Is being likable enough to lead an NFL team?

In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges takes a thoughtful look at Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer and asks a question many fans are quietly wondering: can a “Mr. Nice Guy” succeed long-term in the NFL? Norm breaks down coaching styles from Tom Landry to Bill Belichick, and introduces the idea of the “thundering velvet hand” — leadership that blends discipline with care — while questioning whether Schottenheimer strikes the balance players need to win.

Then the focus shifts to the Dallas Mavericks, where injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving force a hard reset. Norm lays out a blunt plan: forget the playoffs, invest in young players, and start building for the future. From developing Ryan Nemhard and Brandon Williams to eyeing draft position and long-term roster construction around Cooper Flagg, Norm explains why patience now could pay off later — even if it’s not the plan fans hoped for.

It’s a candid, realistic look at leadership, culture, and decision-making in Dallas sports — the kind of thinking that doesn’t chase headlines, but might just point the way forward.

JWw-NH SL Ep 85

Chapters

00:00:00 – Opening thoughts and today’s big questions 00:01:27 – Is Brian Schottenheimer simply too nice? 00:02:53 – Coaching styles: fear, respect, and leadership 00:04:21 – The “thundering velvet hand” explained 00:05:14 – Why likability may not equal long-term success 00:05:14 – Transition to the Mavericks and roster reality 00:07:46 – Anthony Davis injured again and plans unravel 00:08:29 – Forget the playoffs: time to invest in youth 00:09:30 – Building next year’s lineup around Cooper Flagg 00:10:16 – Trade flexibility and long-term roster vision 00:11:02 – Why this plan offers a real future 00:11:13 – Sponsors and closing reflections Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW

In Case 2, Part 2, the Baylor basketball scandal takes a darker turn — because the murder wasn’t the only crime unfolding behind closed doors.

With Patrick Dennehy gone and the investigation closing in, Baylor head coach Dave Bliss didn’t focus on justice. He focused on survival. What followed was an audacious and chilling plan: convince players and staff to tell authorities that the victim was a drug dealer — a lie designed to explain away illegal payments and protect a career.

Enter Abar Rouse, a 28-year-old assistant coach who thought he’d landed his dream job. Instead, he walked straight into a moral trap. Lie and protect the program… or tell the truth and burn everything down, including his own future.

This episode pulls back the curtain on how power pressures silence, how authority manipulates loyalty, and how one person pressing “record” stopped a conspiracy from becoming the official story of a murder. Along the way, we explore informants, false narratives, NCAA corruption, and the razor-thin line between institutional damage control and obstruction of justice.

This isn’t just about Baylor. It’s about what happens when truth becomes inconvenient — and who pays the price when someone refuses to stay quiet.

Chapters

00:00 – When a Murder Turns Into a Cover Story 02:40 – Informants, Lockdowns, and the Smoker That Led to a Lesson 08:06 – How Informants Really Work (and Why Motives Matter) 15:35 – Trust, Authority, and a Rookie Cop’s First Arrest 18:20 – Enter Abar Rouse: The Coach Nobody Wanted to Be 23:48 – The Lie: Turning a Murder Victim Into a Drug Dealer 30:22 – Press Record: The Moment Everything Changed 33:04 – NCAA Fallout and How Baylor Avoided the Death Penalty 35:55 – Dave Bliss: The End of a Career and a Tarnished Legacy 39:29 – Corruption, Silence, and the Cost of Telling the Truth 47:50 – Case 2 Continues: The Story Isn’t Over Yet

Follow us: Instagram: Signal51_ Facebook: Signal 51 Chronicles Youtube: Signal51ChroniclesPodcast TikTok: Signal51Chronicles_ Email us at: Signal.51Pod@gmail.com

Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW

It’s a new year, which means it’s time for the Clubhouse tradition that causes the most arguing, second-guessing, and hurt feelings: the Best and Worst Movies of 2025.

In this episode of The Clubhouse Podcast, Rob Ervin, Alex Barnhill, and Don Ford break down the films that thrilled them, disappointed them, and made them question how some of these movies ever got greenlit. From award-bait performances wrapped in bad scripts to big-budget releases that somehow felt unfinished, nothing is safe.

The guys also mix in NFL chaos, coaching firings, mind-blowing Jets statistics, strange betting odds, tech toys like the Stream Deck, and why respectful disagreement is basically the lifeblood of this show. Expect strong opinions, passionate defenses, brutal takedowns, and at least one list that sparks immediate controversy.

This isn’t a definitive ranking — it’s three different perspectives colliding in real time. And that’s exactly the point.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Welcome to the Clubhouse and New Year chaos 00:03:00 – Shoutouts, gadgets, and early banter 00:04:18 – Bowl season updates and betting oddities 00:10:08 – NFL season wrap-up and coaching firings 00:12:55 – The Jets stats that don’t feel real 00:18:07 – Don’s tech issues and list tension begins 00:19:50 – Stranger Things finale reactions 00:22:40 – Sponsors, Kid Fest, and upcoming events 00:25:14 – Introducing Best & Worst Movies of 2025 00:29:22 – Worst Films of 2025: Don’s picks (#10–#5) 00:43:02 – Worst Films of 2025: Alex’s picks (#5–#1) 00:57:10 – Best Films of 2025: Don’s picks (#10–#5) 01:15:32 – Best Films of 2025: Alex’s picks (#5–#1) 01:45:14 – Best Films of 2025: Rob’s picks (#5–#1) 02:11:14 – Final thoughts, disagreements, and sign-off