The Dan Patrick Show / Covino & Rich

Episode: Old & New Football Traditions
Date: September 10, 2025

Overview

This episode dives deep into football traditions, both old and new—how they start, why they matter, and how to adapt them as life changes. Covino, Rich, Dan, Danny G, and listeners share stories on maintaining, creating, or revamping traditions, especially as the NFL season kicks off. They poke fun at each other, get nostalgic, involve callers, and, as always, bring laughs and relatable sports talk.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meaning and Evolution of Football Traditions

• Change Over Time: The crew reflects on traditions lost to life’s changes—kids, work, COVID, etc.—and the importance of starting new rituals or reviving old ones.
  • Examples:
    • Covino and Rich’s Super Bowl trips paused for the first time in almost 20 years due to budget and life—but they’re getting back to it.
    • COVID interrupted many fan meetups and listener events.
• Listener Story: British pensioners who’ve met for a pint every Thursday for 56 years symbolize the endurance (and bittersweet end) of traditions.
  • [05:48] Steve Covino: "A group of friends met for a pint every Thursday for 56 years...It's not too late to start that, man. We started that... five years ago, man."

2. Traditions With Friends & Family

• NFL Getaway Tradition: Covino and Rich, with friends (originally show listeners), annually attend an NFL away game in a new city.
  • This year: Arizona in November.
  • [05:39] Steve Covino: "We've been getting together for the past five years, going to an away game. I look forward to it so much."
• Making Core Memories:
  • Rich’s family tradition: When their team wins a playoff game, they jump into the pool fully clothed.
    • [08:25] Rich Byer: "If one of our teams wins a playoff game, we jump in our pool with our clothes on and record it. My kids get a kick out of it."
  • Danny G: Annual “first day of the NFL season” photos with his son in a Raiders jersey each year.
    • [09:00] Danny G: "I took a picture of him in his Max Crosby jersey... First Sunday opener snaps."

3. Nostalgia, Loss, and Realism

• Traditions Fade—Why?
  • Listener "Matt from SoCal" reminds that core family/sports memories stick for kids, and even "sad" stories contain hope.
  • The panel shares stories of the “Never Missed a Super Bowl Club” and how, inevitably, numbers dwindle as members pass away.
    • [07:22] Dan Byer: "According to Wikipedia, they're named the Never Misses Super Bowl Club...only three people remaining that had all of these guys going to every Super Bowl."
  • Rich: “Covid messed up a lot of traditions...there were a couple years where it was like, yeah, I guess we’re not doing that.” [05:29]

4. Traditions: Fun or Forced?

• When a Tradition Stinks...
  • The crew jokingly debates what to do if someone brings a terrible dip to the Super Bowl every year—do you break the tradition or fake enthusiasm?
  • [19:05] Rich Byer: "What if the tradition stinks and no one has the heart to tell the person? Do you tell them?"
  • [20:06] Steve Covino: "You have to pretend to eat it...some wife is going home sad that day."

5. NFL vs. College Football Traditions

• Caller “Matt” brings up the Washington State flag at College Gameday as a great, organic tradition. Panel laments the NFL’s weaker organic rituals.

  • [10:35] Dan Byer: "I wish the NFL would embrace it more...I think that's at times lacking in the NFL."

• College vs NFL Holidays:

  • NFL is still anchored on Thanksgiving (turkey legs, John Madden’s “turducken,” etc.), but the group debates how to foster better league-wide, recurring traditions.

6. Interactive Listener Moments

• Listeners call in to share family or fanbase traditions:
  • Minnesota Vikings fan: Describes “hope and heartbreak” as tradition ("third generation of heartbreak and hope").
    • [15:30] Caller/Ivor: "That's our tradition...We get to the end of the game and we say, ah, well, whatever. We're experts at justifying why we lost."
  • Cowboys fan: Watching them lose on Thanksgiving is its own tradition.
    • [18:33] Caller/Andrew: "My tradition is watching the Cowboys lose on Thanksgiving almost every year."

