Last One Saturday/ Gryphon Alumni Game

It will be a celebration of all the glory encountered at what use to be called Memorial Stadium and then Gryphon Stadium.  In all five state titles were won as the Blackbirds and Gryphons played on the field.  Progress has hit us and for the first time ever every sport will be played on campus next year at the new Rocky Mount High School.  For Gryphon Stadium it's future name is unknown but we know Senior American Legion, Junior Legion and Babe Ruth will take over the field.

Part of the celebration every Blackbird or Gryphon who has ever played on that field representing Rocky Mount have been invited to come back  So far 37 have promised to come back and play and six former coaches are going to roam the coaches boxes one more time.

The ceremonies will start at 3:15pm when all the participants will be introduced.  I am sure if he were alive that he would have wanted to play and part of the pregame ceremonies a tribute will be paid to former Blackbird Darrell Johnson was was part of a state title in football and baseball but is still Missing In Action in Vietnam.  Admission is free and there will be grilled hot dogs on sale during the game with a proceeds going to the Gryphon  Baseball.

Those players committed to play are:          
Eddie Joe Lynch Class of 67           Jeff Collins Class of 74              Tommy Warrick Class of 74
Jeff Williams Class of 76                 Timmy Tucker Class of 79         Kevin Bunn Class of 80
John Kennedy Class of 80              Jeff  Newsome Class of 80        Eddie Coates Class of 83
Hank Jones Class of 86                  Gary Miller Class of 88             Marcus Mitchell Class of 91
J J Jones Class of 91                      Harold Joyner Class of 92         Jerry Smith Class of 95
Travis Matthews Class of 95          Jeremy Ward Class of 96          David Ange Class of 97
Eric Johnson Class of 98                Jason Battle Class of 98            Paul Jenkins Class of 2001
Carter Harrell Class of 2001          Sam Crisp Class of 2001          Braxton Hill Class of 2002
Adam Weaver Class of 2002         Jason Womble Class of 2004   Brandon Arrington Class of 2005
Will Johnson Class of 2005            Terrell Hudgins Class of 2005  Chad Womble Class of 2007
Grant Johnson Class of 2008          Jim Leggett Class of 2008        William Barringer Class of 2008
Chris Berry Class of 2008             Cameron Ramsey Class of 2009Dillon Cockrell Class of 2009
Carter Varnell Class of 2010

Coaches returning include  Pat Smith-Danny Weaver-Shelton Chesson-George Kelly-Jerry Carter and Dale Thompkins.

Come on out Saturday afternoon and laugh and have a good time for I am sure there will be a tale or two told as the afternoon goes on.  First pitch should be right after the introduction of the teams.  No telling how long it might take some of them to get loose.