The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 1: "One Player Short, MLB Opening Day"

Date: March 27, 2026
Podcast/Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Host: Dan Patrick, with Seaton, Paulie, Marvin, Todd, and callers

Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show captures a celebratory Meat Friday while tackling big sports headlines, especially college basketball's madness and MLB's Opening Day. Dan and the crew blend humorous camaraderie with sharp analysis, highlighting dramatic tourney finishes, MLB oddities, and reflections on team chemistry and fan rituals. Notable moments include the Nebraska-Iowa four-player snafu, reflections on NIL and college basketball recruiting, and listener stories that connect sports to everyday joys.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meat Friday and Morale Boosting

• The show opens with a festive list of ballpark foods to lift spirits after being snubbed for a sports Emmy.
• Dan: "I thought we needed a morale booster. This was actually planned because I thought we were going to be nominated for a sports Emmy... and then we weren’t. ... But still, we need it." (03:30)
• The team jokes about their partnerships and upcoming new grilling sponsor.

2. March Madness Recap: Game Highlights & Bizarre Endings

• Notable Results:
  • Purdue over Texas at the buzzer; Iowa-Nebraska's wild sequence; Illinois' upset over Houston; Arizona dominance over Arkansas (04:00)
• Big Ten’s Strong Showing:
  • Discussion about Big Ten's exceptional tournament in football and basketball.
  • "The Big Ten is making a statement... Big Ten’s having a really nice tournament and really nice year." (08:46)

Nebraska-Iowa: Only Four Players on the Court (06:52-10:00)

• Poll Question: "Which is worse: too many players or not enough players on the court?" (06:52)
• Breaks down the late-game situation where Nebraska, down to four defenders, gives up a crucial basket.
• Audio from Coach Fred Hoiberg:
  • Hoiberg owns the mistake:
    "You know, put that one on me. It was a miscommunication. And, you know, I’m the head coach. Put that one on me." (08:12)
  • Admits he's never seen that rule situation before.
• Dan lauds the coach for protecting his players and turns it into a teaching moment about leadership.

3. The Evolving College Basketball Landscape

• The "One-and-Done" vs. Experience Debate:
  • Paulie and Dan discuss whether programs prefer one-year NBA talent or veteran players who stay and build team culture.
  • Dan: "It’s nice to have that freshman, but we’ve seen, you gotta have other players. ... It’s the end of the world to these Purdue kids who... have been there three or four years." (16:47)
• NIL's Impact:
  • Players’ earning power may encourage them to stay longer in college, reversing trends.
  • Dan and Marv highlight the risk of players leaving early for the NBA only to go undrafted; staying in school with NIL benefits can be smarter now.

4. Coaching Carousel & Behind-the-Scenes Moves

• Potential Openings & Moves:
  • North Carolina and Kansas situations could trigger major coaching changes; urgency in filling jobs.
  • Dan laments missing a chance to ask UConn’s Dan Hurley about Luke Murray possibly leaving for the BC job.

5. MLB Opening Day and Statistical Oddities (23:40–28:25)

• Paul Skenes’ Rough Start:
  • Skenes of the Pirates gives up 5 runs in 2/3 of an inning.
  • “His ERA is now 67.5... I think it'll go down from there.” (25:10)
  • Conversation about MLB’s definition of "errors," and how misjudgments aren’t counted as such—draws Dan's ire.
• Favorite Ballpark Foods:
  • The crew shares favorites—hot dogs (classic for Dan), nachos, nacho variants, Camden Yards crab cakes, and stadium sushi/beer innovations.

6. Media Critique: Netflix’s MLB Broadcast (28:25–31:27)

• Netflix’s special game broadcast receives mixed reviews—novelty appreciated, but not up to network standards.
• Dan: “Netflix... brought out all the shiny objects... but they weren’t equipped for this.” (29:20)
• Commentary on personalities (e.g., Jameis Winston, Barry Bonds) and what makes for compelling TV.

7. Caller Stories: The Personal Side of Sports

Gus in LA:

• Heartwarming Opening Day Experience:
  • “Greatest day of my life, boys, thus far. To watch my godson just become a different person yesterday... high-fiving strangers...” (34:58)

Buddha from Paris:

• Reminder that the show's Emmy snub doesn't diminish its community or impact.
  • “Win or lose, we celebrate, as the shirt says, the greatness of the DP Show.” (32:02–33:06)

8. Sports Law & Money: Phillies' Alec Bohm Sues Parents (37:01–39:42)

• News that Alex Bohm is suing his parents for allegedly mismanaging $3 million; discussion about why mixing family and money/management rarely works.
• Quote, Dan: “You should never hire somebody you can’t fire.” (39:58)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Nebraska’s four-on-five mishap:
  “There’s some confusion online about if that’s the rules. You’re supposed to have five guys on the court. Where were the officials supposed to hold...” (08:18)
• On tournament experience vs. NBA prospects:
  “You want a really good college player, but you don’t want an NBA prospect... you know, what if he got out, he’d be a late first at best.” – Marvin (17:31)
• Morale food plan:
  “This is all about morale today. We had a rough week. If you want to have a mid-show hot dog, you can have mid-show hot dog day.” – Dan (49:49)
• On the Netflix game:
  “Netflix... they weren’t equipped for this, you know, getting the right people to do it, who do this on a regular basis... but they wanted to give their best.” (29:20)
• On handling sports disappointment:
  “Emmy shmammy, DP... who’s got it better than us? Nobody.” – Buddha (33:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:30 — Meat Friday kickoff, morale boost after Emmy snub
• 04:00–06:00 — March Madness: Notable results/Big Ten analysis
• 06:52–10:00 — Four players on court: Nebraska–Iowa, rule breakdown, poll question
• 16:27–18:30 — One-and-done vs. multi-year players and NIL impact
• 23:40–28:25 — MLB Opening Day: Paul Skenes’ start, error judgment, ballpark foods
• 28:25–31:27 — Netflix MLB broadcast, media critique
• 34:58 — Gus in LA shares his godson’s Opening Day joy
• 37:01–39:42 — Phillies' Bohm sues parents, why not to mix family and money
• 49:49–51:40 — Meat Friday food schedule debate, morale traditions, show culture

Final Thoughts

This episode radiates camaraderie and joy in the simple pleasures sports bring—whether it’s ballpark food, shared triumphs and blunders, or the rituals of fans across the world. Dan deftly melds humor and insight, moving from hard-hitting analysis to lighthearted banter about grilling partners and ice cream helmets, never shying away from calling out oddities in rules or broadcast experiments. Above all, there’s a steady undercurrent of appreciation—for sports, for fans, and for the show’s own long-running community.