right. It's not.

[Chris Cote]

We've just been held down by our own genetics.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's been the issue.

[Chris Cote]

But now, Dan, now we're looking at the face of a very beautiful Fernando Mendoza. All the beautiful things about coming to America and Cubanism and everything and the Voice.

[Dan Le Batard]

See, so here. Okay, look, I'm not going to start making fun of Mendoza yet. It's. I don't want to be. No, they haven't won yet.

[Chris Cote]

That's why they haven't won.

[Tony]

You're right.

[Chris Cote]

Once they win.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, but you're a big.

[Chris Cote]

His ass is grass, Dan.

[Dan Le Batard]

I want to give all the glory to God.

[Chris Cote]

And I like him, respectfully.

[Jeremy]

Okay?

[Chris Cote]

He's like. It would be a cousin of mine, but his ass is grass. If they win.

[Dan Le Batard]

I am having a hard time remembering while I'm watching this game, okay? Because it was funny to me to not notice within myself that over 25 years of doing this with all of its labors. The sports fan in you in some ways would have to be so hidden all the time that these guys have made fun of me for years about whether or not a f pumped in a bar because you Donis Haslam dunked in a Heat game against the Bulls when everyone in Miami was scared that MVP Derrick Rose was going to be able to knock off three Heat players who had made our city matter the way Miami made it matter a long time ago with a more dangerous team, a more interesting team. I don't know how interesting you guys find Alabama or Georgia or Clemson, Alabama's hugely interesting histor because it won a long time ago and was Miami before Miami. But when the sport got black, it got taken over by Miami and then it became too black because black, black sportsmanship run amok in a complicated. Miami got some of them arrested and misunderstood. And that's the program that taught me everything. That's the. When I say that's the school I went to, when I say that what I learned, everything was around the football program. It wasn't in the classes. It was amazing to live during that time when it was being birthed that Michael Irvin would leave the place and be with the Cowbo winning a champion as a first round pick championship and be calling his old dorm room number just to make sure that somebody picked up a landline who used to be a hurricane and he could yell at them about how they weren't doing enough, that they weren't working hard enough. He was still trying to coach him up back then because this community, this city saved Michael Irvin. Working against these kids, having to be better than these kids in this city playing football, the most rabid place to play football. Whatever you think Texas is, it ain't what Pahokee is, where they just burn the sugar cane fields and rabbits come out and the kids go out there to eat because they got to chase the rabbits. That's a thing here. The way football is played here. Michael Irvin defeated and conquered all of it. And when it got to Deion Sanders at fsu, he conquered that too. And they took college football from Bobby Bowden and from the state of Florida. And that's when it mattered. And for 20 years, it hasn't mattered. None of it's mattered. So last night I get ransacked. I'm legitimately surprised at how much I care and how frustrated I'm getting by. I have not watched a game like this since Jimmy Johnson wouldn't stop throwing against Penn State in this Fiesta bowl in 86 because he was too stubborn to admit my team is so much better than this one that I'm going to find myself in a position when I'm watching that game last night. So many penalties, so much incompetence, dropping footballs, so much curse all over the field. Where I'm witnessing this team is clearly better than Mississippi. There's never. They did the stats on this in 20 years, there's never been college or pro a game that has that kind time of possession for going forward on third down and fourth down. Making it always. And a team, you know, being in the position Miami was in yesterday.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, the actual stat right here, only FBS team or NFL team in the last two decades to hold the ball for 40 plus minutes, amass over 400 yards of offense, convert 10 third downs, convert multiple fourth downs, and have four drives of 13 or more plays all in the same game, regular season or post.

[Mike Ryan]

And they barely won. Bums.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, so in the analysis, four interceptions. In the analysis of this. Yes. Four interceptions by six players. It was four interceptions dropped by six players. That, that's a, that's a stats, an actual stat. It's six players had dropped four interceptions. And both hands, both hands there.

[Chris Cote]

It's crazy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Both hands on all the intercepts.

[Tony]

I want to know how many hands touched the ball.

[Dan Le Batard]

So let's do this. Let's. The reason, I guess. Well, Lewis Riddick said. Lewis Riddick has watched a lot of football. He's like, this is the way. I've never seen this. This is the, this. I've never seen a game where there are this many dropped interceptions.

[Tony]

Weird false starts from the offense after no penalties against Ohio State.

[Dan Le Batard]

It was just weird. If, if I had said to you the game that was played by Miami had been coached by that disaster center that is the coaching carousel at Mississippi, you would have said, yes, that's what a team looks like when it, it's poorly coached. That Miami did everything to lose that game, Every single thing to lose that.

