Jesse Hardwick

Jim Sweeney, Fresno State's football coach for 15 seasons, seems normal enough. His handshake is firm, his smile warm. There is a twinkle in his eye when he tells a funny story. Watch him closely, though. There is a decidedly oddball side to the man. Here's Sweeney becoming so enraged over an official's call earlier this season that he yanks off his shirt and throws it to the ground. "You've taken everything else from me, take my shirt, too," he's screaming at the stunned officials.

" That day, something died inside of me. There's been something missing inside of me since that day. " --Tom Goode, Bolsa Grande defensive end Bolsa Grande High School's football program reached a pinnacle in the 28-year history of the school during the course of the 1987 season. The Matadors were the toast of the county, riding a 20-game winning streak over two seasons. They were ranked No. 1 by the Orange County Sportswriters' Assn.

It is publicity month in college football, and Heisman Trophy campaign materials are filling media mailboxes around the country. One recent delivery contained the usual contents--poster with quarterback passing ball, pamphlet with player's statistics, background and Heisman credentials. The only unusual thing was the envelope's return address: University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif. You expect these things from Tigers--Auburn Tigers, Clemson Tigers, Louisiana State Tigers.

The Garden Grove League has comprised juggernauts and jugger-nots in the past, and this season should follow that form once again. The league has been represented in the last two Central Conference championship games. Bolsa Grande High School won last season, and La Quinta was the 1985 runner-up to Saddleback. But after the top two, the quality of league teams drops off a bit. The addition of former Empire League teams Pacifica and Kennedy this season should add to the league's upper division.