It’s easy to get lost, without someone to give you gooddirections.

Sacramento State athletic director Terry Wanless is a guy youcan trust to get you somewhere safe.

It’s easy to miss a turnoff when driving someplaceunfamiliar.

Once you’ve missed the turnoff you have different optionsof what to do next.

One option is to keep driving in hopes of finding another turnthat will connect you to your destination, risking a hugesetback.

The other option is to backtrack a little, costing you a smallbit of time, but giving yourself a much better shot at reachingyour destination.

Wanless took option No. 2. The smart, safer route.

He hired head football coach Steve Mooshagian, firing formercoach John Volek. Under Mooshagian, the Hornets have suffered a bitof a setback, but it’s the only way to get back on track.

The Hornets are currently 2-8, worse than last year’s 5-7mark, but when a program is being restructured you have to expect adrop off in results.

In Volek’s first season at Sac State he went 4-6-1, worsethan the previous year’s 5-5 record. He then 2-20 over thenext two seasons.

It twasn’t until Volek’s fifth season before hefinished with a winning record.

This time, things should transition quite a bit quicker.

Next season the Hornets will bring back arguably the best threeoffensive players in the Big Sky with quarterback Ryan Leadingham,running back Tryonne Gross and wide receiver Fred Amey.

Having these guys healthy, along with a greater mix of newplayers more fit to Mooshagian’s program, should bring muchbetter results.

If the results aren’t there next season though, there areno more excuses.

Further thoughts:

– What’s the deal with movies or T.V. shows set in collegewhere a school bell rings to signal the end of class?

Are there campuses where this actually happens? These are thethings that keep me up at night.

– I can’t believe Dontrelle Willis won the National Leaguerookie of the year over Diamondbacks’ starting pitcherBrandon Webb.

– Was the World Series ring not enough? Willis did jumpstart theMarlins, but his second half was horrible.

Look at Willis’ overall numbers (14-6, 3.30 ERA, 142strikeouts) vs. Webb’s (10-9, 2.84 ERA, 172 strikeouts).

– Other than run support, Webb won in essentially ever majorstatistical category. The one category he didn’t lead in:marketability.

Willis became the LeBron James of baseball this season. Theleague figured him out after the all-star break when he went 5-5with a 4.60 ERA.

It’s a good thing playoffs don’t weigh in on thevoting because he was no better in the playoffs, going 0-1 with ahorrendous 8.53 ERA.

– As my buddy Bob pointed out, “The basketball uniform isthe worst of all the uniforms a person can wear out in public.

For starters, do you wear it as a tank top, or do you look likean idiot and sport the short sleeve T-shirt underneath? Thenwhat?

Do you tuck it in and look like a pansy, or leave it out andwhere it like a moo-moo?” I think he makes some excellentpoints.

– The 49ers rank up there with “Playmakers” as themost inconsistent, yet still intriguing forms of entertainment outthere. Like “Playmakers,” the 49ers bring a differentstoryline every week:

Story lines include:

1. Whiny wide receiver hates coach, so coach gets fired, butthen whiny receiver decides he hates the new system and continuesto whine his way off the team.

2. Young quarterback begins pushing out older, pro-bowlquarterback.

Fans love new quarterback…rumors revolve around oldquarterback.

3. Young running back challenges for job of older, injury pronerunning back.

As for the inconsistency:

1. Cedrick Wilson goes down against the Rams and the 49ers winin regulation. The 49ers don’t lose coin flip and formerkicker Jeff Chandler doesn’t kick the overtime kickoff out ofbounds (Rams 27, 49ers 24).

2. Beasley is awarded goal line touchdown when he was clearly inthe end zone against the Browns and the 49ers hold the Browns on alast minute drive (Browns 13, 49ers 12).

3. Former kicker Owen Pochman makes his extra point or Hearstdoesn’t fumble on last drive (Seahawks 20, 49ers 19).

4. Pochman doesn’t miss both of his field goal attempts(Arizona 16, 49ers 13).

With a few different bounces, this team is 8-1.

… and if Jose Cruz didn’t drop a fly ball and…alright, whatever.

If you want to discuss the Warriors’ looming NBAchampionship, come see me at the women’s basketball game onWednesday night or email me at [email protected]