Rocky Mount Telegram's Players Of Year

There are seven varsity sports played in the fall and the Rocky Mount Telegram named eight players of the year and Northern Nash grabs three of the eight awards.  Nash Central and Tarboro get two awards and Southern Nash wins   the last award while Rocky Mount fails to win any.

Kendrick Richardson is the top defensive player for the Knights of Northen as he wins the Telegram's defensive football player of the year. Richardson had double digits sacks which is a great number for a team for the season but Richardson had those by himself.

Alexus Hill just might be the best athlete in the Big East boy or girl.  Hill is the top volleyball player after moving to the the middle of the front line at the net even though that is where the tallest players normally roam.  Just might see Hill later  when the Telegram does winter sports as she probably is the best basketball player.

One of the youngest winners this year is the cross country rep from Northern sophomore Stephen Whitehead.  The times that Whitehead has produced this year have him already given him some of the best times in the  state from any sophomore.  If he improves as much in the next two years as this year may very well be a state champion which for sure would make all area for the Telegram in the future.

Tarboro earns the all area offensive player in Radja Bobitt.  I am sure if you asked Bobbitt he would loved to have been healthy in the playoffs and gotten back to the state championship for the sixth straight time for the Vikings.  There is no doubt without Bobbitt Tarboro would not had a conference championship .

Katie King from the Tarboro Vikings wins for the third time in a row being the best female golfer.

Nash Central's winningest performer in tennis is Kaley Price. Even without older sister as a partner Price finishes off what might be the best ever career for any player in the area with total match wins.

If there is one player who is an outstanding long distance runner there is one name in the area is Nash Central's Michaela Williams.  Look out for Wiliams again in the spring with track and field. She is the best in the fall in cross country.

The final winner this year is the leading scorer in the Big East  in soccer is Moises Gonzalez from Southern Nash.  He is a three time winner of the Telegram's award.  Next step for him is probably a D-1 school.

Pins and Needles

If there is one thing the NFL wanted Sunday was down to the wire playoff berths on the line and the NFL could not ask any more than what was delivered.  Pittsburgh after starting 0-4 was as good as anybody the last 12 games of the season finishing 8-8.  They watched the scoreboard needing Miami and Baltimore to lose while they had to win and they got it.  All they need now is Kansas City resting 19 starters to beat San Diego in San Diego. San Diego teased Pitt by  falling down 14-0 and down 24-14 heading into the 4th quarter. They even let KC try  a field goal on the last play of the game which looked good for 36 of the 41 yards it traveled to win the game. Philip Rivers engineered a 10 minute over time drive to break Steeler's fans hearts.

Green Bay and Chicago went back and forth in the second half before the Packers pull out a 33-28 win  and a playoff spot.  Both Aaron Rogers and Jay Cutler put on a show.  San Fran dominated Arizona for most of the game but it took a field goal in overtime to win.

Even while recovering from back surgery Tony Romo's ghost was present in Dallas.  Playing a great game for Dallas Kyle Orton pulled a Romo when the game was on the line in throwing a int with less than two minutes to play and Dallas only needing a field goal to win.  Once again Jerry Jones  has more TV time than players on the field and losses for the fourth straight time in win and get in and lose and go home.

Down in Atlanta the Carolina defense scored just enough points to  give the Panthers a week off and try to get Steve Smith back by then.  Winning hides many flaws and Cam Newton has really not been great during the last 12 weeks but he has been great at just the right moments.

I wonder as much as the NFL wants ratings why the New England Buffalo game got national coverage while the compelling AFC late game was KC-SD.  As easy as it is to go from game to game the National game should have been switched.  To me the next two weeks when there is two national TV playoff games on Saturday and Sunday this I s the best part of the playoffs even better than the Super Bowl.

Saturday Kansas City plays the 4:30 game at Indianapolis. The prime time game Saturday night is New Orleans at Philadelphia.

The 1pm game Sunday sends San Diego to Cincinnati and the 4:30 game has San Fransico at Green Bay.  Let's get it on.

Gryphons On Three Wheels

That team that looked like state championship material lost again last night in the Corinth Holders Tournament.  I can' t explain why but instead of a losers bracket game between the home standing Pirates the Gryphons played East Wake the team that beat Holders by nearly 32 on Friday.

Friday night the Gryphons played the fourth quarter without Immanuel King who sprained his ankle.  King attempted to go to the distance but sat out the fourth quarter with ice on his ankle against E Wake.  From all most the get go the Gryphons trailed 16-11 after the first, 26-24 at  the half. The Warriors lead 41-36 after three but with five minutes left found themselves down 50-38.

The Gryphons rallied and down the stretch had five three point shots if any one had of fallen the game would have been tied but none did.  Final East Wake 63 Rocky Mount 57.

One common denominator in all four losses.  Immanuel King didn't play at all in two of them and sat out the fourth  in both games this weekend.  All four losses have come from teams playing three guards.

Observations are this team has lost to three good  4-A schools.  They seem to being playing waiting for the other teams to wilt because they are the mighty Gryphons.  They continue to run point guards in looking for someone who wants to take control.  They lack a point guard that drives to the basket and dishes to the big men. Throughout his career Donte Battle has been a total team player never taking ill advised shots but right now this team needs him as the leader to take  over rattle the rim with some monster dunks and grab every rebound as if he is the only player on the floor.  Just remember not one conference game has been played and like many in the past you have to admit the Gryphons haven't  back down in who they have played.  Their schedule has been tough and they are not that far off from being very good.

The Lady Gryphons did get the loser from the Friday girls game and it was Corinth Holders.  I got to the gym and looked at the score board and it was 52-22. Took a deep breath until the first score by Rocky Mount made it 54.  Lady Gryphons cruise  68-25.  Like the boys they are 6-4 on the season.  Their next game is January 10th when they open conference play at Nash Central.

Another Issue with Eligibility

If you are a regular here then you know what I think all of the private schools playing in the NCHSAA.  Since many  students who attend private schools live outside the district that public  schools are restricted to.  To me it is unfair for them to compete in playoffs when many players play against the school where they would be going if they were in public schools.  I don't even want to argue the point today of private school students who go to private schools on scholarships.

More recently Prep schools and charter schools have come under the same scowl from me competing against public schools when they have athletes from all over competing on their athletic fields.  This week at the High School OT basketball tournament in Raleigh another pressure from those wanting to compete in public schools appeared.

There is a team from Texas playing in the tournament that is a team of home schoolers.  This team is from Texas and they have a player being looked at by Carolina. I have no problem with home schoolers playing athletic sports due to the fact I think all children need exercise and sports provides plenty of that.

If  there is a home school team from Texas you know North Carolina can't be far having home school teams too that want to play others within the area they are from.  I think all private schools, charter  and you can add home school teams to the list now need to start their own leagues because they have no boundaries like public schools so everyone needs to play by the same rules.  If public schools have school districts they need to play others who go by the same rules.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons played in Christmas tournament in Wendell yesterday with the girls
playing East Wake and  lost 59-30 while the boys lost toKnightdale 63-59.  The girls  are in action at 3pm Saturday afternoon and the boys at 4:30.

