If you are a regular reader you may have noticed that a couple of weeks back we reported that Volley ball lost at Southwest Edgecombe. I will give you a refresher course. Morgan, our daughter is one of the managers of the volley ball team. She is a member of the Tar River Chorus and Thursday night is the only night each week that practice occurs. Whenever Volley ball plays away Morgan leaves after the JV game to go to TRCC practice.
The night at Southwest I rode to Pinetops and picked her up and carried her to TRCC. After practice she called a teammate and heard that the volleyball team had lost. About a week later Morgan e-mails me and say Coach Wilcox says we have lost only one game which was South Central.
Today the team learned that Southwest had to forfeit the match because of an ineligible player. So as of last nights come back win over Hunt the Volleyball team stands at 13-1. They are 7-0 in conference play.
A victory at Fike Thursday will clinch a tie and the #1 seed in the conference tournament which be held at Southern Nash Starting October 13th.
Girls Tennis won on Tuesday to run their record to 11-3. Their hopes of any part of a tie for 1st will be on the line as they play at Fike Thursday. Fike defeated them earlier this year in Rocky Mount 7-2. As far back as the NEW-6 conference Fike and Rocky Mount have battled it out with Fike having the upper hand mostly. Thursday's match in terms of importance is HUGH.
Just this minute found out that soccer won at Southern Nash tonight 6-1. That gives the boys a 11-1-2 record and 3-1 in conference action. their next game is Monday against Northern at Rocky Mount. If Football plays Friday as scheduled I will be doing the Northern game for TV.
I think right now Northern is like 9-4 so Monday's game shapes up to be a Donne Brook. Game time is 5.00 pm
URGENT
As I sit behind this computer tonight more news and this is not good for the football team. Senior Carter Varnell reinjured his knee in practice Monday. In all likely hood he has been lost for the season.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Volley Ball Plays With Heart
There are just some days that it is best that you stay home and hide. Monday was possibly the worse practice of the year for the Lady Gryphons. Today at game time there are three players missing for various reasons.
Hunt came to the gym Tuesday being the only conference member to take the Lady Gryphons to five sets. Hunt quickly won the first two games by 25-18 scores. Game three didn't start much better and the Ladys found themselves staring their first conference defeat of the season in the face.
The first two sets Hunt was better than the Lady Gryphons at the net but starting in game three the Lady Gryphons pushed the Warriors away from the net where the match evened up and the tide turn towards the blue and Gold.
When there was net play Timesha Walker, Brittany Battle and KaShunn Seabreeze began to win the net. Kendria Worley the Lady Gryphon Libearo controlled the back line. Heather Hunter, Michelle Parker, Nakia Hudley. Lauren Campbell,Kasey Cooke and Sydney Browder all had their big moments help the Lady Gryphons pull even at two sets a piece.
The tie breaker there was never any doubt as the team that had the momentum the Lady Gryphons won the tie breaker 15-10 to remain unbeaten in Big East play at 7-0.
The Lady Gryphons had every reason to lose today. Three top players missing and down 0-2 after two sets. Some times those players that don't play as much have to step up in order for the team to get better as the season wears on. Those players stepped forward tonight bringing the Lady Gryphons all the way back.
The beauty of sports is when you get you chance you must take advantage of the situation. Tonight may very well be the making of the 2009 Volleyball team. I don't know whether they have enough size to make a run deep into the playoffs or not, but tonight the Lady Gryphon Volley ball team found other ways other than height to pull victory from defeat.
Tab Wilcox can be proud of their effort.
Monday night the soccer team won their tenth game beating Fike by a 4-1 score. They are now 10-1-2 on this season.
Hunt came to the gym Tuesday being the only conference member to take the Lady Gryphons to five sets. Hunt quickly won the first two games by 25-18 scores. Game three didn't start much better and the Ladys found themselves staring their first conference defeat of the season in the face.
The first two sets Hunt was better than the Lady Gryphons at the net but starting in game three the Lady Gryphons pushed the Warriors away from the net where the match evened up and the tide turn towards the blue and Gold.
When there was net play Timesha Walker, Brittany Battle and KaShunn Seabreeze began to win the net. Kendria Worley the Lady Gryphon Libearo controlled the back line. Heather Hunter, Michelle Parker, Nakia Hudley. Lauren Campbell,Kasey Cooke and Sydney Browder all had their big moments help the Lady Gryphons pull even at two sets a piece.
The tie breaker there was never any doubt as the team that had the momentum the Lady Gryphons won the tie breaker 15-10 to remain unbeaten in Big East play at 7-0.
The Lady Gryphons had every reason to lose today. Three top players missing and down 0-2 after two sets. Some times those players that don't play as much have to step up in order for the team to get better as the season wears on. Those players stepped forward tonight bringing the Lady Gryphons all the way back.
The beauty of sports is when you get you chance you must take advantage of the situation. Tonight may very well be the making of the 2009 Volleyball team. I don't know whether they have enough size to make a run deep into the playoffs or not, but tonight the Lady Gryphon Volley ball team found other ways other than height to pull victory from defeat.
Tab Wilcox can be proud of their effort.
Monday night the soccer team won their tenth game beating Fike by a 4-1 score. They are now 10-1-2 on this season.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Pivotal Sports week At RMHS
After taking a week off football gets back into action Friday night hosting Greenville Rose. This is the last non-conference game before we hit the conference trail. We really need that this off week was a chance to get those injured back in action and hopfully the flu bug will have run it's course by kickoff. Rose is a home game Friday night.
Volleyball who stands at 12-1 overall and 6-0 in the Big East starts the week out Tuesday against the only team in the conference that has taken them to five sets Hunt. JV's and varsity are home Tuesday.
Thursday is a trip to Fike but the week is not over as this Saturday the volleyball team will play in a tournament at South Central and SC is the only team to beat the Lady Gryphons this year.
Girls tennis is 10-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play but I have a real interesting stat for you. Fike is the only team in conference to beat us this year, in fact in all other matches not one of our girls has been beaten in any match. So our five conference wins have all been white washes.
They face Hunt Tuesday and the biggie Thursday at Fike.
Boys soccer is 9-1-2 over all on the season and they stand at 5-1 in conference play. They must rebound after their first loss at Hunt last week.
Cross County runs Wednesday at Northern Nash as the entire conference will be there.
Fall sports other than football only has two weeks worth of conference games left until the playoffs start. If the season ended today Volleyball would be a champion, Tennis and Soccer would be the #2 seeds from our league in the playoffs which means everyone should get at least one home game in the playoffs.
Fall sports in doing really well.
Volleyball who stands at 12-1 overall and 6-0 in the Big East starts the week out Tuesday against the only team in the conference that has taken them to five sets Hunt. JV's and varsity are home Tuesday.
Thursday is a trip to Fike but the week is not over as this Saturday the volleyball team will play in a tournament at South Central and SC is the only team to beat the Lady Gryphons this year.
Girls tennis is 10-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play but I have a real interesting stat for you. Fike is the only team in conference to beat us this year, in fact in all other matches not one of our girls has been beaten in any match. So our five conference wins have all been white washes.
They face Hunt Tuesday and the biggie Thursday at Fike.
Boys soccer is 9-1-2 over all on the season and they stand at 5-1 in conference play. They must rebound after their first loss at Hunt last week.
Cross County runs Wednesday at Northern Nash as the entire conference will be there.
Fall sports other than football only has two weeks worth of conference games left until the playoffs start. If the season ended today Volleyball would be a champion, Tennis and Soccer would be the #2 seeds from our league in the playoffs which means everyone should get at least one home game in the playoffs.
Fall sports in doing really well.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Time For Bobby To Retire
If your team is Florida State, the last five years have to be painful. Bobby Bowden who left West Virginia in the 70's and built the Seminoles into for a fifteen year stretch the best program in college football.
What three or four years ago it was announced that Jimbo Fisher was the head coach in waiting. Since then Bowden has just been a figure head and Florida State is no longer a top five football program. Bowden gets credit for the wins trying to stay close to Joe Paterno at Penn State. Already this year the Seminoles are 0-2 against other Florida teams and haven't played Florida yet.
I know we have a long way to go in the high school football season but the Tarboro and Southwest Edgecombe game probably needs to be moved to Rocky Mount to hold the crowd that will be there for that one. I think every person who can walk from Edgecombe County will watch that one.
There was a time in college football where the haves would beat the have nots by a 65-10 score. If you look at the scores this year the field has leveled off somewhat. No longer does a Troy show up at a Alabama just for a $300,000 pay day but they expect to win.
You can credit the 85 scholarship limit for that. No longer can the Alabama's horde all the good players just so Auburn can't get them.
Even though they lost today, I sure do like the way Mike Singletary has the 49's playing.
Monday night football will feature the Carolina Panthers against Dallas. One big problem the TV schedule people have is they can only guess how well teams are going to do. After winning 12 games last year Carolina lost their nose guard the first week of the preseason and their season has only gotten worst.
Under John Fox it does seem the Panthers have come up big when they were at their worse. Fox needs to get it turned around, Bill Cowher is sitting in Raleigh.
What three or four years ago it was announced that Jimbo Fisher was the head coach in waiting. Since then Bowden has just been a figure head and Florida State is no longer a top five football program. Bowden gets credit for the wins trying to stay close to Joe Paterno at Penn State. Already this year the Seminoles are 0-2 against other Florida teams and haven't played Florida yet.
I know we have a long way to go in the high school football season but the Tarboro and Southwest Edgecombe game probably needs to be moved to Rocky Mount to hold the crowd that will be there for that one. I think every person who can walk from Edgecombe County will watch that one.
There was a time in college football where the haves would beat the have nots by a 65-10 score. If you look at the scores this year the field has leveled off somewhat. No longer does a Troy show up at a Alabama just for a $300,000 pay day but they expect to win.
You can credit the 85 scholarship limit for that. No longer can the Alabama's horde all the good players just so Auburn can't get them.
Even though they lost today, I sure do like the way Mike Singletary has the 49's playing.
Monday night football will feature the Carolina Panthers against Dallas. One big problem the TV schedule people have is they can only guess how well teams are going to do. After winning 12 games last year Carolina lost their nose guard the first week of the preseason and their season has only gotten worst.
Under John Fox it does seem the Panthers have come up big when they were at their worse. Fox needs to get it turned around, Bill Cowher is sitting in Raleigh.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Another Football Saturday
Got a chance to watch Norfolk State play on ESPN-U Saturday night and the starting left tackle is Kendall Noble. Noble now a sophomore has grown just a little since leaving Rocky Mount High. He stands at 6 feet four inches tall and weights two hundred ninety five pounds. Two more years Kendall may be playing in the NFL.
Terrell Hudgins needed fourteen receptions today to tie as the all time pass catcher in the Football Championship Series. He got twelve catches for one hundred thirty eight yards. He needs just three at Furman next Saturday. If you can find it that game will be on Sports South. Elon won 28-14 over Georgia Southern.
Stephan Virgil returned back to action today for Virginia Tech as he had six assisted tackles. He was part of the Hokie defense that took JaCory Harris out of the running for the Heisman Trophy for Miami. Tech 31 Miami 7.
Everyone has been calling N C State the best team in the FCS after two weeks of scoring one hundred points against Division two team. Today N C State made steps that they haven't made since Philip Rivers left Raleigh six years ago. Pittsburgh is the preseason favorite to win the Big East but clearly in the fourth quarter the Wolfpack dominated the Panthers to win 38-31.
North Carolina's dreams of an undefeated season ended on Georgia Tech's first drive of the game. Carolina rushed for seventeen yards for the day and were never in this one. Tech 24-Carolina 7.
Wake Forest fumbles on the five yard line in overtime and loses to Boston College 27-24. What a heart breaking way to lose on a first down from the five.
Duke and North Carolina Central played for the first time ever and for the first half it was a very competitive game. However the second half was all Duke as they beat the Eagles 49-14. Get out the record book. When was the last time Duke put 49 on any body?
ECU had a struggle but they win against Central Florida 19-14. Good news for ECU fans. Notre Dame pulled a win out of their butt tonight against Purdue which for the time being has saved Charlie Weis's job at Notre Dame at least for another week. If the Pirates have a winning season they will have a hard time holding on to Skip Holtz.
Over the past thirty games in Major league baseball the Atlanta Braves have the best record. Another win today and with a week to go the Braves are now just two and a half games out of the wild card spot in the National league.
Terrell Hudgins needed fourteen receptions today to tie as the all time pass catcher in the Football Championship Series. He got twelve catches for one hundred thirty eight yards. He needs just three at Furman next Saturday. If you can find it that game will be on Sports South. Elon won 28-14 over Georgia Southern.
Stephan Virgil returned back to action today for Virginia Tech as he had six assisted tackles. He was part of the Hokie defense that took JaCory Harris out of the running for the Heisman Trophy for Miami. Tech 31 Miami 7.
Everyone has been calling N C State the best team in the FCS after two weeks of scoring one hundred points against Division two team. Today N C State made steps that they haven't made since Philip Rivers left Raleigh six years ago. Pittsburgh is the preseason favorite to win the Big East but clearly in the fourth quarter the Wolfpack dominated the Panthers to win 38-31.
North Carolina's dreams of an undefeated season ended on Georgia Tech's first drive of the game. Carolina rushed for seventeen yards for the day and were never in this one. Tech 24-Carolina 7.
Wake Forest fumbles on the five yard line in overtime and loses to Boston College 27-24. What a heart breaking way to lose on a first down from the five.
