A World Of Difference

During my 16 years doing local sports in Rocky Mount the walking encyclopedia  of Gryphon Sports was Charles Alston.  There were about three years that Charles rode with me to every Gryphon  game and he and I would argue about Rocky Mount being the smallest 4-A  school that they needed to be in 3-A.  Charles thought you had nothing to Brag about if you were 3-A state champions.

Once realignment came about and in 2008 when the Gryphons won the baseball championship I ask Charles how he felt only being a 3-A champion.  Of course Charle's answer was "Hard to tell any difference".  I can only tell you that Rocky  Mount High school has won two football titles and they won them back to back in 1962 and 1963.  If I remember Charles told me the last time the Gryphons even played in the state championship game in football was 1980.  I no longer have the Gryphon encyclopedia standing by with all the  answers.

Friday night December the 11th the Gryphons will try to win their third state title and their first as a 3-A school.  It will also be the third anniversary of the death of the Gryphons history  encyclopedia
Charles Alston.  Every year when teams take the field they need good players, a  healthy season and it doesn't hurt  to have an omen on your side.  Charles will be watching.

It has been close to ten years since Rocky Mount was demoted to 3-A in Charles' eyes.  They have won two basketball and a baseball title. Both basketball and football they have played in multiple regionals.  I don't care how big you are if you have 500 less students that other members of your conference it is hard to compete day in and day out.  Even a two hundred difference and you can use Nash Central as the example of having a hard time competing.

I wasn't there at Eastern Alamance as I was doing PA  at Wesleyan.  I have however done a SouthWest Edgecombe / EA playoff game there around 2006 or so.  All the people with lawn chairs and the field being encircle with fans made for a really nice atmosphere for a high school football game.  The field was muddy  but other than that a great place to watch high school football.

You know Chapel Hill was the site of both basketball titles in 2010 and 2012.  There is something about Chapel  Hill and the Gryphons.  Both Basketball titles we estimate between 5 to 7 thousand fans supported the Gryphons.  Kenan Stadium can dwarf seven thousand people making the place look empty.  Be there!!!

I think one of the best coaching moves of the weekend turned sour on SouthWest Edgecombe.  Trailing 22-21 in overtime Jonathan  Cobb chose to go for a two point conversion to win the game.  They came up six inches short.  There are many Cougar fans today asking why not kick and play on.  Just look at the Bunn/Clinton game to get your answer.   Under the same circumstance Clinton's kicker missed the tying score.

Cobb put the responsibility squarely on his shoulder and took the pressure off his players.  If for no other reason he probably felt this was his best chance to win because SWE led almost the entire game but late Kinston had the momentum on their side.  Not only that but the Cougars go for many two pointers all during the season.

What can happen on a extra point kick?  A bad snap, poor hold, a kicker slip or even a shanked kick.  I would rather have a coach trying to win  Any day.