Overview of Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald, March Has Arrived, CBB, Combine Cleanup + 10 Years Of Pardon My Take Memories
This episode of Part of My Take (Barstool Sports) covers a wide mix: a long interview with Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald, a celebration and reflection on PMT’s 10-year anniversary, a college basketball/“March” primer, NFL Combine notes and cleanup, assorted national-sports takes (golf, NASCAR, baseball), behind-the-scenes PMT crew stories (36-hour stream, tattoos, bits), and the regular “who’s back of the week” locker-room nonsense. Sponsors and promos open and punctuate the show.
Interview — Mike McDonald (Seattle Seahawks HC)
Overview: Mike McDonald joined the show after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win. Conversation mixes Xs and Os, personal moments, staff/roster context, culture, and humor.
Key points and notable insights
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Super Bowl reaction & personal note
- McDonald: “I’ll never get old nor will I ever believe it” — winning still surreal.
- He described the bittersweet follow-up: football ends but family begins (met his son the same day).
- Anecdote: he got a gatorade bath, later developed swimmer’s-ear-like infection from it.
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Coaching philosophy & role
- Core idea: put players in the best position to do what they do best — coaches provide the inputs.
- Calls plays but emphasises staff collaboration: many voices inform play-calling (rush fronts, coverage adjustments).
- He’ll call plays “as long as it’s best for the team,” but recognizes the model can evolve.
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Defensive identity & game planning
- Special teams are critical — influenced by Harbaugh-style emphasis; Jay (STs coach) is highly valued.
- Favored controlled aggression: relatively low blitz rate, but when used (e.g., blitzes by DB Devin Witherspoon), they’re timed and disguised for high impact.
- On the Super Bowl: they ran several well-timed blitzes/schemes early that paid off; said Spoon’s timing/feel made it work.
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Personnel, evaluation & acquisitions
- Sam Darnold trade: fast-moving decision; prior data points included previous game tape vs Seahawks and people who knew him (USC connection). McDonald highlighted Darnold’s youth and upside.
- Relationship with GM John Schneider: collaborative, problem-solving roster construction (practice-squad moves, signings). Schneider’s “pit stain” is a running joke — McDonald calls it a calling card.
- Most important defensive position: D-line and a versatile safety — elite safety play unlocks coverage scheme flexibility.
- On Jake Bobo: joked Bobo should have demanded the ball more; acknowledged he’d like to feed productive players more.
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Preparation & game-week routine
- Prefers ramp-in approach: build a base in week 1, dial in week 2 (tension between staying sharp vs over-scripting).
- Admits last-minute finishing of play sheets is a personal habit; values getting players focused late in week.
- Conditioning tests — McDonald defends them as necessary for health and practice readiness.
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Culture, rituals & personality
- “Give me two barks” — a pregame ritual started by Jay Reed; barking as team psych/identity.
- Calls the locker-room/office environment “organized chaos” — wants players to enjoy work and competitiveness.
- On fan impact: Seattle crowd (the 12s) creates a meaningful silent-cadence advantage.
Anecdotes & color
- McDonald’s conversational pauses got joked about in media; he’s thoughtful, not coached.
- He admitted to small, human moments: playing video games, nearly joining a consulting job, being a former college player and coach-injured guy who coached linebackers in high school.
- Lighthearted bits: LinkedIn hesitations about adding “Super Bowl champion” and repeating the now-famous ear-infection tale.
Actionable items / listening priority
- Recommended to rewatch the TV copy of the Super Bowl to catch coaching nuances and commercial/composure moments McDonald mentioned.
- Good listening for coaches/players/fans who want scheme and culture insights: blitz usage, safety roles, and staff collaboration.
PMT 10-Year Anniversary & Behind-the-Scenes
Overview: hosts reflect on hitting roughly 10 years (first episode launched March 2, 2016; recorded Feb 29), gratitude, growth, and the people who made the show.
Highlights
- Emotional reflections: members (PFT, Big Cat, Hank, Zach, crew) shared gratitude, stories, and a note that the show changed their lives and careers; a taped, heartfelt message read by Zach summed up the arc.
- Staff and cast shoutouts: recognition of AWLs (audience), production team, memes account, and others who’ve supported the show.
- Nostalgia & Inside jokes:
- Earliest episodes were raw: Hank’s audio low, early merchandise/ads were scrappy.
- Promises that never happened — “join a cult” week, airport remote shows, some live events still pending.
- Tattoos, 36-hour stream recaps, mishaps (sassy Legos, itchy golf powder that was baby powder), Booth10K, and Vanny Woodhead tattoo stories.
- Future plans: book in August, live shows, keep the podcast going “10 more years,” a jokey mention of a “porn” if they make it to 20 years.
