Episode 349 - A Julio Heater & Woeful Woolen

RUNDOWN

 

Plenty of sports heartbreak — from the Dolphins’ ongoing struggles to the Seahawks’ gut-punch opener. But there is relief in the Mariners’ explosive bats and the Huskies’ video-game offense, before shifting gears to launch the annual Beat the Boys contest, presented by Fireside Home Solutions. Listeners get the scoop on how to re-register, this year’s lineup of “the boys” (including a new addition, Jason Puckett), and the all-important first password. Along the way, the guys swap birthday trivia, share a Pink backstory you won’t forget, and set the stage for a packed show of Seahawks, Mariners, and college football talk.

Mitch and Hotshot dive into the Seahawks’ frustrating Week 1 loss to the 49ers, where Sam Darnold’s quiet debut and Riq Woolen’s costly miscues overshadowed a defense that couldn’t quite finish the job. They debate Mike Macdonald’s decision to kick on a crucial 4th-and-1, the missing downfield threat without DK Metcalf, and whether Seattle’s “smashmouth” identity is more talk than reality. Shifting gears, the guys celebrate the Mariners’ offensive eruption — 28 runs over two games — that keeps them two games up in the Wild Card race with 19 left, 13 at home. Hope rises in Seattle, but fans have learned to brace for heartbreak.

Mitch welcomes Brady Henderson and Jacson Bevens to dissect Seattle’s 17–13 Week 1 loss to the 49ers. The defense largely held its ground, limiting San Francisco to 17 points, but the offense sputtered behind Sam Darnold and a conservative game plan. The panel debates Mike Macdonald’s critical fourth-down decision, the ongoing frustrations with cornerback Riq Woolen, and the lack of offensive balance despite Jackson Smith-Njigba’s breakout.

Mitch sits down with Joe Doyle and Brady Farkas to break down a much-needed rebound weekend for the Mariners. With Julio Rodríguez heating up, a rotation trying to steady itself, and 13 of the final 19 games at home, the M’s are still firmly in the postseason race. The crew debates Seattle’s playoff odds, the outlook for Jorge Polanco’s contract, and the development of young catcher Harry Ford. Plus, they preview crucial upcoming series against the Cardinals and Angels as the AL West chase tightens.

Rick Neuheisel joins Mitch to recap an eventful Week 2 in college football, from South Florida’s upset of Florida to Oregon’s early dominance behind quarterback Dante Moore. The two dive into Florida’s coaching hot seat, Jedd Fisch’s future at Washington, and why Arch Manning’s mechanics and rhythm remain under scrutiny as Texas gears up for the SEC gauntlet. Neuheisel also hands out “Chicken Caesar soft tacos” to standout players and duos across the country before making his Week 3 pick: Texas Tech to roll big over Oregon State.

 

GUESTS

 

• Brady Henderson | Seahawks Insider, ESPN
• Jacson Bevens | Writer, Cigar Thoughts
• Brady Farkas | Host, Refuse to Lose Podcast (Mariners on SI)
• Joe Doyle | MLB Draft & Mariners Analyst, Over-Slot Substack
• Rick Neuheisel | CBS College Football Analyst, Former Head Coach & Rose Bowl Champion

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

0:00 | Mitch & Hotshot Return: Seahawks Frustrations, Dolphins Woes, and Beat the Boys is Back

6:18 | BEAT THE BOYS, Presented by Fireside Home Solutions. Register at MitchUnfiltered.com

19:25 | Seahawks Fall Short, Mariners Find Their Bats

40:58 | GUEST: Seahawks No-Table; Seahawks Stumble in Opener: Defense Shines, Offense Falters

1:07:51 | GUEST: Mariners No-Table; Mariners Snap the Slide, Eyeing a Playoff Push

1:34:28 | GUEST: Rick Neuheisel; Breaks Down Week 2 Surprises and Week 3 Showdowns

2:02:21 | Other Stuff Segment: Topics covered include a Phillies fan stealing a home run ball, Mitch’s Beatles interview recap, future guest diver Yohei Yamada, Anthony Rizzo losing his wedding ring, the Astronomer CEO affair update, Anna Kournikova’s pregnancy, Sean Kemp at a Lil Wayne concert, a Croatian freediver’s breath-hold record, and the announcement of a Tyson vs. Mayweather exhibition. RIPs: Mark Volman of The Turtles (“Happy Together”), Davey Johnson the MLB player and manager best known for leading the 1986 Mets, Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan of the Doomsday Defense, beloved college basketball coach George Raveling who helped connect Michael Jordan with Nike, heavyweight boxer Joe Bugner who fought Ali and Frazier, Hall of Fame Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden with six Stanley Cups, and Tom Hostetter, a Pacific Northwest golf professional and father-in-law of listener Maddie. HEADLINES: an NHS surgeon who had his own legs removed to satisfy a fetish was jailed for insurance fraud, a foot model was run over after refusing a date’s foot-smelling request, Senator John Kennedy claimed radioactive shrimp will turn you into an alien, and a man in Batman pajamas helped police stop a robbery (with Hotshot’s “Boner Man” twist).