UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley, April Fools Has Everyone On Alert, NFL League Meetings, Hot Seat/Cool Throne And Guys On Chicks

Episode of Pardon My Take · April 1, 2026 · 2 h 24 min

Big Cat and PFT Commenter reverse-prank Jerry O'Connell for April Fools', discuss NFL owners meetings and the NBA, and interview UConn coach Dan Hurley.

Summary

The April 1, 2026 episode of Pardon My Take opened with an April Fools' reversal: rather than being pranked by actor Jerry O'Connell, the hosts convinced him to call in impersonating quarterback Geno Smith so that staffer Memes could pretend to be fooled, before revealing to O'Connell that he was the target. O'Connell described spending the morning preparing notes and working to avoid his stammer so the impression would not be detected.

The hosts then reviewed news from the NFL owners meetings in Arizona, including the annual head coaches photo, the announcement of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots as future Hard Knocks subjects, NFL referee contract negotiations and replacement officials, and an expected move to an 18-game schedule. Dan Katz and PFT Commenter also discussed the Cleveland Browns, Deshaun Watson, and Jimmy Haslam's comments. In an NBA segment, an extended argument developed over the league's 65-game MVP eligibility rule, which Max linked to Joel Embiid; the hosts called Ryen Russillo to adjudicate. Other topics included Victor Wembanyama's MVP case, a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offensive foul, and the Jaden Ivey situation in Chicago.

Hot Seat/Cool Throne covered a New England furniture store's UConn championship promotion, new details in the Tiger Woods arrest report including hydrocodone pills and hiccups, Mark Cuban's stated regret over selling the Dallas Mavericks, Warren Buffett's warning about a market drop, and protein-infused hookah lounges reportedly launching in Saudi Arabia. Katz also reported being 43 hours into a fast.

UConn head coach Dan Hurley joined to discuss the Elite Eight win over Duke. He characterized his forehead contact with official Roger Ayers as an affectionate "nuzzle" made possible by their playful relationship, said he blacked out during the finish, and admitted a coaching mistake in showing Duke too much respect early. He described his pregame superstitions and "shrine," his wife's limited basketball knowledge, his mother's profane on-camera reaction, Alex Karaban's chance at a third title, and his belief that college coaching should build toughness. The show closed with a card rip and Guys on Chicks.

