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. My Bad, RedHawks

I will occasionally get feedback on certain blurbs that strike a nerve or where people feel compelled to share their thoughts. Well, last week I wrote a segment that prompted many of you to reach out and tell me I missed a pretty big piece of that story. So today, I’ll apologize and set the record straight.

Last week, you may remember I gave respect to the five ranked college basketball teams that were still undefeated, and in particular, pointed out that none of them were what we would consider true blue bloods. Between the five of them, they had produced just two national titles all time.

Well, I left one undefeated team off that list, and that is where much of the ire came from. Especially when you consider this is the college I attended, along with my wife and two of my children. Yes, I am talking about the Miami (OH) RedHawks.

This team currently sits at 17–0, 5–0 and in first place in their conference, and they are having one of the best seasons in program history. So let’s give this small MAC team from Oxford, Ohio a little love.

First, some context. I did realize they were undefeated last week, but I was only highlighting teams that were ranked at the time. Secondly, if I’m being honest, when I looked at their résumé last week, I was less than impressed. At the time of writing, they were 14-0, and 12 of those wins had come against teams with losing records. In fact, the combined record of those 12 teams was 48-110, so hardly inspiring.

That said, this team has still not lost yet, and there is something to be said for winning the games in front of you. And since I wrote that piece, they have added three more wins, including one against a very good 12-4 Akron team and a road win at solid Toledo on Friday night by 14 points.

This group is balanced, with six players averaging double figures, led by guards Brant Byers and Evan Ipsaro. They are coached by Travis Steele, who comes from the impressive Xavier coaching tree and was a longtime assistant under both Sean Miller and Chris Mack before taking over as a head coach in 2018. Steele never had the success Xavier hoped for and was fired in 2022, but he was quickly hired by Miami, where things certainly seem to be working this season.

Miami has a proud basketball history, with 18 conference championships, 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, and four Sweet Sixteens. Their most famous run came in 1999, when future pro Wally Szczerbiak led a No. 10 seed that knocked off No. 7 seed Washington and No. 2 seed Utah before falling to Kentucky in the Sweet 16.

As strong as that history is, the RedHawks have not made the Big Dance since 2007, which makes this season all the more meaningful. If things continue this way, they could very well find themselves ranked, and hopefully dancing again in March.

So to everyone I offended by leaving Miami out last week, please accept my apologies. And to my alma mater, let’s go RedHawks! Love and Honor.

2. High Maintenance Sleep

I also mentioned last week that we had just returned from a nine-night cruise, and while that was fantastic, it was also nice to get back home and sleep in my own bed. That first night back, I slept better than I had on the entire cruise, and it got me thinking about my own nighttime necessities and idiosyncrasies, which I’m sure many of you can relate to.

First, we all have a side of the bed, and thankfully when Jamie and I first got together, we were compatible. She prefers the right and I’m on the left (when lying in bed). But that is just table stakes. I need a lot more than that to sleep well.

For starters, I must have a box fan going full throttle right next to me. It provides two important things: white noise and a steady blast of cold air, which I love even in the middle of winter. When I don’t have the box fan, like on the cruise, I’m thankful there are white noise apps, including one that even mimics a box fan. It helps, but it still doesn’t give me that same refreshing breeze. 

In the winter, despite wanting things cooler around me, I also want a lot of warmth on my bed (yes, I’m a complicated individual). So we usually have a heated blanket from November through February. And a couple years ago, we made one of the best purchases ever in a weighted blanket, which I absolutely love. I feel like it calms me down and helps me fall asleep faster.

And yes, I also must wear pajamas. My wife calls them my “Mike Brady” pj’s because they’re a little old-fashioned, but they are comfortable, dammit. The one thing I’ve never been able to get into, though, is the whole robe-and-slippers thing.

Now that I’m home and back to all of my sleeping comforts, I’ve been well rested this week, and for that I am grateful.

What about you, Sandman Nation? Do you have any sleeping habits you swear by? Falling asleep to music or the TV? Wearing a blindfold? Adjustable beds? Anything else? I’d love to hear it.

3. The Indiana of D3

I have made no secret of my man crush on Indiana football this season, and in fact even wrote a recent article declaring they may be the greatest team in college football history. But today, I want to drop down to Division III and give some love to their version of Indiana football.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls captured their first national championship last week with a 24-14 win over North Central (IL) in the Stagg Bowl in Canton, Ohio. On its own, that is a great story. But the context and the opponent make it much sweeter.

So let’s start with who they beat in the national championship game. North Central is the Alabama of D3 and the modern gold standard of that division, as they had reached six straight national championship games, winning three since 2019.

River Falls was never supposed to be here. This was their first playoff appearance in the modern D3 era, dating back to the late 1990’s. Historically, programs in D3 have to pay their dues for a few seasons in the playoffs before hoisting the trophy. For example, North Central needed 12 playoff appearances before winning its first title. Mount Union made five trips before starting its dynasty. 

River Falls decided they didn’t need any extra time. They just went out and won it in year one.

