Great Dane Nation

Season 2 of "Great Dane Nation" comes to a close, as Morten Andersen and TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll) go on their summer break for 2022.

The guys look back at the first 89 episodes of GDN, reflecting on their favorite guests, biggest surprises, funny moments, and looking ahead at their guest wish list for the 2022 NFL season!

On the 89th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is again joined by VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along! This week, Morten and Stephanie are joined by legendary Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo (13:42 – 55:20).

Off the top of the show, Morten, Stephanie and TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll) react to the NFL schedule release, and talk about their favorite games on the 2022 slate. Stephanie previews Bills at Bengals (04:08), Morten previews Saints at Falcons (06:40), and FreezePops previews Packers at Buccaneers (09:59).

We then move to our interview with Tom Izzo, where he discusses a wide range of topics: eating sausage sandwiches on college football Saturdays (15:20); Stephanie proclaiming her MSU hoops allegiance to Coach Izzo, and asking if that makes her a bad Ohio State fan (16:48); importance of having alumni around the program with the introduction of “Grind Week” (18:24); Morten says he can kick a basketball in the hoop from halfcourt for some halftime entertainment (21:10); some of Coach Izzo’s favorite Midnight Madness moments (21:40); why Coach Izzo is not in favor of a “super conference” in college sports, and why he thinks the Big Ten is already too big (23:29); what would have happened if the 2020 March Madness Tournament hadn’t been cancelled, and what he told his team when it happened (26:22); on watching his peers retire, and why the NIL and new transfer rules have him thinking about life after coaching more than his friends retiring (28:58); why Coach Izzo believes with no salary caps or contracts, the transfer rules are allowing too much player freedom, which will ultimately hurt the athletes in the long run (31:44); his thoughts on a possible move to the NBA (34:00); why new standards at the college level “hurt” (35:01); why Coach Izzo believes college basketball is always a better option than playing pro ball before entering the NBA (36:45); his favorite ex-Spartans, and a great story about Draymond Green (39:45); why Coach Izzo would want to pursue a job coaching football after he’s done coaching college hoops (43:45); who he’s putting his money on to win this year’s Western Conference Finals in the NBA (46:15); and remembering the late Adreian Payne (48:00).

We close things out with “Quiz Time with TommyFreezePops,” with this week’s topic being Michigan State and Ohio State trivia. Which host knows the most about their favorite college football squad? Will Stephanie FINALLY get her first win? Will Morten’s winning streak come to an end? (55:40)

On the 88th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is again joined by VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along!

Off the top, Stephanie pays off her quiz punishment, and shows up to the podcast dressed up in a hilarious leprechaun costume. With that in mind, Morten and Stephanie play a game of “NFL Luck or Skill” – reviewing some of the newsiest teams from the 2021 season, deciding whether it was luck or skill that drove the result of their seasons, and looking ahead to their 2022s (03:38).

We then move to this week’s edition of “Doink or Down the Middle,” where our hosts buy (“down the middle”) or sell (“doink”) various topics from the world of pop culture, sports, food, music and more (21:24). James Corden recently announced he’s leaving late night TV – how do our hosts feel about the “Carpool Karaoke” star? What about the winter? How do our hosts feel about slippers?

We close things out with a conversation about Tyrann Mathieu coming home, as he signs a 3-year deal with the New Orleans Saints worth $33 million. Morten talks about the Louisiana native joining the Saints family, and what that means for both the Honey Badger and the organization (30:35).

On the 87th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is again joined by VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along!

Off the top, Morten and Stephanie run through their draft grades for various teams from last week’s NFL Draft (03:57 – 24:17). Draft grades were handed out to the New York Jets (04:38), New Orleans Saints (06:39), New England Patriots (10:04), Philadelphia Eagles (14:01), Green Bay Packers (17:22) and Detroit Lions (19:31).

We then move to this week’s edition of “Doink or Down the Middle,” where our hosts buy (“down the middle”) or sell (“doink”) various topics from the world of pop culture, sports, food, music and more (25:02). Why did Morten think it was OK to ask three different girls to the prom? What the hell is peanut butter and jelly sushi? How do we feel about the Kardashians?

We close things out with “Play Call Headlines.” TommyFreezePops reads some news and notes from today’s headlines in football, and our hosts are tasked to turn that news into a traditional football play call you would hear in an NFL huddle on a Sunday (32:47). After a total failure the first time we tried this segment, both Morten and Stephanie nail this one!