Duke and North Carolina Central played for the first time ever and for the first half it was a very competitive game. However the second half was all Duke as they beat the Eagles 49-14. Get out the record book. When was the last time Duke put 49 on any body?
ECU had a struggle but they win against Central Florida 19-14. Good news for ECU fans. Notre Dame pulled a win out of their butt tonight against Purdue which for the time being has saved Charlie Weis's job at Notre Dame at least for another week. If the Pirates have a winning season they will have a hard time holding on to Skip Holtz.
Over the past thirty games in Major league baseball the Atlanta Braves have the best record. Another win today and with a week to go the Braves are now just two and a half games out of the wild card spot in the National league.
College Record Could Fall Saturday
It 's not out of the realm of possibility that Saturday afternoon Former Rocky Mount High star Terrell Hudgins could become the all time leader in reception in the FCS history.
Hudgins needs fourteen catches to break the record. It will not be easy as Elon host Georgia Southern on Saturday. Good luck Terrell! If he stays healthy next week for sure.
Since I stayed home tonight with no game on the docket I did a lot of web surfing and I ran across something of interest. Brian Goodwin Freshman baseball player at North Carolina will be wearing #27 for the Tar Heels. To me 27 is a great number as Jim Catfish Hunter wore that number for nines years when he played for the A's. He wore #29 while he was with the Yankees because Mickey Rivers already had 27.
Now lets get Down to what Friday nights are all about.
The clash of the unbeatens in Pinetops saw Southwest Edgecombe host Kinston as the Eastern Plains Conference schedule began. Like last week against Rocky Mount the Cougars jump to an early 14-0 lead and run the clock out from there. SWE 28- Kinston 13
The other Eastern Plains unbeaten Tarboro hit the road but like the Big East a road game is not very far away. Tarboro made a stop on Highway 11 at North Pitt and stayed just long enough to wipe out the Panthers 49-7. Since losing their starting quarterback the Vikings have hardly noticed.
The southern most portion of the Big East Hunt traveled to C B Aycock and after winning their first three game the Warriors seemed like a super year was under way. C B Aycock stays unbeaten as they clip Hunt 13-7. Hunt drops to 3-1 on the ledger. In Wilson Fike who I can't figure out at all beats Eastern Wayne 23-14 to secure their second win of the season.
Nash Central hoping to win their second game in a row took on Bunn but Nash Central needed twenty to win the game. They could only muster 13. Bunn 19 Bulldogs 13.
Northern Nash outscored Southern Vance in the second half 2-0, The Knights only problem is they were down 22-14 at the half. Twice in the fourth quarter Northern was intercepted deep in SV territory. Close but no cigar for Northern 22-16 at Southern Vance.
Next Friday night Rose comes to Rocky Mount and tonight they were beaten at Scotland County 29-19.
I don't know if this makes any Gryphon fans feel any better but both teams to beat Rocky Mount remained undefeated SWE and Hertford County a 49-7 winner over Elizabeth City. Northeastern
Hudgins needs fourteen catches to break the record. It will not be easy as Elon host Georgia Southern on Saturday. Good luck Terrell! If he stays healthy next week for sure.
Since I stayed home tonight with no game on the docket I did a lot of web surfing and I ran across something of interest. Brian Goodwin Freshman baseball player at North Carolina will be wearing #27 for the Tar Heels. To me 27 is a great number as Jim Catfish Hunter wore that number for nines years when he played for the A's. He wore #29 while he was with the Yankees because Mickey Rivers already had 27.
Now lets get Down to what Friday nights are all about.
The clash of the unbeatens in Pinetops saw Southwest Edgecombe host Kinston as the Eastern Plains Conference schedule began. Like last week against Rocky Mount the Cougars jump to an early 14-0 lead and run the clock out from there. SWE 28- Kinston 13
The other Eastern Plains unbeaten Tarboro hit the road but like the Big East a road game is not very far away. Tarboro made a stop on Highway 11 at North Pitt and stayed just long enough to wipe out the Panthers 49-7. Since losing their starting quarterback the Vikings have hardly noticed.
The southern most portion of the Big East Hunt traveled to C B Aycock and after winning their first three game the Warriors seemed like a super year was under way. C B Aycock stays unbeaten as they clip Hunt 13-7. Hunt drops to 3-1 on the ledger. In Wilson Fike who I can't figure out at all beats Eastern Wayne 23-14 to secure their second win of the season.
Nash Central hoping to win their second game in a row took on Bunn but Nash Central needed twenty to win the game. They could only muster 13. Bunn 19 Bulldogs 13.
Northern Nash outscored Southern Vance in the second half 2-0, The Knights only problem is they were down 22-14 at the half. Twice in the fourth quarter Northern was intercepted deep in SV territory. Close but no cigar for Northern 22-16 at Southern Vance.
Next Friday night Rose comes to Rocky Mount and tonight they were beaten at Scotland County 29-19.
I don't know if this makes any Gryphon fans feel any better but both teams to beat Rocky Mount remained undefeated SWE and Hertford County a 49-7 winner over Elizabeth City. Northeastern
Friday, September 25, 2009
Girls Fall Sports
So far this school year the girls have held up their end of the bargain in athletic achievement at Rocky Mount high school.
Volley ball knocked off Nash Central for the third time this year 3-0 to win their 6th conference game without a loss. The wins are coming so fast I think last night was #13 on the year.
Tennis has had two matches this week and in a total of eighteen games not one of our girls has lost. Yesterday girls tennis took down Nash central 9-0.
Cross country girls finished third in a Wednesday meet at Nash Central. I have noticed that all conference teams are running in at least one event each week against all conference members. I like that better than just going up head to head each week against just one other team. The more runners in any event gives everyone a good idea of how they are doing stacked up against better competition.
For the first time this year boys soccer tasted defeat. Wednesday night Drew Nick the Gryphons head soccer coach returned to his old coaching grounds and ran into an inspired Hunt team still made up of players who played for him two years ago. Gryphons go down 3-1.
The football team is off tonight. I have heard a lot of talk about people traveling tonight to Southwest Edgecombe to see the biggest game in the area.
Kinston at Southwest Edgecombe. The Eastern Plains has three teams in the top Five in the 2-A polls. Tonight starts their conference play and one of the giants will be behind after tonight. Kinston brings in a all round offense to take on the smash mouth Cougars. This is a giant of a game. SWE is limping around a little bit after the Rocky Mount game last week. I going to take SWE in this one but this may go to the wire. I would not be surprised if Kinston wins. SWE 22 Kinston 20.
Tarboro when compared to Kinston and Southwest has a much easier first game. They will take down North Pitt 28-6.
Eastern Wayne travels to Fike. Fike goes down again 34-20. C B Aycock plays at Hunt tonight and at this point I am not really sure if Hunt is as good as I thought they would be. I am sticking with Hunt but I am nervous about this one . Hunt 24 Aycock 20.
Nash Central found the win column for the first time last week. Sometimes finding out how to win is all any team needs to change their entire season. Will Bunn be a victim tonight? I doubt it, Bunn 26 Nash Central 18.
Northern continues to look for a win. The Knights are in a four year slide where they always find a way to lose. Mickey Crouch is doing all he can to change the direction of the program. The biggest problem for Northern this year is lack of numbers on the field. They are giving all they have each Friday Night, but with small numbers of players the bruises and injuries take their toll as the season goes on both mentally and physically. Northern will have to wait another week for a victory. Southern Vance 26 Northern 10.
Volley ball knocked off Nash Central for the third time this year 3-0 to win their 6th conference game without a loss. The wins are coming so fast I think last night was #13 on the year.
Tennis has had two matches this week and in a total of eighteen games not one of our girls has lost. Yesterday girls tennis took down Nash central 9-0.
Cross country girls finished third in a Wednesday meet at Nash Central. I have noticed that all conference teams are running in at least one event each week against all conference members. I like that better than just going up head to head each week against just one other team. The more runners in any event gives everyone a good idea of how they are doing stacked up against better competition.
For the first time this year boys soccer tasted defeat. Wednesday night Drew Nick the Gryphons head soccer coach returned to his old coaching grounds and ran into an inspired Hunt team still made up of players who played for him two years ago. Gryphons go down 3-1.
The football team is off tonight. I have heard a lot of talk about people traveling tonight to Southwest Edgecombe to see the biggest game in the area.
Kinston at Southwest Edgecombe. The Eastern Plains has three teams in the top Five in the 2-A polls. Tonight starts their conference play and one of the giants will be behind after tonight. Kinston brings in a all round offense to take on the smash mouth Cougars. This is a giant of a game. SWE is limping around a little bit after the Rocky Mount game last week. I going to take SWE in this one but this may go to the wire. I would not be surprised if Kinston wins. SWE 22 Kinston 20.
Tarboro when compared to Kinston and Southwest has a much easier first game. They will take down North Pitt 28-6.
Eastern Wayne travels to Fike. Fike goes down again 34-20. C B Aycock plays at Hunt tonight and at this point I am not really sure if Hunt is as good as I thought they would be. I am sticking with Hunt but I am nervous about this one . Hunt 24 Aycock 20.
Nash Central found the win column for the first time last week. Sometimes finding out how to win is all any team needs to change their entire season. Will Bunn be a victim tonight? I doubt it, Bunn 26 Nash Central 18.
Northern continues to look for a win. The Knights are in a four year slide where they always find a way to lose. Mickey Crouch is doing all he can to change the direction of the program. The biggest problem for Northern this year is lack of numbers on the field. They are giving all they have each Friday Night, but with small numbers of players the bruises and injuries take their toll as the season goes on both mentally and physically. Northern will have to wait another week for a victory. Southern Vance 26 Northern 10.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sickness is Spreading
Flu like symptoms are spreading through the county and Rocky Mount is not immune. Several coaches and players from various teams have been hit this week with the bug. I would not go as far to say it's the Swine Flu,but a lesser fever and severe cold.
Bobby Cox has announced that 2010 will be his last year as manager of the Atlanta Braves. There was a time when we could all watch every Atlanta games on the cable every night.
Sometimes timing plays a big part in what you watch or root for. Having spent two summers growing up on the Legion fields in Ahoskie when Jimmy Hunter played for Post 102, naturally every time the A's played on tv or were on the East Coast where you could pick up their games on radio I rooted hard for Jimmy.
Hunter retired in 1979 from baseball and it just so happened that the cable system in September of 1979 started carrying the Atlanta Braves. With my man retired I picked up and started rooting for Dale Murphy.
Bobby Cox has been the Braves manager for like 22 of the 31 years since then.
The American economy is really in the toilet. When a Russian comes to New York and buys the majority ownership in a NBA team the New Jersey Nets you know times are bad. I don't know how to pronounce the guys name but he is investing 160 million American dollars or 330 Billion Rubles.
Only two games have been played in the NFL season so far which means you can't tell a thing about how the season is going. Injuries play such a big part. Baltimore seems to be everyone's pick to be the best right now. I don't know if I would go out on the limb yet about the Ravens. Their defense has given up at least 20 in both games.
I wish I had confidence in New Orleans at the rate they are scoring right now. I just don't see that continuing all season.
Don't be surprised if after Sunday the Detroit Lions have their first win of the season. The Redskins just might be their first victim.
Bobby Cox has announced that 2010 will be his last year as manager of the Atlanta Braves. There was a time when we could all watch every Atlanta games on the cable every night.
Sometimes timing plays a big part in what you watch or root for. Having spent two summers growing up on the Legion fields in Ahoskie when Jimmy Hunter played for Post 102, naturally every time the A's played on tv or were on the East Coast where you could pick up their games on radio I rooted hard for Jimmy.
Hunter retired in 1979 from baseball and it just so happened that the cable system in September of 1979 started carrying the Atlanta Braves. With my man retired I picked up and started rooting for Dale Murphy.
Bobby Cox has been the Braves manager for like 22 of the 31 years since then.
The American economy is really in the toilet. When a Russian comes to New York and buys the majority ownership in a NBA team the New Jersey Nets you know times are bad. I don't know how to pronounce the guys name but he is investing 160 million American dollars or 330 Billion Rubles.
Only two games have been played in the NFL season so far which means you can't tell a thing about how the season is going. Injuries play such a big part. Baltimore seems to be everyone's pick to be the best right now. I don't know if I would go out on the limb yet about the Ravens. Their defense has given up at least 20 in both games.
I wish I had confidence in New Orleans at the rate they are scoring right now. I just don't see that continuing all season.
Don't be surprised if after Sunday the Detroit Lions have their first win of the season. The Redskins just might be their first victim.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Gryphons VS Knights
Tuesday saw Tennis and Volleyball collide with Northern Nash and the blue and gold came out on top.
The girls Tennis team sweep past the Ladys of Northern Nash. So far this tennis season the only conference lost that the Lady Gryphons have suffered was at the hands of tennis powerhouse Fike. The victory over Northern now gets the Lady Gryphons to 9-3 on the season.
The Volley ball team has played half of their conference schedule and after playing everyone once remains undefeated in conference action. Overall on the season the Volley ball team has been beaten only once and that was to South Central .
Had a chance to speak to Debbie Webb after last Thursday's match. The former Volley ball coach is keeping a close eye out even though she is now in the Grand Mother business full time.
I don't know how many of you have watched the Durham Bulls any at all this year on the cable. Last night the Bulls won the Triple A championship beating Memphis in a one game winner take all for the title. They won on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eleventh.