ECU Gets Ten Wins

The 2013 Pirates of ECU became the second team in school history to win double digits with 10 after their Beef O Grady win.  The Pirates finish the season 10-3 second only to the 1991 team that was 11-1 and beat NC State 37-34 on January 1 2012.  You true ECU fans would know this but what team beat the Pirates  in 91.   Does anyone even remember the Peach Bowl game was played on NewYears day.  I don't remember that.

A big difference in 92 over 2013.  59,000 plus were in Atlanta but Tampa only had 20,000. Watching the game on TV I don't know where the 20,000 were.  I think we all understand that the 23rd of December is  a bad day to be in Florida unless you live there.  I have not seen any games played so far that didn't have more empty seats over fannies sitting in them. Regardless of how many were there  the Pirates had a great season winning at both North Carolina and N C State.

Carolina will be in Charlotte  in the Belk Bowl Saturday afternoon The midway point in the season the Tar Heels  had a fantastic finish to get to any kind of a Bowl Game.  Carolina basketball plays tonight.  It will be on TV just don't know what channel.

Don't look now but the NC State women's basketball team is11-1so far this year.We would have to assume that the coaching change has made the difference this year in bringing new life  to a team that hasn't  had great success this century. NC State was the first North Carolina school to embrace Title IX back in the 70's and lead the way up until the 90's when Carolina got good. Then Duke got just as good as Carolina leaving State number three in the Triangle.  It will be interesting to see how the Pack fares when conference play starts.

We kind of expect both the men and women's team at Duke , State and Carolina to be good but over in Greenville both teams there are off to great starts. The ECU women have lost only once and we all saw the game the men gave NC State.

By the way the only lost for ECU in 1991 was opening day when they lost to Illinois 38-31 and then won 11 games  Ina row.

After Christmas Tournaments

The after Christmas tournament action starts Friday for several local teams.  Rocky Mount this year heads to Wendell to Corith Holders where Friday they will play Knightdale.  The past two years RM has played at Knightdale's Thankgiving Tournament having won it both years.  Win or lose there will be a game on Saturday.

The Lady Gryphons will be playing Friday afternoon when they take on East Wake. Like the boys they play Saturday the time won't be known until they find out whether it's in the championship game or the consolation game.  Both Rocky Mount teams will be playing 4-A level teams so win or lose it's one of those games that you get a good idea when it's over where you stand.

Northern Nash boys play Bunn in the Holiday Tournament Friday while Northern's girls play next week against East Wake and Wakefield so those two games will be real test for the Lady Knights.  Nash Central boys will be taking on Rolesville.

I don't know about you but I have a very hard time watching NBA basketball on Christmas Day.  I have a hard time watching games that lack team work.  Four players go stand in the corner while I will take on this guy one on one.  The lack of defense  three point shots and dunks  doesn't turn me own.

NFL teams started practice for Sunday games and the Dallas Cowboys are using the ploy that  they are up in the air about the condition of Tony Romo.  I just can't see Romo playing but if they hold out as long as possible then Philadelphia can't prepared for any one quarterback for the winner take all game Sunday.

Merry Christmas

I would like to say happy Birthday to my Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST.  I hope that this does not offend you but I am not sorry if it does.  Yes I believe in the virgin birth.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world mine included and then on the third day rose.

The birth of Jesus opened up heaven for all that believe.  Up until then the Old Testament was rules and regulations for the Jewish nation but Jesus taught everyone who accepted him could have a place in Heaven.

I am by no way perfect and every day I sin and some of those sins I don't realize at the time I am doing them but if I ask for forgiveness from him he will forgive.  None of us know how long we have left on this earth but I assure you when my life on earth ends it will just be just the beginning.

No longer will I have to worry about how to pay the bills or even the score of any ball game.  I will live in a world where just to be near my Lord will be all I need.  I hope as you read this that these statements are reassurance for you.  If you scoff at them I will pray that you will find hope in Jesus for without Jesus you have no hope in your future.

If you are a person who seems to be floating aimlessly in life pick up your Bible, for I know you have one.  You may need to dust it off but start reading.  If it has been a while since you have read it start in the New Testament and read about Jesus.  Hope lives within it.  You know the world we live there has never been one word in the Bible proven wrong.  The Bible is the truth but until you find what is in it you will never find Jesus.

Thank you for giving me a reason to come to you every day and I hope you and your family have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Contenders Face Injuries

The Carolina Panthers lost Steve Smith rather early Sunday but still with a mostly  defensive effort took down the Saints and can clinch first in the South Division this Sunday if they can win at Atlanta.  Smith's knee injury is considered a knee sprain and I can tell you from experience I doubt he plays Sunday.

The Denver Broncos lost Von Miller to a year ending knee injury.  Denver is already in the we need Peyton to score 40 every week and the pressure could be that they now will need to score 45.  Since the playoffs are the best teams in the NFL the Broncs will have a hard time romping up and down the field in the playoffs.

Tony Romo is probably the most abused quarterback in the NFL.  If you really do pay attention Romo is a very good quarterback. His problem he plays for the owner who has to have his own after game news conference and just like playing for the New York Yankees tries to make Dallas to be the most important and best team in the league but we all know that is in the mind of Jerry Jones not that Dallas is any more than average.

Romo is believed to have a herniated disc in his back.  That has to be painful for any one just trying to get out of a chair much less try to play football.   Kyle Orton will probably  start Sunday and  with all of the abuse Romo gets when he has one of his flubs in front of a national audience and most of them occur right when the game seems to be at it's emotional climax.

Just suppose Orton comes in Sunday and has a Peyton Manning type day and leads Dallas to the playoffs and say they win one or two games in which Romo has never won  one.  If you recall the dropped snap on a kick was as close  as Romo has ever come to winning a playoff game.  If you were Romo could you root for Orton knowing well if Orton does well the news media will spend all spring and summer trying to talk Jerry Jones into getting a new quarterback.

Panthers Will Go Dancing

The Carolina Panthers with possibly the best defensive game in the history of the franchise had to get one drive from Cam Newton  and  and a Steve Smith less offense with 23 seconds to go to send the Panthers back to the NFL playoffs with a 17-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints.   The victory only gets the Panthers in the Playoffs they must win next Sunday or get the Saints to lost again in order to take the NFC South as champs.

Miami and Baltimore could make the AFC playoffs if one of the two would win but Miami failed to score and Baltimore had a gimpy quarterback and both lose easily.  This throws the Chargers in the mix but they must hope both Miami and Baltimore both lose again next week and the Chargers must beat Kansas City.

Detroit with maybe the best defensive personnel in the league but the worse discipline   lost at home to get knocked out of the playoffs.  Green Bay loses but some how or other they still have as shot after the Bears lost Sunday night.

