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. Proud Program At A Crossroads
Most who read this column know my Michigan roots and my passion for the Wolverines. So when I first saw the news last week that Sherrone Moore had been fired, my initial reaction was surprise. A 9-3 season and a first loss to Ohio State do not usually put a Michigan coach on the hot seat. But it quickly became clear this had nothing to do with football. Moore was dismissed because of an inappropriate relationship with a university employee, and hours later news broke that he had been arrested.
Even my daughter Mackenzie texted me asking, “What the heck is going on with Michigan football?” It is a fair question. The national championship was a massive accomplishment and should not come with an asterisk, but the reality is that Michigan continues to add to a growing list of off field issues. What began with the cheating scandal has now included multiple firings and recruiting violations, and it has become impossible to ignore.
At some point, accountability has to land somewhere, and Athletic Director Warde Manuel cannot be excluded from that conversation. I am not calling for his job, but this is a proud, top tier program, and what has unfolded recently has been embarrassing. Michigan should represent excellence both on and off the field.
I am thankful no one was physically harmed, and I hope Moore gets the help he needs. But this has to be the end of these kinds of scandals. That responsibility starts with leadership. Manuel must ensure the next head coach is the right fit, not just in terms of wins, but integrity and accountability.
The timing is far from ideal, and the pool of available candidates is limited. Still, Michigan is Michigan. There are capable coaches who would take on this challenge. My hope is that Michigan finds the right person, someone who can restore the program’s reputation and bring success back to Ann Arbor the way it should be done.
2. A Heisman Win Done The Right Way
On to a much happier and classier topic, I was genuinely thrilled to see Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza win the first Heisman Trophy in program history on Saturday night. I usually watch the ceremony every year because it is one of the cooler events in sports, but I am not sure I have ever been more impressed with a Heisman winner than I was watching Mendoza this weekend.
Yes, the speech was well prepared, as it should be, but I loved the small, nervous stumbles which made it even better and more real. He smiled throughout, stayed humble, and the words he chose were thoughtful, sincere, and meaningful.
Early in the speech, Mendoza said, “This trophy is bigger than me. It is the product of a family, a team, a community, and a whole lot of people who believed in me long before anyone else did.” That tone never changed. When he addressed his teammates, it felt genuine, not obligatory. “Congratulations to my teammates. This is OUR trophy. I love you guys more than you could ever know.”
He went on to thank his high school coaches, the University of California for giving him his first opportunity, and Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, telling him, “You didn’t just make me a better quarterback. You made me a better man.” Then came the moment that likely hit home for a lot of people as he spoke about his mom. “You’re my light, my why, my biggest supporter. Your sacrifices, your courage, your love. These were my first playbook, and the playbook I will carry with me my entire life.”
Mendoza closed by speaking directly to kids who feel overlooked or underestimated, encouraging them to keep working, stay disciplined, and believe in themselves.
Fernando Mendoza was the best college football player in the country this season, and he may also be the classiest. In a world where we often wonder what is happening to the younger generations, seeing that young man and his faith, humility, and love for others, was frankly reassuring. He will likely be the number one pick in next year’s NFL Draft, but regardless of what happens on Sundays, he is already a success.
Congratulations, Fernando. You earned it.
3. Sing to Me, Please!
I found myself thinking about Christmas caroling the other day and wondering when it quietly disappeared from everyday life. When I was young, it was actually a thing. A group of ten or twelve of us kids and adults would walk around the neighborhood, knock on doors, and sing Christmas songs to whoever answered. Sometimes it was awkward, and not everyone appreciated it, but most seemed to listen and thank us for stopping by.
As an adult, I can confidently say nobody has ever knocked on my door to sing a Christmas carol. My guess is that caroling still happens in places like nursing homes, and maybe malls or organized community events, but the spontaneous neighborhood version seems to be gone. And I get it. People are more cautious now, and knocking on a stranger’s door today probably feels more intrusive than festive.
Still, there was something unique about it that perfectly captured the holiday spirit and people simply trying to spread some joy. There are days when it feels like we could use more of that, and a small part of me is sad that this little tradition has faded from my childhood.
4. Few wins Put Him in Elite Company
We often list names like Calipari, Pitino, Izzo, Self, and Hurley when rattling off the best current college basketball coaches. And I can't argue with those as they've all won at least one national title. And while Gonzaga’s Mark Few doesn’t have a title (yet!), what he accomplished last week deserves real recognition.
Few picked up his 750th career win on Sunday night with a 109-58 rout of North Florida. He reached that milestone in just 904 games, making him the second fastest coach in college basketball history to do so. Only Kentucky legend Adolph Rupp did it faster, in 902 games.
