The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 3

Date: October 16, 2025
Guests: Carson Palmer, Marcus Freeman
Host: Dan Patrick (with Paulie Fusco and show crew)

Episode Overview

In this lively hour, Dan Patrick hosts a conversation-heavy episode live from the "shadows of Notre Dame Stadium", with college football top of mind. The show features in-depth discussions with former USC star and Heisman winner Carson Palmer—now a high school coach—and Notre Dame's head coach Marcus Freeman. Themes include the significance of the Notre Dame-USC rivalry, recruiting memories and challenges, the quarterback position’s evolution, college athletics today, and the pressures and joys of leading a storied football program.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Notre Dame vs. USC Hype

[03:10–04:40]

• Dan introduces the main theme—a preview of the high-stakes Notre Dame vs. USC game—and notes its playoff implications.
• A poll question ("Would you rather play football at Notre Dame or USC?") is referenced, with Notre Dame edging out USC.
• Dan and Paulie discuss the difficulty of both teams' schedules and the historical context of Notre Dame’s games against ranked teams.

2. Carson Palmer Interview

[04:45–17:44]

On the Notre Dame-USC Rivalry and Recruitment

• Palmer recalls being recruited by Notre Dame:
  • "I was Notre Dame recruit, really wanted to go to Notre Dame, went on a trip there... kind of fell in love with it... USC won my heart and got me." (Carson Palmer, 05:30)
• The decision came down to relationships and proximity to home. Notifies coaches personally when he chose not to commit, including telling Rick Neuheisel at Colorado—"I could hear the disappointment in his voice." (06:31)
• Notable recruitment stories:
  • Paintball, tubing, exclusive parties, extravagant meals—"He rented out a bar and let only the football recruits and girls from campus in... flying in lobsters from Maine and crab cakes from Baltimore." (07:26–08:01)

Coaching Philosophies and Quarterback Development

• As a high school coach, Palmer discusses under-center vs. shotgun snap development:

  • "We’re running an NFL style system... you still see [shotgun] at the high school and college level. The ball has to get from the center to shotgun, it's a little different picture." (08:36)

• Dan references Joe Montana’s preference for under-center for rhythm:

  • "He said, 'I'm getting the ball, everything's in real time... helps me sync up when I was going to throw.'" — Dan Patrick (10:03)

• Palmer expands on under-center advantages, especially in run/pass options:

  • "The quicker you get the ball in and out of your hands... the better." (10:36)

Quarterback Longevity: Flacco, Rodgers, and the Pocket Game

• On older QBs starting (Flacco, Rodgers):
  • “It also shows you, you know, where the game is in the development of these young quarterbacks. There’s just not enough good young quarterbacks...” (11:22)
• On what defines success:
  • “At the end of the day, in order to play late in December and January... you gotta be able to stand in the pocket and deliver the football accurately downfield when you’re getting hit in the face.” (12:08)
• Discusses young QBs skipping progressions and how that leads to half-field reads—"If you don’t throw it, they won’t cover it.” (13:19)

Memorable Physical Toll

• Palmer recalls being crushed by Sean "Big Baby" Rogers:
  • “He sat on me... dislocated my sternum from my rib cage... like a CPR... compressions with all 370 of himself.” (15:22–16:08)

Coaching Style and High School Football

• Palmer shares he is not a "tough pep talk guy"—"the hay's in the barn at that point." Would never use that phrase with teenagers.
• Invites Dan to a high school game, jokingly refers to team as "Fighting Margaritas" before clarifying they're the Eagles. (16:08–17:35)

3. Marcus Freeman Interview

[23:46 – 40:01]

Recruitment, Rivalries, and the Tradition

• Freeman reflects on picking Ohio State over Notre Dame:
  • “A lot of decisions, especially for young people, are about relationships... that was probably the 18-year-old Marcus Freeman that made that decision.” (24:55)
• Compares Notre Dame–USC rivalry with Ohio State–Michigan:
  • Notre Dame–USC is the longest "intersectional rivalry"—"the ability to go and say, 'hey, we'll play anywhere in the country, we don't have a conference.'" (26:06)
• On the future of the rivalry, given conference realignment:
  • “I know it means a lot to us. It does... we want to see it continue.” (27:24)

Coaching at Notre Dame: The Experience and Responsibilities

• Describes the blur and adrenaline of his first game as ND’s head coach:
  • "You're running out there... I'm used to being a defensive coordinator... there were moments in the game like, 'I've got to call timeout.' I'm like, oh, somebody call timeout—oh, it's me." (27:44–28:08)
• Leading a modern program is about more than football:
  • “You have to be adaptable people... it's the ability to put one [hat] on, take one off, and really focus on what needs your focus at a given moment.” (29:25)

On Practice vs. Everything Else

• Freeman admits practice/gameday is the most enjoyable part, away from “the other nonsense”—“Being around the players, leading them... you love the game of football, you love the competition.” (30:05)

Quarterback Development and Leadership

• On recruiting and developing his current quarterback (Lloyd Carr’s grandson):
  • “A kid that grows up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has legacies of Michigan ties... that showed you he’s a leader... he’s different man.” (31:00–32:59)
• Early signs of leadership and mental toughness observed during bowl practices.

