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Dan Le Batard
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Mike Ryan
We missed as well miss a lot happened. We weren't here to talk about it. Our audience got mad at us.
Chris Cote
So. Mad, right?
Mike Ryan
Yeah, I missed them too. I wanted to talk about the bombing and invading of Venezuela and the taking over of 51st. What happened?
Chris Cote
I'm sorry. It's been two weeks.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
He's nervous. Damn.
Mike Ryan
What just happened?
Chris Cote
I hit something I shouldn't have hit. It's been a while.
Mike Ryan
What else did I miss? Because Mike, I can't even imagine What Mike Ryan's last two weeks have been like, who he's been talking to, trying to breathe hot hurricane breath in their face for two weeks. Where have you been putting all of that?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Chris and I have been really stressed about who we freeze for the Cyclones. This is a big decision, and the decisions do real quick. Do you go with the undertaker or Stan?
Dan Le Batard
It is a big decision, Dan. We don't know what to do. I'll say it.
Mike Ryan
The thing that I wanted to talk about, the University of Miami, the. The idea that the Dolphins now end a season right on that note yesterday, where you realize, oh, my God, if their quarterback's healthy, it's going to be that for 10 years. That dolphins are a million miles away and don't really have a plan. And the Patriots have a quarterback and just won the division and almost Jerry rigged the thing to do it the way Brady does it. Home field advant, get the bye. And you only have to play two games, two at home when someone limps in hurt.
Chris Cote
Chris Greer's rebuild saw the Patriots be the best, the worst, and now the best again.
Mike Ryan
It's infuriating the position that the Dolphins are in, but the University of Miami is clearly championship worthy. Right. Like, that's. That's not something that can be disputed anymore. We were talking about whether they belonged in the playoffs or not.
Chris Cote
They got me so happy.
Dan Le Batard
He's touching his nipples for the audio.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I'm happy.
Mike Ryan
I mean, well, because. Yeah, when. When you do that to Ohio State, you can beat anybody. And they can beat anybody more ways than anybody. But Indiana, like, they're. They're a complete team. They can beat them. They could. You're scared of Indiana. Yeah. Because of what they did to Alabama.
Chris Cote
They just. They score so much.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, but they are. They are Ohio State. And you just saw what Miami did to Ohio State.
Chris Cote
I mean, they're better than Ohio State. I know they play in the Big Ten championship in Ohio State. Held them to the.
Tony
What was the score there?
Mike Ryan
Yeah.
Tony
10, 13, 10.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Yeah.
Tony
Like they scored a ton of points.
Mike Ryan
The same. They're the same.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
This is some real two and oh talk when we're trying to go one and O.
Mike Ryan
Is. Is that what we're doing? You're. You're scared of Mississippi. That's not a. That's not a foregone conclusion.
Tony
Did you see Trinidad Champions?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
That was incredible. Did you see him?
Mike Ryan
Yes. Yes. He's great.
Tony
He's in. He's unreal. The flip. He got out of six different sacks and then flipped the ball to the to the running back for first down. And then the next play did another incredible thing.
Mike Ryan
No, Tony, the play you just mentioned was the third most impressive one on that drive. Yes. He made three plays on one drive that any other quarterback, including our beloved Cuban Mendoza, would take as the play of the year for them. Like made three plays on one drive. That a quarterback will go an entire career. Most quarterbacks will go the entire career without making one of those plays on one drive. He's terrifying. That's going to be fun though.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.
Mike Ryan
I don't know what Mike Ryan.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
The Cleveland Browns have fired Kevin Stefanski.
Tony
Wow.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
It begins right now.
Mike Ryan
Wow.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Is he a two time coy?
Mike Ryan
Didn't Raheem Morris just get fired minutes before that? Now two years ago they hired him instead of Bill Belichick. A lot has changed in two years. They hired him instead of Bill Belichick. They were pretty mediocre the entire time. I felt bad yesterday for Chris Myers and Mark Schlerith having to announce that Falcons Saints game. Chris Myers should be beyond that in his career at this point. To always have to do that game. So much bad football yesterday. But then it gets saved by at the end, right? By. By the only result that mattered yesterday. Correct.
Chris Cote
I mean you can't convince me that two teams playing for nothing determines the division champion in the NFC South. That's some stupid shit.
Mike Ryan
No. Okay. You say it's stupid shit. I have. You're doing coaching carousel and we'll get to that in a second. But you say stupid shit. The entire thing is stupid. When I say I want to redo the playoffs entirely right now and offer you this next week one game. Carolina Panthers against the Steelers. The loser is eliminated and the winner is eliminated. And then we get on with the playoffs. What do you guys think? The other thing that's stupid is that Pittsburgh and Aaron Rodgers are no more worthy of being in the playoffs. Just because some guy can't make a 44 yard kick. Just because we've normalized kickers. Do not tell me that it's okay that Derrick Henry doesn't get to be in the playoffs because some guy just comes out who's not a football player who kicks a football instead of does anything with it. And now Derek Henry can't be running for six yards a carry because. Because Justin Tucker couldn't behave himself in massage parlors and nobody realized what an advantage that guy was for the Ravens for. For 10 years.