Chapters

2:39
April Fools' Setup
The hosts note the date, Max declares his guard is up, and they plan to reverse-prank Jerry O'Connell.
6:15
The Fake Geno Smith Call
Jerry O'Connell calls in impersonating Geno Smith for a 'one question with the quarterback' segment while Memes plays along.
12:49
O'Connell Learns He Was Pranked
The hosts reveal the reversal to O'Connell, who describes preparing all morning and managing his stammer.
21:11
NFL Owners Meetings and Coaches Photo
Discussion of the head coaches picture, Hard Knocks selections, referee contract talks, and the push toward an 18-game schedule.
33:10
Browns, Draft Picks and Schedule Expansion
The hosts cover Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders' gift to Todd Monken, and the NFL's long-term scheduling plans.
37:10
UConn-Duke Reaction and the Final Four
The crew relives the Elite Eight finish, the referee incident, and previews an open Final Four.
Linked moment · 45:51Skip to 45:51 using a listen link in the info box.
45:51
NBA Discourse and the 65-Game Rule
An extended argument about Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama's MVP case, and MVP eligibility, culminating in a call to Ryen Russillo.
1:04:59
Hot Seat/Cool Throne
Segments on a UConn furniture promotion, protein hookah, Jordan Hudson, Tiger Woods' arrest report, Mark Cuban, and Warren Buffett.
1:24:08
Dan Hurley on the Ayers Nuzzle
Hurley explains his forehead contact with referee Roger Ayers and says he blacked out after the buzzer-beater.
1:29:01
Coaching the Duke Comeback
Hurley breaks down halftime, the late-game sets, his coaching mistake, and how the deflection turned the game.
1:38:06
Superstitions, Family and Philosophy
Hurley describes his pregame shrine, lucky suit, his wife and mother, Alex Karaban's return, and his views on toughness and coaching responsibility.
2:06:42
Card Rip and Guys on Chicks
The crew opens card packs from Whatnot and answers listener questions about friendships, hot tub etiquette, and golf course design.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Jerry O'Connell
O'Connell says he wrote out his Geno Smith answers in advance because a stammer would have given away the impression.
“I did have to write out everything I was going to say because I have a slight stammer”
Listen from 16:26 · April Fools' Day
PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter argues announcing Hard Knocks two years in advance is odd because interest in the series has faded beyond the first episode.
“I think that the Hard Knocks two years in advance is a really weird thing, considering nobody really cares about Hard Knocks anymore”
Listen from 27:44 · Hard Knocks
Dan Katz
Katz says NFL referees earn between $200,000 and $350,000 per year and resist full-time status because they hold outside jobs.
“the NFL is being cheap and not paying the rest. But then he's like, no, they're paying $350,000 a year. They want to make them full time, but the rest don't want it”
Listen from 28:55 · NFL officiating labor negotiations
Dan Katz
Katz argues that an 18-game NFL schedule is a stepping stone to a 20-game season.
“And it's also 18 games is going to lead to 20 games”
Listen from 34:17 · 18-game NFL season proposal
PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter predicts the NFL will move to an 18-game schedule because owners will make it a starting point in CBA negotiations.
“So it's going to happen. There will be 18 games. I don't necessarily mind 18 as opposed to 17”
Listen from 35:10 · 18-game NFL season proposal
Hank Lockwood
Hank argues Hurley should have been assessed a technical foul for the contact with the official regardless of their relationship.
“It should not be a case-by-case basis. If you do this, this is illegal”
Listen from 38:37 · 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
Dan Katz Can’t be judged
Katz argues the Final Four is wide open and that dismissing UConn and Illinois is wrong.
“I do think that any of these four teams can win it. It does not feel like a consolation game to me whatsoever”
Listen from 42:45 · 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
PFT Commenter Can’t be judged
PFT Commenter says the show should back Victor Wembanyama for MVP and notes he has met the games-played threshold.
“Also, I think we should become a pro-Wimby for MVP podcast”
Listen from 48:29 · NBA Most Valuable Player Award
Dan Katz
Katz says the games-played threshold is arbitrary and unfair to players who genuinely get injured.
“it's weird to put an arbitrary number on like, hey, if SGA actually gets hurt and he plays 62 games, but he's the best player, he should still win MVP”
Listen from 54:39 · 65-game MVP eligibility rule
Dan Katz
Katz calls Tiger Woods' impaired driving selfish and says he needs to resolve it because someone could be killed.
“someone could easily die and it's really really it's selfish behavior”
Listen from 1:12:02 · Tiger Woods arrest
Dan Katz
Katz says Mark Cuban was naive to expect retained control after selling his majority stake.
“No one buys a billion dollar organization. They're like, yeah, you know what? Let's keep the old guy around who is a minority stake owner now”
Listen from 1:14:39 · Dallas Mavericks ownership
Dan Katz
Katz says he is 43 hours into a fast, does not feel hungry, and will ease back into eating rather than returning to normal food immediately.
“I retract what I said last week where I was like, I'm just going straight back into regular food”
Listen from 1:16:28 · Intermittent fasting
Dan Hurley
Hurley describes the contact with referee Roger Ayers as an affectionate nuzzle rooted in their playful relationship rather than aggression.
“It wasn't like I almost wanted to either chest bump him or kiss him on the forehead when we hit that shot. It was like more like, you know, I was almost expecting Roger to be happy for me”
Listen from 1:25:52 · 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
Dan Hurley
Hurley says he blacked out during the buzzer-beater and could not recall how UConn regained possession.
“reporter asked me like right after the game how we got the ball back and i couldn't even remember that they turned the ball over”
Listen from 1:27:55 · 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
Dan Hurley
Hurley says his competitive intensity comes from how he was raised and points to his mother's reaction as evidence.
“they should stop blaming me and they should blame my mother and my family and my parents and where I grew up and how I grew up and how I was parented”
Listen from 1:31:08 · UConn Huskies men's basketball
Dan Hurley
Hurley says his wife knows very little about basketball and uses negative rather than encouraging motivation with him.
“she was like very negative and telling me, you know, Hey, you're not a very, you're not as good a coach as you think you are”
Listen from 1:34:34 · UConn Huskies men's basketball
Dan Hurley
Hurley describes a pregame shrine of essential oils and mementos from winning games that he transports in a Michael Jordan case.
“I have all of my essential oils that I like to spray”
Listen from 1:38:32 · UConn Huskies men's basketball
Dan Hurley Came true
Hurley says Silas Demery will be the healthiest he has been in a long time heading into the Final Four in Indianapolis.
“a big thing for us going to Indianapolis is Silas Demery is going to be, like the healthiest he's been in a long time for us”
Listen from 1:41:32 · UConn Huskies men's basketball
Dan Hurley
Hurley admits he made a coaching mistake by having his team play too respectfully and defensively against Duke early in the game.
“it was a coaching mistake by me to start the game. I think I just – I think we built up their personnel too much to the point where we gave them too much respect”
Listen from 1:44:59 · UConn Huskies men's basketball
Dan Hurley
Hurley argues society has gone soft on young people, citing the removal of dodgeball and standardized testing.
“we've gone so soft on young people that like, you don't even have to go through like the pressure and stress of like having to prepare for that test”
Listen from 1:53:50 · UConn Huskies men's basketball
Dan Hurley
Hurley says college is the last place players learn life skills because professional teams will not teach them.
“college is really the last place that these guys are going to learn anything”
Listen from 1:56:00 · UConn Huskies men's basketball
Dan Hurley
Hurley says Alex Karaban weighed a projected late-first-round draft slot against NIL money and returned to chase history.
“he was slated to go somewhere from 25 to 35 in the draft”
Listen from 1:59:17 · UConn Huskies men's basketball

