At Least A Few Moments Without Ray Rice Talk

I told you Friday night of our trip to University of Maryland Eastern Shore to follow Campbell volleyball over the weekend.   Yes we found a motel room for Friday night and we made a decision to come home Saturday night after volleyball which ended around 8:30 pm.   By the way Campbell won the tournament and heading to this weekend conference play starts they stand 8-7 having lost to four teams in the volleyball top 50.

So at 8:30 we head home to Rocky Mount which is about a 4 hour and 45 minute trip.  We had to stop in Franklin Va. To get 2.99 a gallon gas so we pull in the driveway at 1:40 am.  I did an unforgivable and did not go to church Sunday so by the time I got up the NFL pregame shows are on all the channels.  It didn't take long to tire of the Ray Rice talk.  Please Sunday is game day lets stick to football instead of who lied, who knew and who knew what when.  I really at this point am ready to rid the Ray Rice talk about the same as all the political ad lies all over TV.  I turn off the football shows to watch a  1950 black and white movie.

The football was worth watching as for almost all the games I didn't hear the name Ray Rice once.  We live in the moment these days and if the Super Bowl was Sunday I think Phoenix would represent the NFC and at this point the AFC is more wide open.

I don't think New England will be around by the conference championship game.  Indy gives up too many points,  despite losing to Seattle I can see the Denver D is better but there is no way their offense can have the year they had last year. I see San Diego giving everyone in the AFC trouble.  Cincy looks as good as anybody but I need to see more when the tough games start. This is of course  only week three  so next week everything will completely change.

I find it hard to believe having heard some of the comments coming from the Carolina football players after the A Stomping they took.  This game means more  to ECU than us.  It's their Super Bowl.  College players need to realize that it is a privilege to play college football and when injury can strike on any play and your college career could end they need to act as if every game is their Super Bowl. 

Comments like these are some of the reason you hear people say ABC anybody but Carolina.  There is an attitude in Chapel Hill that they are better than everyone else and I don't know how you can become better until you admit that you had your head handed to you on a silver platter.  It is obvious  since Mack brown left that Carolina football is an elite program right?  Until they humble themselves Carolina will be an also ran  because until you admit we are not as good as we think they will never get better.

The Futures  Tour season ended Sunday and Cousin Lauren Doughtie finished 49th on the year leaving her to hope to make the LPGA in November when they have a qualifying school when only 4 or 5 out of 144 will make the tour.  Her scoring average was 73.48 while the top money winner averaged 71.22.  Even with our hopes of being on the LPGA tour 73.48 will not cut it so it will be better to come back to the Futures Tour next year.

It's Time To Regroup

If you are a member of the Gryphon and Tar Heel football teams today you have to take long looks at yourself.  Both teams lacked defense.  Both have major issues to take care of quick.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons can be given a pass for the effort against Greenville Rose.  If you recall I did mention late that Rose put their first team back in the game long after the outcome was decided and why in the world would they do that unless there was something during the game that Rose felt like sticking it to the Gryphons.  I certainly don't think that's very smart by Rose risking injury.

Fast forward to Friday night and the Gryphons have 15 penalties including the coaching staff.  There is no other way to say it but the Gryphons lacked discipline when the game doesn't  go their way.  Coach Battle has vowed to work on that at practice Monday.  This is the sixth week of the season and kind of late to start on something that should have been part of your coaching from day one.

Larry Fedora has been able to scores points since he has come to Chapel Hill but the Tar Heels embarrassed the entire Tar Heel nation giving up 70 against a team they don't consider a rival but you had better believe the Pirate Nation does.  Oh yeah they let those guys from the east to paste more than 50 on them last year.

You have to look no further than lasts years Super Bowl to see that great offenses can be stopped by by a great defense.  This world we live in now of high scoring offenses have only one problem when they score quickly is the other teams gets the ball quickly too and then you need to stop them.  If Carolina ever wants to be a great team they need to do what Mack Brown did and and become a great defense.  If the other side doesn't score you don't have to score that many to win.  Fans come to see winners and as long as you win fans will come.