Chris Cote
And the Ravens finished two games worse than the Steelers. They don't belong in the playoffs.
Dan Le Batard
More like Tyler Poop.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Welcome back, Chris.
Mike Ryan
The entire break. You took off for two weeks and that's what you thunder in with.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Stefanski does have two coach of the years in six years. He's not gonna be out of work very long. I'd love to see him in Nashville with Cam Ward. That'd be nice.
Chris Cote
I would take him here.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
He's a good coach.
Mike Ryan
You say take them here before we get to the Hurricanes, which we will be celebrating in a moment.
Chris Cote
No, I don't want him coaching the Canes. I wanna coach the Dolphins.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
No, we're set at the position.
Mike Ryan
When you say here on the Miami Dolphins. Here is lost. Here is a franchise that for 25 years has an owner who is the worst South Florida has ever had at results. Can't win a playoff game. Inherited a very winning franchise that was a national franchise, that is now a local franchise. That's embarrassing locally. It's had its city taken away by two teams. Two teams. The Panthers beating the Colorado Avalanche. Nobody beats them. Beating them last night, that was good. The Winter Classic was not good. That embarrassed us. Lone Depot park embarrassed us. But the Dolphins are now rudderless, leaderless. You've got Mike McDaniel that inspires faith in no one. Yours is whatever. Like, throw any quarterback out there. Put it on the poll at lebartard. Show juju. Did you learn the names of a lot of backups? Backup quarterbacks. Yesterday? Because Ewers did what any quarterback would have done the last three games. Who's not one of these abominations that they threw out there yesterday like the one in Philadelphia. Tony, you didn't fall in love with that guy, did you, McKinley?
Dan Le Batard
Tony, that's a great question. Would you fall in love with.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
He fell in love with a couple guys.
Tony
You know who. You know who I fell back in love with?
Chris Cote
Giving Trubisky another chance.
Tony
No. He's a good backup, though. Tank Bigsby. Did you see him on blitz Pickup Dan, by the way? He picked up the linebacker. He got pushed into the quarterback, picked up the linebacker and then suplexed him onto the ground. That's what I'm talking about.
Mike Ryan
I don't mean to overreact, but I can't remember the Dolphins being in this kind of disrepair where you're like, where do they fix what? How? When you've got dead cat money, you've got a quarterback problem. You got a coach nobody wants. You do not have a gm. You're talking to Troy Aikman over here because he wants a few hundred thousand dollars to whisper in your ear that, yeah, somebody named Maura, whatever.
Tony
Just like, what a scam that is, by the way.
Dan Le Batard
Marino's got to be like, see if.
Mike Ryan
You can find someone named Stoops. Whatever. Just one of these football names. Put it in there. Aikman stealing money. Put it on the poll at Le Batard show. Is Troy Aikman stealing money from the Miami Dolphins? But you're so leaderless that you're like, let's call the broadcaster who does one game a week. Great game. ESPN is doing that shit better than they've ever done it.
Chris Cote
He says interesting things.
Mike Ryan
The intro. They made Saturday feel so big. Saturday, Carolina, Tampa, Seattle, San Francisco. They made it feel so big. They did. I don't know if people have noticed. ESPN's game coverage has gotten consistently stronger since McQuaid has been in there. Like, just much larger production value because they got to keep up with prime and everybody else who's dumping money. Netflix did a great job with Christmas Day. No one's got any complaints about that. But getting back to what's happening with the Dolphins, when was it, this kind of despair where you see the Patriots have a young quarterback, the Bills have the MVP of the league, and you're in nowhere land in a bad quarterback year. A bad year for quarterbacks, a bad quarterback draft.
Chris Cote
Right. Most years, you know, you're drafting number 11. There's a chance to get our hands on someone, you know, and it's like there's. There's no one. There's no fix this year. And it's going to be yours, most likely, next year. And I'm get out of my life.
Dan Le Batard
With Ty Simpson, by the way.
Chris Cote
Massive cap hit, you know, because they're going to get rid of tua. No, there's no light at the end of the tunnel. There's no hope right now. And I don't think they've ever been in this position. Dan. It's been exactly a quarter century now since a playoff win.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
For the record, we like Ty Simpson.
Tony
There's something with that kid.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
By the way, Simpson is a fine quarterback. You're going to want to trust me on this one.
Tony
There's something about that kid.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Shut up.
Dan Le Batard
I'm sold.
