November is my favorite month. Yes, it's my birthday, but the best present of all is having football and basketball playing at the same time.

This year could be one of those years football carries over into basketball season. Remember teams having to postpone their schedules because the football teams did so well in the playoffs? I'm sure Avon does, and the Eagles will likely be doing it for the first time since 1996. The '96 Eagles were so good in football, their boys basketball team picture wasn't even taken in time for the annual previews.

I'll let that be my judgment in whether the '08 Eagles are better than the '96 Eagles.

As for everyone else, it's business as usual. For a few, like North Ridgeville, Admiral King and Southview, it's business on high alert. All three teams have a ton of talent and experience back, and if they're going to make a big run at conference or postseason championships, this is their year.

Basketball seems to run in spurts with successful teams, and I think this is the end of a spurt. Last year, Elyria and Vermilion ended a long drought of big schools getting to regionals. This year, the Division I and II schools have a good chance of doing it again.

More basketball will consume my mind and many others' minds as November draws on. Until then, it's a good time to know what's coming, but, more importantly, enjoy the football runs of Avon and Norwalk St. Paul.