Takeaway
- The 10-year segment is equal parts gratitude, self-roast, and promise to keep doing what has worked: consistent content, ensemble chemistry, and fan-first attitude.
National sports roundup (major segments)
College basketball / March:
- Hosts hype March and brackets (two weeks to brackets).
- Top teams this year: Michigan, UConn, Duke, Arizona, Florida — all playing at dominant levels; Florida’s shooting & thumping of Arkansas noted.
- Bubble/selection talk: Miami of Ohio discussion; Bruce Pearl controversy about his comments; value plays for futures — Florida, UConn, Michigan State (meme value), Alabama, Houston.
- Notes on conference tourneys, Gonzaga moving to Pac-12, and the Sun Belt tournament bracket oddities.
NFL Combine cleanup:
- Aaron Glenn asleep meme debunked — bad camera angle; Glenn was looking at a tablet, not nodding off.
- General trend: skill athletes (especially RBs/TEs) are getting faster; training-from-young-ages has elevated combine metrics.
- Kenyan Sadiq (Oregon) ran an elite tight end time (4.39 — fastest TE since 2003).
- Fernando Mendoza noted heavier/more built than expected (hands fine); arm/hand sizes reviewed.
- Rumors & anecdotes: Makai Lemon had lots of anonymous “weird” reports from interviews; combine pro-day measurement inconsistencies (arm length).
- NFLPA team grades: Bengals’ food got downgraded (F-), Steelers locker rooms criticized for only five bathroom stalls; general travel/home-field complaints.
Other sports & takes:
- Golf: Shane Lowry collapse; Echevarria house-close-and-win story.
- NASCAR: Tyler Reddick started 3-0 — first driver to win first three races to start a season (notable).
- Baseball: teams offering all-you-can-eat deals (Cardinals); spring training is back in live TV.
- Misc: JJ McCarthy/Kyle/quarterback trade chatter, Raiders offensive-coordinator grumbling, and playoff/roster musings.
“Who’s Back of the Week” and running bits
Notable picks and comedy calls
- Hank: AWLs merch — dogs wearing Hank merch; Celtics offensive rating/beatdown of Nets; general shtick of poking crew during Sixers-Celtics game.
- PFT: Chet Hanks being stuck in Colombia (passport/entry issue) — social-media joke / concern; Mark Sanchez news re: stabbing incident & tox screen.
- Zach: NASCAR Tyler Reddick’s 3-0 start.
- Max: various small bits, generally calls out crew behavior during the live show/game interruptions.
Other show business:
- Recap of the 36-hour Zach stream: success, mistakes (timing of guest appearances), sketches that bombed (sassy Legos), and plans to re-do a promised bit (Sleep Tight Saquon).
- Tattoos & office chaos: stories about who got tattooed (Big Cat), Hank skipping, and other “booth culture” anecdotes.
Sponsors & Promos (songs/ads mentioned)
The episode includes reads and ads from:
- Chevy Silverado
- DraftKings
- Experian
- Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Venmo (college-branded debit card / Venmo Stash)
- Lucy nicotine pouches
- Twisted Tea
- Jose Cuervo
(Hosts intersperse promos with ad copy and promo codes.)
Key takeaways
- Mike McDonald interview is the meat: tactical insight into defense, staff collaboration, and culture. Highly listenable for coaches/football fans.
- College basketball season is peaking; several dominant teams will shape bracket talk — players and futures markets worth watching.
- NFL Combine shows an ongoing athletic development trend; beware of clickbait/angles (e.g., coach “sleep” memes).
- PMT is reflective and grateful at 10 years — the show’s longevity is tied to chemistry, consistent content, and a broad creative team.
- The show balances serious Xs and Os content (coaching interview) with franchise humor, backstage stories, and pop-sports takes.
Recommended actions (if you want to follow up)
- Listen to the full Mike McDonald segment for detailed coaching analysis and Super Bowl behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
- If you’re into college hoops, lock in bracket research — two weeks to brackets; monitor UConn/Arizona/Duke/Florida.
- For NFL-followers: check combine top performers (tight ends and RBs) and note measurement caveats (arm length).
- PMT fans: check out their 10-year posts, book announcement (August), and the crew’s social accounts for the tattoos/stream highlights.
Notable quotes
- Mike McDonald: “I’ll never get old nor will I ever believe it” (on Super Bowl win).
- PMT summary line (sentimental): “We’re the luckiest guys in the entire world — we get to work with our best friends at the best job.”
If you want a short TL;DR: Mike McDonald breaks down the Super Bowl prep, defense and culture; PMT celebrates 10 years with gratitude and stories; college basketball and combine notes set the table for March and the draft.