Mike Ryan
25 years. When Zaslow is talking about. I do want to get back to celebrating the Miami Hurricane relevance that hasn't had this spirit here since the beginning of 2000, when foot. It's been 20 years since football has really mattered in this town because People were playing for championships. It was the Hurricanes who were playing for championships. They've been. When you talk about the history of this town, they are the only minor league thing that has ever broken through to make allegiances that feel really strong with fan bases. The University of Miami can be argued is the third biggest program we have had here. You know, fourth now that the Panthers are doing what they're presently doing. But for many years, the University of Miami was a symbol of pride down here to South Florida and they have obviously gotten back. Right. Everyone can now say the U is back. As a question has been asked for 20 years, it can be now said in the affirmative. Oh, obviously they can beat anybody. They just drag the defending champions. We haven't seen anybody do that to them in two years. Like, you know, not knocked them down and made them chase the entire game. As a, as a nine point dog.
Chris Cote
We'Ve done this song and dance every like two, three years. The U Canes will get off to a hot start. The quarterback will get off to a hot start. The U is back and inevitably they're never back. They're back now, right? Like this is it, they're back. You win two playoff games in one year, you're a win away from being a win away. And there's no reason that this can't be the standard every year now. Why can't this be what they do every year now with the way the game is nil?
Mike Ryan
They, they are favored to win this game against Mississippi. Now, Mississippi and Georgia saved these playoff games because they've been terrible. The bowl games haven't been terrible like the seize your property, seize your wages bowl like that.
Chris Cote
You know about that Cheez it bowl.
Mike Ryan
I don't know about that.
Tony
Tony the Tiger bowl.
Mike Ryan
Dan, which one is the seize your property, seize your assets, garner your wages bowl.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
No guaranteed rate bowl, Armed Forces bowl. They're all potential sponsors to me, Dan. I've learned my lesson on, especially on the mortgage front, which I feel like you should have too.
Mike Ryan
We agree, correct, that the only game that was played in the playoffs and it was a great one, everything has been pretty terrible except for Mississippi, Georgia.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I mean, if you like that kind of game, I get it. Everyone liked that kind of game. I'm not doubting that.
Chris Cote
I thought Miami A and M was awesome.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Yeah, I love that game. I think that there's been drama, been approaching their games differently, but I think they've been quality. Edge of your seat like game hangs in the balance for a lot of individual possession type of games.
Mike Ryan
I don't mean to diminish anything other than the entertainment value so far of what these playoff games have been. The Georgia, that, that, that game was crazy, entertaining. The Georgia Mississippi game was insane. And it made me think of the following sports radio question. Zaslo. Because Trinidad Chambliss will be the best quarterback that the Hurricanes have faced in two years. Like, he doesn't turn the ball over, he doesn't throw interceptions, he doesn't get sacked. Like, he's an efficiency machine. And I don't believe the SEC has a defense like Miami's. I think the SEC has been exposed as an entire fraud that, that Georgia Mississippi game is being played at a high level, I believe, because it's the best those teams can do. And you think of Georgia as what they were, but Georgia ain't that anymore. The SEC is a whole lot of what just happened to Alabama against Indiana, it can happen to Texas. The SEC has been exposed, but Miami just dragged the team from the conference that nobody can beat. Like, in terms of tough, in terms of big, big boy football. When I see Mississippi and Georgia play, I see athletes that are very large. But Miami has trenches advantages. Both sides. Both sides. You got, you've got first round picks on those offensive lines and defensive lines. So Ohio State can take away Malachi Toney and did and what? Like they took away Malachi Toney, couldn't do anything. Okay, here's a whole lot of Fletcher. You can have a whole lot of Fletcher. And Ohio State's not used to losing like that to anybody but Michigan, where they're just trailing all game. They're beaten off the, off the start. And when they were down 14, I was too. You made up with Zagaki? How have we not talked about this?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Oh, yeah, I had a conversation with Joe Zagaki. I think I made up with Joe Zagaki a couple years ago where I would enter a public event and he would go, Mike. But I've never actually had an opportunity to speak to him as much as I have this most recent time. And what a delightful conversation. That was a good 50 minutes and six bold cabernet.
Chris Cote
Yeah, yeah, man. Any, any, like, you know, pausing in the conversation.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Any, any down couple station IDs left to right on the radio dial. And at one point he turned to Don Bailey. He's like, don, Wake Forest is going to win this bowl game, you guys.
Dan Le Batard
And did they.
Mike Ryan
You, you, you guys. These are two University of Miami legends. Joe Zagaki's on the Mount Rushmore of University of Miami. Media people, there's no question about this. Correct, Doc?
Chris Cote
Jose Gacke, J. Ro Keach, who else?
Mike Ryan
I'm just saying that Mike, for years now has honored. It's the greatest flattery that we keep Zagaki's voice and name alive here nationally. He doesn't see it this way, obviously, but it is homage to a Miami legend that we make this kind of fun of him. But Mike has sometimes pulled into a hurricane tailgate near Joe Zaganki. And maybe there's not eye contact, maybe it's awkward. Mike doesn't know how he's going to be received because Mike knows the things that he said last week, last month, last year, and for the last 50 years, 15 years.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Right. Because we honor Joe Zigaki, but in a very strange way, we use his voice for a character that's not actually Joe Zigaki. It's a complicated legacy. Joe Zigaki, and it's become like a strange, conservative voice on our show. And for that, I'd understand if Joe Zigaki took issue with misrepresenting his signature voice. But he seems fine and honored by it.