The Cowboys did it again win a game in the last minute they should have rolled in to begin with. The Boys have set themselves up to get a heartbreaking loss at home to Philly next week.

Peyton Manning breaks the touchdown passing record.  Does anybody remember back when Tom Brady set the record New England was leading the Redskins by a bunch and Brady threw a one yard pass to give the Pats 54 points.  If you recalled the Patriots didn't win the Super Bowl.  Manning record breaker came when the backup should have been in the game.  I didn't like The way Brady got up to fifty and I didn't like Manning flinging it the way they did yesterday. Manning could have got hurt throwing a useless pass.

You just don't realize how hard it is to win a professional football game.  Everyone out on the field gets paid to preform and the more you win the more money you make?  If every team played their very best every time out there is  probably less than a touchdown difference in any of them.  It all comes down to how any team plays as a team on any given Sunday.

Many Thanks

I would  like to thank each of you who enjoy this blog whether it is because you like what I have to say or you are entertained by what I don't say or the way I say it.  Friday for the first time we had more than 500 of you hit this site for the first time in one day.

I decided from the beginning that I did this for the enjoyment and have never tried to sell advertising. I could have gone to face book or other media and had more followers but I wanted you to have to come to this site instead of me coming to you.    In other words 500 people came here Friday which keeps  increasing and I will try to keep  giving you what you want you to keep coming.

Carolina basketball has three losses to teams deemed the bottom tier and three wins against  Pent House teams.  Davidson gave the Tar Heels all they wanted yesterday and they almost had four losses.  There is something I like about this team and the Tar Heels could be  a bag full of trouble for everyone they play in Feburary on

NC State is 9-2 and one player has changed the entire make up of the Wolfpack,  seven feet one Jordan Vandenburg.  Since he got back from injury he has filled the middle allowing others around him to play their natural position instead of trying to be a center.   The  Pack is  better than anyone expected and they probably have the best player in the league in TJ Warren.  The most important thing is they don't have a moody player like last year and all the players seem to like each other.

North Carolina came to NCW the last time they needed a baseball coach   and got Mike Fox and when the time comes to get a new basketball coach to replace Roy Williams they just might head to eastern North Carolina again and head to Greenville to get former Carolina player  Jeff Lebo.  Lebo's Pirates gave NC State all they wanted yesterday and it was only their third loss of the season.  Lebo is building a nice program in Greenville a place that never has had great basketball.

Hunt Has Wells Fargo Cup lead

Hunt high school the Big East winners in football and Men's soccer has the lead in the Big East Wells Fargo standings after all of the fall sports have been completed. Hunt aquired 68.5 points to lead Fike by five who has 63.5 after they won volleyball and tennis. Rocky Mount placed third with conference championships in womens cross country and tying Hunt in tennis. Third place was good enough to have 55.5 points. Southern Nas h fourth with 53.5 followed by Northern Nash 50 and Nash Central 46.5. All of the basketball action is in the books until after Christmas and what can we judge from what is happening in the Big East so far? Fike is 10-0 in boys basketball but 8 of their wins have come against 2-A or 1-A schools. Rocky Mount is 6-2 with three wins over 4-A schools but a loss to a 2-A school. Hunt is 5-2 but both of their losses have come at the hands of 4-A level competition. Southern Nash is 4-8, Northern is 3-6 and Nash Central has won only once while losing six times. How can we judge the quality of any win or loss. How do we know whether the Fike win twice over Southwest Edgecombe is not two great wins while a Rocky Mount two wins over Rose is a good win or not. We really don't until more of the season unfolds and then we can begin to tell when wins are good and the ones that are too easy. The girls are paced by Northern Nash at 7-1 and since I have been covering sports here in Nash County I think this Northern team has the best over all girls team I've seen. Now i did not see the State champion team in the late 90's but this Northern's girls team is tall athletic. Their big question is getting the type of point guard play neccessary to advance to a state title. remember it is not Christmas yet and there is plenty of time to get that worked out. Nash Central is 6-2 and both of their losses have occurred in the last week. Rocky Mount is 5-3 and every one knew that this years team was going to live and die with Carmen Richardson and Tyreka Thomas. The Gryphon nation is surprised at the quality of play of their two inside freshman players. Fike is 6-3 and Hunt is 4-2 while Southern Nash is 4-5. I see potential regional teams in Rocky Mount boys and Northern Girls. Fike boys we will get a look at quickly after Christmas as Rocky Mount and Fike get together for the first conference game. Still plenty of time to find the right combo's in making a run towards the playoffs.

The Tall Trees Win

The 2013 Nash County Christmas Tournament was won by the team with the tallest trees and in the girls game that was Northern Nash winning on their home court against their most hated rival Rocky Mount by a 55-41. The boys game belonged to Rocky Mountfromthe get go 73-42. Rocky Mount had Grover Battle calling time out four minutes into the game when the Lady Gryphons jumped to a 9-0 lead but fro that point on the Lady Knights out scored Rocky Mount 55-32. Alexus Hill lead the Knights charge pouring in 25 points and in doing so earned the MVP honor of the Tournament. Tall tree Kiana Thomas added 14 and joined Hill on the all tournament team. Even down 9-0 a Northern still lead at the end of the first quarter 14-9 as they were on the way to scoring 20 of the next 22 points. Once Northern pushed the lead to 10 the lead stayed between 9-14 for rest of the game. Carman Richardson 16 points and TT Thomas 7points made the all tournament team for Rocky Mount. Ni'ya Styles from Nash Central and Destiny Burgess from Southern Nash join the all tournament team. Mike Gainey came out against Southern Nash in a 1-3-1 defense with the two outside defender in the 3 part of the defense were Donte Battle and Jaquel Bryant. Those long arms pushed Southern further from the basket and less outside shots went in and anytime they dared drive to the basket EmmanuelKing was there to swathe shots away. Rocky Mount lead by 13 at the end of the first , 22 at the half and 31 by the end of the third. Donte Battle 12 points was named tournament MVP and was joined by Asaiah Alston on the All Tournament team. Deon Lavendar and Richard Hall are on the team with Northern's Demonte Johnson and Nash Central's Daniel Pittman. I did TV coverage for WHIG-TV the girls game will air this Sunday while the boys game airs on December 29th.

