The Dan Patrick Show - Hour 2: College Football Needs a Commissioner, Bill Cowher

Date: December 1, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Theme: Dan Patrick tackles turmoil in college football, calls for stronger leadership, analyzes NFL storylines, and welcomes Hall of Fame Coach Bill Cowher for a candid interview on coaching culture, pressures, and the current state of football.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode focuses on the dysfunction in college football—a chaotic transfer portal, NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals, and coaches leaving mid-season—and argues for the necessity of a college football commissioner. The show also unpacks NFL storylines and features a lively interview with Bill Cowher, exploring his career, leadership philosophy, and takes on current league issues with humor and candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Coaching Chaos & College Football's Lack of Structure

• Dan Patrick argues for major reform: Dan expresses frustration about coaches like Lane Kiffin leaving during playoff eligibility, the unchecked transfer portal, and the NIL environment, calling for the installation of a college football commissioner.
  • Notable quote: "College football needs to have a commissioner. Greg Sankey needs to say, let me oversee this so we don't continue to do stupid things." (09:40)
• Example: Both North Texas and Tulane lost head coaches ahead of their contest; Lane Kiffin is introduced at LSU while Ole Miss is still playoff active.
• Dan critiques adult leadership: "All I keep hearing about the last couple of years, all the kids are ruining. No they're not. No, they're not. The grown ups are ruining it." (09:58)

2. Analyzing Playoff Selection and Team Performance

• College Football Playoff Selection Debates:
  • Dan and the Danettes discuss the importance of selecting the "best" teams, not just conference champions.
  • Focus on Texas: "If we're playing for the national championship, I gotta have the 12 best teams. And do I think Texas is one of those teams? Yes, I do." (11:47)
• Point Differential as Power Ranking: Paulie explains judging teams by point differential, citing the Seahawks as outperforming their record. (06:27)
• Reflections on team reputations and 'recency bias' (Miami vs. Notre Dame, Texas performance, etc.)

3. NFL Quarterback & Draft Talk

• On Arch Manning and NFL Draft Prospects:
  • Inside source tells Dan: "Arch Manning would be the number one pick in the draft if he was coming out. Now he can't, but he would be the number one pick.” (13:03)
  • Debate on “safe” draft picks vs. chasing upside (Chris Long analogy).
• Skepticism about overhyping quarterbacks due to media/family names, referencing Shedeur Sanders’ stock (17:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Lane Kiffin, Coaching Moves & College Football Structure

• Dan Patrick: "You go. What else do you have? Well, simply, will LSU win a national title with Lane Giffen at the helm? Yes or no?" (03:01)
• On need for commissioner: “Here's when a coach can talk to another school. No coaches can leave during the season... You got to have somebody in charge who’s going to say...” (09:25)
• Paulie: “If there was a commissioner of college football, he wouldn't let Alabama play Wofford on November 12th. It wouldn't happen.” (10:15)
• Dan Patrick: “The grown ups are ruining it.” (09:58)
• Bill Cowher (on Lane Kiffin wanting to coach the playoff as he’s leaving): “You decided to go to LSU. Thank you and goodbye… To even ask for that question is like, that's arrogance. I think what happened there is a disgrace to the coaching profession…” (32:12)

On NFL Parity, Draft, and Quarterbacks

• Paulie: “I think the NFL teams will look at Arch Manning not for his upside but for his lack of downside. Like, he is a safe pick. It's hard to picture a Manning quarterback not working out to some level.” (18:44)
• Dan Patrick: “You know, you're trying to figure all of this out... we created, we the media. It's like, man, he's awesome. And then when he drops to the fifth round, we’re like, what's wrong with him? Okay, we over inflated him because we got caught up in Shador Sanders and the name.” (16:03)

Bill Cowher Interview (24:52–42:26)