Chris Cote
I don't think it's anything other than actually honoring him. No one here says that he's not a good broadcaster.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
He did make it very clear several times over he has no idea how to find our show.
Mike Ryan
He said that. Yeah.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I understand. Yeah. Remember, this guy moves left to right on your radio dial.
Mike Ryan
Always has far right.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Now you know it.
Tony
All right, kicking things off with Smirnoff, the official vodka sponsor of the NFL and the number one vodka in the world. Chris Cody, you're here.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Smirnoff.
Tony
Wow. You're on the money with smeared off. Chris, you know what goes great with Smirnoff? Yes, but I'm really talking about game day fit. The style's gotta 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, Smirnoff 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 Laylee Mays, one of one game day jacket.
Mike Ryan
Wow.
Tony
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, NY please do not share with anybody under Legal drinking Hate Smirnoff. No purchase necessary. Must be legal. US resident 21 or older sweepstake starts 12152025 at 12:00am Eastern and ends 1232026 at 11:59:59pm Eastern see official rules at program website. One of my big goals for 2026 is just less money stress.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
How about that?
Tony
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Chris Cote
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Mike Ryan
Oh, wow.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Think I haven't been practicing stugats?
Mike Ryan
I didn't realize we had a substitute. Complicated legacy brought to you by headquarters.
Tony
Toyota 441 Power Line Road second down to nine.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach.
Chris Cote
Dan, you know about that rape bull.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
That was with a T rate. Can we, can we talk about how most Miami fans had an ear to ear smile laying in their bed New Year's Day, 2am in the morning with their. With a glow of their cell phone radiating off their face?
Chris Cote
I was very excited.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Cheering on Michael Irvin, simulating child abuse, beating the ever loving shit out of a cooler. I'm watching that. I'm like, I know what you're doing. Yeah, yeah. T check cooler. Who is boss.
Chris Cote
Like, when did, when did whipping with a belt become totally acceptable?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
We all know what's happening. We all know what he's channeling. And we're all there like, yeah, yeah. You put a. Put on Ohio State jersey on top of that cooler and beat the shit out of it.
Dan Le Batard
But a lot of times that's B roll. Sometimes we're not hearing what he's saying. Maybe if you hear him, it's better.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
No, when you hear him, it's even more like child abuse. And you're like, go do it.
Mike Ryan
Oh, yeah. Just so that we know, so that we're clear. Okay. In the most Cuban college football year there has ever been. Thank God this is the most Cuban Miami team there has ever been. That Michael Irvin is out here simulating El Pawpow.
Tony
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
Which. Which the Cuban. The Cuban child will still get El Paw.
Tony
And the thing is, I was like, when did hitting a child with a belt become. Okay, no.
Mike Ryan
Come back. Go. Oh, that's it, baby. W. Belter ass. We put belt to ass. We did it every week and we Gonna keep doing it until we land back home in our stadium for the national championship next week. Same deal, same bad channel, same bad time belt.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Beat the shit out of that.
Dan Le Batard
Buddy mugs off saying belt ass in.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
The middle of it. He told a cooler to not come back to that stadium. I love it. I know what it is. I know what it represents and I know it's dicey. I love it. It's one of the game's greatest traditions. Now let's go through them. Yeah, it's Clemson running down the hill.
Mike Ryan
It's down.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
It's Iowa players waving at a children's hospital. And it's Michael Irvin beating the shit out of a Gatorade cooler with your posing team of jersey of choice on top.
Mike Ryan
So you're saying the Notre Dame play like champions that they touch on the way out that they've been doing since Nuke Rockne. Yes, that you're saying that this now.
Chris Cote
Rivals that on the level overnight.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Great college football tradition. If you paid attention to the Ole Miss game, and I know you did, the Ole Miss players were doing the BTA celebration and when they went to accept the Sugar bowl trophy presented by All State, they had belts in their hand.
Mike Ryan
Zazla, what I was beginning to say is a great sports radio question is the following. If you're Miami, who do you prefer to play? Obviously, you don't want to see Trinidad Chambliss. He is better than Gunner Stockton. He is a very good quarterback, A bit of a magician, a sorcerer. I say, do you want to play that? No, don't really want to play that. But your choice was you could have gotten Georgia a coach so confident that up two points from his own 30 yard line on fourth and five, he runs a dungeon double reverse fake punt pass because he's so not scared of consequences in big stages. And also he might know where Carson Beck's weaknesses are because he coached Carson Beck and now you're going to have time to prepare for that. If I say Miami, you can choose which of those opponents you get. What is Miami's choice?
