It is time for a seating change at Yosemite home basketball games. As you may know, Yosemite opens only one side of the gym for fans. The player's side is for players and coaches. At last Friday's Washington Union game some heated exchanges broke out between Yosemite students and Union fans. The students were moved away immediately to avoid further disruption.

There were other "exchanges" between parents of players of both schools. Hey, let's face it, many fans get emotional at games. Sometimes people take offense if fans from visiting teams are too loud or outspoken. Washington Union parents I spoke to were "upset that they could not be in their own section." I don't blame them. It is not always comfortable sitting next to fans from a rival team. My wife and I found that out a couple of weeks ago at Sierra.

Well, football season is officially over. It went out with a bang. The Super Bowl was a great game. Eli and the Giants had an amazing run. Yes, I'm still bummed over the Niners loss, but you have to give it to the G-Men. Eli is Elite. Both Eli and coach Coughlin can plan a trip to Canton once they retire.

Four former Fresno State Bulldogs were on the Giants or Pats roster. Tight end Bear Pascoe, who caught four passes for 33 yards, and David Carr will pick up rings. It will be Carr's second. Mariposa's Logan Mankins and Ryan Wendell played for the Pats.

Great job by both the Badgers boys and girls basketball teams last week. Both are rounding into shape, at the right time. As of this writing, both teams are even at 9-9. Both are playing well, just in time for North Sequoia League play.

Both teams came off solid pre-league schedules to get two huge wins against Sierra Jan. 17 and 18 in the North Sequoia League opener for both teams. Really, it's all about how you are playing at the end of the year that counts the most.

editorial@sierrastar.com

Welcome 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 team graduation rates over 80%, a new practice field, new weight room and meal plans for the players. Hill also recruited good citizens and made players better men than when they first hit the campus.

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.