Welcome to this week’s Six Pack! Each week, I’ll share a mix of thoughts (some sports-related, some not) and I’d love for you to jump in with your reactions, ideas, or recommendations in the comments. Here’s what’s on my mind this week. 

1. Cruising Through the Holiday

Happy New Year Sandman Nation! It’s good to be back after a one-week hiatus. While I missed writing this column and recording the podcast, my wife and I just got back from a very relaxing nine-night cruise, and it was much needed after a hectic, albeit exciting and successful, 2025.

This was actually the first time I’ve ever traveled for leisure during the holidays. Normally, I enjoy the peace and quiet, and yes, even the frigid temperatures that often come with the week between Christmas and New Year’s. But this year we decided to do something different, and it ended up being a lot of fun.

We got hooked on cruising a few years ago, but up to this point we had only sailed with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. This time, we went with some good friends, Tina and Neil, and they suggested we try Virgin. Overall, it was a really good experience. While I still think we slightly prefer Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, we would absolutely consider Virgin again.

The nicest benefit to Virgin was that there are no kids allowed on their ships, which certainly added to our peace, quiet, and overall relaxation. I also thought the dining was the best of any cruise we’ve done. No buffets at all, and the food quality, especially at the evening restaurants, was phenomenal.

There were a few downsides though. I thought the entertainment, evening shows and live music options were lacking, and the ship itself is smaller than others we’ve been on. The signage, and ease of getting around the ship, also could be improved.

That said, the service was very good, and the ports were outstanding, including Turks & Caicos, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and Puerto Rico. Their private cabanas on sea days were also fantastic, very affordable, and something we would certainly pay for again in the future.

In the end, every cruise line has pros and cons. Virgin certainly earned a solid B+ at worst, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we sail with them again. Even so, while I enjoyed being in warm weather instead of chilly, snowy Ohio, I’m not sure this becomes an every-Christmas thing for us. I still love the traditional long holiday week with family, even if it includes shoveling those white flakes. 

So maybe this becomes an every-other-year thing. We’ll see. But either way, it sure was a pretty great way to spend our 2025 holiday season!

2. Auld Lang Syne, and Lights Out

We were on the cruise during my birthday on December 29 and through New Year’s Eve, so we had plenty of nights to celebrate. And some nights we absolutely held our own. But I’m not going to lie, I am getting older and I really like my sleep. Staying up past midnight for anything other than a playoff game is becoming a real challenge as I inch closer to my mid-50s.

That said, I’ve always enjoyed the countdown from Times Square and the ball drop. So here are a few quick facts about this iconic New Year’s Eve staple in the U.S.

The famous Times Square ball drop dates all the way back to 1907. It was originally created as a replacement for fireworks, which had been banned in the area at the time. The idea itself was inspired by old maritime “time balls” that were dropped at ports to help ships set their clocks.

The ball has obviously evolved quite a bit since then. Today, it’s covered in Waterford Crystal, lit by thousands of LED lights, weighs over 12,000 pounds, and sits atop One Times Square year-round.

If you grew up in my generation, chances are New Year’s Eve on tv meant Dick Clark. He kicked off New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in the early 70s and turned the ball drop into must-watch television, year after year, for more than three decades. Ryan Seacrest has the gig now and does a decent job, but thankfully every year’s celebration still gives plenty of love and remembrance to Mr. Clark, and deservedly so.

So even if I’m not built for late-night partying anymore, I still appreciate this annual rite of passage. There’s something cool about knowing millions of people are watching that same countdown, waiting for that ball to drop, and hoping the new year is better than the last.

And next year, maybe I’ll just plan a nap first.

3. A Doormat Dominates A Dynasty

Covering sports for a living, I was a little nervous about being on a cruise ship during the CFP quarterfinals and much of bowl season. Thankfully, we were still able to catch every game, and I’m very grateful for that. And while there were plenty of storylines across the bracket, I really only want to focus on one here.

Indiana’s demolition of Alabama is still hard for me to fully comprehend.

