Episode 104 – The Time Is Now

The 411 From 406
Recorded: December 11, 2025

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Chewie:
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to The 411 From 406. My name is Chewie, and I am joined once again by my brother from another mother, Mr. Pip. How are you, sir?

Pip:
Ho ho ho, my friend, and welcome to the holiday edition of The 411 From 406. Very excited to be here. How are you?

Chewie:
I’m good, man. We’re actually doing pretty well lately. This is episode 104, and episode 103 was recorded back on November 20th, so we’re way less than a month apart. That’s pretty good for us.

Pip:
I’ll take it.

Chewie:
I don’t know if we’re going to squeeze another one in before Christmas, but we’ll see. What’s going on your side?

Pip:
Things are good. Grayson came home from college yesterday. He’s done with his first semester and by all accounts did really well. Haven’t seen grades yet, but I have no reason to doubt him. That officially makes him one-eighth done with college, which is terrifying.

Chewie:
Jesus Christ, man. Slow down.

Pip:
Crew and Link have about two weeks left. Crew has finals next week. I’m off tomorrow, only working three days next week, then I’m off until January 5th.

Chewie:
That’s awesome.

Pip:
Yeah, we’re heading to Cancun over New Year’s. Larry and Kathy are taking us, all-inclusive. I plan on eating, drinking, and being merry.

Chewie:
Friend of the show Larry! If you get the chance, go to Isla Mujeres. Beautiful place, quick ferry ride, totally worth it.

Pip:
I honestly don’t even know where we’re staying yet, but I’ll let you know. Just getting out of Cleveland winter will be worth it.

Chewie:
No doubt. It’s been brutal here already — highs in the teens, snow, full Northeast Ohio winter mode.

Pip:
Yeah… never gets easier.

Chewie:
I also had some minor surgery today. Had a cyst removed from my back — totally benign, nothing serious — but I’ve got about a dozen stitches, so if I squirm a bit, that’s why.

Pip:
First I’m hearing about it.

Chewie:
It was really nothing. I’d had it for 20 years. Amanda finally said, “You can see it through your shirt — get it removed.” So I did.

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Work & Holidays

Chewie:
How are things at work for you over the holidays?

Pip:
I work for a managed services IT company. This time of year we’re under a change-control moratorium — no unnecessary infrastructure changes. Things slow down, but my role requires 24/7 data center coverage, which makes holidays tough. Everyone wants time off at once.

Chewie:
Makes sense.

Pip:
I mostly work from home, which helps, but coverage is always the challenge. Still, it’s a good time to catch up on documentation and emails.

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Indiana Football: History Made

Chewie:
So… have you been watching any football lately?

Pip:
Anything worth mentioning?

Chewie:
Yeah, actually. Indiana beat Ohio State to win the Big Ten Championship — the first outright Big Ten title in IU football history.

Pip:
Still doesn’t feel real.

Chewie:
Watching that game was surreal. I fully expected either a close IU win or Ohio State to annihilate us. When Mendoza got crushed on the first offensive play, I thought it was over.

Pip:
Same.

Chewie:
But he played an incredible game against one of the best defenses I’ve ever seen. When Ohio State missed that field goal, it felt like things were finally breaking our way — but I wasn’t comfortable until the very end.

Pip:
That’s the difference. IU didn’t win on a fluke. It wasn’t one call or one play. It was grit. They outworked Ohio State.

Chewie:
And the narrative that Ohio State “didn’t try” is nonsense. Their defense was absolutely trying.

Pip:
Exactly. IU exposed pressure points nobody else did all year. This season is already an unprecedented success — undefeated, Big Ten champs, #1 in the nation.

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College Football Playoff Picture

Chewie:
Next game’s not until New Year’s Day. First round starts December 19th.

Pip:
Likely matchups look like Alabama vs. Oklahoma, Texas A&M vs. Miami, Ole Miss vs. Tulane, and Oregon vs. James Madison.

Chewie:
I’ll say this — I don’t want to play Ohio State again.

Pip:
Same. But for once, I’m not scared of anyone. We’re playing with house money, and that makes IU dangerous.

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Notre Dame Opts Out

Chewie:
Let’s talk Notre Dame.

Pip:
I’ve gone back and forth. Under the current rules, it’s not insane they were left out — Miami beat them head-to-head. Alabama got in with three losses due to schedule strength.

Chewie:
But the system itself is broken.

Pip:
Exactly. Notre Dame kept winning and kept dropping in the rankings. That’s the issue.

Chewie:
And playing the Pop-Tarts Bowl does absolutely nothing for them.

Pip:
Bowl games are glorified exhibitions now. Most starters wouldn’t play anyway. This is Notre Dame saying, “We’re not making ESPN money for nothing.”

Chewie:
Optics are bad, sure. But if this was Ohio State or Michigan, they’d do the same thing.

Pip:
Agreed. This is capitalism, not football.

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Michigan Chaos

Chewie:
Michigan managed to steal the spotlight this week.

Pip:
Yeah… bizarre situation. Coach fired, scandal, donors pulling back, coaching carousel already over.

Chewie:
I hate Michigan, but college football is more interesting when they’re good.

Pip:
Still feels like karma for winning a national title while cheating.

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Colts QB Talk

Chewie:
Philip Rivers getting a Colts tryout…

Pip:
I joked about it — then it actually happened. He’s 44. That’s wild.

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John Cena’s Final Match

Chewie:
John Cena’s last match is Saturday.

Pip:
This is huge. Cena’s doing something almost unheard of — retiring and staying retired.

Chewie:
His interview with Chris Van Vliet changed my perspective on a lot of things.

Pip:
Same. He wants to give back and elevate new talent. That matters.

Chewie:
John Cena is the GOAT. Not just in-ring, but the total package.

Pip:
Agreed. He’s the first one to truly make retirement mean something again.

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Gunther, WWE’s Future & WrestleMania

Chewie:
Gunther retiring Cena makes sense.

Pip:
He can live off that forever. WWE needs to build the next generation — everyone at the top is aging fast.

Chewie:
AJ Styles is another one we’re going to miss.

Pip:
Absolutely. One of the most under-appreciated legends ever.

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Royal Rumble & Title Predictions

Chewie:
Royal Rumble surprises?

Pip:
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Chris Jericho. Joe Hendry feels likely too.

Chewie:
Titles at WrestleMania?

Pip:
Cody holds his. Punk loses before Mania — possibly to Braun Breaker.

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Closing

Chewie:
For an episode with no plan, this was one of our best.

Pip:
Agreed.

Chewie:
If we don’t talk before then — Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our listeners. Dad, Larry — thanks for listening.

Pip:
Absolutely.

Chewie:
That’s Mr. Pip. I’m Chewie. This has been The 411 From 406.
Aloha.