Chris Cote
I don't want to face Kirby Smart. Like, I don't want Kirby smart to have 10 days to prepare for Mario Cristobal's Hurricanes. I'd rather go up against Pete Golding, who has only been a head coach. This will now be his third game as head coach. And you know, there's no rate, no way to actually quantify this kind of stuff. But you're telling me that Pete Golding is going to go 30 as a head coach in his lifetime and all three of those games are in the playoff. It feels like a lot to ask for. It feels to me, it feels like Ole Miss, his time is coming to.
Mike Ryan
An end with no assistance. Because like that thing is one of the weirdest things you've ever seen in college football. Lane Kiffin is lending him the assistance and now they don't know if they're even going to have, what is it, four to six of their assists.
Chris Cote
Well, the running back coach already left.
Tony
I think Weiss is the only one that's staying.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, this is so dirty.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
And Weiss was on campus at Baton Rouge hosting transfer portal quarterbacks in his LSU and they didn't even get the kid.
Chris Cote
They didn't even get him.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
No. Brendan Sorsby goes to Texas Tech. Tony, your thoughts here.
Tony
I was just going to say that with all those things said, it feels like Ole Miss is a bit of a team of destiny. Right? It's like the, the, the ragtag group, the quarterback that was in D2 last year, the coach that nobody wants that, that all of a sudden is going to be the quarterback, the coach. It just feels like whatever Ole Miss is doing is working. Right.
Chris Cote
And it's a good story. It's coming to an end.
Tony
Okay, sure. But it feels also like a team of destiny where they'll be playing against Miami and then the one thing that you can't game plan for is what Trinidad Chambliss does. Right. If Kirby smart game plans against Marcel.
Chris Cote
Reed was a running quarterback too.
Mike Ryan
Not as part of that.
Chris Cote
Chambers, Chambers.
Mike Ryan
Hold on, hold on, hold on. This is not the same thing at all. Look, I would have argued and did argue last couple of weeks ago that Marcel Reed was the most dangerous quarterback Miami had faced this year. And I'm including call in there. But Carr doesn't move. He doesn't turn the ball over either, but he doesn't run. What Trinidad Chambliss just did to Georgia felt to me like what I saw Vince Young do years ago as Texas's quarterback. Like that was just lunacy. What he was doing to those athletes on the Georgia defensive line where I'm like, oh, wait a minute, they can't actually corral him. He doesn't get sacked. Florida sacked him. South Carolina bothered him, but nobody intercepts him and, and he plays like that and he's got receivers who look the.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Part and he's gone up against good defensive fronts before. Oklahoma is a very good defensive front and he won that game. Didn't have much of a, an issue with them. Just real quick on the Kirby Smart thing, I actually think the double reverse. I think this is one of Kirby Smart's best years of coaching. His team was not very good and they won their second consecutive SEC title. I think that fake punt in particular was Kirby telling you we're not good enough on these guys and I gotta take this chance. But Georgia would have been favored against Miami. Miami is favored against Ole Miss. I think in terms of style of opponent, Ole Miss does a lot of things that should worry you. The three quickest quarterbacks in terms of getting the ball out fast, Kevin Jennings of smu, Miller Moss of Louisville, and number one, Trinidad Chambliss. I don't need to tell you what those other two quarterbacks did against Miami and how those games turned out. And his escape ability in the pocket. He's not going to take off and run all that much, but his ability to extend plays and find an open guy with a live arm to do that. I think there's an interesting style for Miami to match up against.
Chris Cote
You get to this point in the season, how could you not expect to face a team that's going to present problems for you?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Look, I mean, Miami just shut down a Heisman finalist in Julian Sain, but I think his ability to get the ball out quick and if Miami gets home, he can be. He can be elusive enough to neutralize some of what Miami brings to the table. I think Miami's offense is going to get challenged in this game in ways that they haven't to keep pace early on. Miami hasn't trailed against any of the top 10 teams that they've played. I think they're going to trail in this one and the offense is going to have to keep pace and I think they will with the running game until you eventually wear this opponent out. But I was worried about Georgia just because it is very clear Carson Beck is a different quarterback now. And I'm not just playing the results about like we're winning and he's not turning the ball over. He was fundamentally changed from that Louisville game to the point that he's a game manager now. He's being challenged by opposing defenses to be precise and find holes in the zone. And he's become a short yardage intermediate quarterback. I think he takes like two attempts a game deep.
Tony
Yeah.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
But he. He is a different guy now. And I think part of that is because he's timid a little bit and that Louisville game got to his psyche. And you want to talk about the Georgia storyline and Kirby Smart and that whole thing, I didn't want that anywhere near my quarterback.
Tony
That's the other thing too. Like Kirby can game plan specifically for what Carson Beck does in a way that when you look at the other side of the ball with, with Trinidad Chambliss with Ole Miss, you can't game plan for that, right? Like you can try to set the edge, you could try to not get him outside. But when he's Cam Ward last year where he's just like spinning.
Mike Ryan
That's what it was. That's what it was.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
That's what it is.