Northern Wins Commisioner's Cup

This past Saturday at the 3A state football championship Northern Nash High won the Commissioner's Cup for their work With the food bank. Part of the 100 year celebration this year by the NCHSAA they have ask for all high schools to support the Food Bank. Northern won the 3-A for the hours given and money raised. A big well done to Northern for their efforts helping others who really need help. Tonight was night two in The Nash County Christmas Tournament saw the Rocky Mount Gryphon boys hitting the hardwood for the first time in this event against Nash Central. It was as if everyone there knew Rocky Mount was going to win so the crowd never got into a fever pitch on every shot. In fact the loudest person in the building was Mike Gainey implored his defense to cover the Bulldogs outside shooters. Once the Gryphons got a working lead at one point Gainey yell at his defense "cover four and twelve I don't care about the others. Gainey was so focused on his defense he held the ball the last 48 seconds to keep the score where he could keep his starters into work on defense in the fourth quarter. Most of the third quarter the score was near a 20 but by the final buzzer Nash Central trimmed the final score to 69-57. Isaiah Alston returning to Northern where he played last year drilled six threes to total 20 points to lead the Gryphons. Three others hit double figures Donte Battle 14, Jaquel Bryant 11 and Broderick Caudle 10. Rocky Mount out rebounded the Bulldogs 35-22 Battle with 8 and Bryant 7 along with Emmanuel King 7. Central was lead by Daniel Pittman 18 points 8 rebounds. Aaron Spivey 13 and Jordan Conyers 12 scored for the Bulldogs. Nash Central plays Northern Nash at 5pm Thursday in the boys consolation game which will be Followed by Northern/Rocky Mount girls championship game and the night will end with the boys championship between RM and Southern Nash. The girls consolation game was a good one tied at 32 but Nash Central takes third with a 47-42 win over Southern Nash.

Who'd You Expect

Rocky Mount and Northern Nash girls will meet for the championship of the Nash County Christmas tournament after both won their opening night games and will meet for the first time this season but it probably won't be their last time against each other. The opening game was the best game of the night as once beaten Nash Central girls took on the Lady Gryphons who come in at 4-2. This one found Rocky Mount ahead 36-32 in the third quarter but the Lady Bulldogs scored 11 straight points to lead 43-36. The fourth quarter the Gryphons attacked the basket driving to the basket producing scores rebounds or fouls going to the free throw line and the Lady Gryphons pull out a 60-53 victory. The Lady Gryphons play in the championship game Thursday night at 6:30 while the Lady Bulldogs play again Wednesday night at 6pm against Southern Nash. The home team Northern Nash will play against Rocky Mount Thursday night. Carmen Richardson lead Rocky Mount with 22 followed by Keyanna Spivey 13 and T T Thomas 12. Nash Central was lead by Deztanie Hill 14, Ni'ya Styles 13 and Alexia Jones 12. When you win the rebound game 51-19 you would expect the team to win and that is exactly what happened as the Lady Knights Of Northern dominate Southern Nash 61-39 but at one point it was 50-20 before the subs finished the game. Alexis Hill lead the way with 18 points and she was one of six Knights to get at least four rebounds. Kia Thomas added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Northern's record jumps to 7-1 while Southern drops to 4-6. The lone boys game of the night featured the home standing Knights 3-5 against cross county rival Southern Nash 3-7. From the get go Southern found open shots and they made them leading to a 42-29 lead at the half. Northern's defense tightened up in the second half but they were never able to get closer than eight but the last 90 seconds the game became a romp for Southern winning 79-61. Southern had five players in double digits In scoring lead by Deon Lavendar 15, Tahj Deans 14, Aaron Newkirk 14 Bryan a Vines 13 and Richard Hall 13 . Demonte Johnson lead Northern with 17 followed by Isacc Dupree 16 and Paul Cherry 14. Southern will play in the championship game Thursday at 8pm against the winner Wednesday night between Rocky Mount and Nash Central while Northern will play the loser of Wednesdays game at 5pm. ECU freshman J'Kyra Brown was named Monday as the rookie of the week in Conference-USA after scoring 22points last weekend for the Pirates. So far in her freshman season J is averaging 6.8 points for a one loss Pirate team.

Carolina Basketball Team Chemistry

The big debate in the NFL last week was why did the Chicago Bears want to change quarterbacks Josh McCowen their backup playing as well as he was. The truth being told the Bears had lost 2 out of three games. Quaterbacks are judged by wins not by how well they played. North Carolina basketball knocked off another giant Saturday in Kentucky in a year when Carolina has beaten more good teams early than ever before it seems like. They have done it with out two players sitting on the sidelines for reasons that don't have anything to do with basketball but eligibility. The Roy Williams worry now is when and if those two on the sidelines are allowed back on the team what do you do with them? You sure don't want to mess with the current players MO or chemistry that the players Williams has now on the floor have established. I personally think Haiston will never play again at Carolina but McDonald will return in January. Mack Brown retired under his terms I guess this weekend as the football coach at Texas. Brown hammered reporters who had him in his grave last week when they were all reporting he was out. Isn't it ironic that the day after a meeting with the AD and college president both come out praising Brown and the next day he quits. Sounds to me like it was either you quit or we will fire you to me. Where does Texas go from here. You know with their own TV network that Texas has more money than any program in the country to hire anybody they want. Don't be surprised if they have to resort in dropping down to a top 20 program coach to find a new coach. what does it say about winning at all cost as Brown's record the last four years is 30-20 or 60%. Wouldn't State and Carolina like a 60% winning percentage. All of these long term contracts coaches get these days and the pay off if they leave early the choices Texas will get will be less of a pool than you think. For future reference Carolina and Duke fans had better pay attention to the difficulty Texas has because Duke and Carolina Basketball are probably within five years of having to find new basketball coaches and the same problems will exist for them then.

Redskins Despair

To say the least the year of 2013 has been a year of what in the world is going on? 2012 could not have gone any better for them. The Redskins were head of the class with the new wave offense of the NFL with their RG3. The end of the ride on cloud nine ended in that playoff game against the Seahawks. RG3 came up limping early in the game with the Redskins moving the ball. Once 3 was hurt the Redskin offense died and the Hawks won rather easily. The further along the game went the worse 3 seemed as damaged goods and the farther the Redskins fell behind. The entire NFL world was watching and it seemed everyone in the country wanted a change at quarterback except the man that should have made the change the coach Mike Shanahan. The off season produced a promise from RG3 that he would be ready opening day. He never set foot on the field during preseason and yes he did start opening day and any and everybody watching could tell by his limping he was no where near ready. As the season went forth the limp stopped but any kind of performance of the quality NFL quarterback never appeared. Enter into play that the owner of the Redskins is the worse in the NFL north of Jerry Jones in Dallas. Daniel Snyder and Jerry Jones have one thing in common is they know how to spend money but know nothing about how to run professional football teams but they think they do. This season with RG3 at QB the Skins have sunk to 3-10 and finally this week word that 3 would be put in the barn for rest of the season in order to protect him from injury so he can have an off season to prepare for next season. Why wasn't that part of the reasoning during the playoff game last year? Why wasn't that part of the reasoning the first game this season. It is widely viewed that Dallas has the largest income in the NFL but guess what It is actually the Deadskins. Dallas is second. If there is one thing both can do make money. You would have to wonder how two people who have the knack in making money are so good at messing up but still continue to make more money. One thing money does for these two is they are arrogant enough to think they know how to run a football team better than the people they hire to do it for them. Since both like to run the show seems like they would prefer to get coaches who don't know anything about football. I'm available if needed.

