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. A Lesson From an Old Dorm Room
In 1992, I was a sophomore at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and got assigned to my last choice dorm. It was old, outdated, and located in a remote part of campus. I was so frustrated I begged my mom to let me find an off-campus apartment. She said yes, but the budget she gave me and the fact that everything had been booked for months didn’t leave me many viable options.
So, I met my assigned roommate but refused to stay there. For about six weeks, I basically lived in my girlfriend’s apartment, sleeping with her in a single bed that certainly wasn’t meant for two people. Eventually, I’m sure in no small part to our living arrangements, we broke up and I had no choice but to head back to Havighurst Hall.
When I walked in the dorm that night, there was one room with the door open where four guys were sitting on the floor playing euchre while listening to Barenaked Ladies. They saw me and said something to the effect of, “Oh my God, it’s the guy who never comes here!” We laughed, did quick introductions, and one of them had to leave, so they asked me to take his spot in the game. It was a fun night and one that would profoundly shape my life.
Two of those guys, Keith and Ed, became my best friends and still are today. The three of us just got together for the first time in five years for a long weekend at Keith’s place in Dallas. We golfed, drank, watched football, laughed a ton, told the same stories we always do, caught up on life, and just did what best friends do. It was a great weekend and did my soul wonders.
Reflecting on this recently just reinforced something I have told my kids for years: things usually happen for a reason. That dorm assignment felt like bad luck at the time, but looking back, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. If I had moved somewhere else, I most certainly would have never met Keith and Ed, and my life would look a whole lot different today. What started out as something I wanted no part of turned into one of the best experiences of my life once I gave it a real chance.
So thank you Keith and Ed for more than three decades of friendship, laughs, and memories. Love you guys like brothers, and here is to another 33 years of the same.
2. CFP Rankings: Good Debate, Little Value
The first College Football Playoff rankings came out last week, and I have no issue with them. The top five feels right with Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia. None of those teams lost on Saturday, so I would expect that same order to hold for another week.
BYU was ranked eighth but lost and will fall. Texas Tech beat them convincingly and will move up. Texas sits at No. 11, which might surprise some people given their rocky start, but they are still 7–2. Their only two losses were by one score at Ohio State to open the season and by eight points at Florida, which, I’ll admit, is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Still, Texas has two huge chances to make its case. They travel to Georgia this weekend and then host Texas A&M on Thanksgiving weekend. Win both of those, and they will be in the playoff. Lose either, and they’re done.
And that’s really what I’m getting at here. While I don’t have any beef with the current CFP rankings, they simply do not matter yet. The only rankings that matter are the final ones that decide who actually makes the playoff. Everything before that is just made-for-TV filler designed to stir debate and drive conversation. And that’s fine, I get it, but I just do not put much stock into it and certainly won’t lose a wink of sleep over them.
If your team has one or two losses right now and plays in the Big Ten or SEC (like my Michigan Wolverines), you control your own destiny. Keep winning, and you’ll have a legitimate shot at the playoff. Lose, and you risk being out. That’s how it should be, and everything else will sort itself out in the end.
3. Kicking it up a Notch
Back in 1970, New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey hit a 63-yard field goal that set an NFL record which stood for more than 40 years. He happened to do it against the Detroit Lions, and while I was still a few years from being born in a Detroit suburb, I grew up hearing my dad and uncles talk about what a big deal that kick was. His name stuck with me and I always had a soft spot for Mr. Dempsey and his kicking accomplishment.
His record finally fell in 2013 when Matt Prater hit a 64-yarder, and then again in 2021 when Justin Tucker drilled a 66-yarder, also against the Lions. And now, just last week, Cam Little of the Jaguars broke it again with a 68-yarder. So, we went 43 years without anyone hitting a kick longer than 63 yards, and now we have seen three in just the last 12 years.
It is crazy to me how strong kickers’ legs are these days. Athletes in general are bigger, faster, and stronger now thanks to better nutrition, conditioning, and training, but it is still amazing to see how much that applies to kickers. It is completely changing the way the game is played and how coaches think about scoring opportunities.
To put it in perspective, there have already been seven field goals from 60 yards or more through the first nine weeks of the 2025 season. From 1960 to 2006, there were only six total from that distance. In addition, kicks from 50 yards or more are made about 72 percent of the time, nearly double the rate from thirty years ago. Wow.
A new rule now lets kickers break in “K balls” before games, making them more consistent and adding distance. Combined with better coaching, mechanics, and strength training, it’s no wonder we’re seeing what used to be rare become almost routine.
And honestly, I have no problem with it. Any scoring play or chance to put points on the board is a good thing in my book, and I love seeing those long field goal attempts. I’m just less surprised now when one goes in from 60-plus, and I won’t be shocked at all when someone nails a 70-yarder. And that day probably isn’t far off.
