Eau Claire North football coach BEN KING talked about how year 2 is different than year 1 as a head football coach. The Huskies, picked by many to finish around last place, feature a massive offensive line (over 250 pounds per lineman, or 0.83 Jimmie Kaska's), another year in Ben King's system, and momentum from winning their last two games of 2010. "I'm just excited to get out there and play some football," said King. The Huskies play La Crosse Central at 3pm (2:45pm broadcast) on Sports Radio 1400 WBIZ, right here at www.sportsradio1400.com and on your smartphone with IHeartRadio, the free app.

You spend half a decade in the area and you have a hard time leaving, but DAVID BOSSICK is returning home to the Ludington Daily News next month. In the meantime, he's spent about 2 months putting together a comprehensive preview of the teams that play in Chippewa County. The outgoing sports editor of the Chippewa Herald likes Bloomer, McDonell, Chippewa Falls and Lake Holcombe as playoff qualifiers this year, and sees improvement for Stanley-Boyd, Cadott. On the 8-man football subject, New Auburn will go to it next year and Cornell is still mulling it, but David thinks it's a good idea. "It's better than the alternative--no football at all." Best wishes to David as he moves closer to home next month and thanks for his excellent coverage of sports in the area for the last 5 years. You can keep up with David on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bossick.

The man who started the discussion on 8-man football this week is TRAVIS WILSON of WisSports.net, who thinks that if a few dozen schools commit to it, that the WIAA will give them their own championship bracket. "It'll take about 40 schools, maybe fewer, but the WIAA hasn't really given it a magic number for it to happen." In the meantime, schools playing 8-man will not have a postseason. Travis projects divisions 1-3 to have some familiar names at the top, while schools like Colby (division 5), Edgar (6) and Burlington Catholic Central (7) look to have continued success in the lower divisions. It seems the schools in divisions 3-5 will see the most turnover in the rankings, and some teams to watch for this year in the immediate area include Menomonie (2), Rice Lake (3), Bloomer (4) and McDonell (7). You can follow Travis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/travisWSN.

Other stuff:

-The Leader-Telegram did another amazing job with their football preview today. Way to go, John Casper Jr. and everyone at the Leader-Telegram sports department.

-Bob Bradovich of WQOW TV-18 will return as a daily guest next week. You can check out Bob and the rest of the WQOW TV-18 and Leader-Telegram staff on their weekly football chats on Friday nights at either www.leader-telegram.com or www.wqow.com.

-Next week, we'll have look-ins at several area schools, including Fall Creek, Cadott, Augusta, and Lake Holcombe. Those teams are all playing in the Football Classic sponsored by Bob and Steve's BP Amoco Shops in Menomonie.

COMING UP FRIDAY: On the air with Mike Sullivan tomorrow. I'm bringing a vuvuzela. I'll be at Carson Park from 2-9pm. I'll be the guy wearing the shirt that says "Jimmie". There will be a Watercooler following the game if it ends before 6pm, but obviously no guests scheduled in case the game runs long.

COMING UP MONDAY: Looking at area high school football teams and scores as we recap week 1 in high school football!