[Tony]

Game had Malachi, 18 year old, like number 73 made two bad false starts and he literally had his head down. An 18 year old Malachi Tony in the huddle, physically lifting his head.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, but the thing we forget, they're learning how to play football. And I know that's pressurized and all of that stuff, but a guy does two false starts in five, like two false starts in five plays. When everyone is watching what's happening out there and it's like Miami didn't come in with the game plan of absolutely knowing, oh, you know, we're going to maul these guys up front, right? We're just going to. It's going to be second three all game because they're just not going to be able to keep up with this physically. If that's the game plan and you're screwing it up and everyone's watching on television. It's the most pressurized game you've ever played. And I know he's a big dude. You're a kid in there, man. Those are kids playing, trying to learn how to play football in the middle of that. Now we're paying them more than we ever have.

[Chris Cote]

So Inez Cooper has those two False starts. But remember, listen to what Jeremy said. They had the ball for 45 minutes. Like, he's there down, and they're running the ball and they're pushing that line for so much that at certain point, Cooper's like, I got nothing left. I'm falling back here.

[Dan Le Batard]

I can't hold myself. Had so many penalties. It really is rare to see four dropped interceptions.

[Chris Cote]

You never win that game, though, Dan. Like when you have all felt it.

[Tony]

Right, that they were going to lose.

[Chris Cote]

100% because you can't give four. Four interceptions away and then not doing show content.

[Dan Le Batard]

What's funny about some of this stupidity is that Zas joining us now from the Peach bowl, because when it is, you think of your. You know, the most Cuban super bowl ever played. You see that face? ZLO's. And hey, guys, I'm glad that reading.

[Mike Ryan]

Light is still on.

[Zas]

Whatever.

[Dan Le Batard]

What? Wait a minute. So you. Can you turn it off? Do you know how to turn it off? It's very bright. Got to read. And I mean, I'm going to do this to you again. Okay. Minor penalty, two minutes delay. A show as Reading Light commentary. He's just. He wants to do his own thing today.

[Mike Ryan]

Every day.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, well, yes, every day. But I need your help today because it's a big day in Miami history and we got the basketball guy here and old, old Georgia Tech breath like, like now. Now it's time for big boy football that Miami's always played in. Georgia Tech never has. Miami's won the championships. Had. Look, you know, close Miami is to like 10 championships, if not for a bounce and two, it's. If Florida State can make a couple of field goals, like the entire history of this sport of the last 50 years runs through this city, through this program. And when I tell you it's the greatest professional pride in sports we've ever had in this market. Zaslav will not dispute that. I don't believe, even though he's a Panther head and he's a Heat guy, but this even predates you. He's a Gator. And Zaslow, because he lives in Miami and because I think he learned about some of what those Miami histories were. Zaslo knows the history that's running on that field yesterday. And all of that, that was happening. Correct? You experienced all that emotionally, right?

[Zas]

Yeah. It's why, like, when people ask, oh, you went to University of Florida. How are you a Canes fan? You don't understand, like, the Canes are. They're treated like a professional team. It's A small private school. Like, no one went there who roots for the team? And when I was growing up, we had two teams. We had the Dolphins and the Miami Hurricanes. And the earliest of my childhood memories are my father taking me to the Orange Bowl. So obviously, I'm going to stop being a Miami Hurricanes fan just because I went to the University of Florida. And last night, it's. It's as exciting a win of my life because, I mean, the. The fourth national championship the Canes won in 1991. I was only 10 years old, all right? And when they won the title in 2001, I mean, they. They killed Nebraska. It's like there was no drama. But like. Like the only other game that I could remember where I felt this way, it was back in 91, and I was at the Orange bowl, and the Canes beat Notre Dame. It was number one versus number two. And the Canes ended up winning the national championship because of it. But last night, that was like, as great an experience watching the Miami Hurricanes I've ever had in my life.

[Chris Cote]

One of my big goals for 2026 is just less money stress. How about that? I've got a kid now, and I want to start a real travel fund, knock down some debt, and not feel like every surprise expense is a mini heart attack, which I've had about 11 now since the holiday holidays. Managing your money doesn't have to be a struggle this year. Monarch is the all in one personal finance tool. Designed to make your life easier. It brings your entire financial life, budgeting, accounts and investments, net worth and future planning together into one dashboard on your laptop or phone. Start the new year on the right foot financially. After the chaos of the holidays, Monarch has been my full financial reset. I can actually see what I'm spending, set realistic budgets and track goals. I'll stick with past February. It even tells me what goals are doable based on our real numbers, which I desperately need.

