T-minus 12 days and counting before the start of high school football and things are coming into focus, as reports trickle in from all the camps in advance of next week's series of season previews.

But then, our TV pals do something that make you say, "huh?"

The Comcast Hometown Network (digital channel 104) announced last week its schedule for the upcoming season, starting with a quadrupleheader Sept. 12 from Folsom High School.

But you look at the schedule, and if you're a Central Valley football fan, you want to be mad, at first.

A schedule that, according to Comcast's press release, features "some of the top teams in Northern and Central California" doesn't venture south of Oakdale, always among the Sac-Joaquin Section's medium-sized school leaders, and the Mustangs' game against Manteca, to be shown Oct. 31.

That's right ... no Dog Bowl or Milk Can game. None of the battles among the Clovis schools, or a Cowhide game from Visalia, not even a Westside War between Dos Palos and Los Banos or Governor's Hat game between Merced and Madera.

Did Comcast forget it has franchises south of Stanislaus County?

But as I think further, it occurs to me that their loss is our gain.

High school football is something best experienced live, not vicariously via the tube. Cheerleaders, bands and a partially-frozen rump at the end of the night are as much a part of the experience as the touchdowns and tackles, and those don't translate on to TV.

Plus, since Comcast is taping Friday night games for a Saturday showing, there's the advantage of not knowing the score ahead of time, and none of the cameras blocking our view.

And now, a few more thoughts hopefully worth that second cup of coffee on a Sunday morning as we ponder the day after a day it rained.

* Oh, to have had the view the families of 1936 Olympic participants Jesse Owens and Luz Long (and for today's homework assignment, look up their story) had for Saturday's competition at the world track and field championships: From the same box Adoph Hitler watched those '36 Games.

* Shaquille O'Neal, on former Phoenix Suns teammate Steve Nash being listed as executive producer of the "Shaq VS." summer TV series: "He's the Canadian Aaron Spelling, and I'm the black (Steven) Spielberg."

* Members of the Gentlemen's Club recently presented Hanford High grad Cougar Williams a $300 check to help defray some expenses as he enters Cal Poly this fall. The club president is Harold Reed and members include Ike Payne, Lamont Cook, Joe Curry, Leo Hurd, Vernon Barnes, Johnny Bowens, Willie Wills and Greg Washington.

Cal Poly, picked to repeat as Great West Conference champions, open the season Sept. 12 at home against Sacramento State. Williams was fourth on the depth chart heading into fall drills as a true freshman.

* Speaking of Sacramento State ... Ex-Bullpup DJ Maciel was listed second on the depth chart for the Hornets at tight end heading into fall drills. Sac State opens the season Sept. 5 at Nevada-Las Vegas and, after what's expected to be another rough-and-tumble trip through the Big Sky Conference, closes it Nov. 21 in the Causeway Classic vs. UC Davis.

* And speaking of UC Davis ... Hanford native Mark Tos entered fall drills as the Aggies' starting offensive left tackle. The 2006 Central Valley Christian (Visalia) grad played in all 11 games last year for Davis, which opens its season Sept. 5 at Fresno State.

Richard de Give is The Sentinel's sports editor. He can be reached at 583-2430 or rdegive@HanfordSentinel.com

(Aug. 23, 2009)