This weekend Duke and North Carolina Central will play a football game against each other for the first time in history. Talk about a win win situation for both teams. Now that Central has stepped up to Division one football, this should be a annual event for the city of Durham. The Down East Classic of Durham.
Plaxico Burress started his jail time yesterday which should last about twenty months. Burress probably should have shot someone else instead of himself and he might have got less jail time.
The new rage in the NFL is the Wildcat offense. Can someone please explain to me what is so complicated about snapping the ball to a running back and he takes off and runs. Maybe the high price coaches of the NFL are not as great as advertised. Any high school coach can figure out how to stop it.
The girls Tennis team sweep past the Ladys of Northern Nash. So far this tennis season the only conference lost that the Lady Gryphons have suffered was at the hands of tennis powerhouse Fike. The victory over Northern now gets the Lady Gryphons to 9-3 on the season.
The Volley ball team has played half of their conference schedule and after playing everyone once remains undefeated in conference action. Overall on the season the Volley ball team has been beaten only once and that was to South Central .
Had a chance to speak to Debbie Webb after last Thursday's match. The former Volley ball coach is keeping a close eye out even though she is now in the Grand Mother business full time.
I don't know how many of you have watched the Durham Bulls any at all this year on the cable. Last night the Bulls won the Triple A championship beating Memphis in a one game winner take all for the title. They won on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eleventh.
This weekend Duke and North Carolina Central will play a football game against each other for the first time in history. Talk about a win win situation for both teams. Now that Central has stepped up to Division one football, this should be a annual event for the city of Durham. The Down East Classic of Durham.
Plaxico Burress started his jail time yesterday which should last about twenty months. Burress probably should have shot someone else instead of himself and he might have got less jail time.
The new rage in the NFL is the Wildcat offense. Can someone please explain to me what is so complicated about snapping the ball to a running back and he takes off and runs. Maybe the high price coaches of the NFL are not as great as advertised. Any high school coach can figure out how to stop it.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
What Ever Happened To Ground Can't Cause Fumble
Rules are put in regardless of whether it's football or safety at work for everyone's betterment. Sometimes what seems like a good rule doesn't turn out to be that way.
The NFL has for several years had a rule that a receiver had to maintain a hold of the ball all the way to the ground on an out of bounds play even after you hit the ground. This year they have made that rule for all catches, inbounds or not.
There are not many plays when receivers don't hold on to the ball once they are slammed to the ground. The ball pops out a lot after contact with the ground. Talk about disrupting the game. Just about every pass play where the receiver is knocked to the ground will have to be reviewed to see if he held on.
The NFL needs to scrap this rule quick.
Last night the Gryphon soccer team opened conference play with a 4-0 shutout of Nash Central. My recollection was that the soccer team lost a lot of seniors last year and were not suppose to be this good this year.
Tonight Volley ball has a match with a team from just down the road Northern Nash. If they win they will have made it through the first round of conference play going undefeated. Varsity plays at 5.30 or just after the JV match at 4.30pm.
North Carolina is 3-0 so far this football season. They jump into the ACC fires this weekend playing Georgia Tech. Tech had their lunch handed to them last Thursday night against Miami. You can bet they will come out inspired. This is a really good test to see how good Carolina really is.
N C State is not getting much love after two weeks of FCS competition. Pittsburgh and the Big East comes to Raleigh Saturday and if the Wolfpack can manage a win you will need to start paying attention to the Wolfpack. But they must win.
The NFL has for several years had a rule that a receiver had to maintain a hold of the ball all the way to the ground on an out of bounds play even after you hit the ground. This year they have made that rule for all catches, inbounds or not.
There are not many plays when receivers don't hold on to the ball once they are slammed to the ground. The ball pops out a lot after contact with the ground. Talk about disrupting the game. Just about every pass play where the receiver is knocked to the ground will have to be reviewed to see if he held on.
The NFL needs to scrap this rule quick.
Last night the Gryphon soccer team opened conference play with a 4-0 shutout of Nash Central. My recollection was that the soccer team lost a lot of seniors last year and were not suppose to be this good this year.
Tonight Volley ball has a match with a team from just down the road Northern Nash. If they win they will have made it through the first round of conference play going undefeated. Varsity plays at 5.30 or just after the JV match at 4.30pm.
North Carolina is 3-0 so far this football season. They jump into the ACC fires this weekend playing Georgia Tech. Tech had their lunch handed to them last Thursday night against Miami. You can bet they will come out inspired. This is a really good test to see how good Carolina really is.
N C State is not getting much love after two weeks of FCS competition. Pittsburgh and the Big East comes to Raleigh Saturday and if the Wolfpack can manage a win you will need to start paying attention to the Wolfpack. But they must win.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Gryphons Get Week Off to Heal-Contemplate
The off week for Rocky Mount comes at a strange time. There is still one non-conference game to play before conference play starts. Past years the open date has provided a chance to heal and be ready for conference play.
You know this is also an adjustment year for Rocky Mount. In the past we will say four years all they had to do was show up and be ready to play and they were better than who they played. This year is not that way they are having to work for every thing they get and I don't see any team giving them any pity.
I don't think you can say at this point in the half way point in the football season that the Big East 3-A is a dominant league this year. You asked other than record how can you tell how good the league is ?. If we get four teams in the playoffs, how many survive after the first week. The last three years of the NEW-6 they had at least two teams that made it to the third round. The way it looks now the Big East will be lucky to get even two past the first round.
New stadium, same old Cowboys. They say everything is bigger in Texas and that is true for the Dallas Cowboy football Stadium. Nearly 104,000 fans saw Dallas look like Dallas with a lot of flash and in the end make too many mistakes to beat a good team.
I would have to say that Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens is going to be a super star quarter back in the NFL. He can make throws that most can't. Philip Rivers showed the world yesterday that regardless of how good a defense you have the Chargers are never out of a game. Rivers throws for a career high 456 yards and was harassed all day by the Raven defense.
Just two years ago Tom Brady passed for fifty touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The best passer in the NFL Drew Brees is putting up numbers that if he keeps it up may very well break Brady's record numbers of 2007. He has tossed nine touchdowns and only one pick in two games so far this year.
It is still early but this years Arizona cardinals looks like it going to be the San Francisco Forty Niners. You know this is the NFL and after next week it will be somebody else.
You know this is also an adjustment year for Rocky Mount. In the past we will say four years all they had to do was show up and be ready to play and they were better than who they played. This year is not that way they are having to work for every thing they get and I don't see any team giving them any pity.
I don't think you can say at this point in the half way point in the football season that the Big East 3-A is a dominant league this year. You asked other than record how can you tell how good the league is ?. If we get four teams in the playoffs, how many survive after the first week. The last three years of the NEW-6 they had at least two teams that made it to the third round. The way it looks now the Big East will be lucky to get even two past the first round.
New stadium, same old Cowboys. They say everything is bigger in Texas and that is true for the Dallas Cowboy football Stadium. Nearly 104,000 fans saw Dallas look like Dallas with a lot of flash and in the end make too many mistakes to beat a good team.
I would have to say that Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens is going to be a super star quarter back in the NFL. He can make throws that most can't. Philip Rivers showed the world yesterday that regardless of how good a defense you have the Chargers are never out of a game. Rivers throws for a career high 456 yards and was harassed all day by the Raven defense.
Just two years ago Tom Brady passed for fifty touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The best passer in the NFL Drew Brees is putting up numbers that if he keeps it up may very well break Brady's record numbers of 2007. He has tossed nine touchdowns and only one pick in two games so far this year.
It is still early but this years Arizona cardinals looks like it going to be the San Francisco Forty Niners. You know this is the NFL and after next week it will be somebody else.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Views and Comments
What in the world is Michael Crabtree thinking? 10th pick in the NFL draft was told he would go maybe as high as #7 pick. Is holding out to get #7 pick money. 23 million over four years instead of 15 million.
He has threatened to hold out and reenter draft next year. Good luck in the Canadian Football league. I wonder what his Wonder Lick score was.
Thursday I just happened to turn on one of the sports channels and they were showing high lites of the U Conn-Carolina game. This was the first time that I had seen the so called holding in the end zone where Carolina got the two points for holding to win the game 12-10.
I think players get stars on their helmet for the U-Conn blockers effort. They call it a Pancake block. All the ref saw was the blocker laying on the rusher and must have assumed it had to be holding.
I know you ECU fans have to be upset over the call against ECU for ruffing the quarterback late in the game when the Carolina blocker blocked in the back of the ECU rusher who pulled up only to be knocked into the quarterback by the blocker. Instead of a penalty on Carolina's blocker ECU got the penalty.
Even though Virginia and Maryland lost non-conference games, Virginia Tech and Florida State's non conference victories should help the ACC's over all view from the National Media.
Even though the media is now in a frenzy over Miami I think I will wait a couple more weeks before I put them in the National Championship game.
Southern Nash surprised me Friday night winning at South Granville. Like Miami I would like to see more before I crown them Big East champs.
I think I have been in the business long enough, seen film with coaches and I feel I have learned to evaluate talent. I have thought all along Rocky Mount was going to be 8-2 during the regular season and to this point I have seen nothing that makes me want to back off from that.
I also know that regardless of how good or bad Rose is Rocky Mount needs to be very good to beat them. If this teams has no further injuries disasters they are going to be just fine.
He has threatened to hold out and reenter draft next year. Good luck in the Canadian Football league. I wonder what his Wonder Lick score was.
Thursday I just happened to turn on one of the sports channels and they were showing high lites of the U Conn-Carolina game. This was the first time that I had seen the so called holding in the end zone where Carolina got the two points for holding to win the game 12-10.
I think players get stars on their helmet for the U-Conn blockers effort. They call it a Pancake block. All the ref saw was the blocker laying on the rusher and must have assumed it had to be holding.
I know you ECU fans have to be upset over the call against ECU for ruffing the quarterback late in the game when the Carolina blocker blocked in the back of the ECU rusher who pulled up only to be knocked into the quarterback by the blocker. Instead of a penalty on Carolina's blocker ECU got the penalty.
Even though Virginia and Maryland lost non-conference games, Virginia Tech and Florida State's non conference victories should help the ACC's over all view from the National Media.
Even though the media is now in a frenzy over Miami I think I will wait a couple more weeks before I put them in the National Championship game.
Southern Nash surprised me Friday night winning at South Granville. Like Miami I would like to see more before I crown them Big East champs.
I think I have been in the business long enough, seen film with coaches and I feel I have learned to evaluate talent. I have thought all along Rocky Mount was going to be 8-2 during the regular season and to this point I have seen nothing that makes me want to back off from that.
I also know that regardless of how good or bad Rose is Rocky Mount needs to be very good to beat them. If this teams has no further injuries disasters they are going to be just fine.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Heels Tame Pirates
North Carolina moves to 3-0 on the 2009 football campaign as they sink the Pirates of ECU 31-17. Tarboro's Shaun Draughn had a big day for the heels running, catching and throwing the football.
Erik Highsmith who all Gryphon fans remember in the Eastern Finals for West Craven made his first start at wide receiver for Carolina and caught six balls for 113 yards.
Russell Wilson set the NCAA record for most pass attempts without an interception. The new total is 329 breaking the old record of 326. Wilson has eight TD passes so far in 2009 as the Wolfpack beat Gardner Webb 45-14.
Terrell Hudgins and Elon rolled into Winston Salem and played Wake Forest in football for the first time in seventy years. Elon was out of their league but not Terrell as he had thirteen catches for 113 yards and the only touchdown Elon scored 35-7 -Wake.
I drove by the sport complex about noon today and boy were the pigs cooking. The game was also smoking as this Down East Viking Classic was a shootout as ECSU out scores Chowan 35-30.
Last night's Southwest Edgecombe / Rocky Mount game didn't have the intensity that the past five games have had. I'm not talking about the players but the fans. There wasn't as many there as any of the last five. I guess it's because now it's just another game non-conference not playing for the conference championship as in the past.
Tonight I was at the Imperial Centre as the City of Rocky Mount honored the 2009 Tarheel senior little league State champions. It will be on the Stretchlon Sports Show in the future.
Just so you Gryphon fans don't start jumping off the RBC building, just to give you an idea how good Hertford County is they traveled all the way to Fayetteville last night and knocked off 4-A Terry Sanford 28-20. Sanford has already knock off Southview earlier this year and Southview is always playing deep into the 4-A playoffs.
Erik Highsmith who all Gryphon fans remember in the Eastern Finals for West Craven made his first start at wide receiver for Carolina and caught six balls for 113 yards.
Russell Wilson set the NCAA record for most pass attempts without an interception. The new total is 329 breaking the old record of 326. Wilson has eight TD passes so far in 2009 as the Wolfpack beat Gardner Webb 45-14.
Terrell Hudgins and Elon rolled into Winston Salem and played Wake Forest in football for the first time in seventy years. Elon was out of their league but not Terrell as he had thirteen catches for 113 yards and the only touchdown Elon scored 35-7 -Wake.
I drove by the sport complex about noon today and boy were the pigs cooking. The game was also smoking as this Down East Viking Classic was a shootout as ECSU out scores Chowan 35-30.
Last night's Southwest Edgecombe / Rocky Mount game didn't have the intensity that the past five games have had. I'm not talking about the players but the fans. There wasn't as many there as any of the last five. I guess it's because now it's just another game non-conference not playing for the conference championship as in the past.
Tonight I was at the Imperial Centre as the City of Rocky Mount honored the 2009 Tarheel senior little league State champions. It will be on the Stretchlon Sports Show in the future.