[Dan Le Batard]

Need.

[Chris Cote]

The weekly recaps alone keep me honest even when I'm sleep deprived. Like the last three days, the baby has been absolutely insane. But Monarch helps me know that I'm financially okay. Monarch help users save over 200 bucks per month on average after joining this new year. Achieve your financial goals for good. Monarch is the all in one tool that makes proactive money management simple all year long. Use code [e-mail] for half off your first year. That's 50 off your first [e-mail] with code dan. All right. Kicking things off with smearing off the official vodka, sponsor of the NFL and the number one vodka in the world, Chris Cody, you're here.

[Dan Le Batard]

Smear Off.

[Stugotz]

Wow.

[Chris Cote]

You're on the money with Smear.

[Dan Le Batard]

Smear Off. Chris.

[Chris Cote]

You know what goes great with Smear off? Yes, but I'm really talking about game day fit. The style's got to match the vibe. All right, here's the deal. Game day is everything. And that's exactly why your fit has to match the occasion. Starting this December, Smearing off is giving fans 21 and over the chance to score limited edition Smirnoff Commission merchandise from some of today's top creators, including Kayla Jones, Gavin Matthew and Aleli May. Here's the kicker. One lucky fan will take home the grand prize, a trip to the biggest game of the off season. Plus, one fan will win a Laylie Mays one of one game day jacket.

[Stugotz]

Wow.

[Chris Cote]

The merch will be dropped on select dates from December to January 21st. And it's all courtesy of what brand. That's right, Chris. Fans 21 and over can head to Smirnoff Socials to learn how to sign up. And don't forget to grab a bottle of Smirnoff vodka, number 21 at your local retail. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21 vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anybody under legal drinking Hate Smear off. No purchase necessary. Must be legal. US resident, 21 or older. Sweepstake starts 12 15, 2025 at 12:00am Eastern and ends 1232026 at 11:59:59pm Eastern. See official rules at program website.

[Dan Le Batard]

Prime's exclusive wild card playoff game is Saturday night. Jordan Love and the packers take on Caleb Williams in the Bears. Not a Prime member. Sign up for a 30 day free trial to stream the game. That's going to be hard for the Touchdown. NFC north rivals square off in the latest chapter of the NFL's oldest feud, the packers and Bears and Prime's exclusive wild card playoff game Saturday, 7:30pm Eastern. Only on Prime. Sign up for a 30 day free trial today. Hey, restrictions o'. Clock. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details.

[Zas]

Don LeBatard Jon, can you rate my Al Pacino from that billiard scene in Carlito's Way? If I do it for you, I think it's pretty good.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Ok. Stugats. You think you're big time or you're gonna die big time.

[Tony]

That is on my infamous scale of 1 to 10.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's a 7.6 SOL. Good job.

[Miller Lite Announcer]

That's a SU nominee right there.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is the D Ler show with the St. GS.

[Mike Ryan]

Guys. I have breaking news from a source, a highly placed source saying that Zaz is a fake ass Florida fan. That he actively roots for UM over Florida despite him being an alum. That he went to that um Florida game earlier this season. Reason. And rooted for the cantons over his Gators. You, sir, are a fraud. And we cannot trust your word on anything. Because if you will betray your people, then who can. How can we ever trust that you won't betray us?

[Zas]

My people are Miami. I grew up in south Florida. These are my people. Miami. South Florida is my people. All right. You don't need a spy. I mean, to tell you the truth, I'm sitting here telling you, yes, I was rooting for the Hurricane Hurricanes. Because guess what? That's best for business. That's best for business. And the Miami Hurricanes now they're in the national championship. All right. So guess what?

[Dan Le Batard]

Business is a booming.

[Stugotz]

Just like you, Donna Haslam. That's right. He went to Florida.

[Zas]

You got prom.

[Dan Le Batard]

When you don't mean Zaslow. Would you be willing over the course of the next week to have a Cuban makeover given over by Tony? I think.

[Chris Cote]

Wow.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think Tony Jeremy need to teach you how to be Cuban. Who? Tony and Jeremy.

[Mike Ryan]

What?

[Chris Cote]

What does Jeremy know?

[Jeremy]

I'm Cuban.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cuban be what is.

