DAE On Demand

TKras breaks down the Bucs’ decision to turn to their young QB, what Daniels brings to the offense, the biggest challenges he’ll face, and whether the rookie has what it takes to change Tampa Bay’s season.

Is Jalon Daniels ready to carry the Buccaneers—or will the pressure prove too much for a first-year QB?

It’s another wild edition of The Nick Wize Show as Nick takes on everything from the Buccaneers’ brutal 0-3 start and the debate over whether fans or players are more frustrated to Tampa Bay’s fall from NFC South preseason favorite to last in the latest division odds, with Jalon Daniels now getting his shot to spark hope. Nick also tackles why opposing fans are taking over Bucs games, responds to a listener accusing WDAE of “gaslighting” fans, and hears from Bucs and Raiders season-ticket holders about the NFL fan experience. On the college side, Nick and Tim debate an AP voter keeping Ole Miss ahead of Florida after the Gators’ 52-28 win, Nick admits Tim may have been right about his 10-win prediction, and Nick argues over the Rays’ potential Red Sox vs. Yankees matchup. The show also features Nick’s reaction to the Dante Moore hit and USC broadcast call, plus a look at how the latest college football legislation could potentially open an ACC door for USF.

Nick Wize wraps up the show by looking at the latest NFC South division odds and the dramatic change in perception surrounding the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay entered the season with the best odds to win the division but now sits last, raising the question of whether there is still any hope for this team. Nick points to the unknown surrounding Jalon Daniels, who is set to start with Baker Mayfield injured, and wonders whether a new quarterback can spark something for a Bucs team that is only one game out of first place but somehow already feels like it is out of the race.

It’s a jam-packed segment as Nick Wize goes from calling out the USC broadcast of the Dante Moore hit to discussing a potentially important development for USF and college football. Nick plays the USC broadcaster’s call and explains why he believes it was an inaccurate account of the play, then breaks down the Senate-passed college football legislation and why he sees a possible path for USF to the ACC if P4 conferences expand to 20 schools. Nick finishes by complaining about the ultimate Tampa Bay sports scheduling conflict: USF and the Bucs both play Thursday, while his 4th & Bull podcast may take him away from watching the Bucs live.

Nick Wize wonders if he owes Tim an apology after spending the beginning of the season laughing at Tim’s prediction that the Gators could win 10 games — and then laughing again when Tim predicted Florida could blow out Ole Miss. With the Gators now having done exactly that, Tim gets to gloat and explain why he believed in Florida all along. The conversation then shifts to the Rays’ potential playoff matchup as Nick and Tim agree they would rather see Tampa Bay face the Red Sox than the Yankees, discussing the differences between Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium and why Fenway could benefit the Rays while Nick remains concerned that winning the AL East at Yankee Stadium could come back to haunt Tampa Bay.

Nick Wize is once again questioning the logic behind the AP Top 25 after an AP voter kept Ole Miss ahead of Florida despite the Gators’ 52-28 win in Oxford. Nick reads the voter’s explanation, including the argument that Florida’s defense is still shaky and that Ole Miss deserves to remain highly ranked because of its victory over LSU. Nick and Tim debate whether voters are properly rewarding what happened head-to-head or simply holding onto their previous opinions about the two teams.

Nick Wize tackles a listener’s accusation that WDAE has “gaslighted” Bucs fans, reminding the audience that his preseason prediction was nine wins and that he expected Tampa Bay to benefit from playing in the NFC South. Nick then opens the phone lines and hears from a Bucs season-ticket holder who reluctantly renewed his seats, followed by a Raiders season-ticket holder who offers a road perspective on the issue. The caller explains that Bucs fans are well-liked and noticeable out West and argues that Tampa Bay is far from the only NFL market where opposing fans can make up a significant portion of the crowd.

Nick Wize continues the debate sparked by Graham Barton’s comments about whether Bucs players or fans are more frustrated, taking a few more calls and reading listener texts before shifting to the bigger problem facing Tampa Bay. Nick argues that if the Buccaneers ultimately move on from Todd Bowles, that could finally give fans something to be excited about because he doesn’t see much else creating optimism right now. Nick also examines the growing presence of opposing fans at Bucs games, arguing that winning would bring Tampa Bay fans back to the stadium just like the Lightning have built enough trust with their fan base to consistently fill the building with supporters.

The question remains: who has it worse when the Buccaneers lose — the players or the fans? Nick Wize believes the answer is the fans, and he puts that position to the test by reading listener reactions and opening the phone lines. Some callers agree that fans carry the emotional burden of every Bucs loss, while another argues that the players have more invested and therefore have more reason to be frustrated. Nick lets the Tampa Bay audience make its case.

Graham Barton says the Buccaneers’ 0-3 start is more frustrating for the players than anyone outside the organization, but Nick Wize isn’t so sure. Nick breaks down the emotional investment fans have in the Bucs, the hard-earned money they spend supporting the team and the reality that players can walk away from a loss and return to comfortable lives. After a brutal start to the season, Nick asks the question: who actually has more right to be frustrated — the players or the fans?