Gryphons mourn Dudley Whitley

There is sad news today in the Gryphon Nation of the passing of Dudley Whitley.

The former Blackbird won a baseball scholarship to N.C. State where he was All-ACC his final two years. After finishing his professional baseball career, Whitley returned to Rocky Mount High where he served in just about every capacity possible within the then Rocky Mount City School System from baseball coach to eventually becoming superintendent.

A memorial service will be held at 4 pm. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount.

There are those in life that leave an impression on our lives long after they have served their time and Dudley Whitley is one of those.

There is more sad news to pass along today, but this is on a personal note. I told you yesterday that we went to the beach Friday afternoon on a spur of the moment deal. We went out to eat in Nags Head and the Norfolk TV station was on a screen where I could see the news and I could only see the screen not hear it.

There was a headline where a woman was crushed by a falling tree. Come to find out that a Gates County High School coach's wife was killed when their family was returning from a holiday visit with family in Maryland.

The day was so windy that a hugh branch from an overhanging pine tree broke loose and fell as their car passed it along the highway.

Linda Edwards was killed while her husband Dave only receive cuts from the branches.

Dave was the longtime JV coach at Hertford County under both Daryl Allen and the late Carl Brock.

While we lived in Ahoskie, Daryl Allen invited his coaches and anyone who worked to help with the football program to his home after home games to watch the high school scores. It expanded where Pat and I took our turn being a host once a year.

Dave and Linda had visited our home many times as well as his.

The NFL playoffs for next week are set.

Saturday's 4.30 p.m. game will feature the Ravens at Tennessee. Then, the Saturday night headliner will have the Carolina Panthers hosting the Arizona Cardinals.

Sunday's games start at 1 p.m. with the New York Giants hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 4:30 game next Sunday will be the Chargers at Pittsburgh in a rematch of an 11-10 Pittsburgh victory six weeks ago when Pittsburgh did not score a touchdown.

The BCS Bowls crank up again tomorrow night with the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State faces Texas.

You know so far this has been a rather dull bowl year.

I can't believe what I just saw, but Carolina goes down in basketball at home to Boston College.

More on this tomorrow.