[Zas]

Yeah, but I want to be more like the Tony Cuban, less of the Jeremy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, but here's what's happening. This is what we have to teach south Florida. Because I don't think south Florida understands this particular part of what we're talking about. Different Cubans. One of them is Cr. Ball. Tony doesn't want to fight his dad. My dad is some of this. It is. What do you mean you're going to take our freedom off? We're going to be better at sports than everyone. And while my people are. You know, we were doctors on that island and it was lovely. And then communism took over and we came over here and had to be plumbers and. Oh, we will absolutely eat your face with our will. Yeah. My father pushed me to the brink of hell so we would get good at things. I am a coward compared to whatever crystal ball hadn't going on in his family. Because I'm telling you, Mario is the least crazy of the two. His older brother was crazier than that. His older brother was crazier than that. And that is not what Fernando Mendoza is. It's what he was Raised by. But I'm. It's what he was raised by, but it's not what he became.

[Mike Ryan]

What he become.

[Dan Le Batard]

Jeremy. I want to give all the glory to God. He became a Jeremy Cuban. Am I wrong, Tony?

[Tony]

Jeremy, go do a Venn diagram of Cubans.

[Jeremy]

Okay, I'll explain it.

[Dan Le Batard]

It.

[Jeremy]

Let me go out there and I'll explain, though.

[Chris Cote]

You're not wrong. You're not wrong.

[Jeremy]

Like, he.

[Chris Cote]

He's more Americanized, and that's fine. Like, it is what it is, right? Like, you. You come from a lineage of people that left the island, that came over here. They worked really hard, they became successful, and the next generation became successful. And now you're in the successful situation. And sometimes when it comes to sports, it's very difficult for those kids that come from successful situations to give more and to be more. And now we see Fernando Mendoza builds a rise to the top, who can have a Heisman Trophy, a national championship, presume it, and maybe be the number one pick. Like, that's a very small class.

[Dan Le Batard]

If I can just sort of explain the Cuban ethos briefly to you, for those of you who just love the beloved papi. And he was a workhorse. An unbelievable. He is a workhorse. Like, helped me till the very end of his tired career. My father birthed or helped birth two artists in a community like, where it's important for us to create because they wanted to give us freedom. We had careers as artists. And it's because my father's an animal. He's an animal for work. He's an. He's an animal for work. And he is built of the same cloth that whatever it is that Cristobal and his brother are built of that. And they're always been and they always will be tougher than me and my father, because my father would tell you at any turn, better to live as a coward than die a hero. And I'm telling you my father's an animal. Like, he raised. He helped raise two artists, like two people who work in the arts, I should say made careers in the arts.

[Mike Ryan]

So to answer my question, really, you're. You're a Fernando Mendoza.

[Dan Le Batard]

The. A little bit. I'm closer to Jeremy.

[Tony]

Interested to see where Dan falls.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm a little bit closer to Jeremy than I am to Tony. And I don't think Crystal Ball respects it.

[Tony]

That's why we can't get him on.

[Chris Cote]

It should be me interviewing Mario instead of you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is that what I'll pitch that? Yes, for sure. Sedano. Crystal Ball and Sedano are Best buddies, cuz Sadano works. They're the same kind of Cuban.

[Tony]

Jerry put Sadano on there, too.

[Mike Ryan]

Crystal Ball is best buddies with everybody who does a show here other than us. It is kind of weird, don't you think?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm telling you why it is. You guys need to go get Sedano to coach you guys up, Zaslow included.

[Tony]

We need help on how to.

[Dan Le Batard]

I need help. I need help on how to be. Look, if you're asking me how to be as Cuban as Crystal Ball, I will tell you I'm not. I had it easier than he did because my dad probably wasn't quite the animal his dad was.

[Mike Ryan]

You said his dad wasn't saying it's better to die a coward or die here.

[Dan Le Batard]

I am telling you that the Mario Cristobal doesn't respect. You need to go to Cuban boot camp camp.

[Tony]

Maybe Tony will bring you there.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mario Crispo does not respect me. And I don't blame him. I don't blame him because he looks at me. He's like, oh, you're the critic. Do you realize that I was fighting people like Cortez Kennedy and stuff, like, biting their knees?

[Zas]

And you're.

[Dan Le Batard]

And you're going to come out to practice and write about it.

[Chris Cote]

Plus, you're a big guy. Danny probably saw him be like, this guy can get on the offensive line. What are we doing here?

[Dan Le Batard]

So Russell, Maryland, and Jimmy Jones. Okay, I've got Dan Leitard.

[Chris Cote]

Starting guard.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't even blame him. He's like, you just got in the way. You were writing about how Leonard Conley was stealing from other teammates, and you were the snitch journalist who was around the program and made his career off this program, like, legitimately. That. That school taught me everything. And it wasn't in the classrooms. It was these ridiculous teams.