Mike Ryan
What I saw from this quarterback against Georgia reminded me exactly of Cam Horde where I'm three of the plays on one drive and I'm sending them to my friends in slow motion so that you can watch just an absurd pro throw on one of them, a ridiculous scramble on another. Obviously he's not Vince Young. He doesn't run like that. He's just. He doesn't get sacked. And so if he's getting rid of the ball that quickly and they don't miss Lane Kiffin. And when you talk about coaching, they were a disaster at the end of the first half. They botched. They botched a field goal, a thing you take for granted. One offense running off the field, field goal team running on, don't have a timeout. You get out there. They botched the whole thing. And you just saw coaching and it did not matter.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Didn't matter.
Mike Ryan
Kirby smart still try and fake double reverse passes because he's trying to keep up with this quarterback who is the best player Miami has faced in two years.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
This and they played Mendoza and Cal in those two years.
Mike Ryan
This is not up for dispute. Is it? Is it?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
No. I think he's a tremendous player. I think to the point about wearing them down. He's about the same height as Cam Ward, but Cam Ward, who got hurt yesterday, has a good £30 on Chambla. So I don't know how he's going to react to getting hit, but he doesn't get hit. They have a left tackle that hasn't given up a sack in 14 weeks.
Mike Ryan
So the way that Louisville beat Miami was not just four turnovers. It was. They came in with the game plan. We have a first round wide receiver, but we're getting rid of everything in two seconds. We're not going to let Ruben Bane ruin this game.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
They were drop blocking like they were just going straight at Reuben's ankles because they were like, we, we can't block this guy straight up.
Mike Ryan
And so if that is what it is that Miami is headed toward. And Mike is talking about the psyche of Carson Beck. We forget their kids. Okay, I understand, I understand that he's played in the hot light for a while, but between 18 and 22, whatever the pressures are on him at Georgia, he came and in that game they lost because of him. He threw four interceptions. He was winging it down the field. He fell in love with what happened against fsu. Those throws weren't there. Louisville made great play after great play and he was humbled by it and becomes a game manager. But Ohio State stopped Malachi Toney. And what I'm telling you about, what Miami has in ways to beat you that's unusual is Mississippi actually has the kicking game advantage here. But you trust all parts of Miami's game now. You trust their quarterback is not going to turn the ball over because he hasn't for a long while now and isn't throwing interceptible passes either. It's not like he's making a whole bunch of mistakes. It's just a more conservative offense that's trusted, trusting. It's trusting its defense. That's what's happening there. But when you say, Mike, they've led against all the top 10 teams, they've never trailed against them. I'd be curious what it looks like when they trail because he hasn't been in that circumstance and when he has been, he's lost.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Well, are they going to get rattled? Are they going to get away from the run game if they go down? A touchdown Miami style. They were blessed to have that mid season hiccup because they learned like wait a second in the accident. Teams are trying to have us play these games that we're doing against Notre Dame which is like, let's have the same number of possessions and best on best. And we'll, we'll, we'll operate and we'll execute and we'll do what we have to do to come away against a team that maybe has a little bit more talent than us. But that doesn't fly in the ACC where teams are like, let's get more possessions and if you're going to score on one possession, take seven minutes for it. We're going to score in two minutes and we're going to have your guys in, Ruben Bane and and Kim Mezador have to go against tempo, which I'm really worried about. This is the first team that is going to seriously run tempo against Miami. Miami's also learned to have rotation there. I think it's going to Be a great game. I think Miami is blessed by what happened earlier this season, but I am worried that if they're going to be remarried to their style, which is okay. We're going to take seven minutes to score. You're going to take a minute, and that's going to be a problem. Hey, Jeremy. Happy holidays.
Dan Le Batard
Happy Januka.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I want to toast you. Actually, I don't. I will toast with you.
Tony
Okay.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
We're co workers.
Mike Ryan
Mm.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Friends, you could say. No, we cannot say that. But we both enjoy an ice cold Miller Lite.
Dan Le Batard
That's true.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Especially around the holidays. You know, it's a 50th anniversary of Miller Lite.
Dan Le Batard
It's really amazing every time we say that.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I can't believe it. 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. Yeah, we do. That's crazy. 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.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, I know.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
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 a 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. Is Don Leardard.
Tony
Someone say conservative entity?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Wow.
Mike Ryan
No. Oh. See, this is why Stu better than mine. The fifth saki. How is the fifth Zacki better than the third and the fourth saki already?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
This is the D Ler show with the stuff.
Mike Ryan
I will find interesting. How it is that they approach what is a, I believe, stubborn stupidity of just not ever running outside. They are just going to run straight into the middle of your face and they're never going to test the corners.
Chris Cote
I like it.
Mike Ryan
It's just going to be punch you in the stomach and punch you in the face and headbutt you, headbutt you. Because Michael Irvin is making strange noises on the sidelines, growling like some sort of mating wildebeest situation. What are those noises?