Just so you Gryphon fans don't start jumping off the RBC building, just to give you an idea how good Hertford County is they traveled all the way to Fayetteville last night and knocked off 4-A Terry Sanford 28-20. Sanford has already knock off Southview earlier this year and Southview is always playing deep into the 4-A playoffs.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Cougars Dominate Gryphons
When Aaron Barnes and his defensive teammates for Rocky Mount goes to bed tonight there will be one thing on their minds. #44 Quandre Pittman of Southwest. Pittman carried 19 times right straight up the middle for 202 yards. Once he went wide and we found out why they ran him up the middle as he lost two yards on that one play.
Despite the Cougar dominance the Gryphon showed some grit and went down fighting losing 28-14.
SWE had 361 total yards to Rocky Mount's 160. If most Southwest fans told you the truth they went home disappointed because most fan thought the Cougars would put down fifty on Rocky Mount. If as a Rocky Mount fan you didn't go home with a glimmer of hope in your eye then I don't know what you expected.
Rocky Mount showed that big play capability which I think still sets them up as the best in the Big East with a ninety yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jordan Ford and a fifty yard return by Marcus Jones.
Rocky Mount had a first and goal in the second quarter but failed to score and the second quarter seemed to be enough for Southwest as they score twenty two in the second alone.
The most important thing I saw tonight was Rocky Mount out played Southwest in the second half but the Cougar twenty two point cushion was way too much to over come.
Gryphons now have two weeks to tries to get six players back who sat out tonight's game and it is possible that five could be back in the lineup for Rose.
IN OTHER BIG EAST FoOOTBALL:
Southern Nash the only undefeated team in the big East traveled to South Granville and Southern remains unbeaten winning 34-20. Now that is the first good win of the season for the Firebirds.
Nash Central traveled to the woods of Bertie County and are heading home 22-14 winners over the Falcons, It is the Bulldogs first victory of the season. The two weeks off helped them.
In a very disappointing score for the conference Beddingfield beat Hunt 14-13 at Beddingfield. I can understand the lost last week to Southwest but this score is not good for Hunt.
South Johnston Kept Northern Nash out of the end zone as they down the Knights 35-0.
C B Aycock murdered Fike by a 47-6 Score. Northern will have a chance when they play Fike.
Tarboro may have had their dreams of returning to the 2-A State championship dashed last week when they lost their starting quarterback with a broken wrist but tonight with their tailback being the quarter back they beat former coach Russell Weinstein and Roanoke Rapids 41-7. I think the key there is that they now have given up 13 points by the Viking defense this year. Their defense has taken pride in throwing three shutouts until last week when they gave up six to North Edgecombe.
Terrell Hudgin and Elon get a taste of ACC football Saturday afternoon as they play Wake Forest. This might be a showcase game for Terrell as he gets a taste of Division one football
Don't forget the DOWN East Classic Saturday Evening at RMAc. 10, 000 are expected at the game.
Despite the Cougar dominance the Gryphon showed some grit and went down fighting losing 28-14.
SWE had 361 total yards to Rocky Mount's 160. If most Southwest fans told you the truth they went home disappointed because most fan thought the Cougars would put down fifty on Rocky Mount. If as a Rocky Mount fan you didn't go home with a glimmer of hope in your eye then I don't know what you expected.
Rocky Mount showed that big play capability which I think still sets them up as the best in the Big East with a ninety yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jordan Ford and a fifty yard return by Marcus Jones.
Rocky Mount had a first and goal in the second quarter but failed to score and the second quarter seemed to be enough for Southwest as they score twenty two in the second alone.
The most important thing I saw tonight was Rocky Mount out played Southwest in the second half but the Cougar twenty two point cushion was way too much to over come.
Gryphons now have two weeks to tries to get six players back who sat out tonight's game and it is possible that five could be back in the lineup for Rose.
IN OTHER BIG EAST FoOOTBALL:
Southern Nash the only undefeated team in the big East traveled to South Granville and Southern remains unbeaten winning 34-20. Now that is the first good win of the season for the Firebirds.
Nash Central traveled to the woods of Bertie County and are heading home 22-14 winners over the Falcons, It is the Bulldogs first victory of the season. The two weeks off helped them.
In a very disappointing score for the conference Beddingfield beat Hunt 14-13 at Beddingfield. I can understand the lost last week to Southwest but this score is not good for Hunt.
South Johnston Kept Northern Nash out of the end zone as they down the Knights 35-0.
C B Aycock murdered Fike by a 47-6 Score. Northern will have a chance when they play Fike.
Tarboro may have had their dreams of returning to the 2-A State championship dashed last week when they lost their starting quarterback with a broken wrist but tonight with their tailback being the quarter back they beat former coach Russell Weinstein and Roanoke Rapids 41-7. I think the key there is that they now have given up 13 points by the Viking defense this year. Their defense has taken pride in throwing three shutouts until last week when they gave up six to North Edgecombe.
Terrell Hudgin and Elon get a taste of ACC football Saturday afternoon as they play Wake Forest. This might be a showcase game for Terrell as he gets a taste of Division one football
Don't forget the DOWN East Classic Saturday Evening at RMAc. 10, 000 are expected at the game.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Big East Faces Tough Night
If the weather cooperates with Rocky Mount Friday night there is potential to have an extremely large crowd. Rocky Mount is the only Big East team that plays at home.
What a game to have to recover from your first loss of the season hosting the Cougars of Southwest Edgecombe. A loss Friday would make the Gryphons 2-2. That will not mean they are a bad team just that they have played two awesome teams back to back. I think it will be close but the Cougars prevail 22-14
Hunt who really has the most to prove Friday night after they were taken to the cleaners by Southwest travels to cross county rival Beddingfield . Hunt gets back on track but not by much 28-20
Fike travels to C B Aycock. There are not many opportunity for wins on the Golden Demons schedule the rest of the season. They will take advantage winning 20-7.
Northern tries to get a W with a visit to South Johnston. Not this week at the oh for the season continues for another week. South Johnston 28 Northern 6
Thus far the Firebirds of Southern Nash have won four games without a loss. They are the only Big East team that can say that, but not after Friday 28-22 South Granville.
Nash Central has had two weeks to come up with a new game plan. They travel to Bertie which is never a good place to play whether they are good or not. The bulldogs come close but the Falcons sneak one out 28-26.
I told you yesterday of the best laid plans of both Tennis and Volleyball traveling together to save on expenses. When one team plays inside and the other outside, one can play in the rain and tennis stayed home. They play at 4.00pm Friday at Southern. Soccer was also washed out at franklinton but no make up date is yet made.
Volley ball did manage to beat Southern in Volley ball to go to 4-0 in conference play. It was a five set match. It was their 10th win in eleven tries.
Coverage of SWE and Rocky Mount football begins at 7.00pm on am 1390. I think if the weather is near anything like today the game will be played.
What a game to have to recover from your first loss of the season hosting the Cougars of Southwest Edgecombe. A loss Friday would make the Gryphons 2-2. That will not mean they are a bad team just that they have played two awesome teams back to back. I think it will be close but the Cougars prevail 22-14
Hunt who really has the most to prove Friday night after they were taken to the cleaners by Southwest travels to cross county rival Beddingfield . Hunt gets back on track but not by much 28-20
Fike travels to C B Aycock. There are not many opportunity for wins on the Golden Demons schedule the rest of the season. They will take advantage winning 20-7.
Northern tries to get a W with a visit to South Johnston. Not this week at the oh for the season continues for another week. South Johnston 28 Northern 6
Thus far the Firebirds of Southern Nash have won four games without a loss. They are the only Big East team that can say that, but not after Friday 28-22 South Granville.
Nash Central has had two weeks to come up with a new game plan. They travel to Bertie which is never a good place to play whether they are good or not. The bulldogs come close but the Falcons sneak one out 28-26.
I told you yesterday of the best laid plans of both Tennis and Volleyball traveling together to save on expenses. When one team plays inside and the other outside, one can play in the rain and tennis stayed home. They play at 4.00pm Friday at Southern. Soccer was also washed out at franklinton but no make up date is yet made.
Volley ball did manage to beat Southern in Volley ball to go to 4-0 in conference play. It was a five set match. It was their 10th win in eleven tries.
Coverage of SWE and Rocky Mount football begins at 7.00pm on am 1390. I think if the weather is near anything like today the game will be played.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Time To Play Southwest
I had to chuckle tonight when I looked at the weather forecast for the next seven days. Rain! That must mean that it is time to play Southwest Edgecombe.
The last four years each Friday night during the Southwest game they have been postponed to Monday of the next week. Those of you that recall, there was an effort to make the game happen in a different week twice. It wasn't because of the rain but because it was the first conference game. It was felt that since SWE and Rocky Mount were the best teams in the conference they needed to change the schedule so it wasn't the first conference game in 2007 and 2008 but they still got rained out.
Let's think about this, in 2005 moved to Monday. Rocky Mount won 21-7. 2006 moved to Monday at Southwest Edgecombe and the Cougars won 20-16. 2007 back to Rocky Mount and maybe one of those all time great games as Rocky Mount beat SWE 15-12 when Brian Goodwin caused a fumble on the five yard line late in the game. Of Course last year no way we will get rained out again 7-0 Rocky Mount on a Monday.
Looking at the weather forecast Friday rain is expected but for the next seven days Friday is the best day of the next seven to play. If I were a betting man I think we will not play Friday. It is just no way. We don't know how to play Southwest on a Friday.
Boys soccer adds another victim, they were a 4-1 winners over Eastern Wayne early in the week. In what has become the title match in girls tennis Fike beat our girls 7-2 to give tennis their first conference lost.
I found out tonight that volley ball is 9-1 instead of 8-2. They won last week at Southwest when I had heard they lost. That night Morgan had a Tar River event so she did not go to Volley ball.
In what might be a sign of the future in high school sports. Thursday Volleyball and Tennis play at Southern Nash. They will ride on the same bus to the match to save on having to send two buses there. In the future that might not be a bad idea that all sports play at one sight on the same day.
Finally tonight, if you didn't see the special TV program on Hurricane Floyd on channel five you need to go on line to WRAL.Com and view it. Bill Leslie host the show and some of it is filmed in Rocky Mount and it shows what we went through ten years ago today. Worth watching! Go to the story about Hurricane Floyd and when the story comes up click on Floyd Documentary. It is twenty one minutes long but well worth the sit through.
The last four years each Friday night during the Southwest game they have been postponed to Monday of the next week. Those of you that recall, there was an effort to make the game happen in a different week twice. It wasn't because of the rain but because it was the first conference game. It was felt that since SWE and Rocky Mount were the best teams in the conference they needed to change the schedule so it wasn't the first conference game in 2007 and 2008 but they still got rained out.
Let's think about this, in 2005 moved to Monday. Rocky Mount won 21-7. 2006 moved to Monday at Southwest Edgecombe and the Cougars won 20-16. 2007 back to Rocky Mount and maybe one of those all time great games as Rocky Mount beat SWE 15-12 when Brian Goodwin caused a fumble on the five yard line late in the game. Of Course last year no way we will get rained out again 7-0 Rocky Mount on a Monday.
Looking at the weather forecast Friday rain is expected but for the next seven days Friday is the best day of the next seven to play. If I were a betting man I think we will not play Friday. It is just no way. We don't know how to play Southwest on a Friday.
Boys soccer adds another victim, they were a 4-1 winners over Eastern Wayne early in the week. In what has become the title match in girls tennis Fike beat our girls 7-2 to give tennis their first conference lost.
I found out tonight that volley ball is 9-1 instead of 8-2. They won last week at Southwest when I had heard they lost. That night Morgan had a Tar River event so she did not go to Volley ball.
In what might be a sign of the future in high school sports. Thursday Volleyball and Tennis play at Southern Nash. They will ride on the same bus to the match to save on having to send two buses there. In the future that might not be a bad idea that all sports play at one sight on the same day.
Finally tonight, if you didn't see the special TV program on Hurricane Floyd on channel five you need to go on line to WRAL.Com and view it. Bill Leslie host the show and some of it is filmed in Rocky Mount and it shows what we went through ten years ago today. Worth watching! Go to the story about Hurricane Floyd and when the story comes up click on Floyd Documentary. It is twenty one minutes long but well worth the sit through.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Injuries Mount
This young Gryphon football is not a bad team at all. Yes, they are young and inexperienced. Whenever you are having growing pains the one thing you can't stand to happen is injuries. We are already inexperienced enough and the replacement for the injured has less than the persons who are sidelined.
Sometimes injuries are a blessing in disguise. If they happen early enough and before the season is over some of those injured come back and those that played while they were out improve. The best example of that was the 83' State basketball team when Derrick Whittenberg broke his foot midway through the season and he got back just in time for the tournament and all those who had filled in for him played bigger roles in the playoffs leading to a National championship.
Time will tell with this Gryphon football teams health.
Volley ball moves to 3-0 in conference play as they take Fike 3-0 tonight in the Gryphon Gym. They are now 8-2 and travel to Southern Thursday to meet the Firebirds again for the second time. Thye beat Southern in the County Tournament earlier this year in four sets.
If you lasted until 2.00am this morning then you had the pleasure to watch the two most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL do their thing last night.
Despite not liking New England you have to give Tom Brady his due. It seemed to me he short armed a lot of throws last night not stepping into his throws because of his knee. But, when the game was on the line he way money.