[Mike Ryan]

I remember that.

[Dan Le Batard]

That taught. That taught all of us. Zaz you. I'm not wrong, right, when I say that the University of Miami has always been the standard for what professional sports. Winning is in this. Excellence is in this city.

[Zas]

I try and explain to people, and it's hard for them to understand because it was so long ago. Like, the Heat have had this town, you know, for the longest time, and then the Dolphins had it before that. But when the Canes are on top of the top. When the Canes are the number one show in South Florida, there's a different energy, man. Like, it's. It's above all of that. So it. It's really cool that we're back in.

[Mike Ryan]

This spot, isn't it just because they're on top right now.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, for sure. Get the heat. Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

But, yeah, the heat go out. Get like whatever Giannis, and then they rip off like four in a row. We're gonna talk about. Oh, you know what, man? Like, but that's. It's a different energy when they heat.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is why people could rightly accuse anyone in Miami of front running, because most people do not care the way Mike Ryan does. And he cares almost as much as Crystal Ball as he told you this week. You know how much I care, Dan, if you. If you think I care the most. No, Crystal Ball cares more than I do.

[Tony]

Breaking.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's traveling with the team. He's spending money with the team.

[Tony]

I felt good for Mike last night. I will be honest and nervous for him. Late in the game, he.

[Dan Le Batard]

Of course, because you were so. Clearly, that would have been so heartbreaking.

[Tony]

But there are times where I'm like, just looking for content and like, like, maybe this, this, this I got out of content and I was just like, I kind of just want Mike to be happy.

[Mike Ryan]

When I did one of those interceptions where the first guy didn't catch and then the second guy didn't catch it. Oh, I was like, oh, this would be great. Well, this was the reason why they don't.

[Tony]

Late in the game, I was. When Mario Ball. When Mario. Mario Ball. When Mario's, like, deciding on whether to call that timeout with like, 25, I was just like, oh, he could screw this up. Yeah, but he didn't.

[Dan Le Batard]

You guys, do you guys know, right? Because we're talking about things getting pressurized in Miami. I hadn't realized this. I saw the stat and I'm like, this can't be right. Miami has won more in the postseason. The stat was in the last three weeks than they had in the 20 years previously. Because they haven't won any of these poll games either. Like, there's been. You go from being the best thing and then going on probation and. And. And all of these coaches. Larry Coker started like 32 and oh. Or something and never worked again meaningfully because everyone knew. No, that's ridiculous. What you had there is. You can't have Portis McGahey and Gore in the backfield and only win 32 in a row. You got to keep winning. And then Ohio State. State throws them. And I was. The whole story is ridiculous.

[Chris Cote]

Right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Coker went from just imagine somebody bursting onto the scene and just going undefeated for two straight season just because he had the previous guys players, because those Teams were so much better than everyone else because they'd all come to Florida. They'd all come through. Whatever. You win this city, you win South Florida in football, high school. Anywhere else you win South Florida in football, you can beat the country.

[Stugotz]

And you mentioned the Penn State loss in the Fiesta. A lot of demons have been conquered. This CFP P. Ohio State. You beat Ohio State. Got that out of the way. The Fiesta Bowl. After four tries, after four losses, they finally get their one win exercised.

[Mike Ryan]

Exercise is the word you're looking for with an O, not an E. Dan.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don't worry.

[Mike Ryan]

I saw Dan getting the word exercise.

[Dan Le Batard]

Did you. Did you see that? You saw that? I got scared of the word exercise.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Tony]

How's your head, by the way?

[Dan Le Batard]

What do you guys. What's so funny about that? You know, here's. That's good. That was good acting, dude.

[Chris Cote]

You had me.

[Tony]

I was like, did he?

[Stugotz]

That's awesome.

[Dan Le Batard]

I didn't. I trick. I could.

[Tony]

There's no how bad that could have been. Good job, Dan.

[Dan Le Batard]

There's no way I tricked you into thinking I did. Have a friend ask me whether that had happened. I'm like, you really think that that would happen?

[Chris Cote]

You don't get it, huh? You don't get. You don't get what I do. Part of the art.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm a clown. Why you had artist. What do you not understand?

[Chris Cote]

I'm.

[Tony]

I'm doing art.

[Mike Ryan]

Why do you think Mario hates me?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm an artist.

[Stugotz]

Artist.

[Dan Le Batard]

You don't get it. That's the kind of Cuban I am. He's got the biggest game of his life, and I'm a clown in a bark, putting ketchup on my forehead.