NEWS » entering his fifth season, the Bulldogs have gone 9-17

Lewis Hamilton described Sunday as the best day of his life, and why not? After a season-long battle of wits and skills he was one hard contact or reliability issue away from absolute glory or miserable failure. He now becomes only the fourth British driver, out of 143 whove tried, to win multiple World Championships, joining an elite list along with Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart.At 33 wins he is now fifth on the all-time list, with an impressive 11 in this season alone. Media talk now speculates about sports personality of the year in the UK and even suggests Sir Lewis Hamilton by New Year. No wonder he was patting and willing his car to the finish line whilst maintaining just enough pace to cover off the highly-impressive Felipe Massa in the Williams, who kept the mighty Mercs in view pretty much all race. The Sky Sports F1 team joined Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes garage to discuss his World Championship victory. Hamilton deserved the World Championship, of that there can surely be no debate. His racecraft and speed, delivered virtually error-free all season, was mighty and he never gave up when he was repeatedly many points behind his team-mate. Instead, he simply dug in and believed in his skills and personal approach and qualities. Yes of course he had a dominant car, but Nico Rosberg summed it up perfectly when he magnanimously declared that the best man won. VOTE: 25 moments for 25 years Pick your favourite moment from 25 years of Sky Sports I went to find Rosberg after the race so that I could personally tell him just how much I respected that he drove his car to the finish line despite so many technical problems. His team even offered by radio the chance to end the agony of falling back through the field and being lapped, but he soldiered on rather than parking and whinging.He once again proved to be the master of qualifying, but after the race he openly recognised that he needs to find another personal gear on race day if hes going to beat Lewis next year. That process starts immediately in the post-race test in Abu Dhabi.Weve learned this year that heres a much more steely edge to Rosberg than his fresh-faced blonde locks suggest. He can be quite cunning, and clearly massively fast and consistent but can he ever match Hamiltons sheer naturally gifted race pace and killer instinct? Will he ever be as hungry and determined? Well find out in 2015, and hell need to raise his game because Lewis will be on fire now and full of confidence. Ted asks what makes the Mercedes W05 one of F1s most dominant cars. A word for Team Brackley in conjunction with Brixworth and Stuttgart. The Mercedes was probably the most dominant car of the past few decades. It wasnt the most reliable but the engine and chassis were a marriage of exquisite technical detail and beauty.We only fleetingly saw just how good that car really could be if needed, such as after the Safety Cars in Bahrain and Singapore, and Rosberg effectively non-stopping in Russia as he drove back through the field. They won a record-breaking 16 races.Two more outstanding stars of 2014 were Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas, both of them showing that they could have challenged for the world title in a Mercedes. Ricciardo continued until the final lap to make Vettel looked ordinary this season and its no wonder Sebastian felt the time was right to high tail it to Ferrari. Red Bull have a mighty duo in Ricciardo and Kvyat for next season.Despite a lacklustre year and no Mercedes engine, Red Bull still had the momentum and quality to finish second in the World Championship. Williams had the better all-round package and if Massa wasnt involved in so many scuffles in the first half of the season they may have even finished higher than third in the constructors.But Felipe very much played his part in the welcome revival of the great Williams team along with many others who helped steer them back on course. And Bottas is a class act with a very bright future. Britain’s most raced F1 driver Jenson Button chatted to Simon Lazenby as speculation about his future went into overdrive ahead of the 2014 finale Jenson Button finished the season on especially good form as McLaren improved their car relatively speaking too. He completed more race laps than any other driver, and his wheel-to-wheel action with, and subsequent beating of, Fernando Alonso in Abu Dhabi was skilful, classy, and personal.After 15 years JB has had a very good innings with victories and a World Championship. Hes successful, healthy, wealthy and with no doubt the world at his feet in areas outside of F1. But if hes not on the grid next year, then as I said in commentary, half of the drivers who are there wouldnt hold a candle to his speed and skill.I wont go the sympathy route though because I dont believe in it and F1 is a brutal business. Jenson got into F1 because somebody else lost their ride, thats how it works. But he still has plenty to offer, although the quality of the new kids is very high as Ive already mentioned.MB Kyler Fackrell Super Bowl Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Super Bowl Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Paul-Hornung-Jersey/ . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Dean Lowry Super Bowl Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Ray Nitschke Super Bowl Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Last year proved the Mountain West can be more than just Boise State and everyone else when it comes to the conference title race, as evidenced by San Diego State winning its first outright conference crown.On the national scene, its still the Broncos and everyone else as the 2016 season begins.I know what we look like on paper, but we have no idea until we go play, Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said.As usual, Boise State is expected to be the class of the Mountain West headed into the 2016 season, a position of prominence the Broncos have held for most of the past decade. But there is a shift occurring. In fact, San Diego State was the unanimous preseason favorite to win the West Division, while Boise State earned 27 of the 29 first-place votes for the Mountain Division.So there are two clear favorites with the rest of the conference seemingly wide open and begging for an unexpected team -- perhaps New Mexico or San Jose State -- to rise up and challenge the Aztecs and Broncos.Everybody thinks that, through preseason hype, were going to be pretty good, San Diego State coach Rocky Long said. I think we have a chance to be pretty good, too. Its just a matter of us having the right attitude and staying away from injuries and playing well when we have to play well.THE FAVORITESMountain Division: Boise State is clearly the favorite of the Mountain Division thanks largely to an offense that features arguably the best quarterback in the conference (Brett Rypien), running back (Jeremy McNichols) and wide receiver (Thomas Sperbeck). But each of the past two years, Air Force has gotten the better of the Broncos. Its likely the division champion wont be decided until the Broncos visit Air Force in the regular-season finale.West Division: San Diego State is the class of the West Division. While running back Donnel Pumphrey gives the Aztecs a standout ball carrier who will help alleviate quarterback questions, its San Diego States defense thats the real star. The Aztecs allowed more than 17 points just once in the final 10 games of last season. If anyone challenges the Aztecs in the West Division, look to Nevaada and its favorable schedule.ddddddddddddOP PLAYERSBrett Rypien, QB, Boise State. Was expected to redshirt but was forced to play as a freshman due to injuries. Became a star almost immediately, throwing for 3,353 yards and 20 touchdowns.Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State. A running back few know about, despite running for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State. The former wide receiver made the full-time transition to running back last year and rushed for 1,337 yards and 20 touchdowns.Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming. Little known because of Wyomings 2-10 season, Hill topped 1,600 yards rushing.Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State. The Mountain West defensive player of the year in 2015. Kazee tied a school record with eight interceptions.NEW FACESNick Rolovich is the only newcomer to the coaching ranks in the Mountain West, taking over for Norm Chow at Hawaii.His task is significant; the Warriors have gone 11-39 over the past four seasons and have seen the interest in the program dwindle significantly on the islands. And no team in the country faces more travel to start the season. Hawaii opens the season facing California in Australia before traveling to Michigan for the second game.ON THE HOT SEATFresno State went 11-2 in Tim DeRuyters second season in charge of the Bulldogs. Now entering his fifth season, the Bulldogs have gone 9-17 over the past two seasons and are picked to finished fourth in the West Division.PREDICTIONSan Diego State should be in the championship game after winning the West Division. The schedule falls favorably for the Aztecs with no Boise State on the schedule and San Jose State at home. Heres guessing that Boise State stumbles somewhere along the way on the road -- either at New Mexico on a short week or at Air Force in the regular-season finale -- but still manages to win the Mountain Division.The championship game will be played in San Diego, but it will be the Broncos taking the conference title back to Boise. ' ' '