Losses, Learning, and Team Growth

• On "good losses":
  • “No loss is a good loss. Losing is awful. But be grateful for the pain of loss because that pain is there to help you grow.” (33:21)

NFL Transition and Learning from the Pros

• Freeman recalls being drafted by the Bears and the learning curve next to stars like Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.
  • "The knowledge they had, how fast they played the game... that's probably what I realized more than anything." (35:07)
• Clarity = speed:
  • “Clarity equals velocity. The more clarity you have, the faster you’re going to be able to play.” (36:20)

Notre Dame’s Special Campus and Head Coaching Impact

• Freeman discusses the daily awe and responsibility of leading at Notre Dame:

  • “Sometimes go by the Golden Dome. In a sense, it’s a reminder of the gratitude that you have for this place... it’s a great responsibility, but a great reminder.” (37:08–37:53)

• On being named head coach and player reactions:

  • “It’s a reflection of a group of players and a coach that have either earned trust or choose to trust each other. Right? Like, they trusted me to be the head coach and I trust that I’m going to help them reach their goals. We’re in this together.” (38:14–39:12)

Humor and Family Life

• Freeman jokes about roughhousing with his sons:
  • “With four boys at home, sometimes... we have some pretty good matchups. Don’t mess with the 18-year-old (wrestler), but the 12, 10, and 6 year old, I can still take them.” (39:51)

Notable Quotes

• Carson Palmer on choosing USC:
  "At the end, just, USC won my heart and got me. But we had some great battles against [Notre Dame] and obviously one of the best traditions in all of college football." (05:30)

• Carson Palmer on the physical toll:
  "He [Sean Rogers] landed right, and I just felt almost like a CPR... He did his compressions with all 370 of himself." (16:08)

• Dan Patrick, on big moments in the pocket:
  "What is that feeling like when, you know you got a receiver open and, you know, you're going to get crushed, but you have to stand there, take it, and then you're able to deliver that pass?" (14:13)

• Marcus Freeman on head coaching at Notre Dame:
  "Sometimes go by the Golden Dome... reminder of the gratitude you have for this place, the history... the responsibility to continue to make it better, to elevate it." (37:08)

• Marcus Freeman on “good” losses:
  "No loss is good loss. Losing is awful. But I always say, be grateful for the pain of loss because that pain is there to help you grow.” (33:21)

• Marcus Freeman on trust with his team:
  "It's a reflection of a group of players and a coach that have either earned trust or choose to trust each other. Right? Like, they trusted me to be the head coach, and I trust that I'm going to help them reach their goals. And so we're in this together." (38:14)

Fun/Lighthearted Moments

• Palmer and Dan joke about flying out to see his “Fighting Margaritas” (actually the Eagles) play high school football. (16:08–16:19)
• Palmer on pep talks: “The hay’s in the barn”—but only says that to Dan, “that’s old guy stuff”, and not his teenage players. (17:07–17:28)
• Paulie and crew joke about shopping at the Notre Dame bookstore and acquiring ex-coach Brian Kelly’s old gear. (46:32–47:06)
• Freeman on wrestling his sons—doesn’t challenge his 18-year-old wrestler, but still reigns over the younger boys. (39:51)

Important Timestamps

• Carson Palmer interview start: [04:45]
• Palmer on under center/shotgun QB play: [08:36]
• Palmer’s recruiting story/Rick Neuheisel: [07:26]
• Palmer on the physical toll & Sean Rogers hit: [15:22]
• Marcus Freeman interview start: [23:46]
• Freeman on choosing Ohio State: [24:55]
• Freeman on the ND-USC rivalry: [26:06]
• Freeman on “clarity equals velocity” in football: [36:20]
• Freeman on the awe of Notre Dame’s campus: [37:08]
• Freeman on trust and player reaction: [38:14]
• Freeman on family/wrestling his sons: [39:51]

Tone and Atmosphere

Conversational, warm, and full of insider anecdotes, the hour blends light humor with thoughtful takes on college football’s traditions, the intricacies of player development, and the realities of modern coaching. Dan’s signature playful tone invites the guests to open up, leading to both reflective and funny moments that will resonate with diehard fans and casual listeners alike.

For listeners wanting tradition, nostalgia, humor, and real talk about the evolving landscape of college football, this hour is a home run.