This was one of the worst programs in FBS history not just beating the most dominant program of this millennium, but absolutely embarrassing them in a stunning and convincing 38-3 win. This wasn’t fluky. This wasn’t a lucky bounce or two. Indiana controlled that game from start to finish.

It was the largest bowl loss in Alabama football history. It was also Indiana’s first bowl win since the 1991 Copper Bowl, which is just crazy to me.

I loved seeing Fernando Mendoza avoid the Heisman hangover and play a great game. But what I loved even more was the Rose Bowl MVP going to Indiana center Pat Coogan, the first offensive lineman in 82 years to win the award. Watching his teammates, including Mendoza, celebrate that moment with Coogan told you everything you need to know about this team.

I’ve spent plenty of time already praising Curt Cignetti and what he’s done in Bloomington in a ridiculously short amount of time, so I won’t rehash it here. But one thing I’ve always loved about him is that serious, no-frills demeanor on the sideline, capped off by that trademark scowl. So seeing him actually smile after the game, hugging his family and soaking it all in, was pretty awesome. 

Indiana is the odds-on favorite to win the national championship at this point, and no matter what happens next, this is already one of the most amazing stories college football has produced in a very long time.

I’ll always bleed maize and blue, but with my Wolverines out of it this season, give me that crimson and cream and let’s go Hoosiers!

4. The Right Coach At The Right Time

Speaking of my Michigan Wolverines, the last six weeks have been a complete whirlwind for the program and its fans.

First, the four-game winning streak against dreaded rival Ohio State came to an end in Ann Arbor. Then, just two weeks later, the program was rocked by the bombshell news surrounding Sherrone Moore. It was yet another dark cloud over a program that, despite winning a national championship just two years ago, has felt unsettled for quite some time.

I was never a Sherrone Moore fan, and while I genuinely hope he gets the help he needs, I believe this ultimately became a blessing in disguise for Michigan football. For a brief stretch, I think most Michigan fans were worried we’d be forced to settle because of limited options and bad timing.

Instead, they did the opposite. Michigan landed one of the best coaches in the sport, and as a Wolverine fan, I could not be happier with where things stand right now.

Kyle Whittingham brings exactly what this program needs at this moment. Yes, he is a proven winner, but more importantly, he is a steady, disciplined, no-nonsense presence. After years of turbulence, investigations, distractions, and noise, Michigan needed calm leadership and structure. 

Whittingham’s résumé speaks for itself. Over 21 seasons at Utah, he became the winningest coach in program history, compiling a 177–88 record and winning big in three different conferences. Utah posted winning records in 18 of his 21 seasons, recorded eight 10-win campaigns, captured conference titles, and consistently exceeded expectations nationally. His 2008 team went 13-0, beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and finished No. 2 in the country. He also went 11-6 in bowl games.

Whittingham is 66 and he will not be in Ann Arbor for decades. And that is fine. He needs a few years, and with Michigan’s resources, infrastructure, and recruiting base, that is more than enough time to compete for another national championship.

He has already brought in trusted staff, retained key pieces like RB coach Tony Alford, and I believe he will stabilize a roster that includes high-end talent at critical positions, including stud QB Bryce Underwood. Just as importantly, this hire buys Michigan time to plan the next transition the right way, instead of reacting to chaos.

This was one of the best hires of the entire 2025 coaching cycle, and given how and when it unfolded, it is remarkable Michigan pulled it off.

Welcome to Ann Arbor, Coach, and good luck!

5. Five Undefeated CBB Teams Worth Noticing

Football is king right now, but before we know it, March Madness will be all we are talking about. So I want to take a minute and give some love to college basketball, which always seems to get lost in the shuffle this time of year. Specifically, the five ranked teams that are still undefeated and quietly positioning themselves for something special.

Right now, those teams are #1 Arizona, #2 Michigan, #3 Iowa State, #11 Vanderbilt, and #13 Nebraska.