During the Charger game in the third quarter they lost two linemen to help protect Philip Rivers. They looked like they had not practiced all year. In the last seven minutes River took the Chargers down the field twice with an assortment of flips, side arm passes and on the money throws. During his three plus years as a starter in the NFL Rivers has the best quarterback rating in the fourth quarter almost 115. Last night was also his tenth comeback win in forty nine starts.
Too bad the Panthers don't have him as their QB.
Sometimes injuries are a blessing in disguise. If they happen early enough and before the season is over some of those injured come back and those that played while they were out improve. The best example of that was the 83' State basketball team when Derrick Whittenberg broke his foot midway through the season and he got back just in time for the tournament and all those who had filled in for him played bigger roles in the playoffs leading to a National championship.
Time will tell with this Gryphon football teams health.
Volley ball moves to 3-0 in conference play as they take Fike 3-0 tonight in the Gryphon Gym. They are now 8-2 and travel to Southern Thursday to meet the Firebirds again for the second time. Thye beat Southern in the County Tournament earlier this year in four sets.
If you lasted until 2.00am this morning then you had the pleasure to watch the two most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL do their thing last night.
Despite not liking New England you have to give Tom Brady his due. It seemed to me he short armed a lot of throws last night not stepping into his throws because of his knee. But, when the game was on the line he way money.
During the Charger game in the third quarter they lost two linemen to help protect Philip Rivers. They looked like they had not practiced all year. In the last seven minutes River took the Chargers down the field twice with an assortment of flips, side arm passes and on the money throws. During his three plus years as a starter in the NFL Rivers has the best quarterback rating in the fourth quarter almost 115. Last night was also his tenth comeback win in forty nine starts.
Too bad the Panthers don't have him as their QB.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Volley Ball Falls
So far this fall season the athletic teams of Rocky Mount high are doing extremely well. Today was not a good day for Volley ball as they fell in non-conference action to South Central. This drops their overall record to 7-2 and 2-0 on conference action. Volley ball has a conference match at home Tuesday against Fike.
We haven't spoken too much about girls tennis so far but they are 7-2 on the season and also are 2-0 in conference play.
The team that is on fire right now is Soccer. Through ten matches they are unbeaten at 8-0-2. They are playing tonight at Eastern Wayne. They don't begin their conference play until next Monday.
I was unable to get to football practice today to get a feel of how the team is responding after getting whacked at Hertford County. Will try to get an injury report.
Sunday's NFL action saw Drew Brees who could be the best passing quarterback in the NFL throw six touchdown passes. It also saw the biggest motor mouth of the off season Jay Cutler throw four picks Both of those stats lead the NFL in week one going into Monday night's double header.
Brees could very well be the Sonny Jergenson of the 60's or the Dan Marino of the 90's. A lot of yards but no championships.
Need to take a nap. Chargers and Philip Rivers don't come on the tube until 10.15 which means it will be after one am before the game is over. 5.15am comes early at my house.
We haven't spoken too much about girls tennis so far but they are 7-2 on the season and also are 2-0 in conference play.
The team that is on fire right now is Soccer. Through ten matches they are unbeaten at 8-0-2. They are playing tonight at Eastern Wayne. They don't begin their conference play until next Monday.
I was unable to get to football practice today to get a feel of how the team is responding after getting whacked at Hertford County. Will try to get an injury report.
Sunday's NFL action saw Drew Brees who could be the best passing quarterback in the NFL throw six touchdown passes. It also saw the biggest motor mouth of the off season Jay Cutler throw four picks Both of those stats lead the NFL in week one going into Monday night's double header.
Brees could very well be the Sonny Jergenson of the 60's or the Dan Marino of the 90's. A lot of yards but no championships.
Need to take a nap. Chargers and Philip Rivers don't come on the tube until 10.15 which means it will be after one am before the game is over. 5.15am comes early at my house.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Panthers Declawed
Is it me or does Jake Delhomme look like he's 40 years old or what. His last two games at Bank of America Stadium he has thrown nine interceptions.
The Carolina Panthers have never had back to back winning seasons in their brief history. The way they played today don't count on this being the first time to have back to back winning seasons.
What in the world is Donavan McNabb doing running with the ball ahead by 21 in the second half?
If Brett Farve only throws the ball 20 times a game like today the Vikings will win the Super Bowl.
You had better look out for the Forty Niners. Kind of reminds me of Tom Coughlin in New York. Do you remember the team almost revolted because practice was too tough.? When they finally bought in they won a Super Bowl.
Mike Singletary pulled his britches down in one practice to prove a point. I bet they make the playoffs this year.
If you pull for N C State then you got a chance to see Mike Glennon throw a few in State's win over Murray State. If Russell Wilson goes down State will be in good hands. I saw a couple of throws last night that no State quarterback has made since 17 played there. For you non Wolfpack Fans that's Philip Rivers.
There are just some people that it is hard to pull for them. I like Notre Dame but I find it hard to pull for their coach.
Jay Cutler is my most hated NFL Player. He is cocky, arrogant, and in the clutch a loser. I just don't know why the media loves him so much.
The injury report will have some new names for Rocky Mount next week. I'll fill you in tomorrow.
I picked Southwest to beat Hunt but not by 34. The only undefeated team left in the Big East is Southern Nash. They have not been 4-0 since 1990.
I understand Southwest fans are already in line to get into the game Friday night with Rocky Mount. I know it is only Sunday night but I think you had better start thinking of being at the game by 6.30.
Don't give up on the Gryphons yet.
If you pull for Northern they need your support more than ever. The players for Northern are giving it all they have. They need for a lucky play to go their way and you had better look out when it happens.
The Carolina Panthers have never had back to back winning seasons in their brief history. The way they played today don't count on this being the first time to have back to back winning seasons.
What in the world is Donavan McNabb doing running with the ball ahead by 21 in the second half?
If Brett Farve only throws the ball 20 times a game like today the Vikings will win the Super Bowl.
You had better look out for the Forty Niners. Kind of reminds me of Tom Coughlin in New York. Do you remember the team almost revolted because practice was too tough.? When they finally bought in they won a Super Bowl.
Mike Singletary pulled his britches down in one practice to prove a point. I bet they make the playoffs this year.
If you pull for N C State then you got a chance to see Mike Glennon throw a few in State's win over Murray State. If Russell Wilson goes down State will be in good hands. I saw a couple of throws last night that no State quarterback has made since 17 played there. For you non Wolfpack Fans that's Philip Rivers.
There are just some people that it is hard to pull for them. I like Notre Dame but I find it hard to pull for their coach.
Jay Cutler is my most hated NFL Player. He is cocky, arrogant, and in the clutch a loser. I just don't know why the media loves him so much.
The injury report will have some new names for Rocky Mount next week. I'll fill you in tomorrow.
I picked Southwest to beat Hunt but not by 34. The only undefeated team left in the Big East is Southern Nash. They have not been 4-0 since 1990.
I understand Southwest fans are already in line to get into the game Friday night with Rocky Mount. I know it is only Sunday night but I think you had better start thinking of being at the game by 6.30.
Don't give up on the Gryphons yet.
If you pull for Northern they need your support more than ever. The players for Northern are giving it all they have. They need for a lucky play to go their way and you had better look out when it happens.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Big Four Wins.
We will have to go back into the history books to see the last time all four of the ACC's North Carolina teams won on the same Saturday.
Wake won it's first game of year by beating Stanford in an ACC-Pac-10 show down. Wake down 17-3 shuts out Stanford in the second half to win 24-17.
Duke went up the Hudson River in one of those special places to play football at Army and comes back down the river winning 35-19. It's their first win of the season.
North Carolina uses a holding penalty in the end zone by Connecticut with a minute to play to fly past U Conn 12-10. Can't wait to hear from you Carolina fans at what a great job Butch Davis is doing. Carolina is now 2-0
North Carolina State failed to get a touchdown last week against South Carolina but score twice in the first four minutes against Murray State. 65-7 was the final. The Wolfpack defense has only given up 14 points so far this year.
Terrell Hudgins makes 11 grabs Saturday and scored a touchdown to go along with 134 yards receiving as Elon goes to 2-0 as they beat a church team Presbyterian 49-0.
Stephan Virgil sat out today a Virginia Tech. He got hurt with 29 seconds to play in the Bama game and I guess he missed today from that injury.
ECU who got a scare from App State last week as the Mountaineers came back in the second half, today ECU is shut out in the second half and lost at West Virginia 35-20.
There are those who will tell you that they love watching games on TV and they don't have to worry about traffic and the ride home. There is so much at a football game that TV never shows.
I went to the NC State game tonight and today was armed forces day. From the parachute team who landed on the field to a half time show saluting the our service men with an American flag covering the entire field there is something about being at college football games. Whether you have season tickets or go when you can college football games are a lot more than what the TV shows you.
Wake won it's first game of year by beating Stanford in an ACC-Pac-10 show down. Wake down 17-3 shuts out Stanford in the second half to win 24-17.
Duke went up the Hudson River in one of those special places to play football at Army and comes back down the river winning 35-19. It's their first win of the season.
North Carolina uses a holding penalty in the end zone by Connecticut with a minute to play to fly past U Conn 12-10. Can't wait to hear from you Carolina fans at what a great job Butch Davis is doing. Carolina is now 2-0
North Carolina State failed to get a touchdown last week against South Carolina but score twice in the first four minutes against Murray State. 65-7 was the final. The Wolfpack defense has only given up 14 points so far this year.
Terrell Hudgins makes 11 grabs Saturday and scored a touchdown to go along with 134 yards receiving as Elon goes to 2-0 as they beat a church team Presbyterian 49-0.
Stephan Virgil sat out today a Virginia Tech. He got hurt with 29 seconds to play in the Bama game and I guess he missed today from that injury.
ECU who got a scare from App State last week as the Mountaineers came back in the second half, today ECU is shut out in the second half and lost at West Virginia 35-20.
There are those who will tell you that they love watching games on TV and they don't have to worry about traffic and the ride home. There is so much at a football game that TV never shows.
I went to the NC State game tonight and today was armed forces day. From the parachute team who landed on the field to a half time show saluting the our service men with an American flag covering the entire field there is something about being at college football games. Whether you have season tickets or go when you can college football games are a lot more than what the TV shows you.
Gryphons Get Gryphoned By The Bears
How many times in the last five years has a defensive player for the other team think they have made a play and Rocky Mount would get twenty yards or seventy five yards.
Tonight Gryphon football got a taste of their own medicine as Hertford County made the big plays when it looked as if Rocky Mount had made a stop.
What did this game mean to Hertford County? With less than a minute to play HC Coach Scott Privott got a gatorade bath from his players. This is only the fourth game of the season and no trophies were given out Friday night, but Hertford County ended a five game losing streak to the Gryphons when in all five of those loses HC thought they could win even though in some cases the scores were routs.
Talk about making big plays Hertford County picks a Gryphon fumble out of the air on the one yard line and rumbles seventy yard.
A bad snap from center on a extra point results in a two point pass play for the Bears.
As time is running out in the half Rocky Mount deflects a pass in the end zone caught by the intended receiver as he laid on the ground.
I can't count the times the Gryphon defense had HC in 3rd and twelve and they got a first down.
Tonight Hertford County made the plays and Rocky Mount paid the price.
If you look back over the years Rocky Mount has had a tough time defensing a scat back quarter back and tonight Rocky Mount had no answer for Antonio Vaughn who by the way got a hundred yards against us last year.
HC rushed for 268 yards and I would suspect most of that came on third down. Rocky Mount was held to 161 rushing but I bet they had several running plays that lost ten yards or more.
Collins Cuthrell passed for 102 yards on 9-17 passing but he was pressured all night in fact he had to make a throw left handed on one pass which he completed.
Too much Hertford County as the Bears whip Rocky Mount 41-21.
In other local action Northern Nash loses another close game 13-7 to South Central. Tarboro took it easy on North Edgecombe winning 46-6. Hunt also drops from the unbeaten ranks getting ripped by Southwest Edgecombe 42-8. Beddingfield beat Fike 27-7.
The only conference member to win was Southern Nash a 21-16 winner over Roanoke Rapids. I don't want to burst any Southern Nash fans bubble but that is not a good score for Southern. Southern is now 4-0.
Good news for Nash Central fans they did not play tonight. Almost all that did play wish they didn't as the Big East goes one win and four losses. Tough night to be from Nash County
Tonight Gryphon football got a taste of their own medicine as Hertford County made the big plays when it looked as if Rocky Mount had made a stop.
What did this game mean to Hertford County? With less than a minute to play HC Coach Scott Privott got a gatorade bath from his players. This is only the fourth game of the season and no trophies were given out Friday night, but Hertford County ended a five game losing streak to the Gryphons when in all five of those loses HC thought they could win even though in some cases the scores were routs.
Talk about making big plays Hertford County picks a Gryphon fumble out of the air on the one yard line and rumbles seventy yard.
A bad snap from center on a extra point results in a two point pass play for the Bears.
As time is running out in the half Rocky Mount deflects a pass in the end zone caught by the intended receiver as he laid on the ground.
I can't count the times the Gryphon defense had HC in 3rd and twelve and they got a first down.
Tonight Hertford County made the plays and Rocky Mount paid the price.
If you look back over the years Rocky Mount has had a tough time defensing a scat back quarter back and tonight Rocky Mount had no answer for Antonio Vaughn who by the way got a hundred yards against us last year.
HC rushed for 268 yards and I would suspect most of that came on third down. Rocky Mount was held to 161 rushing but I bet they had several running plays that lost ten yards or more.
Collins Cuthrell passed for 102 yards on 9-17 passing but he was pressured all night in fact he had to make a throw left handed on one pass which he completed.