7. Fun with NFL Stadiums & Concessions

• Stadium Hot Dogs Trivia: Who offers the cheapest dogs?
  • Atlanta leads with $2 dogs, others (Ravens, Browns, Broncos, Bills) also have low prices.
  • [34:12] Rich Byer: "Atlanta keeps it very low... two dollar hot dog."
  • [35:04] Rich Byer: "Cheap dogs if you're going to see the Cleveland Browns."
• Sports Trivia Segment: The “Last One Standing” game covers top NFL TD receivers, hot dog prices, losing MLB teams, and top QB passing yard leaders.

8. Light-hearted Banter & Rivalries

• The crew jokes about “royal couples” and why Americans are obsessed with British royals (or not).
  • [13:46] Rich Byer: "I don't understand Americans caring about the royal family..."
• The importance of music traditions at weddings and sporting events—debating Family Tradition by Hank Jr. vs Bon Jovi.
  • [28:30] Rich Byer & Steve Covino: "The big debate at my wedding... I wanted Bon Jovi, she wanted [family tradition]. We compromised with both."

9. Baseball Segment: Playoff Hope

• Parity & Uncertainty: No truly dominant team; anyone who gets hot could win the World Series.
  • [49:37] Rich Byer: "There's no team that I feel is a favorite at all... If you get in and get hot, it's anyone's season."
  • [52:51] Rich Byer: "Get in. That's all you need to do in baseball. Get in."
  • Fans across MLB all feel like "the bullpen is our weakness;" this is universal, and part of the season’s chaos and fun.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Covino on Starting New Traditions
  "[05:48] We've been getting together for the past five years, going to an away game. I look forward to it so much. Just checking out a different NFL stadium, being in a different city. It's not too late to start that, man."

• Rich on Family Traditions
  "[08:25] If one of our teams wins a playoff game, we jump in our pool with our clothes on and record it. My kids get a kick out of it."

• Danny G on Football Memories "[09:00] I took a picture of him in his Max Crosby jersey...First Sunday opener snaps."

• Caller Matt (on traditions as “elite parenting”): "[10:03] It's creating core memories for your kids...football brings people together."

• Dan Byer on Enduring Traditions: "[07:22] According to Wikipedia, they're named the Never Misses Super Bowl Club...only three people remaining that had all of these guys going to every Super Bowl."

• On “Bad” Traditions (Potato Salad, Egg Salad, Dips): "[20:06] You have to pretend to eat it...some wife is going home sad that day. So you have to sort of make a dent." (Steve Covino)

• On NFL’s Lack of Organic Traditions (vs. College): "[10:35] I wish the NFL would embrace it more...I think that's at times lacking in the NFL..." (Dan Byer)

• On Playoff Hopes in Baseball: "[52:51] Get in. That's all you need to do in baseball. Get in." (Rich Byer)

Memorable Moments & Humor

• The running gag of “bad potato salad” and faking enthusiasm for it during family festivities.
• Listeners popping in with curveball jokes—e.g., “Who’s more ass: turkey ass or Arch Manning?” [12:40]
• C&R’s NFL trivia “Last One Standing” segment turns into friendly chaos over hot dog prices and all-time TD leaders.
• Gentle ribbing of American fascination with the British monarchy and crowning sports stars as “royal couples.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:47]–[06:50]: Discussion about traditions, missed Super Bowls, British pub friends, and adapting as life changes.
• [08:25]: Rich’s family playoff pool-jump tradition.
• [09:00]–[09:30]: Danny G’s NFL-opening day kid photos.
• [10:28]: Listener Matt on College Gameday traditions.
• [12:10]: NFL vs College football traditions (rivalry scheduling, Thanksgiving games).
• [15:30]–[16:54]: Minnesota sports misery and the misery index.
• [19:05]: What to do when a tradition stinks.
• [28:30]: Debate over music traditions at weddings.
• [31:12]–[40:44]: “Last One Standing” sports trivia game.
• [49:37]–[52:51]: End-of-show MLB playoff parity discussion.

Takeaways

• Traditions evolve, and it’s never too late to start new ones. Whether with family, friends, or as a fan, it’s the memories and “core” moments that count.
• If a ritual doesn’t work (or “stinks”!), it’s okay to outgrow or replace it with something better.
• The NFL can learn from college football’s grassroots, organic traditions.
• Baseball parity means hope for everybody: “Get in, and you’ve got a shot.”
• Laugh at the mishaps, celebrate the wins, and always make time for wings, dips, and good company.