The seasons move as quickly as Fat Albert making his way to the grand opening of a North’s Chuck Wagon buffet.

It seems as though graduation was just yesterday, and the spring sports seasons had their final awards ceremonies to give kudos where kudos were due.

And yet here we are. Another fall sports season is upon us. All of the fall sports teams – football, girls and boys soccer, cross country, volleyball and cheerleading – have begun their practices. 

Coaches are preparing game plans for the opponents they will face in pre-season, regular season and post-season play.

Athletes are working hard to be the best they can be – or to be the best their coaches can make them be – and hopefully their coaches are researching ways to get the most out of their athletes as they can, without grinding them into so much hamburger to put on Fat Albert’s plate.

I’m sure high hopes abound for victories and improvement over last year’s performances, and I, like all BHHS fans, look forward to an exciting season.

I’m going to make some predictions for the teams.

I’m predicting winning seasons for all of our teams. There, I said it. Winning seasons. This is not a sports writer’s jinx, it is prophecy.

Girls soccer ­– I think that the girls soccer program will find some tough competition this year in their Far West League opponents, and has the most difficult of all the fall sports schedules.

First of all, it is Head Coach Fred Juarez’ second year as head coach. Sophomore seasons tend to be difficult for coaches as they try to figure out what worked the previous season, and implement it without second guessing themselves into an abyss. Juarez has been studying the game for a long time and had what seemed to be a recipe for success last year – let’s hope he adds all the same spices to the pot this year.

Second, the girls team will be looking for their fifth straight Far West League title. If anything puts a target on a team’s back, it’s top-dog syndrome. Everyone is gunning for the top dogs to pull them down from their cloud and grind them into the mud.

Third, the girls team lost five starting seniors including Jillian McCool and Ashley Juarez. We’re going to see a fairly young team; not just in terms of age, but also in terms of last season’s playing time. 

Experience is key. It’s why so many teams winning high school championships have a team made up mostly of seniors.

Do the girls have what it takes? I think so. League title shot? Sure. State title shot? Remains to be seen.

The problem that faces the Lady Bruins is the same that faces all the teams in Brookings – location, location, location.

Because we’re so isolated in Curry County we don’t have as many opportunities to face top-tier teams from all over the state. We end up dominating our league, but when we get to the state playoff stage, we’re unprepared for the level of play.

Most of the BHHS coaches are combating that by scheduling games and tournaments with teams that are perennial powerhouses, thus allowing our players to garner valuable experience.

Boys soccer – One of the tightest programs in fall sports regarding plans and challenges facing the team, the BHHS boys soccer team has the ability to be league champions this year.

A fresh crop of talented incoming freshman will give the boys program some much needed refreshment and might even change the look of the program.

Head Coach Pancho Garcia is a student of the game and, with an assistant coach who understands his vision and has the best interests of the athletes, will lead the team to a winning season.

Volleyball – The volleyball team lost a number of key players to graduation last year, but I think that they could compete for a league title this year.

If they can harness the moments of brilliance that they had last year and string together a line of league wins, instead of being sporadic masters of the court, they’ll be awesome.

Cheerleading – Sport? Not a sport? Ha-ha-ha ... I’m sure that the cheerleading squad will be at the home football games, leading the fans in their frenzied screams. Of course, they don’t compete during the fall season, they just get ready. And to be completely honest, I’ve got no clue. We’ll see how it looks and I’ll make my predictions in December.

Cross Country – who will fill the shoes of Ally Manley? Cross country is such an individual sport that making a team prediction can be extremely difficult. 

I know that the boys team got an infusion of life blood with the incoming freshman class. I know that some of Ally’s running mates are going to try to fill her shoes. 

Will it be enough for a League championship? I hope so. I want to see Head Coach Terry Axel jump in a lake again.

Football – The sport that got me writing my column for today.

If the plays being run at the Gold Beach Football Camp are any indication of the direction that Head Coach Joe Morin is taking our Bruins, I’m excited for this season.

One peanut thrown from the gallery often last year was “not enough passing plays,” from a number of fans.

I agreed last year. There weren’t enough passing plays, but I was always quick to remind those with the opinion, that it was Morin’s team to lead and he would play the style of football that would get him the most wins.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved watching the running backs, fullbacks and halfbacks score touchdown after touchdown, but there is something exciting about an air attack game that adds pizzazz to the game. 

I wanted some of that. I understand the need to have a quarterback and receiver team that can connect on a physical, and metaphysical, level, and I think that Morin has it now. 

I think we’ll all be pleased this season with the diversity of plays called down from the booth at Bankus field.

I believe that this is the year for a resurgence of the Bruin football program. 

Just like Fat Albert destroying a North’s Chuck Wagon, the Bruin football program is going to make a mess of their Far West League opponents and take the championship.

Go Bruins!