People

In the conversation

Dan KatzBarstool Sports personality known as Big Cat, co-host of Pardon My Take
PFT CommenterBarstool Sports writer and co-host of Pardon My Take
Dan HurleyUConn men's basketball coach praised for tough coaching
Jerry O'ConnellAmerican actor and recurring Pardon My Take guest
Hank LockwoodPardon My Take contributor and Boston Celtics fan

Discussed

Geno SmithNFL quarterback returning to the New York Jets, impersonated during the April Fools' bit
Aaron GlennHead coach of the New York Jets
Roger AyersNCAA basketball referee involved in the on-court incident with Dan Hurley
Mike VrabelHead coach of the New England Patriots
Sean McVayHead coach of the Los Angeles Rams, absent from the coaches photo
Jim HarbaughNFL head coach and brother of John Harbaugh
John HarbaughNFL head coach, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens and, in this episode, of the New York Giants
Deshaun WatsonCleveland Browns quarterback
Jimmy HaslamOwner of the Cleveland Browns
Todd MonkenCleveland Browns offensive coordinator
Shedeur SandersCleveland Browns quarterback
Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers center and former NBA MVP
Victor WembanyamaSan Antonio Spurs center and MVP candidate
Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City Thunder guard and reigning MVP
Tiger WoodsAmerican professional golfer and TGL team owner
Mark CubanInvestor and Shark Tank panelist cited as an example of a high-value advisor
Warren BuffettAmerican investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway
Alex KarabanUConn forward pursuing a third national championship
Braylon MullinsUConn guard who hit the game-winning shot against Duke
Tarris Reed Jr.UConn center who starred in the tournament run
Bobby HurleyDan Hurley's brother and former Duke point guard
Geno AuriemmaUConn women's basketball head coach
Jordan HudsonCheerleading coach and partner of Bill Belichick
Cameron BoozerDuke forward
Jaden IveyNBA guard whose situation with the Chicago Bulls was discussed
Anthony EdwardsMinnesota Timberwolves guard
Joe MazzullaBoston Celtics head coach credited for the team's consistency

Topics

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Pardon My Take · Apr 6, 2026 · 2 h 18 min
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UConn’s Miracle, Weirdest NBA Season Ever, A Scary Playoff Team Draft, and an Iffy Expansion Plan With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Mar 30, 2026 · 1 h 45 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to UConn's buzzer beater over Duke, draft the scariest NBA playoff teams, and question the league's expansion plan.
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Pardon My Take's hosts recap Sweet 16 night one, then interview golfer Max Homa and Giants head coach John Harbaugh before Fyre Fest of the Week.
NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Mar 26, 2026 · 1 h 36 min
Bill Simmons, Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House debate OKC's vulnerabilities, All-NBA cases, Houston's bad vibes and whether any team should trade for Giannis.
World Cup With Roger Bennett, 2X National Champ Alex Karaban, Knicks Parade, Ronaldo vs Messi And Fyre Fest Of The Week
Pardon My Take · Jun 19, 2026 · 2 h 32 min
Pardon My Take hosts recap the Knicks parade and Trae Young's opt-out, talk World Cup with Roger Bennett, and interview UConn champion Alex Karaban before the NBA draft.

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From the publisher

April Fools has everyone on high alert and we decide on a little reversal this year with our Friend Jerry O’Connell (00:00:00-00:20:46). NFL Owners meetings and coaches picture day. We talk some basketball and national sports podcast topics (00:20:46-01:00:41). Hot Seat/Cool Throne including Tiger Woods arrest report (01:00:41-01:23:49). UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley joins the show to talk about Sunday’s thrilling win over Duke, the headbutt/nuzzle with ref Roger Ayers, building toughness in his team, pregame routine and tons more (01:23:49-02:08:14). We finish with a card rip and guys on chicks (02:08:14-02:23:42) You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Netflix. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/pardon-my-take

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 27, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Sports·Basketball·Football