Too much Hertford County as the Bears whip Rocky Mount 41-21.
In other local action Northern Nash loses another close game 13-7 to South Central. Tarboro took it easy on North Edgecombe winning 46-6. Hunt also drops from the unbeaten ranks getting ripped by Southwest Edgecombe 42-8. Beddingfield beat Fike 27-7.
The only conference member to win was Southern Nash a 21-16 winner over Roanoke Rapids. I don't want to burst any Southern Nash fans bubble but that is not a good score for Southern. Southern is now 4-0.
Good news for Nash Central fans they did not play tonight. Almost all that did play wish they didn't as the Big East goes one win and four losses. Tough night to be from Nash County
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time To See What We Have Got.
Friday Night Rocky Mount travels to Ahoskie to play Hertford County. Rocky Mount comes in 2-0. Hertford County will be sitting in wait with a 3-0 record.
The overall series against HC, RM leads 5-0. You have to believe the Bears think this is their time to knock off Rocky Mount. The Bears have ruffed up 1-A Gates County, 2-A Bertie and smothered Nash Central last week. The Gryphons don't have much edge on the competition having beaten 4-A Northern Durham who is 0-3 and 1-A Northampton East. Both of these teams will have a better feel for where they are after Friday night.
Drew Pasteur has made the Gryphons and eleven point favorite. I think that may be way high for this one and if we walk off the field a winner, I'll take it.
Tonight the JV football Gryphons showed the good crowd on hand that they know how to move the football. The also played poor defense but won a basketball game 48-36 over the Bears JV's.
Gryphon soccer beat South Central today 9-1 after beating Webb last night 4-1. So far this year the soccer boys are 8-0-2.
Girls volley ball wins their second conference game beating Hunt tonight. They are now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big East 3-A. JV Volley ball lost for the first time this year at Hunt to drop to 4-1 on the season.
Gryphon football has a test at Hertford County. Kickoff is set for 7.30. I know everyone thinks HC is in another state but the stadium is really easy to get to. Take 64 east until you get to Highway 11 turn left and follow highway 11 until 561 which is about 40 miles. Turn Right, the stadium is 1 mile on left.
I could tell you all the short cuts but I realize it will be dark and you might get lost and not make the kickoff.
This is a special game for me. From the day I graduated from Ahoskie High in 1971 until I moved in 1993, I was in the booth for 183 wins and saw only 68 losses in the twenty two years I covered Ahoskie and Hertford County. It is going to be difficult to pull against them in that stadium.
If you don't travel catch all the action on AM 1390. Pregame starts at 7.00 with the kickoff at 7.30. Join Wes and me for all the action.
The overall series against HC, RM leads 5-0. You have to believe the Bears think this is their time to knock off Rocky Mount. The Bears have ruffed up 1-A Gates County, 2-A Bertie and smothered Nash Central last week. The Gryphons don't have much edge on the competition having beaten 4-A Northern Durham who is 0-3 and 1-A Northampton East. Both of these teams will have a better feel for where they are after Friday night.
Drew Pasteur has made the Gryphons and eleven point favorite. I think that may be way high for this one and if we walk off the field a winner, I'll take it.
Tonight the JV football Gryphons showed the good crowd on hand that they know how to move the football. The also played poor defense but won a basketball game 48-36 over the Bears JV's.
Gryphon soccer beat South Central today 9-1 after beating Webb last night 4-1. So far this year the soccer boys are 8-0-2.
Girls volley ball wins their second conference game beating Hunt tonight. They are now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big East 3-A. JV Volley ball lost for the first time this year at Hunt to drop to 4-1 on the season.
Gryphon football has a test at Hertford County. Kickoff is set for 7.30. I know everyone thinks HC is in another state but the stadium is really easy to get to. Take 64 east until you get to Highway 11 turn left and follow highway 11 until 561 which is about 40 miles. Turn Right, the stadium is 1 mile on left.
I could tell you all the short cuts but I realize it will be dark and you might get lost and not make the kickoff.
This is a special game for me. From the day I graduated from Ahoskie High in 1971 until I moved in 1993, I was in the booth for 183 wins and saw only 68 losses in the twenty two years I covered Ahoskie and Hertford County. It is going to be difficult to pull against them in that stadium.
If you don't travel catch all the action on AM 1390. Pregame starts at 7.00 with the kickoff at 7.30. Join Wes and me for all the action.
Peppers Named Team Captain
Southern Nash's Julius Peppers has been named one of the team captains for this years Carolina Panthers football team. Peppers who during the off season stated that he wanted to be traded while contract negotiations were under way never did sign a contract so the Panthers put the franchise label on him which means he must be paid the average of the top five players at his position in the NFL. That works out to about 16 million plus that he will make this year.With every thing that goes on during the off season players don't care until it's time to bucket up the chin strap.
The last time the Lady Gryphons volley ball team played Roanoke Rapids the match went to the fifth set tie breaker before the Gryphons won. Last night the Lady Gryphons took down RR in in three straight sets to push their record to 6-1 on the season. They travel to Hunt today for a conference match. The JV volley ball team sent their record to 5-0 beating the Yellow Jackets two straight sets.
The injury bug continues to take it's toll on the Gryphon football team. Trevor Tucker will not play Friday night when the Gryphons travel to Hertford County. Trevor is expected back next week after sitting this week with a leg injury. Tucker joins Spencer Bell and Carter Varnell already on the sidelines with injuries.
Last night I had the pleasure to be on Gattis Hodges radio show on WDLZ in Murfreesboro. Gattis the play by play voice of the Hertford County Bears has a local radio program which airs on Thursday nights and heard by all Bear fans in the surrounding area.
Hodges is like so many of us old radio guys, found a real job before he ever got into radio. There are so many networks on tv now days that kids fresh out of college get play by play jobs that don't even know how to plug up the equipment. Gattis has done it all and if he had of been closer to a big market could have easily made it on any network.
Gattis is one of the really good guys in our business.
Tonight JV football is home to the HC Cubs. I'll be on PA tonight for the first time this year. Had to miss the first game due to those things that pop up on a daily basis being a parent.
The last time the Lady Gryphons volley ball team played Roanoke Rapids the match went to the fifth set tie breaker before the Gryphons won. Last night the Lady Gryphons took down RR in in three straight sets to push their record to 6-1 on the season. They travel to Hunt today for a conference match. The JV volley ball team sent their record to 5-0 beating the Yellow Jackets two straight sets.
The injury bug continues to take it's toll on the Gryphon football team. Trevor Tucker will not play Friday night when the Gryphons travel to Hertford County. Trevor is expected back next week after sitting this week with a leg injury. Tucker joins Spencer Bell and Carter Varnell already on the sidelines with injuries.
Last night I had the pleasure to be on Gattis Hodges radio show on WDLZ in Murfreesboro. Gattis the play by play voice of the Hertford County Bears has a local radio program which airs on Thursday nights and heard by all Bear fans in the surrounding area.
Hodges is like so many of us old radio guys, found a real job before he ever got into radio. There are so many networks on tv now days that kids fresh out of college get play by play jobs that don't even know how to plug up the equipment. Gattis has done it all and if he had of been closer to a big market could have easily made it on any network.
Gattis is one of the really good guys in our business.
Tonight JV football is home to the HC Cubs. I'll be on PA tonight for the first time this year. Had to miss the first game due to those things that pop up on a daily basis being a parent.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Conference Play Starts
Tuesday the Volley ball team opened their conference season with a victory at Nash Central. The score was 3-1 Lady Gryphons. Today at 5.30pm they are home to Roanoke Rapids and Thursday they travel to Hunt for their second conference match of the season.
Volley ball is now 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference action. The JV's also won to go to 4-0 on the season.
Girls Tennis begins their conference campaign today as they travel to Nash Central. They will enter conference play at 5-2. Boys Soccer pending the outcome of their match Tuesday night is off to an excellent start 6-0-2.
JV Football is home Thursday night to the little cubs of Hertford County. The Varsity football team has their first stiff test of the season as they travel Friday to Ahoskie and play Hertford County.
Hertford County is 3-0 while the Gryphons sport a 2-0 record. Regardless of whether the Gryphons win or lose they need to come out of a game without losing any more players as they have lost one each game. Injuries play a major role in who wins and who loses. I bet if you look back over the history of the Super Bowl, 90% of the time the healthiest team wins.
The NFL football season starts Thursday night. Pittsburgh will try to become the first back to back champion of this century.
Now that the dust has settled of the first week of college football the only ACC team that lost in a non-conference games but was a good lost was Duke. Yes, Duke, You have to remember Duke was playing the defending FCS defending champions in Richmond. Of course the worse lost was Virginia who lost to William and Mary.
Luckily for ECU's Skip Holtz they survived Appalachian State, who will be no pushover for any body. I hate to tell ECU fans this but this is Skip's last year in Greenville. If Notre Dame keeps Weis after this year then Holtz will likely call Charlottesville Virginia home next year.
The saga of the Oakland Raiders continues. I think every NFL fans was shocked to hear New England trade Richard Seymour to the Raiders. Boy I think this is a good trade for the Raiders if they get Seymour in to camp. Oakland has a Monday night opener against San Diego and even though Oakland has not beaten the Chargers during the Philip Rivers era in San Diego, Oakland has held Rivers in check better than any other team.
Oakland is a long way from being good on offense but with Seymour joining the defense they could win a few with defense.
Volley ball is now 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference action. The JV's also won to go to 4-0 on the season.
Girls Tennis begins their conference campaign today as they travel to Nash Central. They will enter conference play at 5-2. Boys Soccer pending the outcome of their match Tuesday night is off to an excellent start 6-0-2.
JV Football is home Thursday night to the little cubs of Hertford County. The Varsity football team has their first stiff test of the season as they travel Friday to Ahoskie and play Hertford County.
Hertford County is 3-0 while the Gryphons sport a 2-0 record. Regardless of whether the Gryphons win or lose they need to come out of a game without losing any more players as they have lost one each game. Injuries play a major role in who wins and who loses. I bet if you look back over the history of the Super Bowl, 90% of the time the healthiest team wins.
The NFL football season starts Thursday night. Pittsburgh will try to become the first back to back champion of this century.
Now that the dust has settled of the first week of college football the only ACC team that lost in a non-conference games but was a good lost was Duke. Yes, Duke, You have to remember Duke was playing the defending FCS defending champions in Richmond. Of course the worse lost was Virginia who lost to William and Mary.
Luckily for ECU's Skip Holtz they survived Appalachian State, who will be no pushover for any body. I hate to tell ECU fans this but this is Skip's last year in Greenville. If Notre Dame keeps Weis after this year then Holtz will likely call Charlottesville Virginia home next year.
The saga of the Oakland Raiders continues. I think every NFL fans was shocked to hear New England trade Richard Seymour to the Raiders. Boy I think this is a good trade for the Raiders if they get Seymour in to camp. Oakland has a Monday night opener against San Diego and even though Oakland has not beaten the Chargers during the Philip Rivers era in San Diego, Oakland has held Rivers in check better than any other team.
Oakland is a long way from being good on offense but with Seymour joining the defense they could win a few with defense.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Injury List
There is good news on the injury front for the Gryphon football team. Carter Varnell who went down in the first half of the Northampton East football is going to be out hopefully no more than two games.
Varnell made a visit to Doctor Greg Nelson's office on Friday and it is believed that Carter suffered an hyper extended knee. For those of you who have never suffered a knee injury that means Carter stretched every thing to the limit but nothing tore. That is great news for the Gryphon defense which will now only be without Varnell for maybe no more than two games. That would be Hertford County and Southwest Edgecombe. The week after SWE we have an open date which gives Varnell an extra week to start getting back in shape again before the Rose game. He should be back and ready to go by first conference game for sure.
The Gryphon defense will be given a great test Friday night. Hertford county's spread will pressure the scoreboard early. The Gryphons have continued so far this year of not giving up any points in the first quarter.
A major concern to me is in two games we have not made a turnover yet. The good news there is the offense has only had one turnover themselves so we are only negative one so far this year.
The Gryphon offense has been very consistant so far. We have scored 19 in the first quarter,13 in the second, 12 in the third and 25 in the fourth quarter. We are also pitching a shutout in the fourth quarter on defense. There have been a lot of second teamers in both games in the fourth quarter.
The rush defense is giving up less than three yards per run. If we catch a team running three straight plays that brings up a fourth and one.
Our trip to Hertford County Friday begins a two game stretch against powerhouse football teams. We are 5-0 against Hertford County all time but they have scored in the twenties against us in every game.
In the past four years , Does Rocky Mount have a better opponent than SWE. We have played them five times and the scores were 21-7,14-7,16-20,15-12 and 7-0. You can expect a full house for that one.
Varnell made a visit to Doctor Greg Nelson's office on Friday and it is believed that Carter suffered an hyper extended knee. For those of you who have never suffered a knee injury that means Carter stretched every thing to the limit but nothing tore. That is great news for the Gryphon defense which will now only be without Varnell for maybe no more than two games. That would be Hertford County and Southwest Edgecombe. The week after SWE we have an open date which gives Varnell an extra week to start getting back in shape again before the Rose game. He should be back and ready to go by first conference game for sure.
The Gryphon defense will be given a great test Friday night. Hertford county's spread will pressure the scoreboard early. The Gryphons have continued so far this year of not giving up any points in the first quarter.
A major concern to me is in two games we have not made a turnover yet. The good news there is the offense has only had one turnover themselves so we are only negative one so far this year.