Chris Cote
It's a dog with rabies.
Mike Ryan
So Miami's back because of that. Like that is the. Miami's had that repressed, that. That sound has been repressed at the center of Miami for 20 years.
Chris Cote
I don't even think he's mic'd up. That's just like the phone picking up him, right? He's not mic'd up, is he?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Yeah, he puts stuff on his own YouTube channel, which I have subscribed to because I love watching him beat the crap out of objects. I meant a brick wall, a cooler. Keep him going.
Chris Cote
My son gets home that night after the game and the first thing he says when he walks in the door, he goes, you see Michael Irvin, I.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Think we're underselling this guy's brain as like one of the true great comedic brains. He's a brilliant physical comedian. He should be talked about.
Chris Cote
Like with Jim Steven, he's on all fours when the Canes are in the end zone.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
She is so friggin funny.
Tony
I got a question about that. Do you think there's a moment where Mario's in a tense situation, he's trying to figure out what to do. He looks over to the 20 and he sees Michael Irvin on all fours.
Chris Cote
And he's like, 20 Irvin's in the end zone.
Mike Ryan
It's like, what does this guy do?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Get this guy up. Did you see Mario wipe off that kiss that Michael Irvin gave him on?
Chris Cote
Must have been such a sloppy kiss. Let's be honest.
Mike Ryan
Come on.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
We call that the SVP muscle.
Mike Ryan
Ebitardshow. Put it on the poll. Is Michael Irvin a brilliant physical comedian like Jim Carrey? As brilliant a physical comedian as Jim Carrey. I did want to talk for a second though, because we'll have plenty of time this week to analyze the latest biggest game in program history. In the program century, I guess I would say last 20 years, the Texas A and M game was that. Then the Ohio State game was bigger than that. Now this one is bigger than that. But when I talk about the context of who that is, doing that absurdity for 30 years of physical comedy, when I think of the memorable plays in Miami history, what Scott did with that pick six is now going to go in the conversation with seeing Michael Irvin run Down a sideline. Down 193 at FSU. The moments that you remember all the details on what are the seminal giant moments of hurricane football. And I imagine, Mike, that you felt as good as you've ever felt seeing a pick six against Ohio State being taken. And you're like, oh, we're going to play from ahead here.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I said nine words that entire game.
Chris Cote
Really?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I said nothing during silent.
Chris Cote
The whole you and the family.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I don't think like I deserve this. You know, it's what I want so badly and I don't you deserve it. I keep waiting for the universe to tell me that I'm not going to be able to enjoy this. So it's been kind of surreal. It's been kind of pinch me. I did. Some of the words that I said were right before the play, before that play, Jeremiah Smith was in the slot and we had motore on him. I was like, let's change that. Don't like, don't like that. So that was a couple words that was on.
Dan Le Batard
That was on Jeremiah Smith though, that.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Yeah, yeah. He missed that block.
Chris Cote
So like the majority of your nine words were the.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Yeah. Keante Scott had turf toe.
Tony
Incredible.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
And turf toe like kept Joe Burrow out of the season. Turf toe really, really hurts. The name does not match how painful this is when it was announced that he was going to play against Texas A and M and dude, dude had an all time game against Texas A and M. Guy, guy's been unreal. This is a three star transfer from Houston. Not a lot of fanfare. And this guy has such a nose for the ball. Is making impact play after impact play. Sure tackler, incredible blitzer, just making game changing plays. He is doing legendary shit right now.
Chris Cote
It was such a bad decision from Julian saying it was so bad.
Mike Ryan
The game itself, like I want to talk about it but I also want to talk about. I don't know if you guys saw that John Ruiz's life wallet was whatever it is taken off the Nasdaq and what was the front on nil in Miami Getting into the crystal ball game. Cristobal representing Cuban Miami now representing Cuban Miami in a way that's very strong and unusual. We don't get sports things like this very often. He represents the Cuban community very well. Abuelos would tell you that. And young kids who like Tony. Tony looks at Mario Cristobal I imagine as a symbol of great strength and so does your dad 100% like that.
Tony
That's people that we know realistically in the community. Like I know Mario Criswell, the archetype.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
You want to, you want to make a Cuban piece, bring up the name Fernando mendoza around a 70 year old Cuban second gen guy.
Mike Ryan
Okay. But Mike, Columbus High. Columbus High has put the University of Miami in this business position because the 90 million was found for Mario Cristobal with the understanding that he would work harder than anybody to get the biggest and the best and the the strongest physical players so that they look like they have four first round picks on the offensive and defensive line.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
This is all a vision, this is all a plan that is coming together at the right time. Your 70 year old abuelo doesn't care about that. I got an AI generated image from my dad, who does not know ball, of Fernando Mendoza and Mario Cristobal toasting a cafecito to welcome in the new year.
Mike Ryan
Okay. But I got an AI image of Mario Cristobal hitting Ryan Day at midfield. I've got an AI image. I was fooled by it. My father definitely was. My father was like.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Lefty.
