The Dan Patrick Show (C&R Hour): "Nebraska Pulls a Boner"

Date: March 28, 2026
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich Hour)
Hosts: Steve Covino & Rich Davis
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode of Covino & Rich leans heavily into humor and self-deprecation, using Nebraska’s viral March Madness in-game blunder—playing with only four defenders on the floor—as a springboard for a lively, confessional discussion of infamous sports mistakes ("boners") and personal bonehead moments. The show doesn't just dwell on Nebraska; it opens up the phone lines for listeners' most embarrassing stories and revisits some riotous moments from the hosts' own pasts. The mood is light and candid, full of quick banter, nicknames, and the classic blend of sports and pop culture that defines C&R’s tone.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. The Origin of "Boner" in Sports Lore

[05:12–06:48]

• Covino shares the childhood delight of owning a “Merkel pulls boner” baseball card, referencing Fred Merkle’s infamous 1908 baserunning gaffe that helped cost the Giants a pennant.
• The "boner" wordplay leads to much giggling and a connection to one of their head engineers (coincidentally named Fred Merkle).

Notable Quote:

“There was a collection called Baseball Scoops…one of them read, 'Merkel pulls boner.' It refers to the infamous baserunning error by a 19-year-old Giants rookie, Fred Merkle, September 23, 1908…He failed to touch second base on a potential walk-off hit, allowing Johnny Evers to force him out and help the Cubs win the pennant.”
— Steve Covino [05:24]

2. Nebraska's Blunder & Sports Accountability

[07:15–07:55]

• Nebraska played a critical late-game possession with only four defenders, costing them the win against Iowa.
• The hosts attribute blame (jokingly called "pulling a boner" or "pulling a Hoiberg," after the coach) and note Hoiberg’s accountability.

Notable Quote:

“Coach Hoiberg has to take the responsibility there. Even though it might not have been his fault. He has to take accountability, and he did. Four defenders on the court is the furthest they’ve gone. They let Iowa win that game, but congrats to you, Iowa.”
— Steve Covino [07:30]

3. The Covino Roast: Personal Blunders & Listener Stories

[08:12–17:56] (Longest Segment)

• Rich lists Covino’s “greatest hits” of embarrassing or bonehead moments:

  • Melted Tupperware: Left plastic Tupperware on a toaster oven (“Now it’s six years later, my girlfriend still brings that up…” [09:14])
  • Hair Dye Disaster: Stained friend’s expensive white leather couch with leftover hair dye. (“It was like Soul Glow left marks on the couch.” [10:44])
  • Car Dent Scam: Fell for a parking lot scam ("They take your 200 bucks and the dent is still there." [12:05])
  • Rotator Cuff Injury: Injured playing Mr. Miyagi with a fly ("I tried to do one of those real quick snags…I felt something pop." [12:49])
  • Ate Butter at a Wedding: Mistook decorative butter for white chocolate and ate it at a reception ("You eating butter like that?" [14:11])
  • Grape Disaster: Ate too many grapes on a road trip and had to leave his underwear (“Let’s just say it wasn’t my wallet I left in El Segundo. It was my chonies.” [15:23])
  • Hand Glue Incident: Mistook glue for hand sanitizer at Party City and smeared it all over his hands.
  • Almost Collected by Garbage Truck: Too absorbed in his phone, nearly picked up with trash.

• Listeners share their own “boners,” including:

  • [18:02] Dave (Wisconsin): Kneeled in his own end zone to end a football game, giving up a safety and the win.
  • [18:49] Tony (Oregon): Forgot about the boat he was towing and nearly flipped it while turning around.

Notable Quotes:

"Let’s just say it wasn’t my wallet I left in El Segundo. It was my chonies."
— Steve Covino [15:23]

“I ate the whole bag of grapes from LA to El Segundo. In an hour and a half…I left my chonies in El Segundo and I regret it.”
— Steve Covino [15:12–15:32]

“You eating butter like that?”
— Wedding guest (recounted by Rich Davis) [14:11]

4. Listener Interaction: The Boner Hotline

[17:53–24:30]

• Audience calls in with their own sports and life blunders.
• The show refers to these mistakes interchangeably as “pulling a boner,” “pulling a Hoiberg,” or a “Chris Webber.”
• Some stories echo classic sports mishaps (Chris Webber’s timeout, missed plays), reinforcing the “it happens to everyone” spirit.

5. Brainwave Game Show Segment

[30:51–41:07]

• Friday staple: “Brainwave,” a subjective, match-the-hosts trivia game.
• Categories include: feared natural disasters, worst celebrity babysitter (O.J., Hernandez, Pistorius), pizza vs. burgers vs. tacos, biggest waste of money (timeshare, boat, watch), and worst relationship treatment (silent treatment, yelling, long angry texts).
• Lots of banter, crowd reactions, and host/lister rapport.
• Memorable moment: Almost unanimous agreement that pizza is everyone’s ride-or-die food.

Notable Quote:

“I say pizza.”
— Steve Covino [37:17]
“All right, that’s a W for Bobby. All five said pizza.”
— Host [37:34]

6. Weekend Hobnobbin: What to Watch & Bet

[50:09–51:39]

• The hosts share their weekend recommendations:
  • Baseball (opening weekend)
  • “Project Hail Mary” (Ryan Gosling movie)
  • March Madness
  • PBC pay-per-view boxing (Keith Thurman vs. Sebastian Fundora)
  • Horror series “Something Very Bad is Going to Happen” (Netflix)
  • UFL games and new NFL rules
• Betting segment ("balky bet"): Rich picks his favorite point spreads for the weekend.

Notable & Memorable Quotes

• "Maybe it's not Merkel. Maybe Covino pulls boner." – Steve Covino [15:47]
• "Why would you do that?" (After hand glue incident) – Store employee, recounted by Covino [16:35]
• "Rich, is this the Covino roast?” – Steve Covino [14:54]
• “A boat is a money grab.” – Rich Davis [38:51]
• “You ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? That is dangerous.” – Steve Covino [50:18]

Tone, Style & Energy

• Loose, comedic, confessional: The show revels in self-mockery, cheesy sports puns, and relatable adult blunders.
• Audience inclusion: Frequent phone calls and live YouTube chat engagement.
• Sports & pop culture blend: Quick pivots between sports history, personal anecdotes, and current sporting events.
• Authentic & honest: Neither host shies from embarrassment; stories feel like authentic bar banter or locker room confessions.

Timestamps—Important Segments

• [05:12] Covino’s "Merkel pulls boner" baseball card story & origins of the term
• [07:27] Nebraska’s four-defender blunder recap & Hoiberg’s accountability
• [09:06–15:32] Covino’s personal "boner" moments (toaster plastic, couch stain, glue incident, etc.)
• [18:02] Listener calls: sports bonehead moves
• [30:51–41:07] Brainwave game: matching the hosts’ answers, rapid-fire humor and debate
• [50:09] Weekend viewing and betting picks

In Summary

This episode is a freewheeling, laugh-out-loud exploration of epic blunders in both sports (anchored by Nebraska’s viral March Madness mistake) and everyday life. Covino and Rich (and their listeners) serve up a cathartic array of self-owns and confessions, reinforcing the universal truth that everyone—no matter how cool—pulls a boner now and then. The mix of sports, personal stories, on-air games, and topical recommendations delivers a signature C&R gutbuster, perfect for fans of humor with their highlights.