Yes, conference play is just getting underway, and not every win has come against elite competition. But being undefeated two months into any season is hard, no matter the sport, and it deserves some attention.

What really jumped out at me with these teams is the lack of history and success among most of them. These five programs combined have just two national championships: Michigan in 1989 and Arizona in 1997. That’s it. 

Iowa State’s best season ended in a Final Four way back in 1944. Vanderbilt’s deepest tournament run was an Elite Eight in 1965. And Nebraska has made the Big Dance only eight times and they have never won a single game once they got there. 0-8 all-time in March Madness. Wow.

In other words, none of these programs are what anyone would call traditional powers. And yet, here they are, all undefeated, all dreaming big about what could await them when March arrives.

I am not saying any of these teams will be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. There is a lot of season left and the true blue bloods, like UConn, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina who are lurking. But if college football has taught us anything lately, especially watching what is unfolding in Bloomington, it is that incredible turnarounds and unlikely runs can happen.

So keep dreaming, Cyclones, Commodores, Wildcats, Wolverines, and Cornhusker hoops fans. Just like no Indiana football fan imagined being two wins from a national title, few would have predicted these starts either.

And that’s kind of the best part of being a sports fan.

6. A Volcano Hike & A Wake-Up Call

On December 31st, I came closer to dying in 2025 than on any other day.

While we were in St. Kitts, we signed up for an excursion that involved hiking a nearby volcano. The guide described it as “challenging,” which, in hindsight, was wildly misleading. What wasn’t mentioned was the constant steep climbs and drops, the extremely rugged terrain, the overgrown trail, the loose rocks, and the many places with cliffs and fall-off opportunities where a slip would have ended it.

In fact, we later learned that two people had fallen into the volcano and died just a few months earlier, which felt like a pretty relevant detail to discover after the fact.

I like adventure. I do not like near-death experiences.

I knew I wasn’t in great shape, but I figured I could at least give it a go. That confidence lasted about fifteen minutes. This was a five-hour round trip hike, and those first fifteen minutes absolutely crushed me. My heart was racing, I was completely out of breath, and it was clear things were only going to get harder. So even though I was embarrassed, I told one of the guides I needed to turn back. It may have been the best decision of my life.

My wife, who is in far better shape than I am and absolutely could have kept going, stayed with me and headed back down. Tina and Neil were also with us. Tina is in her mid 50’s and Neil in his early 60s, but he competes regularly in triathlons so this guy is in fantastic shape.

About fifteen minutes after I gave up, Tina turned back as well. Neil kept going and made it all the way to the top, which is a phenomenal achievement.

When we regrouped later, he said it was one of the hardest things he’s ever done and genuinely wasn’t sure how more people don’t get seriously hurt. Apparently the final stretch involves actual rock climbing to reach the peak.

That was enough confirmation for me that turning around was the right call.

I don’t regret trying it, but the experience was a pretty blunt reminder of something I already knew. I’m carrying about 30 extra pounds, my cardio is nowhere near where it should be, and pretending otherwise certainly isn’t helpful.

So yeah, with the calendar flipping to a new year, it felt like a pretty clear signal. I want to feel better, move better, and not have my heart try to escape my chest fifteen minutes into a hike.

I learned recently that “Quitters Day” is Friday, January 9th this year and that is the day most people give up on their new year’s resolutions. I am usually very good with resolutions as to when I put my mind to something and am in the right headspace, I will see it through. And we have another cruise coming up in late March and I’d love to fit back into some of my old clothes by then, so there is some extra motivation. And who knows, maybe I’ll even try another volcano hike. Nope, just kidding on that one!

I’ll share updates along the way, mostly to keep myself honest. If you’ve got your own goals this year, fitness-related or otherwise, I hope you stick with them and I’ll be rooting for you.

Good luck everyone and have a truly wonderful 2026!

Thanks for checking out this week’s Six Pack, Sandman Nation! I’d love to hear your thoughts: what resonated with you, what you disagree with, or your own takes on these topics. Drop your comments and let’s keep the conversation going.