• On pressure of coaching the Steelers, his hometown team:
  • “When I first got the job... my first goal was not to get fired in those first three years.” (24:52)
  • “There's enough pressure there... seeing what Chuck [Noll] had done... it was almost a responsibility I had, but also a connection.” (25:17)
• On Mike Tomlin and Steelers' firefans:
  • “They're very passionate fans… results will speak for themselves. But... he's not gonna let the outside noise influence his approach.” (26:04)
  • “When they start whispering, Dan, you know, it's probably not a good thing.” (27:08)
• College vs. NFL coaching structure: “I never even entertained [outside offers]… my fear of failure far exceeded my desire to win.” (28:34)
  • “I think the NCAA is really, it's the wild, wild west... the people that get lost in this are the players.” (29:37)
  • On NIL and player entitlement: “Sometimes you're not going to get entitled to something because you think you decide... You may have to work for a long period of time to get that opportunity... there's nothing wrong with a good work ethic.” (31:35)
• On quarterback vs. WR headaches: “You got to think like me, so that's the one… At times I gotta let them be them, too… that's the guy that's gotta be reflection of you.” (36:09)
• On Ben Roethlisberger:
  • “He starts pounding... I know he can hear us… said, grab that, and he goes, ‘I must have just came back on.’” (37:17)
  • “The one thing I knew about Ben... when the game was on the line and it was in the fourth quarter, he wanted the ball in his hands…” (38:20)
• On his mustache and Hall of Fame bust:
  • “I shaved, went down to Bald Head island... It was the best thing in the world… but my wife said, please don't shave again.” (38:24—39:32)
• Dan and Cowher mutual respect/joking about being ‘divisional opponents’:
  • “I look at you like, like a divisional opponent. I make it personal.” (41:42)

NFL & College Football Rapid Fire

• NFL parity & playoff outlook: Bill Cowher notes, "I think the NFL is in a tremendous place... parity has never been greater... I think for the first time, we may have a seven seed and maybe two seven seeds that could win in the wild card." (34:41)
• Cowher on Green Bay & Dallas: Advocates for a playoff showdown - “Because I want to know, for once and for all… who was right, Micah Parsons or Jerry Jones?” (33:41)
• Thanksgiving football highlights:
  • "What do you think was the best game over Thanksgiving weekend?" (40:07)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• College coaching/Lane Kiffin/NIL/Need for Commissioner: 02:08–13:59
• Arch Manning & draft talk: 13:19–19:10
• Bill Cowher Interview begins: 24:52
  • Steelers pressure/Fans: 24:52–27:08
  • College vs NFL jobs: 28:34–29:31
  • NCAA Wild West/Player entitlement: 29:37–33:09
  • NFL parity/Playoff sleeper talk: 33:09–35:21
  • Relationship with quarterbacks, Roethlisberger: 35:21–38:20
  • Mustache/Hall of Fame bust stories: 38:24–39:32
  • Playful banter and signoff: 41:09–42:26

Final Section: Best & Worst of the Weekend (46:18+)

• The Danettes and callers share personal and sports highlights/lowlights, weaving humor and insight (e.g., Fritzy's Hard Rock Cafe Thanksgiving in Amsterdam, UNLV gets into Mountain West title vs Boise St).
  • Lighter, anecdotal moments, keeping the show's trademark tone of light-hearted familiarity among crew and listeners.

Episode Tone & Language

• Language: Conversational, irreverent, sometimes blunt, sarcastic banter throughout, especially in discussions around leadership failures and old-school coaching philosophies.
• Tone: Playful, deeply informed, critical of leadership at the NCAA/college level, respectful (and nostalgic) about "the way things used to be," with a constant thread of humor and mutual ribbing—especially between Dan and Bill Cowher.

Episode Takeaways

• College football’s chaos—due to lack of oversight and rampant unchecked decision-making by coaches, ADs, and boosters—is threatening the sport’s integrity. A commissioner is urgently needed.
• NFL parity is at an all-time high; the playoff picture is wide open.
• Draft hype around big-name quarterbacks continues to skew perceptions (and scouting reports).
• Bill Cowher provides a seasoned, practical voice for coaching leadership, player development, and upholding football tradition.
• The show blends incisive critique with entertainment—offering both expert analysis and offbeat, genuine laughs.

For listeners wanting candid sports talk, real coaching perspective, and insightful (but fun) debate on the state of football, this episode is a must.