Nash County Tournament This week

Starting Tuesday the 2013 addition of the Nash County Christmas tournament will be held at Northern Nash High School. The past few years it has been a three day tournament over four games in two days. The opening game will feature the Lady Gryphons going up against The Lady Bulldogs of Nash Central. Rocky Mount 4-2 VS Nash Central 6-0. Coach Terry Cash could not ask for a much better start to the 2013-14 season than what has taken place so far. Heading into Saturday night's game the Lady Bulldogs were undefeated with a senior laden team which has grown up together since freshman year. Rocky Mount is some what better than expected standing at 4-2. They are better inside than anyone knew about and as always the Lady Gryphons feast on a nervous point guard. They won't find that in veteran Niya Styles running the show for for the Bulldogs. This is a really good game to kickoff the 2013 tournament at 5pm Tuesday. Southern Nash 4-3 VS Northern Nash 5-1. Coach Wayne Bryant's squad gets the pleasure of taking on the host team in the first round. Northern's lone loss was on the road. I would suspect the Lady Firebirds need to be able to play even on the boards and stop Alexis Hill. Sounds easy on paper but it will be a challenge for Firebirds to shutdown the best all round basketball player in the Big East. This game follows the first game on Tuesday. The final game on Tuesday the Northern Nash Boys 3-4 will host Nash Central 1-5. Nash Central can claim to be the youngest team in the Big East this year. Most of the time that will lead to losses and to this point that is what has happen to the Bulldogs. The good news is the Bulldogs have been in every game but in the key moments have made inexperienced mistakes. Northern is riding the roller coaster of win one game lose the next but to this point are better than anyone expected this season. Wednesday's 6pm game will be the consolation game of the two losing teams in the girls bracket from Tuesday. Then the final game of the night will have Rocky Mount 4-2 taking on Southern Nash 3-4. Southern like almost everyone will have to contend with a wall ten feet from the basket call Battle-King and Bryant the Gryphons tall rebound line. Southern must either out run Rocky Mount or be hot from the outside. the two Gryphon losses have come against hot shooting 3's. Right now that is where the Gryphons must improve exterior defense. Thursday lineup will start at 5pm with the boys consolation game followed by the girls championship and then followed by the boys championship tussle.

Gryphons Rebound

Both Rocky Mount varsity basketball teams rebounded from losses on Wednesday night with victories over Rose High.  The boys win their first game of the week after their first two losses of the season beating the Rose boys 71-54.  The Lady Gryphons had little trouble knocking off the Lady Rampants 57-38.

The boys dominated the boards grabbing 35 misses while holding Rose to 18.  The turnover battle was even at 16 so the dominant inside Gryphon game was rejuvenated with the return of Emmanuel King. Donte Battle lead the rebounding with 12 while King had 9.

Isaiah Alston lead the Gryphon scoring dropping five threes in the second half to lead the Gryphon scoring with 21.  Donte Battle contributed 14 and Emmanuel King added 12.  Next action for the Gryphons will be the second game of the Nash County Christmas Tournament when they take on Nash Central Wednesday night.

Before the Lady Gryphons opened the season there were many questions as to who was going to step up and replace the departed J'Kyra Brown who now plays for ECU.  So far early in the year both Carmen Richardson and T T Thomas have lead the scoring from either the Lady Gryphon defense or outside scoring. Tonight belonged to the inside game.

Tamarra Harper lead the way down low in the blocks with drop step moves leading to 20 points and five rebounds.  The other low post was the property of Keyanna  Spivey who scored 13 points and pulled down  eight rebounds.  The Lady Gryphons were able to avenge their opening night loss at Rose  by 19.

They return to action Tuesday at five pm in the opening game of the Christmas Tournament when they take on the undefeated  Nash Central Lady Bulldogs.

Not Time To Worry

You see this in the NFL every week. A team wins a big game one week and loses the next. Fans ride up and down on the elavator or joy and despair all the time. It doesn't have to be just the NFL as it occurs at every level. Rocky Mount boys basketball team has brought into this season high expectations with all the returning big men that surely this team would go undefeated and win another state championship since this is an even year coming up 2014 and the Gryphons have won the last two titles 2010 and 2012 on even years. The two down to the wire losses this week ends any thinking of an undefeated season for those that thought that was possible. What has shown through is how fragile any team is when all the pieces don't fit. Both losses have occured with Emmanual King on the sidelines. He and Donte Battle have started and Jaquell Bryant has come off the bench. This week Jaquell has started and has left no big big man to be used as back up. Jaquell is a defensive specialist but when he is thrown into a starting role more scoring is needed from him and then when it is time for either he or Battle to come out of the game for rest there is no defensive specialist in the game in his normal role. We all as fans forget how lucky any team is to go all the way through any season and wind up winning a state championship. Have we all forgotten 2010's team had to beat Northeast Guilford in over time 83-82 to get to Chapel Hill or that we only beat West Craven by three in the semi finals. Not only do you have to be good but lucky helps more than we are willing to admit. In both 2010 and 12 in mid January the Gryphons were still trying to put all the pieces into place before they went on winning streaks that took them to State titles. Mike Gainey has built a basketball juggernaut in Rocky Mount but not at any time in the past five years have they threatened going undefeated. Back in 2008 they were 19-7 and lost in the sectional finals in overtime 77-74 to Northern Vance. 2009 they were 17-11 lost in the second round. 2010 the state championship team had lost three times by mid January. 2011 20-11 lost in the regional semi's to West Craven. 2012 lost three times during regular season before taking the state crown and finishing 25-3. 2013's team lost only twice up to the regional finals lost but the team with the best record didn't make it to the state finals. Don't get wrapped up about losses this early in the year. You know they haven't lost one yet to a bad team. It is not like as we watch them play you are saying holy moly they are bad this year. This years Gryphon team needs time to play together and find their roles. They get another chance tonight as they host Greenville Rose who will have any football players on the team this time that were in the football playoffs when we played them earlier.

Another Plateau

Today marks  blog number 2000 posted by yours truly.  The first appeared on August 1st in 2008 which is 1939 days ago which means over those five plus years I have done 69 extra post to average more than once a day.  During that time 178,000 times you have ventured to look this way.  During that five plus that averages out to 90 of you per day.  As long as I am able to provide items that interest you where during the month of November more than 150 have hit this site on average per day.  Thank you for your support.

2,000 sounds like a great number and when you add the almost 1,200 times I've been behind the mic either on radio or TV providing some type of coverage on live sporting events but I am no where in the league of Chuck Kaiton the play by play voice of the Carolina Hurricanes.  Late in November Kaiton did his 3000 hockey game on the radio covering either the Hartford Whalers or the Carolina Hurricanes since his first game was in 1979.

If you have Ever listened to a Hurricanes game right off the bat you will notice that Kaiton does the high paced action of the NHL solo.  There are not many that can do it and do it as great as Kaiton does.  Found out today that I will be adding two more broadcasts to my list next week solo as I will cover the Nash County Holiday Tournament at Northern for the All New Sports Show.  I hope when I grow up I can make the calls as well as Chuck Kaiton.