Another impressive part of this run is their competition. They didn’t just sneak in and win with luck. No, the Falcons beat ten playoff teams along the way, including St. John’s, Wheaton, Johns Hopkins, and finally North Central itself. And as a fun side note, quarterback Kaleb Blaha finished the season by obliterating Joe Burrow’s single-season yardage record. 

What makes this feel familiar is not just the result, but the story behind it.

UW–River Falls is not a traditional power. Head coach Matt Walker has been there 15 years, and despite some recent success, had a difficult road in the beginning as he went 23–67 in his first nine seasons. The program was 2–8 in 2019.

That is why this run shares some semblance to what Indiana has done at the FBS level. Different divisions, different coaching trajectories, but same Cinderella type story. A program that was never supposed to be here, winning not because of overwhelming talent, but because of discipline, preparation, and belief. River Falls did not need years of postseason scars to learn how to win. When the moment arrived, they knew they were ready.

And now they are National Champions.

4. A Few Quick Hits

I normally dive deep into one topic for each of my Six Pack segments. But recently, I’ve had a lot of random thoughts that don’t really warrant their own section, and I figured they might be fun to share here in a little fast-break style. So here we go.

• I loved Pop-Tarts when I was younger, but I couldn’t tell you the last time I had one. Chocolate frosted and strawberry were always my go-to’s.
• Being a bald man, should I use body wash or shampoo on my head?
• I’ve tried it several times, but I just can’t get into Aldi. I get the low prices, but I don’t love the selection, brands, or overall quality.
• One of the worst things in life is getting a car wash and then having it rain.
• I simply don’t like “dark shows.” Dozens of people have told me I have to watch ones like Breaking Bad and Ozark, but they just don’t do it for me.
• There is little in this world that gives me greater satisfaction than knowing I found the lowest possible gas price within a reasonable driving distance.
• While I appreciate them all, a birthday text means more to me than a standard Facebook comment. But please don’t waste your money on birthday cards.
• Bullies in school, work, or life, are the worst and I wish them nothing but terrible stuff.
• I don’t know how I used to lift weights without wearing gloves. I forgot mine recently and my hands were torn up after 20 minutes.
• Filling up and throwing water balloons is a strange concept to me.
• Yes, I admit I enjoy pedicures, mostly because I don’t have to cut my own toenails, which I’ve always hated doing.
• Do pen pals still exist?

5. Takeaways From Wildcard Weekend

I always love Wild Card Weekend in the NFL. It feels like every year we get great games, big comebacks, and surprise results, and this weekend was no different. We’ll break each game down in more detail on the podcast, but here are my brief, initial takeaways after watching every contest from start to finish.

• The Panthers were gritty and probably deserved to win. The Rams were my pick to win it all entering the playoffs, but that game raised real questions and I lost some faith.
• The Bears, and their incredible run of comebacks, is one of the best stories in the NFL this season. I still don’t see this team making the Super Bowl, but I feel like they prove me wrong every week so they probably will.
• I picked the Jags to make a Super Bowl run, but Josh Allen did Josh Allen things. While this looks like one of the Bills’ weaker teams in recent years, the AFC field is also fairly soft, and this could finally be their year.
• Despite injuries all season, the 49ers just keep plugging along and took out the defending champs in Philly. Brock Purdy still does not get nearly the credit he deserves.
• The knock on the Patriots has been their schedule, yet they just keep winning. Justin Herbert still has not won a playoff game in his six-year career.
• The Texans travel to Pittsburgh tonight in the final game of the weekend, and if the others are any indication, it should be another tight one. Four of the five games were decided by one score, and in three of them, the team trailing at the two-minute warning came back to win. That said, I like the Texans to win comfortably.

6. Emails From Dad

After Cooper was born in 2013, someone gave me a great idea that I immediately adopted. They told me to create an email address for him and start sending him emails on a regular basis with updates and highlights about his life, along with pictures, stories, and little details. Then, when he turned 18, I would give him the email address and password so he could read everything as a keepsake.

My two other kids, Mackenzie and Brady, were 12 and 9 at the time, but I decided to set up email accounts for them as well and start sending them regular notes too, even though I was getting a later start.

At first, I wrote weekly updates. Then it became monthly. But it turned into a wonderful way to capture each of my kids growing up and to share the moments that stood out to me, often the small ones that meant so much but might never have been written down otherwise. It became our own little time capsule for each of them.

It worked out perfectly for Mac and Brady. When I eventually gave them their email accounts, they were thrilled. They loved reading through all those memories, saved everything, and still use those accounts today. 

Unfortunately, it did not work out as cleanly for Cooper. Because of long stretches without logging in, Google apparently removed the account. The login no longer works, and it appears that I, and Cooper, have lost everything I ever sent him. I only recently discovered this and have not fully explored every option yet, but in my brief research, it looks like I may be out of luck. 

But I did want to pass the idea along because I truly think it’s a great one, and it meant a lot to Mac and Brady. But if you do it, just be sure to log in to their accounts occasionally to keep them active!

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.