The Gryphon offense has been very consistant so far. We have scored 19 in the first quarter,13 in the second, 12 in the third and 25 in the fourth quarter. We are also pitching a shutout in the fourth quarter on defense. There have been a lot of second teamers in both games in the fourth quarter.
The rush defense is giving up less than three yards per run. If we catch a team running three straight plays that brings up a fourth and one.
Our trip to Hertford County Friday begins a two game stretch against powerhouse football teams. We are 5-0 against Hertford County all time but they have scored in the twenties against us in every game.
In the past four years , Does Rocky Mount have a better opponent than SWE. We have played them five times and the scores were 21-7,14-7,16-20,15-12 and 7-0. You can expect a full house for that one.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Last Holiday
Most folks, Labor day is the last holiday off until Thanksgiving. When I look back over my career being in a booth on Friday night there have not been many Friday nights during that time that I have been calling a game somewhere. That means that the teams I have called have made it far into the playoffs.
This Friday night Rocky Mount travels to Hertford County which before 1988 was Ahoskie High. I spent twenty two years of of barking out touchdowns for the Cougars and Bears. In the small pond of Ahoskie, I was a big fish when it related to being in the know of how the team was going to do this year. In fact my first wife hated to go out to dinner in Ahoskie because she knew somebody was going to ask me something about Ahoskie football. Once that started then it was non-stop football talk.
Five years after I had left , I had car trouble once and took my car to the shop. The repairman first comment to me was about how the team was going to be that up coming year. So folks relied on me because I was pretty good being able to tell them how we were or were going to be. After the last game in 1978 after Ahoskie went 8-2 and back then only the conference champion made the playoffs I predicted that they would play for the state championship in 1979. They finished 13-2 and hosted South Point in the state championship game.
This Friday night will be my first game back in the football booth to actually cover the game. I have been to many games as a spectator but this will be my first covering it on radio. Back in 1977 when the stadium was first used, the press box was not built until 1978. About thirty volunteers spent their summer nights and built that press box. I was one of them so the press box on the visitors side is very special to me.
Long since I have been gone there is another press box on the home side, so right now I don't know which one I will be in. Almost all the people who worked the pressbox back then are all gone. Johnny Overton who did the score board. Steve Lassiter on PA, Daryl Lee, Pete Overton. None of the old guys will be there. Times have changed.
So far this year neither Hertford County or Rocky Mount have beaten anyone to make them jump up and down and shout. Friday night's game is going to tell us all a lot about how far both of these teams will be playing in November.
For the first time in my life I will pull against Hertford County in in a place that I helped build. I know I will have butterflies just like I was playing.
This Friday night Rocky Mount travels to Hertford County which before 1988 was Ahoskie High. I spent twenty two years of of barking out touchdowns for the Cougars and Bears. In the small pond of Ahoskie, I was a big fish when it related to being in the know of how the team was going to do this year. In fact my first wife hated to go out to dinner in Ahoskie because she knew somebody was going to ask me something about Ahoskie football. Once that started then it was non-stop football talk.
Five years after I had left , I had car trouble once and took my car to the shop. The repairman first comment to me was about how the team was going to be that up coming year. So folks relied on me because I was pretty good being able to tell them how we were or were going to be. After the last game in 1978 after Ahoskie went 8-2 and back then only the conference champion made the playoffs I predicted that they would play for the state championship in 1979. They finished 13-2 and hosted South Point in the state championship game.
This Friday night will be my first game back in the football booth to actually cover the game. I have been to many games as a spectator but this will be my first covering it on radio. Back in 1977 when the stadium was first used, the press box was not built until 1978. About thirty volunteers spent their summer nights and built that press box. I was one of them so the press box on the visitors side is very special to me.
Long since I have been gone there is another press box on the home side, so right now I don't know which one I will be in. Almost all the people who worked the pressbox back then are all gone. Johnny Overton who did the score board. Steve Lassiter on PA, Daryl Lee, Pete Overton. None of the old guys will be there. Times have changed.
So far this year neither Hertford County or Rocky Mount have beaten anyone to make them jump up and down and shout. Friday night's game is going to tell us all a lot about how far both of these teams will be playing in November.
For the first time in my life I will pull against Hertford County in in a place that I helped build. I know I will have butterflies just like I was playing.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Football's Opening Lap
The college football season opened officially yesterday and what a thriller in Greenville. Don't worry Pirate fans, the App State comeback was not because you are not as good as you thought. App State is really good. Good win for Skip Holtz and the Pirates 29-24.
The Tarheels are one of the few ACC teams to win over the weekend. In fact one of the few to beat a FCS team as both Duke and Virginia lose. Hard to make out how well the Heels played in their 40-6 win over The Citadel. Tarboro's Shaun Draughn gets over a hundred yards rushing for the Heels.
Rocky Mount High's Terrell Hudgins after making FCS All-American the last three years at Elon start the 2009 campaign as if he plans to make it four years in a row. Terrell had 7 catches for 156 yards and two touchdown grabs. He could of had a third td pass but on a 55 year catch he was brought down at the one.
Even though his Hokies lost last night to Alabama Rocky Mount's Stephan Virgil had 9 tackles including 3 behind the line for a loss for Virginia Tech. If both Virgil and Hudgins stay healthy their senior seasons they should both be drafted next April in the NFL 2010 draft. Virgil had to leave the game with 29 seconds to play last night but he left the field under his own power.
Tarboro is pitching a shutout so far on the 2009 high school football season. Their 45-0 white washing of Northern Nash Friday now leaves The Vikings having scored 117 points while allowing zero.
The four Nash County High Schools are at the other end of the spectrum from each other. Southern Nash and Rocky Mount are 5-0 while Nash Central and Northern Nash are are 0-6
The Tarheels are one of the few ACC teams to win over the weekend. In fact one of the few to beat a FCS team as both Duke and Virginia lose. Hard to make out how well the Heels played in their 40-6 win over The Citadel. Tarboro's Shaun Draughn gets over a hundred yards rushing for the Heels.
Rocky Mount High's Terrell Hudgins after making FCS All-American the last three years at Elon start the 2009 campaign as if he plans to make it four years in a row. Terrell had 7 catches for 156 yards and two touchdown grabs. He could of had a third td pass but on a 55 year catch he was brought down at the one.
Even though his Hokies lost last night to Alabama Rocky Mount's Stephan Virgil had 9 tackles including 3 behind the line for a loss for Virginia Tech. If both Virgil and Hudgins stay healthy their senior seasons they should both be drafted next April in the NFL 2010 draft. Virgil had to leave the game with 29 seconds to play last night but he left the field under his own power.
Tarboro is pitching a shutout so far on the 2009 high school football season. Their 45-0 white washing of Northern Nash Friday now leaves The Vikings having scored 117 points while allowing zero.
The four Nash County High Schools are at the other end of the spectrum from each other. Southern Nash and Rocky Mount are 5-0 while Nash Central and Northern Nash are are 0-6
Friday, September 4, 2009
Friday Night Lights
Tonight is one of those nights where you can get an evaluation of your program. Northern Nash travels to Tarboro. I don’t think there are many Knight Fans that have any expectations of winning. I think this is one of those nights when the program can take a step forward if the final score is 28-6. The one thing the Knights don’t need is a drubbing.
I’ll Take Tarboro 34-0.
Southern Nash has started with three straight home games. They host Beddingfield tonight. Talk about a team that can grow, Southern hasn’t been 3-0 in a while. If this team gets by Beddingfield this could be a great year in Stanhope.
Southern 26 Beddingfield 22
After last night’s lost to Hertford County 47-13, Nash Central is now 0-3. It’s time to regroup. The defense has given up way too many points and the offense hasn’t seen the end zone enough to realize that is a good place to be.
Fike took this week off. They stand at 1-1. Hunt clubbed them in a cross county show down last week and Fike scored their only points of the season in the 4th quarter of their opener against D H Conley to win 14-8. Looks like Fike will have to focus on defense to stay in many ball games.
Southwest Edgecombe meets North Edgecombe tonight. Some times it is better to play cross county rivals because they are cross county not that SWE will improve from this slaughter. Since it is Raymond Cobb’s old stomping grounds he will keep it under 50.
Hunt continues to look good. They won last night 23-12 over 4-A Holly Springs. That is a good win for Hunt who now stands at 3-0.
After their 33-0 victory over Northampton East, question arise over the pass blocking. The running game seems to be fine. We all know that some where down the road there is at least one team or more that will stop what you do best and are forced to win games, in Rocky Mount’s case passing the ball. There is work to be done there.
The extra point game looks in good hands with Wood Riddick converting 3-3 when the snaps were good. He missed two when Collins had to get out of his crouch to catch the ball then place it back down. The punt game is a major concern also.
Got home in time to see the final seven minutes of the South Carolina- N C State game. I hope that the State coaches haven’t planted into Russell Wilson’s head that he must pass instead of running all the time and taken away what he does best. You know Wilson may be a lot like Michael Vick, not that good a passer but his running keeps the defense honest. If you take away his running then the defenses don’t have to be honest.
It was too late for me but I understand that a player for Oregon punches a Boise State player during the hand shaking after their game last night. I haven’t seen the punch or know what the circumstances are but I say kick the player off the team. That’s uncalled for at any level of football.
I have always felt whether you were in school on the Morehead Scholarship or on a basketball free ride that you needed to live by a different standard when someone else pays the bills. This young man assaulted another player while representing his school. That is grounds from dismissal from school in my honest opinion which would automatically make him off the football team.
This unexpected Friday night off from football heading to the Atlantic Beach Friday and Saturday night. I will blog again Sunday.
I’ll Take Tarboro 34-0.
Southern Nash has started with three straight home games. They host Beddingfield tonight. Talk about a team that can grow, Southern hasn’t been 3-0 in a while. If this team gets by Beddingfield this could be a great year in Stanhope.
Southern 26 Beddingfield 22
After last night’s lost to Hertford County 47-13, Nash Central is now 0-3. It’s time to regroup. The defense has given up way too many points and the offense hasn’t seen the end zone enough to realize that is a good place to be.
Fike took this week off. They stand at 1-1. Hunt clubbed them in a cross county show down last week and Fike scored their only points of the season in the 4th quarter of their opener against D H Conley to win 14-8. Looks like Fike will have to focus on defense to stay in many ball games.
Southwest Edgecombe meets North Edgecombe tonight. Some times it is better to play cross county rivals because they are cross county not that SWE will improve from this slaughter. Since it is Raymond Cobb’s old stomping grounds he will keep it under 50.
Hunt continues to look good. They won last night 23-12 over 4-A Holly Springs. That is a good win for Hunt who now stands at 3-0.
After their 33-0 victory over Northampton East, question arise over the pass blocking. The running game seems to be fine. We all know that some where down the road there is at least one team or more that will stop what you do best and are forced to win games, in Rocky Mount’s case passing the ball. There is work to be done there.
The extra point game looks in good hands with Wood Riddick converting 3-3 when the snaps were good. He missed two when Collins had to get out of his crouch to catch the ball then place it back down. The punt game is a major concern also.
Got home in time to see the final seven minutes of the South Carolina- N C State game. I hope that the State coaches haven’t planted into Russell Wilson’s head that he must pass instead of running all the time and taken away what he does best. You know Wilson may be a lot like Michael Vick, not that good a passer but his running keeps the defense honest. If you take away his running then the defenses don’t have to be honest.
It was too late for me but I understand that a player for Oregon punches a Boise State player during the hand shaking after their game last night. I haven’t seen the punch or know what the circumstances are but I say kick the player off the team. That’s uncalled for at any level of football.
I have always felt whether you were in school on the Morehead Scholarship or on a basketball free ride that you needed to live by a different standard when someone else pays the bills. This young man assaulted another player while representing his school. That is grounds from dismissal from school in my honest opinion which would automatically make him off the football team.
This unexpected Friday night off from football heading to the Atlantic Beach Friday and Saturday night. I will blog again Sunday.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Gryphon's Pitch Shutout
It was not pretty, but who said wins had to be beautiful. Who ever looks at the score across the state tomorrow will just think Rocky Mount is rolling again.
Rocky Mount took their opening two drives of the game and scored and from that point on coasted to a 33-0 victory over the Rams of Northampton East.
What fight the Rams might have given the Gryphons went away early as the starting quarterback for went down on a sack early in the second quarter and with him went any resemblance to an offense.
The Gryphon defense held the Rams to 51 total yards. 24 rushing and 27 passing. Marquavis Alston got 91 yards for the Gryphons and along the way broke the all time rushing record held by Demetric Marshall of 2,830. At nights end Alston stood at 2,900.
After last weeks effort Jamor Parker earned a start at fullback and had 81 yards on nine carries. Jordan Ford added another 57 yards as the Gryphons got 263 yards rushing on the evening.
Collins Cuthrell was only 2-7 passing on the night and for Gryphon fans he was under pressure every time he went back to pass. Cuthrell did throw a 36 yard td pass to Damien Bynum who ran the Last 25 yards weaving in and out behind his blockers on the way to the end zone.
Defensive captain Carter Varnell went down with a knee injury late in the first quarter but even without Varnell the Gryphon defense pitch the shutout. His injury is not believed to be serious.
Pass blocking is a major concern after two games and the punting game. So far Collins Cuthrell has punted four times for a 27.5 average. The Gryphons cured their extra point problems from last week as Wood Riddick made all three extra points when there was a good snap.