Last night Rocky Mount  high made the trip to South Central and lost for the second night in a row 69-67.   Once again the Gryphons played without Emmanuel King and it shows the fact that every team needs to have every member in order to play with high effiency. The Lady gryphons lost a close one 46-41 at south Central. Both Gryphon teams are 3-2.

Tuesday night  South Central had beaten Northern  boys while the Northern Nash girls won by 20.

Daggered

The first two home games for this years Gryphons boys basketball team has been hold your breath right down to the wire affairs and tonight's game went over time and in the end Ryan Weaver the HC quarterback threw up a three pointer with only milli seconds on the clock and Weaver 's shot hit nothing but net and Hertford County a week after losing by 16 at home to Rocky mount stuns the Gryphons 77-75.

Rocky Mount maintained a  four to six point game throughout the first three quarters but could never shake the Bears who drilled threes throughout the night.  Rocky Mount who trailed by four late somehow or other managed to survive a shot  at the end of regulation just to get to overtime. Twice in overtime RM thought they had a five second call while one official signaled turnover another signaled time out HC and then with a shot rolling off the rim with 2.1 seconds left all the Gryphons needed was the rebound but it rolled out of bounds giving H C that chance for that last second dagger.

Donte Battle had 22 points and 16 rebounds.  Isiah Alston scored 22 and Broderick Caudle 21. Daquan Ruffin 26 points and Weaver lead HC with 22 but at this point Rocky Mount's defensive guard play leaves much to be desired.  Both South Central and HC guards shot open threes all night and at this point  much improvement has to be made there.  Not much time to practice as RM. travels to South Central Wednesday .

You know when the lead hits fifty and they don't stop the clock any more then the girls game never had a chance to be  much of a game.  The Lady Gryphons  lead by 21 at the end of the first and 41 at the half as they clobbered. Hertford County 76-19.

You know it isn't close when your top two scorers for Rocky Mount scored more than the entire HC team did.  TT Thomas lead the Gryphons with 21 and Carmen Richardson 19.  Once the clock started  running without stopping HC had 38 turnovers but I quit keeping stats at that point.

Read The Fine Print

I don't know whether you are into pro football so much as that you have voted for any player for the Pro Bowl team. Yes I have several times been on line and voted for Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson as quarter backs on the Pro Bowl team. Whether you can say that the Pro Bowl should be flag football or not the NFL is trying to spice up life this year by all players that are voted on the team will be selected in a fantasy draft type and the top two vote getter both offense and defense from AFC and the Top two vote getters on the offense and defense in the NFC will then hold a draft and select what team everyone will play on. If you are voting for your guy and hoping he is a NFC or AFC player then hold your breath. You could see Panther players on opposite teams. The NHL has done this for a couple of years and it add excitement putting players on the same team with each other that normally would not be team mates. It also makes it like back yard ball when the two captains pick players and you hope you are not the last one picked. Duke's reward for winning ten football games this year is a trip to Atlanta to play Texas A&M in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl. Coach Cut has done for Duke football what coach K did in the early 80's. Basketball was down in the dumps watching Carolina and State win National Championships in basketball but hung on and let the coach have time to develope his program. The only thing stopping Duke football from a 20 year run under coach Cut is his age. Carolina returns to Charlotte to play in the Belk Bowl. Carolina is 0-3 in games in Charlotte even though they will be at home basically. I would say the reason for that would be that the Belk Bowl is not on the level of other top notch Bowl games so more of a let down than reward for a 6-6 season. Looks like ECU got the best of the Bowl deal heading to Florida to St Petersburg to play in the Beef O'Brady Bowl against Ohio. When I say they got the best deal sunny Florida is what I mean. It should not seem as if the world ended Sunday night when the Saints beat the Panthers. The score was about what I expected. Two weeks the Saints come to Charlotte and if the Panthers are still healthy they will win. Cam is playing much better ball this year for the Panthers but still this surge has been because of the defense more so over the offense. Newton continues to throw high when ever he throws and high passes are easier to intercept. The one thing he has improve on greatly is his deciding when to run. Finally today I know many of you watched Sunday's game in Philly with eight inches of snow on the ground. This past weekend a bus load from Rocky Mount made a weekend trek to New York City and were scheduled to return home at 3pm Sunday but due to the weather left at Noon and rode by the stadium in Philly during the afternoon. It took 8 hours for the bus to get to the Maryland State line on I-95 but from there the roads were clear and the trip took 13 total hours. Glad that was them and not me.

South Central Game Moved

If you have been trying to find out the score of the Rocky Mount South Central basketball game from Friday night you will not find it.  The Gryphons arrived on time only to find that the gym floor had moisture on it and was unplayable.  That game has been move to this Wednesday night. I hear that since there were plenty of Gryphon fans who made to trip only to turn around and go home admission to Wednesday nights game will be free

This really puts this week as a big week for the Gryphons as they play home Tuesday against Hertford County travel to Winterville Wednesday and host Rose on Friday. We just might know a lot about the 2013/2014 Gryphons after this week. The Gryphons escaped with a victory in Rocky Mount when they out lasted the hot shooting Falcons of South Central two weeks ago and playing on the Falcons home floor Wednesday night will probably be the test of the year before conference play starts in January.

I guess all of the so called experts in picking point spreads were right after all as Florida State after taking a pretty good punch from Duke in the first quarter manhandled the Blue Devils from that point on winning 45-7. Florida State will return to the BCS championship game for the first time since 2000. The SEC was in a real panic all week with the outlook that the SEC after winning seven straight BCS championships was going to get left out of the big game but thanks to Michigan State victory over Ohio State Auburn is in. The Auburn Missouri game looked like Rocky Mount Academy playing in an eight man football game with all the running around going on. I like offense but please show me you can stop somebody every now and then.


I'll take Florida State in the BCS championship game against Auburn. Can you imagine the pressure Auburn will be under probably not favored in that game but the weight of seven straight SEC national championships victories and Auburn might be the team to stop the streak. That's kind of like the 1974 UCLA team in basketball lead by Bill Walton losing and stopping UCLA seven straight national championships in a row. Did you get the feeling with all the news media coverage of the sex scandal with Jameis Winston and the allegations being dropped that Winston knowing that the world was watching and ready to vote for him in the Heisman trophy voting he tried to be too perfect in the first quarter and missed several wide open receivers. Just think what the score would have been if he had of been sharp in the first quarter.

