The Old Ball Coach Just Might Finally Get One

2009 B W Holt retired as the head coach at Rocky Mount High School.  His last day as the head football coach he walked away with 321 victories in his back pocket.  Funny thing but Holt's coaching career and my radio career crossed paths in 1974 when he was the coach in Franklinton an  I worked at WPTM radio in Roanoke Rapids as we covered Weldon and on that night Holt did not collect one of those 321 wins.

While covering the Gryphons on the radio here in Rocky Mount Holt gave me the opportunity to watch film with him and you learn a lot about a coach when you see him stop the film and start diagraming plays that would work against the defense being shown on the film.  Not only could you see this man is a real coach but his teams he put on the field would convince anybody he could coach.

His ability to coach and win games  makes people appreciate his coaching ability.  Somewhere Holt has that ability that those players who play for him or people who he touches on a daily basis some how some way become devoted to him.  Yes he has a crust on the outside and for those who don't know him feel he is brash.  Yet those who are able to get under that crust find Holt devoted to those around him.  His devotion to them is handed back to him ten fold.

I don't know whether Starmount is in the state playoffs this year or not.  If they are out of the playoffs I will bet you there will be a delegation from Starmount here Friday night.  Those people still love him today for what he did for their program for 19 years. You know the Gryphons are on the road Friday night as they travel to Orange County.  The Gryphons are under dogs in the opening playoff game and I know die hard Gryphons will be in Hillsbourgh.  I believe since this game between RMA and Southampton Academy is being played at the sports complex instead of at the Academy there will be many Gryphon fans who are not going to Hillsbourgh but they will be at the Complex pulling for B W.

As for me I have to be in a Buies Creek for the final home game for Campbell volleyball Friday night.  Would love a rainout Friday so I could be there Saturday at the Sports Complex to see Holt try to win that elusive  state title. The man deserves a title.  I don't care whether it's eight man or Eighth grade a state title is a state title and 69 year old B W a Holt deserves one.

Having  already lost to Southampton by 32 points points earlier this year the Eagles will be big time under dogs in this game. Once again over whelming odds will be against him winning a title. Yet, once again B W Holt has a team playing late in the football season. Any man who can coach like he can needs at least one title. Go get him one Eagles!