Carter Varnell started snapping tonight but he was backing up the injured Spencer Bell and by the second quarter the Gryphons were down to #3 snapper Hank Chambliss. The good news is, I just don't know how many teams have three long snappers so we are showing good depth there.
Next week's opponent Hertford County made the ride from Ahoskie to Nash Central and the Bears ride back home was a joyous one as they ripped the Bulldogs 47-13. The Gryphons head to Hertford County next Friday night and the Bears will be sporting a 3-0 and you know they will feel that have their chance to beat Rocky Mount for the first time ever.
Don't know whether you heard this or not but last night the jv's lost on a field goal with five seconds to play 9-6 to Broughton's jv's.
Bottom line tonight is Rocky Mount is 2-0 but the schedule picks up our next three games at Hertford County, home to Southwest Edgecombe and home to Rose.
Rocky Mount took their opening two drives of the game and scored and from that point on coasted to a 33-0 victory over the Rams of Northampton East.
What fight the Rams might have given the Gryphons went away early as the starting quarterback for went down on a sack early in the second quarter and with him went any resemblance to an offense.
The Gryphon defense held the Rams to 51 total yards. 24 rushing and 27 passing. Marquavis Alston got 91 yards for the Gryphons and along the way broke the all time rushing record held by Demetric Marshall of 2,830. At nights end Alston stood at 2,900.
After last weeks effort Jamor Parker earned a start at fullback and had 81 yards on nine carries. Jordan Ford added another 57 yards as the Gryphons got 263 yards rushing on the evening.
Collins Cuthrell was only 2-7 passing on the night and for Gryphon fans he was under pressure every time he went back to pass. Cuthrell did throw a 36 yard td pass to Damien Bynum who ran the Last 25 yards weaving in and out behind his blockers on the way to the end zone.
Defensive captain Carter Varnell went down with a knee injury late in the first quarter but even without Varnell the Gryphon defense pitch the shutout. His injury is not believed to be serious.
Pass blocking is a major concern after two games and the punting game. So far Collins Cuthrell has punted four times for a 27.5 average. The Gryphons cured their extra point problems from last week as Wood Riddick made all three extra points when there was a good snap.
Carter Varnell started snapping tonight but he was backing up the injured Spencer Bell and by the second quarter the Gryphons were down to #3 snapper Hank Chambliss. The good news is, I just don't know how many teams have three long snappers so we are showing good depth there.
Next week's opponent Hertford County made the ride from Ahoskie to Nash Central and the Bears ride back home was a joyous one as they ripped the Bulldogs 47-13. The Gryphons head to Hertford County next Friday night and the Bears will be sporting a 3-0 and you know they will feel that have their chance to beat Rocky Mount for the first time ever.
Don't know whether you heard this or not but last night the jv's lost on a field goal with five seconds to play 9-6 to Broughton's jv's.
Bottom line tonight is Rocky Mount is 2-0 but the schedule picks up our next three games at Hertford County, home to Southwest Edgecombe and home to Rose.
A few years ago while on the game of the week trail. Wilson County changed Friday night football of Labor Day weekend to Thursday and I really liked it.
There are obvious reasons, a possible three day weekend and if you are leaving town do it after work on Friday. I liked the idea then and I still do now. I hope in the future that all Labor Day weekend games are moved to Thursday.
Tonight Northampton East pays a visit to Rocky Mount. If they had their druthers Rocky Mount would rather play a more quality opponent. Give the Rams credit; they will play Rocky Mount when they know they are probably going to get drubbed when others won’t answer the phone when Rocky Mount calls.
This one should be over by the half so expect everyone to get playing time tonight. We will get a chance to see how Dickie Schock thinks of this year’s team.
If you see many starters in the second half then I don’t think he is satisfied with the way the team is developing. If after the first drive in the second half the starters are gone then he feels they are doing a good job and likes where they are looking at the season ahead.
Of course if Northampton makes a game of it then we will all know this team is not developing very well.
It will be interesting to see how the extra point game is with new kicker Wood Riddick. Last week the two point conversions weren’t as good as a good junior high team.
Don’t forget because this is a Thursday night game and school still in session Friday, kickoff is set for 7.00pm
Hunt Host Holly Springs: I would suspect this game will not be a run-a-way like the first two games have been for Hunt, but Hunt should win rather easily.
We will begin our pre game coverage of gryphon football at 6.30 on am 1390. I hope you go to the game. If you do carry a walkman radio with you. There are always things happening that we can find out what happened and let everyone on the radio know about it.
Rocky Mount 51 Northampton East 6
If we can score 30 on Northern Durham and not make an extra point then fifty tonight should be easy.
There are obvious reasons, a possible three day weekend and if you are leaving town do it after work on Friday. I liked the idea then and I still do now. I hope in the future that all Labor Day weekend games are moved to Thursday.
Tonight Northampton East pays a visit to Rocky Mount. If they had their druthers Rocky Mount would rather play a more quality opponent. Give the Rams credit; they will play Rocky Mount when they know they are probably going to get drubbed when others won’t answer the phone when Rocky Mount calls.
This one should be over by the half so expect everyone to get playing time tonight. We will get a chance to see how Dickie Schock thinks of this year’s team.
If you see many starters in the second half then I don’t think he is satisfied with the way the team is developing. If after the first drive in the second half the starters are gone then he feels they are doing a good job and likes where they are looking at the season ahead.
Of course if Northampton makes a game of it then we will all know this team is not developing very well.
It will be interesting to see how the extra point game is with new kicker Wood Riddick. Last week the two point conversions weren’t as good as a good junior high team.
Don’t forget because this is a Thursday night game and school still in session Friday, kickoff is set for 7.00pm
Hunt Host Holly Springs: I would suspect this game will not be a run-a-way like the first two games have been for Hunt, but Hunt should win rather easily.
We will begin our pre game coverage of gryphon football at 6.30 on am 1390. I hope you go to the game. If you do carry a walkman radio with you. There are always things happening that we can find out what happened and let everyone on the radio know about it.
Rocky Mount 51 Northampton East 6
If we can score 30 on Northern Durham and not make an extra point then fifty tonight should be easy.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
A Little Of This And That
I stopped by football practice and Spencer Bell confirmed to me that he does have a broken collar bone . Six weeks is rehab time.
Tonight the JV football team travels to Broughton High school and plays a non-conference game. This game has been put together since Northampton East Dropped the JV game against us due to the lack of players on varsity.
Good news coming, it looks as if we will have a kicker after all. Wood Riddick made six out of seven extra points during an extra point drill. Riddick a senior played two years of JV ball and sat out last year. He could not play last week due to the number of practices necessary to participate.
As Geigo Insurance says, Here's a fun fact. During the fifteen year existance of the Carolina Panthers, they have never had winning seasons back to back.
Where are they headed this year after all the defensive injuries they have had so far in the pre season? Last year they were 12-4. 2009 ?
There must be something up in Charlotte as two of Jerry Richardson's sons have left their jobs with the Panthers. If you didn't know Jerry Richardson under went heart transplant surgery earlier this year. Could it be the Panthers are on the selling block?
The seventy three year old Richardson graduated from Fayetteville High School or what is now Terry Sanford high. Richardson was born in Spring Hope.
If the Panthers are up for sale due to Richardson's health I hope whom ever buys them has the compassion and continues to run the team in the right way. Richardson has always been in the back ground never a look at me owner, say the likes of Jerry Jones at Dallas.
If you saw Brett Farve on Monday Night Football, what did you see? Farve never attempted a pass more than ten yards down the field.
I was blipping the TV dial last night and TV is in trouble. I ran across a home run derby contest between Shaq and Albert Pujols. I could only take about two minutes before I had to turn the dial. Worthless TV.
Tonight the JV football team travels to Broughton High school and plays a non-conference game. This game has been put together since Northampton East Dropped the JV game against us due to the lack of players on varsity.
Good news coming, it looks as if we will have a kicker after all. Wood Riddick made six out of seven extra points during an extra point drill. Riddick a senior played two years of JV ball and sat out last year. He could not play last week due to the number of practices necessary to participate.
As Geigo Insurance says, Here's a fun fact. During the fifteen year existance of the Carolina Panthers, they have never had winning seasons back to back.
Where are they headed this year after all the defensive injuries they have had so far in the pre season? Last year they were 12-4. 2009 ?
There must be something up in Charlotte as two of Jerry Richardson's sons have left their jobs with the Panthers. If you didn't know Jerry Richardson under went heart transplant surgery earlier this year. Could it be the Panthers are on the selling block?
The seventy three year old Richardson graduated from Fayetteville High School or what is now Terry Sanford high. Richardson was born in Spring Hope.
If the Panthers are up for sale due to Richardson's health I hope whom ever buys them has the compassion and continues to run the team in the right way. Richardson has always been in the back ground never a look at me owner, say the likes of Jerry Jones at Dallas.
If you saw Brett Farve on Monday Night Football, what did you see? Farve never attempted a pass more than ten yards down the field.
I was blipping the TV dial last night and TV is in trouble. I ran across a home run derby contest between Shaq and Albert Pujols. I could only take about two minutes before I had to turn the dial. Worthless TV.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
There's No Red Shirt in High School Sports
Injuries are common through out life. I can chop bushes today, pull a muscle and call in a PTO day. People make a misstep and break an ankle. Those who are covered by insurance can find a way to pay the bills while they recover. We all go back to work and if you are lucky your pay check comes on time every week regardless of whether you worked or not.
High school sports are much more harsh to its participants. The sport you play has only so many games. If you are lucky, you may add to the total by playing playoff games.
One little quirky injury and a high school player misses all or part of of a season. There is no red shirt in high school like in college. In college blow your knee out, that's ok. Concentrate of classes while you rehab the injury. You can play next year and we will call you a red shirt junior or senior. We will pretend as if your injury didn't happen and start all over next year. Relive the senior season that you missed.
If you look at Rocky Mount's football team they have had their share of injuries in the past few years. In fact it seemed as if Rocky Mount could not go a complete season after Terrell Hudgins left to finish a season with the quarterback that started the season.
Saturday night senior tight end Spencer Bell went down with an injury. I went by practice to see what the word was on his injury Monday. By the time I was there the rain shortened practice and I did not get out of my car to slosh through it.
The opinion Saturday night after the game was may be a broken collar bone.
Spencer's only catch of the night for fifteen yards is where I think he got hurt. Hustling to get more yards.
It's nobodys fault. Sometimes injuries just happen. Spencer like every other player who has ever been injured now must wait and let the injury heal. One thing that will not wait is the football season. If he is out two to four weeks he will miss at least three games of his senior season not to mention not playing after the first quarter Saturday night. If he is out two to four months his high school career in football may be over.
Spencer is being counted on to be a big part on Gryphon baseball. For sure this injury will not effect baseball. Oddly enough Spencer broke his nose late in the baseball season last year during a collision with Chris Pittman. Just to make sure all summer during Junior legion baseball he wore a contraption to protect his nose just so he would be healed by football season.
I have witnessed many defeats in my time doing broadcast of ball games. Walking in a locker room full of disappointment after trying so hard to make a victory. There is nothing as difficult as looking a player in the eyes knowing he can't play next week or maybe even the next after that.
Sometimes it is easier to console someone with words after death than to look at a mother and father who have seen their son give it his all to be ready for football season and in just a few seconds it could all be over.
Like many Gryphon families Saturday night the Bell family help feed the team after the victory. You know it had to be bitter sweet for them.
There is no red shirt in high school athletics.
--
High school sports are much more harsh to its participants. The sport you play has only so many games. If you are lucky, you may add to the total by playing playoff games.
One little quirky injury and a high school player misses all or part of of a season. There is no red shirt in high school like in college. In college blow your knee out, that's ok. Concentrate of classes while you rehab the injury. You can play next year and we will call you a red shirt junior or senior. We will pretend as if your injury didn't happen and start all over next year. Relive the senior season that you missed.
If you look at Rocky Mount's football team they have had their share of injuries in the past few years. In fact it seemed as if Rocky Mount could not go a complete season after Terrell Hudgins left to finish a season with the quarterback that started the season.
Saturday night senior tight end Spencer Bell went down with an injury. I went by practice to see what the word was on his injury Monday. By the time I was there the rain shortened practice and I did not get out of my car to slosh through it.
The opinion Saturday night after the game was may be a broken collar bone.
Spencer's only catch of the night for fifteen yards is where I think he got hurt. Hustling to get more yards.
It's nobodys fault. Sometimes injuries just happen. Spencer like every other player who has ever been injured now must wait and let the injury heal. One thing that will not wait is the football season. If he is out two to four weeks he will miss at least three games of his senior season not to mention not playing after the first quarter Saturday night. If he is out two to four months his high school career in football may be over.
Spencer is being counted on to be a big part on Gryphon baseball. For sure this injury will not effect baseball. Oddly enough Spencer broke his nose late in the baseball season last year during a collision with Chris Pittman. Just to make sure all summer during Junior legion baseball he wore a contraption to protect his nose just so he would be healed by football season.
I have witnessed many defeats in my time doing broadcast of ball games. Walking in a locker room full of disappointment after trying so hard to make a victory. There is nothing as difficult as looking a player in the eyes knowing he can't play next week or maybe even the next after that.
Sometimes it is easier to console someone with words after death than to look at a mother and father who have seen their son give it his all to be ready for football season and in just a few seconds it could all be over.
Like many Gryphon families Saturday night the Bell family help feed the team after the victory. You know it had to be bitter sweet for them.
There is no red shirt in high school athletics.
--
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