NFL Scheduling

I don't care which NFL team you pull for it is very hard for those teams on the west coast traveling due to the fact that only nine NFL teams reside west of the Mississippi River. Case in point today the New York Giants play in San Diego. Regardless of each one of these teams records (5-7)this is one of the big games in the NFL this weekend because it marks the second time ELI Manning has played in San Diego since he rejected playing for them in 2004 draft which has become famous after the Giants drafted Philip Rivers and 15 minutes after Rivers was drafted a trade was made switching quarterbacks. Rivers knew in 2004 that there was something amist after hearing his named called by the Giants since he had never spoken with the Giants at any time during the time preceeding the draft. If you look at stats only San Diego made out like a bandit getting Rivers which at this point in his career is the 6th best passer rated quarterback in the history of the NFL. I would like to pass along a happy birthday wish to Philip as he turns 32 years old today. Just maybe Archie Manning knew something when he didn't want his son in San Diego. Manning despite only average stats has helped the Giants win two Super Bowls in that time. It will be interesting to see the crowd reaction today when these two teams collide. Manning and Rivers have met playing against each other once four years ago when San Diego traveled to New York and Rivers threw a TD pass to Vincent Jackson in the right corner of the end zone with 29 seconds to play to beat the Giants 24-21. Manning and the Giants played in San Diego in 2005 with Drew Brees as the Charger QB and Rivers riding the bench, the Chargers won that one too 45-23. Now back to this travel deal. Today marks only the third trip to the west coast for the Giants in the last four years while San Diego has made four trips to the east coast this year alone Philadelphia,Washington.Jacksonville and Miami. Of their seven road games so far only one to Oakland has been in their same Pacific Time Zone. If I were an NFL coach I would never change my clocks for games. Most NFL teams practice every morning at 8am so for San Diego that would be at 11am EST. Most games on the east coast start at 1pm so if SD never changed their watches they play at 10am PST so they would be finishing up practice then any way. I think people over think too many things in this world and I would never change my watch flip flopping one coast to the other. You are there only for a day anyway so what's wrong with telling your team kick off is 10am.

Hunt Mistakes Costly

Southern Durham took the opening kickoff and went six plays for 75 yards and before Hunt could break a sweat they were down in the eastern 3-AA finals 7-0. The Warriors on their opening drive got one first down before punting but the snap from center sailed over the head of the punter and in a scramble in the end zone Hunt fell on the ball for a safety and they trailer 9-0 before five minutes had been played. The first series of the second quarter the Warriors began a come back and kicked a field goal to trim the Southern Durham lead to 9-3. Their very next drive the Warriors took the lead after the point after at 10-9 on a Jacob Williamson to Malik William 29 yard pass. Hunt on their next series is forced to punt with less than a minute and a half to go in the half but the punt is drilled into the back of blocker and Southern has the ball at the Hunt 10 and SD makes Hunt pay to lead 17-10 at the half. The opening kickoff of the second half Hunt takes and drives to the SD seven yard line when a Jacob Williamson pass is picked off in the end zone and returned 98 yards to the Hunt five yard line. There Hunt makes what could have been the game saving stop forcing SD to give up the ball on the Hunt 8 yard line. Every game has a turning point and the first play Hunt fumbles at their own 13 and this time Southern Durham will not be stopped again. The final score will grow to 38-10 but at this point it is 24-10 and Hunt has given up 24 points and Southern Durham has had only to drive 23 yards to score 17 of those points. There is no way any good team will win if you are going to give away points Hunt Finishes 10-4 on the season while Southern Durham will play Shelby Crest next Saturday night at B B &T field in Winston Salem who upset the three time defending State Champs Northern Guilford 23-17 after trailing 17-7 in the third quarter. Basketball scores that I know from Friday night Northern Nash beat Southern Vance 53 48 while the Lady Knights remain unbeaten winning by 20. Fike is having a good athletic year raising their record to 5-0 beating Beddingfield 47-44.

The Big East Is A Beast In The East

We have reached the eastern finals once again in football and for the 7th year in a row a team from the Big East or it's ancestor the NEW will be playing in the eastern Finals in football. Hard to deny that the Big East regardless of lack of state titles is the best football conference east of I-85. 2006 Rocky Mount was beaten in the third round of the playoffs by a team west of I-85. Every year since the Big East has had a team either in the 3-A or 3-AA Regional game title game. 2007 Rocky Mount lost to Western Alamance. 2008 Rocky Mount lost to West Craven. 2009 Southern Nash lost to South Johnston. 2010 Hunt lost to Northern Guilford. 2011 Hunt lost to Northern Guilford. 2012 Hunt lost to Northern Guilford. 2013 Hunt is back again representing the Big East. Seven straight years the Big East has run up front with the fast cars but as yet to cross the state title finish line in first. I do believe that if you run up front enough you will win at some point and the Big East tries once more tonight. Hunt 11-3 travels to Southern Durham 12-2: Power against speed. Who's will prevails. This one is a coin flip game. Hunt's defense controlled Byrd but Southern provides more flexibility in their offense. I am flipping the coin in the air and it it says Hunt wins 24-22. Duke 10-2 playing Florida State for Duke the Orange Bowl is in site but who can believe Duke can win. FSU is a 28.5 point favorite. I think FSU has too much speed for the Devils but I don't see this being a 55-0 game, more like 35-10 FSU. If Duke has several turnovers it could get ugly. All the talk of the ACC being just as good as the SEC. The ACC has to get to the point when their championship game is competitive like the SEC game was last year with Georgia and Alabama. Until that happens the ACC is still walking in the SEC shadow.

Numbers to Gander

Rocky Mount High travel to Hertford County on Tuesday winning 62-46. The girls were also winners. Northern Nash girls remain unbeaten beating Southern Wayne Tuesday 69-29 while the boys beat S Wayne 65-58. Last night the Lady knights beat South Central 59-45 while the boys lost 79-55. Beddingfield beat Southern Nash 50-38. Fike beat Rocky Mount Prep 60-25 so Prep after playing in the State Championship 1-A game last year has been drilled by more than 25 twice already this year. Faith christian lost to Arendell Parrott 53-50 North Edgecombe beat SE Halifax 42-36 Hunt beat Goldsboro 60-35. I thought Hunt was still playing football? What kind of chance does Duke have against FLorida State Saturday night. They are 0-18 lifetime against the Seminoles, Florida State is #1 in the BCS for the first time since last century. Florida State is a 28.5 point favorite over the Dukies. Mike Tomlin got a $100,000 fine for not getting out of the way Turkey night against the Ravens. Coach K's win in the ACC/Big ten Challenge was his 934th all time. Ties him for the most wins ever by a college man coach. Jim Grobe won 42 ACC conference football games while at Wake, second place has 14. This is 14th addition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. What ever happened to the Big East challenge?. This is the first time that the challenge finished tied 6-6. Ohio State is 2nd in BCS poll and they haven't beaten a top 15 team in the last two years. Under the topic of never too late. Rocky Mount High school gave Donte Battle a Basketball during the last home game against South Central recognizing his scoring more than 1,000 points in his high school career. At that time 1,015 was the correct number. The Florida State's Attorneys office will have a news conference today at 2pm to announce their findings in the Jameis Winston Rape allegations. From the beginning this has had the smell of the Duke Lacrosse case. If they were going to charge him all they have to do is arrest him. Sounds to me like this case is over after today.

Build Another Dean Dome?