4. Pandora Opened the Box
I love music and stream it every single day. I have been a Pandora guy for about ten years now, am pretty loyal and probably won’t ever leave. We have the family plan, my wife, kids, and I all have our own playlists built, and we all use it and enjoy it.
Even though we are happy with Pandora, I started thinking recently about how many different streaming choices there really are and which ones are the most popular. Pandora has around 46 million monthly users, which is a lot, but it is nowhere close to the top.
Spotify is the clear leader with nearly 700 million total users and about 276 million paid subscribers. Apple Music sits in second place with close to 100 million paid users, while Amazon Music Unlimited follows with around 80 million.
Like me, I am sure most of you have your favorite and at this point are probably not changing either. But I was still curious to see how they all compare, what sets them apart, and what the pros and cons look like side by side. So here you go in case you are interested.
No matter which service you use, the good news is that there is something for everyone. I know I am staying put with Pandora, but I am curious. What do you use, Sandman Nation, and why? Did I miss any or do you have compelling reasons why I should actually consider leaving Pandora?
5. Time to get Defensive
The Denver Broncos defense is on a historic pace. After sacking Raiders quarterback Geno Smith six times on Thursday night, they now have 46 sacks through ten games. That puts them on pace for 78 by season’s end, which would break the long-standing NFL record of 72 set by the Chicago Bears in 1984.
When I first read that stat, I assumed it was the 1985 Bears who held the record, since that defense is widely considered the best in NFL history. But it was actually the 1984 squad that set the mark, even though the 1985 version still finished with a very respectable 64 sacks and a Super Bowl title. Thinking about that reminded me just how incredible that Bears team really was.
They won their first twelve games of the season before losing to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, which ended up being their only loss. They finished 15–1, tying the record for most wins in a regular season at the time. Their defense ranked first in the league, allowing only 198 total points, which averaged out to 12.4 points per game.
They won the NFC Central by seven games and earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In the postseason, Chicago outscored the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams 45–0, becoming the first team ever to record back-to-back playoff shutouts.
And then came Super Bowl XX in New Orleans. Against the Patriots, the Bears crushed them 46–10, resulting in the largest Super Bowl margin of victory at the time. It was Chicago’s first championship since 1963 and, sadly for their fans, their most recent one.
That defense had legends everywhere. Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael, Otis Wilson, and of course, the fiery Buddy Ryan running his famous 46 scheme. They led the NFL in points allowed, yards allowed, and takeaways, which was a combination not matched again until the 2013 Seahawks.
So tip of the cap to that Bears team, probably the greatest defense ever. No offense to Denver, those sack numbers are impressive. But you’ve got a ways to go before you’re in that best-ever conversation. For now, those 1985 Bears are miles ahead.
6. Top Dogs
We are big dog people in our house. We have one six-year-old rescue mutt (some terrier, some chihuahua, a few other things mixed in) and my wife used to have two long-haired chihuahuas. The other day someone mentioned that they really enjoyed the movie Air Bud and, while I admit I have never seen that particular flick, it got me thinking about dogs in TV and movies.
There have been some famous, iconic canines over the years who became household names and pop culture legends. So today, I will honor the best of the best and give a ranking of my five favorite from both the small and big screens.
5) Lassie
Possibly the most famous of them all. Lassie starred in both television and film beginning in the 1940s and became a true American icon. Whether saving Timmy from a well or rescuing someone from a burning barn, Lassie was pretty darn loyal and heroic. And she was definitely the best-groomed dog on this list, so that earns her some bonus points.
4) Spuds Mackenzie
A dog that loved beer? Sign me up. Spuds had swagger, style, and always seemed to be surrounded by a crowd of attractive women having a great time. Whether you love the commercials or just the idea of a party dog with a spot over one eye, Spuds is my kind of pooch.
3) Benji
A dog I absolutely loved growing up, and I remember getting so excited every time a new tv movie came out. A little scrappy, a little mischievous, but always saving the day and taking down the bad guys. There was actually a remake about ten years ago that I watched with my kids, and they loved it too. Way to still rock it after all these years, Benji!
2) Toto
If you can expose the Wizard for being a fraud and help Dorothy bring down the Wicked Witch, you have earned a permanent spot near the top of this list. Toto was fearless, loyal, and smarter than just about anyone else in Oz.
1) Scooby-Doo
This one was easy. Scooby and his best friend Shaggy helped solve mystery after mystery. Even if they did it reluctantly, they always seemed to save the day in between sandwiches. Scooby was funny, lovable, and talked in an awesome voice, so there’s that. Nice job Scoob, now go enjoy a well-earned Scooby Snack.
Honorable Mentions:
Hooch (Turner & Hooch), Beethoven, Snoopy, Air Bud, McGruff the Crime Dog, Max (from The Grinch), and Marley (Marley & Me).
Did I miss any, Sandman Nation? Or did I completely miss the mark on my list? Post a comment and let the barking begin.
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.
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