On the 86th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is joined by his long-time friend and fellow New Orleans Saints legend Sean Payton (11:44 – 37:47). But before we dive into that interview, Morten is once again joined by VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along! With the NFL Draft on deck, Stephanie gives her “can’t miss prospect” of the 2022 class (02:52).

We then move to our interview with Sean Payton, where he discusses a wide range of topics: how does Coach Payton feel different since retiring earlier this year (12:45); the one thing he was looking forward to most after retiring (14:25); what brought him to retiring at this point in his football career (16:31); looking forward to finalizing his TV contract – to be a studio analyst – being signed within the next four days (19:03); on the Tom Brady-Dolphins rumors, and why he had no prior knowledge of any of it until The Boston Globe story was published (19:20); on the Dallas Cowboys rumors, and why prior history with a franchise is not the only thing he would consider before coming out of retirement for a coaching job (21:46); how the league can improve with minority hiring on the head coaching level, and why he thinks Stanford’s David Shaw will be given an NFL opportunity one day (24:48); why Dennis Allen was the right hire for the Saints (26:54); the state of the New Orleans Saints ahead of the NFL Draft, and why he thinks they have the culture to be a winning franchise right now (27:45); which positions the Saints will be targeting in this year’s NFL Draft (29:16); what his draft philosophy is – need vs. grade, and finding the balance between the two (31:11); and high praise for Deonte Harris (33:20).

We close things out with “Quiz Time with TommyFreezePops,” with this week’s topic being, of course, the NFL Draft (39:34). Which host knows more about the NFL Draft? Who will have to pay off a punishment on our next episode? Both answers to those questions may surprise you…

On the 85th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is again joined by VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along!

Off the top, Morten pleads his case for the Detroit Lions to make the playoffs in 2022 to the court, as Stephanie defends the side of the public – that the Lions are horrible and have no shot at the postseason (04:42). TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll) makes the final judgment at the end of the podcast.

We then move to this week’s edition of “Doink or Down the Middle,” where our hosts buy (“down the middle”) or sell (“doink”) various topics from the world of pop culture, sports, food, music and more (15:07). How do our hosts take their coffee? Do they enjoy the patriotic tradition of fireworks on the 4th of July? Plus, Morten makes an official podcast decree on reality television.

We close things out with our new segment called “Play Call Headlines.” TommyFreezePops reads some news and notes from today’s headlines in football, and our hosts are tasked to turn that news into a traditional football play call you would hear in an NFL huddle on a Sunday (24:36). One of our hosts didn’t necessarily grasp the concept this time around, which makes for some unintended comedy!

On the 84th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is again joined by VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along!

Off the top, Stephanie pays off her punishment for losing last week’s quiz, as she attempts to sing Michigan State’s Fight Song while wearing Sparty green – let’s just say Steph should stick to her day job (04:22).

Morten and Stephanie then dive into the NFL Super Bowl futures market, taking a close look at the teams in each division with the shortest Super Bowl odds. Who do they think provides good value at the current moment (09:51)?

We close things out with our new segment called, “Doink or Down the Middle,” where our hosts buy (“down the middle”) or sell (“doink”) various topics from the world of pop culture, sports, food, music and more (38:49). Where does Stephanie stand on the beach? Does Morten like cable television? Their answers may surprise you!

On the 83rd episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is joined VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along!

Off the top, Stephanie introduces herself to our audience, walking us through the career path that led her to the Better Collective family (01:56). Morten and Stephanie then dive into a new segment called, “Doink or Down the Middle,” where our hosts buy (“down the middle”) or sell (“doink”) various topics from the world of pop culture, sports, food, music and more (06:42). Stephanie then weighs in on the situation in Tampa Bay with Tom Brady, and whether this crazy offseason has tainted her image of the GOAT. Plus, Morten and Stephanie’s thoughts on all the other insane moves we’ve seen from around the NFL (19:50).

Finally, our hosts are put to the test, as TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll) conducts a quiz for each host about their cohost. The host with the lowest score will have to sing the opposing cohost’s college-fight-song-of-choice, wearing the rival colors, on our next podcast (32:54).