I remember the first time I ever walked into the Dean Dome it was the Eastern Regionals of what year I forget. But this year Duke was in the dome and I remember Rhode Island beat Derrick Coleman and Syracuse in one of the afternoon games. We had parked out at University Mall and road the bus and I remember I got chill bumps the first time I saw that majestic Building sitting on top of that hill. Rumors are floating about that Carolina either wants to remodel the DD or build a newer building with sky boxes and luxury suites. If they remodel the Dome will have less people but the cost for the new seats will be higher so more income for Chapel Hill. Unfortunately the Dean Dome was one of the last remember the Charlotte Coliseum out on the Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte was built later and yet is already torn down because that was the last of the so called big arena's that didn't have luxury boxes. I hope the folks in Chapel Hill decide to lift the top off the DD and put the boxes there over building a new building. We will see what the future brings. Right now the future for Carolina basketball is not all that bright following their third lost of this young season. I hear all the Heels fans saying I wish the NCAA would rule on the eligibility of Harrison and Strickland. I think they have and when ever they feel the two players can begin playing they will announce something but with Carolina playing it safe and not playing them I think the NCAA is shaking their head up and down saying good, you are doing the right thing. Who knows but Harrison may not play at all this year. I heard on some show I don't remember whether it was radio or TV the discussion about paying college players. The persons statement was first before colleges worry about paying players they first need to make sure the ones that are there need to be in college not in college because they run fast. Isn't it funny was the statement but all this talk about paying players is coming from the kids that were brought up on the street corner and as soon as their eligibility is up they are going back to the street corner because colleges didn't or the players didn't try to prepare themselves to do anything else other than play sports and every athlete will get to the point where they can't play anymore. Some they never play after high school others after college, only a few ever get money from a pro team to play sports. So eliminate those who can't read a college book and probably the talk of paying players goes with it. I kind of like that idea.

That Pressure Job COACHING

Jim Grobe on Monday resigned as the football coach at Wake Forest. WF as one of the smallest division one football programs has over the years accepted that winning more than half of their games was probably not possible. Along comes Jim Grobe and the Deacs win the ACC football championship and play in the Orange Bowl game. Every school in the country came calling on Grobe to be their coach. Grobe said I like it here and here is where I will stay. Grobe made the Demon Deacons into a competitive football team but the last couple of years the Deacs haven fallen into that 4-7 type season and Deacon fans no longer want that to be the common. How easy it is to forget that this man changed Wake Football. I don't care who you are if you have expectations in your life the disappointment of not reaching your personal goals weight heavy on any person. Then when you throw in a fan base that wants more wins the burden can be too heavy for any man to want to endure so yesterday Grobe resigned stating at this point he had no plans for the future. To me that sounds like those burdens needed to be lift off his shoulders and so Wake has loss the greatest coach ever. Having run a clock during sporting events many times over the years I can tell you right now that the end of the Alabama -Auburn game when there was one second left or not any clock in the country when you as the time keeper hit the stop button one more second will always come off before it stops on the score board. Sitting home having watch all the second half of that game I thought they would rule game over and let's play overtime. I am sure at this time Alabama wished they had. I never in my wildest dreams thought about a run back but I was telling my TV screen that Auburn had to watch the fake kick and pass. The TV angle even while the ball was in flight I never thought about a run back until the deep man ran up into the screen. Every person in that stadium was watching the flight of the ball including the Alabama players so who can blame any player on the field for not being down in coverage. In fact the kick returner did dodge his first man at the 15 yard line and there is that saying in football that if you get by the first man you have a chance. If you saw the Turkey night NFL game anyone who has seen the replay Mike Tomlin the coach of the Steelers was right where he wanted to be on the return by the Ravens kicker returner. I think the best deal if you want to keep coaches off the field as in this case is suspend him for about two games and any coach thinking about that type idea again will remember he got about a half million dollar fine from the league.

Warning Signs

 Tarboro Vikings lost a state playoff game Friday night for the first in what seems like forever.  Fans of the Vikings assumed that dropping  down to1-AA the the state championship game was a lock.  Every coach knows his teams weak points and they do what ever is necessary to cover their flank in military terms.

Tarboro had injuries mounting to key players.  You might say they had injuries in the past like Todd Gurley senior year when Tarboro used Gurley sparingly until crunch time and Gurley made out like a division one recruit and took the Vikings to a title.

This is no fault of any player on the current roster that this years team has many excellent players but no Todd Gurley type among them.  Then there is the lack of competition from the Twin Rivers conference  where Tarboro did not have one conference game that wasn't over at the half.

Then there is one more  very important reason why the Vikings lost in the third round.  Wallace Rose Hill was a better football team.  WRH has just as great of tradition as the Vikings so they didn't come to Tarboro shaking in their boots. Every team that is successful and every team that is not falls into traps because they think we are playing ant home and nobody beats us here. Losing teams always have the mentality of not being sure they can win. Tarboro's previous seven games had given them the Superman thinking and here comes a team that is just as good as the Vikings being thrown into a underdog roll and they were ready. I would hope that everyone in Viking land remembers that there are only a few times in any schools lifetime that for six years in a row thay play on Thanksgiving Friday. This has been a good run and it might not be over yet.

Duke Does It

Duke did the impossible yesterday and won their division and now becomes the sacrificial lamb for Florida State in the ACC championship game in Charlotte.  You look at Duke and you scratch your head as to how has this team done what they have done.

This season has turned out to a season just like Wake had when they won the ACC title back not that long ago. This also means State and Caroina neither have played in the ACC championship  before while both Wake and Duke will. It also Dukes marks the second football title even though it is only a divisional for Duke when State and Carolina have none in 30 years

Why has this Duke team won and I think the answer is rather simple.  They do almost everything the way the game is suppose to be played?  Yes, they have had three or four turnovers in several games and yet they keep right on winning.  They run, tackle and do the basic football play correctly and after they have done this they wait for you to mess up.  They are the perverbial Bulldog  what grabs hold and won't let go.

David Cutcliffe in his 6th season has shown improvement every year but he has been a preacher that preaches the same sermon day after day.  Those sermons have improved Duke day after day and now after two years of bowl eligibility the fruits have come to Duke football.

I predicted the more talented Tar Heels would win but found myself cheering for Duke first of all Duke has been an underdog for so many years  every blind hog needs to find an acorn once in a while.  More than that however I appreciate good football when I see it.

One of the good things of modern technology  is you can hear every coach every day talking on some kind of media.  If anybody has ever heard coach Cut more than once has to like what he preaches.  I wonder would Cut let a player leaving to go pro after he still has eligibility walk as a senior like Carolina did yesterday with tight end Eric Ebron.  It just seems to me you slap all the seniors in the face who have given your school four or five years.  To me that just wasn't the right thing to do and in a small way keeps you team just a little divided instead of united.

This Duke team has been united playing the game of football the right way.  I do think they will lose next Saturday to Florida State but I suspect will give a good account of themselves better than anybody else in the ACC has this year.  The main reason is they are a good football team.