The Dan Patrick Show (Hour 1)

Episode: Bill Belichick Got Humbled, The Moment Was Too Big for Arch Manning

Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: None live in this hour (callers, producer banter), highlights of Bill Belichick and Steve Sarkisian pressers.

Overview:

Dan Patrick and his team kick off the week dissecting a wild college football opening weekend, focusing on Bill Belichick’s disastrous North Carolina debut and Arch Manning’s rocky first start for Texas. The episode wrestles with media hype, overreactions, and the challenges of adjusting to new environments—whether you’re a coaching legend or a much-hyped quarterback.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bill Belichick’s Humbling UNC Debut vs. TCU

• Opening Take ([05:10]):
  Dan immediately dives into Belichick’s highly anticipated college return, noting the local media’s scathing reaction after UNC’s blowout loss to TCU.
  • Quote (Reading Luke DeCock, Raleigh News & Observer):
    “Forget the cutoff sleeves. The alleged football genius got pantsed in his college debut. North Carolina paid $10 million for Bill Belichick and got sold a bill of goods.” ([06:00])
• Dan contrasts the TV build-up (celebrity-laden, “event-not-game” coverage) with the reality that TCU was favored and pounced once festivities settled.
• Belichick’s Press Conference ([09:40]):
  • Quote (Belichick):
    “You know, anytime you give up two turnovers for touchdowns offensively, that’s not good. We gave up several long plays on defense… just too many of those. There wasn’t any one thing, it was a combination of multiple things.”
• Notable stat: Second time in 468 games that a Belichick-coached team gave up 540+ yards.
• Challenges for Belichick in College:
  • Recruiting is “about personality,” something Belichick is not built for.
  • The incredible turnover: 70 new UNC players, making Week 1 cohesion near-impossible.
    • Quote (Dan):
      “The herculean task is to get 70 players in a short period of time to understand exactly what we’re trying to do here.” ([32:35])
• Producer Paulie cautions not to overreact: “People should have a little more faith in his expertise, more than an August football game.” ([34:20])
• Dan sees this as different from NFL: Belichick needs time, and recruiting is a fundamentally different animal.

2. Arch Manning’s Underwhelming Texas Debut at Ohio State

• Game Recap ([13:20, 40:26]):
  Texas loses to Ohio State, with Arch Manning struggling but not being entirely at fault.
  • Dan quells the “Heisman overreaction” after Manning’s loss:
    • Quote (Dan):
      “Was it big for Arch Manning? Too big for Arch Manning? Yes, it certainly felt that way. But…don’t overreact. He’ll probably have a really good game against an inferior opponent and we’ll go ‘okay.’” ([14:10])
• Context:
  • Graphics comparing Manning’s 0-1 debut to Peyton and Eli’s opening-game wins are misleading—both Mannings faced much easier opponents at home.
• Quote (Paulie):
  “Peyton Manning was at home against East Carolina. And Eli Manning was at home against Murray State. They weren’t at the Shoe in August. Against the defending national champs.” ([45:35])
• Arch’s hype is largely media-driven (ads, attention), not self-generated.
• Steve Sarkisian, Texas coach, postgame:
  • Quote (Sarkisian):
    “The growth throughout the game for Arch was really encouraging for me…we’re going to be fine.” ([1:18:25])

3. Alabama’s (and Kaylen DeBoer’s) Early Struggles

• DeBoer, replacing Nick Saban, suffers a rough start, losing to Florida State.
  • Saban lost four games to unranked opponents in 17 years; DeBoer has four such losses in two.
  • Dan points out the perils of expectations:
    • Quote: “Sometimes we look at players and I go, give me a larger sample size here. I liken Zach Wilson going number two overall to Kaylen DeBoer going to Alabama. Like, wow, okay. And I don’t want to overreact, but I didn’t see promising results in year one.” ([19:55])
  • Observes it wasn’t a fluke; Florida State outplayed ‘Bama on all fronts.

4. Overreactions and Media Hype Culture

• Dan repeatedly cautions fans and fellow media not to draw massive conclusions from week one.
  • Quote: “Instead of here’s my reaction, here’s my hot take, Texas is still a great team…Let’s just see. Let’s just see how this all plays out.” ([47:40])

5. Callers & Fan Reactions ([53:10–1:12:00])

• Variety of “best and worst of the weekend”:
  • Praising Utah’s consistency despite being underappreciated.
  • Acknowledging Ohio State’s defense and Texas’s potential even in defeat.
  • Some relish Belichick’s humbling; others ask for patience.
  • Multiple callers lament media overreaction to Arch Manning’s debut.
  • Micah Parsons/Cowboys contract drama touched on briefly with inside information from Albert Breer teased for hour two.

6. Memorable Segments & Tangents

• Lighthearted digressions:
  • The Oregon Duck mascot’s head falls off mid-game; Dan ponders mascot job security ([1:05:00]).
  • Crappensburg State “scores update,” classic Dan Patrick Show running gag.
  • On college football coverage:
    • Quote (Dan):
      “They were covering an event, not a game, in my opinion…You just got to be careful in making sure you’re covering a game.” ([1:24:00])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Bill got humbled. And if you’re looking for a great way to start a college career…they forgot that TCU also was going to play as well.” — Dan Patrick ([07:10])
• “Recruiting is about personality, and Bill doesn’t have a personality.” — Dan Patrick ([34:45])
• “Arch Manning didn’t hype himself. The media did.” — Dan Patrick ([1:10:30])
• On callers overreacting to stars’ debuts:
  • “Am I the only one that knows that this is his first actual, like, legitimate opener against the defending national champion on the road?” — Gus in LA ([1:14:00])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Belichick’s UNC Debut Recap & Reactions: 05:10–17:30
• Belichick Press Conference Audio: 09:40
• College Football Upsets & Reactions: 13:20–25:50
• Alabama/DeBoer’s Struggles: 18:40–24:50
• Arch Manning/Ohio State Game Talk: 40:26–49:50
• Caller Segment: Best/Worst of Weekend: 53:10–1:12:00
• Oregon Duck Mascot Anecdote: 1:05:00
• Closing Thoughts: Overreaction Culture & Poll Question: 1:24:00

Tone & Show Style

• Language/Tone:
  Candid, witty, and straightforward, Dan balances sharp critique with humor. The crew banter keeps things conversational, and Dan’s sports knowledge is front and center.

• Recurring Theme:
  “Don’t overreact. It’s just week one.” Constantly reinforced as a check on audience and media hot takes.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode captures the volatility and excitement of a new college football season through two seismic stories: the legendary Bill Belichick’s humbling setback at North Carolina and the fevered expectations—then disappointment—of Arch Manning’s Texas debut. Dan Patrick and crew put these moments in context, urging listeners to resist the temptation for instant verdicts. The hosts blend stats, press reaction, and fan perspectives with their trademark dry humor and skepticism about hype. The episode is a crash course in both why college football means so much to so many, and why it’s so easy to get carried away after a single weekend.