Mike Ryan
Yeah.
Dan Le Batard
Let's see if this is real or not.
Chris Cote
I thought.
Dan Le Batard
I wasn't sure.
Mike Ryan
Yeah.
Dan Le Batard
Postgame handshake.
Mike Ryan
Oh, clear shot.
Chris Cote
Down goes Day.
Mike Ryan
Yeah. So many flexes.
Tony
That one I think is real though.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I love my coach.
Chris Cote
That's real.
Mike Ryan
This was real from halftime. Here is Reuben Bane at halftime of the Ohio State game. He's in the locker room. I always do wonder when we get these. Like I imagine that Ohio State has this same thing in their locker room. And then no one will just ever see that because we bury those. But when the team wins, we release it. And so here's Ruben Bane and the University of Miami's halftime speech against Ohio State. Don't say much, but bro, we only got 30 more minutes. 30 more minutes.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
We get everything.
Mike Ryan
We work for them boys.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Ain't work how we work.
Mike Ryan
They ain't feel how we feel. They ain't cry how we cry, gang. You can see they don't got the energy we got, bro. They don't want it how we want it.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
They don't cry like we cry. Oh my God, guys, dropping Mory lyrics at halftime, you're in big trouble.
Chris Cote
I don't think Ohio State does that in their locker room. I think they didn't win because they didn't do that.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Keonte Scott has been sleeping at the facility for months on end.
Dan Le Batard
They're like, we don't want it like they do.
Mike Ryan
Can you guys answer my question in terms of seminal UN moments? Third and 44. Craig Erickson against Notre Dame. He converts a third and 44. When you're talking about the seminal moments in hurricane history and we're talking about these games are going to keep getting bigger and it does announce to America this is not. Miami has won the business of this. This. They just dragged the defending champs like they just dragged the defending champs in a way. Like, you know what Ohio State's defense has been? You know what their, their goal line defense is about as good as you'll ever see. They're very stout. Ryan Day is not a special coach. He's got a very stout defense and has for a long time. And it wasn't more physical than Miami's. It.
Tony
It.
Mike Ryan
Anybody watching that game would be just telling you, yeah, this. They could have played this a bunch of different times and it would have gone a lot different than this.
Tony
And Mark Fletcher is getting 4, 5, 6, 7 yards a pop. Means that offensive line just mauling people over. And it doesn't matter what you have on the defensive line, whether you're A and M, whether you're Ohio State, you're going to get pushed further and further and further down until you just crumble.
Mike Ryan
Mass kicks ass.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Coach, how about Marty Brown on that last try? Dude. Dude. You know why he was in there, right? A little worried about the fumbles with Fletcher. So had a fresh Marty Brown in there after they got softened up and they ran the same exact play that they. They scored the touchdown. You have that personnel on the line, Jumbo. It's a run all the way and you have a little running back leak out on the. It was just a brilliant call that we went to twice by Shannon Dawson.
Mike Ryan
Mass kicks ass.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Mass kicks ass.
Tony
Dawson was in his bag on that.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Play, by the way. Like we were making Matt Patricia, the wizard coach that we can't crack had a pencil in his hat with a laminated sheet. I'm not worried about that guy, Dan.
Chris Cote
You know about that Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
Mike Ryan
You're worried about Chambliss? Yes, of course.
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
Yeah, I remember the Independence Bowl. Manny Diaz got shut up by Louisiana Tech in that. I'm never going back.
Chris Cote
You know about that Snoop Dogg Arizona bowl?
Dan Le Batard Show Producer (possibly Stugats)
I did. He caught a kick.
Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Date: January 5, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
This episode of the "Local Hour" captures the electric mood in Miami following the University of Miami Hurricanes’ emphatic return to college football relevance. The crew, led by Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and regulars Chris Cote, Mike Ryan, and Tony, dig deep into the Hurricanes' playoff victories, Miami’s cultural pride, the collapse of the Dolphins, and signature moments from Miami's sports history. The tone combines elation, skepticism, nostalgia, and comedic Miami bravado, with numerous pop-culture-fueled tangents and football nerdery.
[25:20] Debate on whether facing Lane Kiffin-less Ole Miss or Kirby Smart’s Georgia would have been preferable for the Canes.
[31:27] Miami’s defense praised for adapting to opposing teams’ quick-release quarterbacks and handling tempo.
[33:03] Concerns about potential weaknesses: Will Miami panic if trailing? How will they handle teams running fast tempo?
This Local Hour stands as a kind of oral time capsule of Miami sports hope and swagger, mixing celebration, skepticism, cultural pride, and clever irreverence. The show’s balance of insider football talk, city identity, and laughter will leave listeners—especially South Floridians—feeling plugged back into the city's emotional nervous system. The Miami Hurricanes’ return to the national spotlight isn’t just a sports story here; it’s a reaffirmation of the city’s pulse, quirks, and legends, old and new.