Tuesday Quarterback

There are times when you think a team is destined for victory and then there are times when you don't think victory is possible.

Things don't seem as bad tonight as on Friday as Word of God has laid a licking on St. Raymond's by 20 in the Glaxo semis. The 26-point loss Rocky Mount took on Friday is easier to take after the Gryphons brought down one of the favorites for the NCHSAA 4-A baskletball title this season.

I am really pleased that the Gryphons, after being embarrassed Friday night by Word of God in their Glaxo opener, came back today and pulled one out in overtime over North Mecklenburg, 66-62, this afternoon.

Junior forward Tashawn Mabry scored 29 for the Gryphons, but the difference was a Tevin Jones 3-pointer late in the overtime which secured the victory.

They will now play for fifth place at 12:40 Tuesday afternoon against Middle Creek.

If there was ever a game that reflected your entire season the the Papa Johns Bowl was it today for N.C. State. When healthy, Russell Wilson made the Wolfpack one of the better teams in the country, without him, one of the worst.

Behind Wilson, State cruised out to a 17-6 lead at the half. But Wolfpack fans were stunned to hear that Wilson had strained his knee late in the first half and did not return for the second half.

Like the past season had been without Wilson, the Wolfpack quarterbacks had trouble telling which team was theirs as they threw three interceptions after Wilson had gone the whole season, when healthy, throwing only one all year.

Rutgers took down the Pack, 29-23.

Whenever a two-sport star gets hurt in one, it jeopardizes the other. Wilson, who will be the second baseman on the State baseball team this year, has pro potential in baseball. The question will now arise - will he play football next season?

An entire football season may hinge on his answer for the Wolfpack.

Both the N.C. State men and women won yesterday in basketball, but for the second game in a row, Kay Yow of the N.C. State women was unable to sit on the bench for the Wolfpack ladies.

Yow's fight against breast cancer continues, but the marathon fight is taking its toll on one of the great ladies in college basketball.

I have had the priviledge to attend every one of the 'Hoops for Hope" basketball games since they started several years ago. The State women play a game each season with the proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure cancer research in honor of Kay Yow. This year's game is Feb. 15 and Virginia will be the Pack's opponent.

The coaches are falling like flies in the NFL. Eric Mangini of the Jets, who couldn't get in the playoffs with Brett Farve, is in the unemployment line today. It was expected that Detroit and Cleveland would get new coaches and they are looking.

Bill Cowher, who has fullfilled his contract obligation with the Pittsburgh Steelers by not coaching the last two years, is rumored to be heading to the Jets.