On the 82nd episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is joined by his Pro Football Hall of Fame brother and Seahawks-Vikings legend Steve Hutchinson (07:11 – 58:12). But first, he checks in with TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll) for this week’s edition of the “Opening Kick” (01:00 – 06:23). This week, Morten makes a major show announcement, as VegasInsider’s Stephanie Otey is joining the show as a new cohost for the spring season! Her first episode with Morten and FreezePops is next week.

We then move to our interview with Steve Hutchinson, where he discusses a wide range of topics: how Morten was able to make a few dollars while listening to Hutch’s induction speech (08:24); running through his Pro Football Hall of Fame journey, and the process of waiting his turn for his “Hall of Fame knock” (09:41); what that gold jacket means to him (13:12); Morten and Hutch’s wild weekend in Los Angeles, and why Hutch had to warn the new Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees to watch out for Morten (15:58); his thoughts on Russell Wilson being traded to the Denver Broncos (17:59); the state of the Seahawks, and why Hutch is not concerned with Pete Carroll’s age (20:58); what he makes of new Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell (24:22); why he feels the Vikings can win now with Kirk Cousins (27:46); blocking for three of the greatest running backs in NFL history – Shaun Alexander, Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson (30:15); what he learned playing with John Randle, and why blocking guys with multiple moves is the most difficult part of the game (32:51); playing guard in today’s NFL, and who he thinks is the best guard in today’s game (36:45); who he thinks is the greatest guard in NFL history (41:39); playing college football with Tom Brady, and why he wasn’t surprised by anything that happened with Brady this offseason (43:20); why he’s happy that Jim Harbaugh is heading back to Michigan after rumors swirled this offseason of him pursuing an opportunity in the NFL (45:43); and this week’s edition of “The Name Game,” featuring Walter Jones, Mike Holmgren, Matt Hasselbeck, Jerry Rice, Lofa Tatupu, Robbie Tobeck, Brett Favre, Jared Allen, Randy Moss and Mike Munchak (46:49).

Finally, we close things out with “Morten’s Game Winner” – a weekly monologue from The Great Dane on his biggest takeaway of the week. This week, Morten talks about Steve Hutchinson, and why there is no question that Hutch would be on Morten’s all-time “dream team” (59:06).

On the 81st episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is joined by his Pro Football Hall of Fame brother and Cardinals legend Aeneas Williams (12:46 – 01:00:27). But first, he checks in with TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll) for this week’s edition of the “Opening Kick” (01:00 – 11:54). The Atlanta Falcons traded the greatest quarterback in the history of their franchise, as Matt Ryan was sent to the Indianapolis Colts. Falcons legend Morten Andersen weighs in on this historic move for the franchise, and what he thinks of the direction of the team. Plus, thoughts on Deshaun Watson, Davante Adams, Baker Mayfield, and much more.

We then move to our interview with Aeneas Williams, where he discusses a wide range of topics: growing up in New Orleans, rooting for the Saints in the 1980s, and working at the Superdome (15:00); why he didn’t play football at Southern until his junior year (16:25); his thoughts on high-profile former NFL players taking head coaching jobs at HBCU schools, and why he feels it’s important for these institutions to continue to have the light shined on them (24:19); why guys like Calvin Ridley and Henry Ruggs should be examples for both college and NFL teams on why mentorship is crucial for young players (31:21); how the Cardinals should approach getting over the hump of fading late in the season every year (33:13); why he’s confident the Cardinals and Kyler Murray will work out their differences (34:36); why he thinks Kliff Kingsbury needs more time at the helm for the Cardinals before they decide to move on (36:20); what he loves about Buddha Baker’s game (38:49); why the Pro Football Hall of Fame should cancel the five-year waiting period for Aaron Donald when he retires (39:27); why he resents the sentiment that he “ended Steve Young’s career” (42:52); why he thinks Jalen Ramsey is “the real deal” (47:47); why Torry Holt deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (48:36); playing with Pat Tillman, and his thoughts on the tragic passing of an American hero (49:36); and this week’s edition of “The Name Game,” featuring Larry Wilson, Rob Ryan, Chris Chandler, Larry Centers and London Fletcher (52:03).

Finally, we close things out with “Morten’s Game Winner” – a weekly monologue from The Great Dane on his biggest takeaway of the week. This week, Morten talks about Aeneas Williams, and why keeping promises matters (01:01:07).