From Big Ten Linebacker to CMA Breakout Artist with Dave McElroy | Interview Sessions Ep. 574

Country artist and TV host Dave McElroy joins The Sports Chasers Interview Sessions (Ep. 574) to share his path from Big Ten athlete at Minnesota to business owner, CMA Music Fest Breakout Artist and host of Hang Time with Dave McElroy. 🎙️ Host: Kevin L. Warren | 🎤 Guest: Dave McElroy 📌 ON THIS EPISODE 🏈 Dave's days as a University of Minnesota Big Ten athlete — middle linebacker in football and a 400-meter runner in track 🧀 Packers fandom, Lambeau Field and the NFL roughing-the-passer debate 💼 Building a lawn care, landscape and irrigation company and walking away to chase music 🙏 The faith-driven move to Nashville and the 2016 CMA Music Fest Breakout Artist of the Year honor 🏆 Performing at the Super Bowl LII Experience, plus Prince, Paisley Park and the Minneapolis music legacy ✍️ Songwriting habits, pre-show rituals and the Ice Cube lesson 📺 How the 2020 shutdown led to Hang Time with Dave McElroy ❤️ Dave's charity work with St. Jude, Lead the Way and the Darren Waller Foundation ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 🎙️ Meet Dave McElroy 0:54 🔔 Show Welcome and Subscribe 3:33 🏈 Dave's Big Ten Athlete Roots 4:25 🏟️ Gophers and Sooners Talk 6:23 🧀 Why Lambeau Field Is Special 9:38 🚩 NFL Roughing the Passer Rant 14:12 💼 From Athlete to Entrepreneur 17:49 🙏 Called to Country Music 22:01 📖 Storytelling in Country Songs 25:52 🎤 Stage Energy and Fan Connection 31:44 🏆 Super Bowl LII and Celebrity Moments 34:00 💜 Prince at Paisley Park 35:28 🎸 Minneapolis Music Legacy 37:53 ✍️ Songwriting Habits 40:33 ⏱️ Pre-Show Rituals 42:37 🧊 The Ice Cube Lesson 46:11 📺 The Hang Time TV Pivot 51:02 🦌 Hunting, Peace and Purpose 56:11 ❤️ Charity Mission and Causes 1:00:48 ⚡ Lightning Round 1:06:53 🙌 Final Thanks and Plugs ⭐ HIGHLIGHTED CHAPTER — 46:11 📺 The Hang Time TV Pivot When the 2020 shutdown erased his tour dates, Dave McElroy turned to the outdoors and built Hang Time with Dave McElroy, a hunting-and-conversation series featuring athletes, veterans and real talk. He explains how the idea started and what the show means to him. 🤠 CONNECT WITH DAVE McELROY 🎧 Stream Dave's music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/32PbxLSh2oQ18CY0tHhtD0 📺 Watch Hang Time with Dave McElroy (full series): https://vimeo.com/showcase/12329061 ❤️ CAUSES DAVE SUPPORTS 🏥 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org 🏈 Lead the Way Foundation (Chad Greenway): https://www.chadgreenway.org 🏈 The Darren Waller Foundation 💰 SUPPORT THE SHOW — shopping through these links supports The Sports Chasers at no extra cost to you: 🛍️ Fanatics: https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/9V3oAj ☕ Dugout Mugs: https://dugoutmugs.com/?sca_ref=4922599.HILHatfVnr ✂️ OpusClip: https://opus.pro/?via=SportsChasersPodcast 🛒 Amazon Store: https://a.co/d/0ad7DPcw As an Amazon Associate, Sports Chasers earns from qualifying purchases. 🎤 Want to be a guest? https://podmatch.com/member/sportschaserspodcastguest 📍 STAY CONNECTED 🌐 Website: https://sportschasers.net/ 👕 Merch: https://1800tshirts.chipply.com/sportschaserspodcast 🤝 Affiliates & Partners: https://sportschasers.net/affiliate/ 🔔 SUPPORT • FOLLOW • FEEDBACK – CHASERS NATION ⭐ LOVE THE PODCAST 👉 https://lovethepodcast.com/678c0f38d21e0cd429a48a1b 🔔 FOLLOW THE PODCAST 👉 https://followthepodcast.com/678c0f38d21e0cd429a48a1b 🎙️ PODCAST FEEDBACK 👉 https://podcastfeedback.com/678c0f38d21e0cd429a48a1b 🎬 PRODUCTION CREDITS Narration: Ken Marsiglia | Intro Music "Super Bowl" | Outro Music "Buss Down" | Music licensed via Epidemic Sound | Music Producer: D