A decent start for both the Badgers and Mustangs basketball programs. As of this writing Yosemite is 6-8. What coach Aaron Eames and Steve Lopez are doing is working. Bottom line, the kids are having fun again, something that had been missing for a while.

Meanwhile at Minarets, coach Beau Campbell's program, with a young team, is 1-10. Remember, the Mustangs won only two games all last year. The Mustangs have a way to go, but they hustle. Campbell plays everyone. Very refreshing. There are few seniors. Sophomores Bo Campbell and Cory Biglione have had games of 32 and 29. Look out for the future here.

Congratulations to former Badger Cole Popovich and the Fresno City College Rams football program. Popovich, a 2002 Yosemite graduate, completed his first year as the Ram offensive line coach. Previously, Popovich was the O-line coach at LA Valley College (Where Pat Hill played).

Popovich earned a liberal studies degree at Fresno State in 2008. Injuries prevented Popovich from a probable NFL career. The Rams under head coach Tony Caviglia are the dominant JC football program in the Valley, bar none. Caviglia has a 108-35 record at FCC winning seven CVC titles in 11 years. The Rams were 10-1 in 2011, winning 10 straight before losing the NorCal Championship to San Francisco Junior College.

Kudos to new Fresno State Bulldog head football coach Tim DeRuyter. Coach DeRuyter has a tough job following a legend. Yes, Pat Hill at least in the coaching community, is a legend.

Hill went 112-80, and went to 11 bowl games, yet so many in Fresno wanted him out. I never got it. I guess I am big into things like graduation rates over 80%, a new practice field, new weight room and meal plans for student-athletes.

These are the foundational building blocks that Hill built and DeRuyter inherits. Hill recruited good citizens. It was nice not hearing about problems with players. Coach Hill took players not heavily recruited and turned many into NFL players. Hill also lost an incredible talent pool of assistant coaches to BCS schools.

In the end Hill was not appreciated by the fans who voted with their feet. It is all about winning and getting into a BCS bowl game. Hey, Boise State ranked No. 7, lost one game to a ranked team on a last second field goal and played in the Las Vegas Bowl against a 6-6 Pac-12 team.

A No. 7 ranking in the polls and no BCS bowl invite? You are kidding yourself if you think Fresno State will ever get into a BCS game. We are a mid-major program, get used to it. For me, I'm a homer. I support my 'Dogs regardless of their record.`