Now in his 27th season at Gonzaga, Few has never missed the NCAA Tournament. Let that sink in. Twenty seven seasons in Spokane and not one single miss. He has led the Bulldogs to two Final Fours, won 22 West Coast Conference regular season titles, and earned Naismith Coach of the Year honors twice.
Yes, the national championship is still missing, and that is fair to acknowledge. But what Few has built and sustained at Gonzaga is one of the most impressive coaching resumes in modern college basketball. Doing it outside a power conference, for a small school, and with relentless consistency is no small feat.
This 750 win milestone should not go unnoticed. Congratulations to Coach Few on an incredible career, and who knows, maybe 2026 will be the year the Bulldogs finally cut down the nets.
5. The Survey Says…..
I am a game show junkie. There, I said it. I’ve been hooked since I was a kid and if it involved trivia, guessing, luck, or winning prizes, I was in. People tell me I know more useless trivia than anyone they know, and I blame a steady childhood diet of Joker’s Wild, Tic Tac Dough, Match Game, Card Sharks, and many more.
So for today’s Six Pack, I thought it would be fun to rank my five favorite game shows of all time. Spin the wheel and play along.
5. Family Feud
I liked this show much more in the 70s and 80s when Richard Dawson was hosting and kissing female contestants (seriously, what??!?!). It is still fun to play along from the couch, even if you cannot win much. I am not a huge fan of the Steve Harvey version, but I know a family who went on and loved the experience, so it lands at #5 on this list.
4. Press Your Luck
This was probably my favorite as a kid thanks to nonstop shouts of “No Whammies.” I still remember the contestant who memorized the board patterns and won over $100,000, which was unheard of at the time for a daytime gameshow. The Elizabeth Banks reboot is not quite the same, but it is still entertaining.
3. Jeopardy
Alex Trebek is the greatest game show host of all time, and you won’t be able to convince me otherwise. That said, Ken Jennings has done a terrific job filling impossible shoes, and I watch almost every night. I like to think I could survive one episode, but winning consistently takes a truly elite brain and some nerdiness that even I can’t claim.
2. The Price Is Right
Come on down! This show is fun, iconic, and impossible not to watch when on. Everyone knows prices, the games are easy to follow, and it is effortless to play along. My wife actually appeared on the show years ago, made it to Contestants’ Row, and went home with a desk clock. Yay.
1. Wheel of Fortune
My all-time favorite. Not just because it is easy to play along with, but if I do say so myself, I’m pretty darn good at it. Probably the one gameshow I would have a legitimate chance to win serious money if I got on. After years of my family and friends telling me to apply, I finally did last December. I made it through a couple rounds of interviews but ultimately was not selected, but I’ll try again this year. And while this might sound sacrilegious, I actually prefer Ryan Seacrest over Pat Sajak as host.
What about you, Sandman Nation? What game shows did I miss, and which one would you most want to appear on?
6. A Sandman Sports Update
I spent a few days in Seattle last week with my fellow Sandman Sports co-founders Bill Sanders and Craig Phalen, talking through where we have been and where we are headed. It was a productive and energizing few days focused on strategy, product planning, timing, legal and compliance work, and what comes next.
Sandman Sports has three core parts to what we are building, and I wanted to share a quick update on each.
Sports media and content
Everything lives at sandmansports.com/staging/8269/, and later this week we will be rolling out a full site refresh. The navigation is cleaner, the look is sharper, and it is much easier to find what you want. Our scores and standings system is also fully updated, making Sandman a place not just for content, but for following games in real time. And yes, we have an iphone app so download us!
User generated pools
Early next year, we will launch a fully customizable platform that lets you host your own pools with friends, family, or coworkers. Super Bowl squares, March Madness brackets, survivor pools, golf pick ems, and more will all be easy to set up and manage. This is something we have wanted to build for a long time, and there is much more coming soon.
Skill-based pools
We are also making steady progress on the legal and compliance side of skill based pools. This takes time, but the goal is to roll this out responsibly in states where it is permitted and we are licensed, and we believe our initial launch will be in the first half of 2026. We will continue to share updates as key milestones are reached.
We are often asked how people can help us at this stage, and the first answer is simply thank you. Our early investors have shown real belief in what we are building, and we are grateful for that support. For anyone interested in learning more about Sandman Sports from an investment standpoint, feel free to reach out and we are always happy to have a conversation.
Just as important, though, is simply using the site, telling others about us, engaging with us on social media, and continuing to offer honest feedback. The good and the bad both matter, and they help us improve.
Spending that time with Bill and Craig reinforced my confidence in where this is headed. We are incredibly grateful for the support and engagement from all of you. We are just getting started, and we cannot wait to see the positive impact we will make in 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.