jburns's blog

Multiple sources are reporting that Fresno State football coach Pat Hill interviewed with University of Washington officials on Saturday -- one day after the Bulldogs were bucked by Boise State, 61-10, in their Western Athletic Conference season finale.

The Huskies effectively fired coach Tyrone Willingham in October, but allowed Willingham to play out the string.

Here's a Seattle Times story from Saturday night:

"The candidacy of Fresno State's Pat Hill for the Washington coaching job may have taken a more serious turn Saturday. A Washington football source told The Times that Hill interviewed with UW officials on Saturday. The Fresno Bee reported on its Fresno State football blog that Hill boarded a flight to Seattle early Saturday morning, and his car was parked in the airport parking lot. The Bee cited two unidentified airport employees. ... Fresno State athletic director Thomas Boeh would neither confirm nor deny that UW had contacted him about talking with Hill. However, he told the Bee that Hill had "earned the right to look at other opportunities" because of his 12 years as coach of the Bulldogs."

Here's an interesting development that could delay the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV football playoffs.

Oakdale, the Valley Oak League champion and a 2007 mythical state champ, won't be playing tonight. It turns out Placer High supporters have obtained a temporary restraining order from a court in Oakland, forcing the first round playoff game to be postponed. Oakdale, which was scheduled to play Colfax tonight, would have played Placer had paperwork regarding a transfer player been filed properly.

Modesto Bee's Will DeBoard is all over the story. To read the complete article, follow this link: http://www.modbee.com/sports/story/507938.html.

Found this on Will DeBoard's playoff football blog last night (Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008):

"Rio Linda (7-3) at Sierra (8-2): This game got a little more interesting after events that happened last Friday night. Rio Linda officials caught somebody affiliated with Sierra illegally filming their game against River City. Rio Linda filed a complaint with the section and section officials told Rio Linda they were convinced the film had been erased and there were no advantages gained. Judging from the e-mails I’ve received from Rio Linda parents, they’re plenty fired up. Rio Linda is winning games thanks to its defense (11 points allowed a game, seven games where they’ve held opponents to eight points or less)."

Everyone's got an opinion on how things will shake down this Friday in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs.

There are those that believe Merced has been exposed by the Turlock schools in the last two weeks, and won't come within shooting distance of the section final. Some even believe whole-heartedly that Tracy will score the upset and jolt the south off its axis.

Then there are those that think Los Banos, because it was just 6-4 and snuck into the playoffs on a tiebreaker, will be nothing more than speed bump for Stockton St. Mary's -- a sexy pick for CIF State Bowl game earlier in the season.

Anyone who thinks a junior college can't win football games with local, home-grown talent would be wise to show up at Don Odishoo Field on Saturday.

The season finale for the Merced College Blue Devils promises to be a showcase for some of Merced County's top prep stars of yesteryear. For a small ticket price -- or a canned good -- you'll likely see a kid you know or remember streaking down the sideline, fighting in the trenches or plowing his way between tackles.

And the refreshing part, there's a strong chance it will come in a win. Maybe even a blowout win, folks.

When's the last time we said that?

Tell me what's wrong with this picture: A large cluster of passionate soccer fans stand at attention, clapping and screaming and aching for their side. Down the way, a group of teens keep their eyes glued on the talent on the field. And everywhere you look there are toddlers, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

So what's wrong this scene? What's out of place?