All of you know that I am Philip Rivers fans and it looks like for the first time since his first year as an NFL starter the Chargers have a defense that will allow Rivers and company to make a real run at a deep run in the playoffs.  There is no doubt that allowing Rivers to call plays  at the line of scrimmage after looking at coverages is made for him. So far the three teams the Chargers have played they are a combined 7-2 and the two were administered by the Chargers.

The world we live in where you can go on line and see the daily interviews  done by your favorite team and I like what I hear from Mike Mccoy the Charger head coach.  He preaches discipline something that the Chargers have lacked in the past.  Any team has to hope they stay away from injuries to their vital players.  If the Chargers stay healthy I like their chances.

Great Day To Be A Pirate

My early years in life before you had to buy season tickets I spent many Saturdays in Ficklin Stadium.  The Names of Zack Valentine, Mike Weaver, Sam Harrell and Ruffin McNeil spewed from the Pirate PA during at the time the Pat Dye era.

I liked Mcneil not only because of his play but there was something about the PA way of saying Ruffin McNeil.  I guess for me it was having a last name first kind of deal.  Even though I loved McNeil for his play at ECU I had my doubts of bringing a defensive coach from Texas Tech  to Pirateland because at the time Tech had to score 50 to win most games.

Five years into the McNeil era the Pirates stand with a excellent chance of not losing another game this season  but they will be coming off the greatest day in a Pirate history.  There have been many great wins in Ficklin-Dowdy but yesterday now will be the game that every Pirate fan will always tell they were there whether they were or not.

Most were there to witness the stomping of a life time in a Pirate Land.  Last week the Pirates went to Virginia Tech who is still living off memories instead of reality.  The Pirates win there last  week tempered somewhat with Georgia Tech winning in Blacksburg yesterday.  The Pirate win over Carolina will only be impressive if Carolina wins their division not if they wind up 5-7 or 6-6.

You have heard me speak of this before that yes ECU falls into the category of a wanna-bee where they dream of being  an Alabama type program and the weeks after great victories fall to the nobodies of the world And all college D 1 programs in North Carolina fall in to this area.  Today maybe after the greatest day in regular season Pirate football history the Pirates are on the threshold of taking a step to get beyond a wanna-bee.

Today the Pirate nation can dream of by the end of the season hearing the Pirates in the discussion of maybe be considered for the the football playoffs.  The problem the Pirates have now as there is nobody left on the schedule that could add to the impression needed with the selection committee.  There are plenty left that could knock them off the consideration list.

All the way back to the days of Clarence Stasavich the Pirates have been a football school.  Twice in the 60's they played in the Tangerine Bowl when that was a bowl game for small colleges.  The Pirates stand on the verge of a January 1 Bowl game.  Don't let up keep pouring it on a Pirates.

Swinging Of The Pendulum

I think if we are all truthful with ourselves we know the the art of running fast, shooting the basketball and hitting the baseball when we find out our children can do it early on in life is a fast track to glory.  When ever any child or even in college steps out of line our discipline is pat them on the back and say don't do that again.

Those that make it to professional sports after all the years of never having to miss a game because their transgressions they think they can do anything they want.  Athletes who are over paid and now live a life of nobody is going to tell me no.

We have seen recently in the NFL that never telling them no has lead to child abuse, wife beating and seems forever drug usage.  Roger Goddell has for several years punished players for drug use but now those punishments are not strong enough.  You and I know if you get a DWI and call in to work and say I'm in jail be there soon your desk will be cleaned out as soon as you arrive.

The problems facing the NFL now were not started by the NFL just like concussions were not started at the NFL level, they were there back in midget the ball too.  If we are to clean up sports then we must do more than suspend a player for a game because he stands up in a student union on a table and yells obscenities.  Kick him off the team, take away his scholarship..

We all know that Ray Rice had hit his wife in the elevator but Rice can help us win so let's act like we know nothing about it.  Sounds a lot like Rocky Mount when nobody knows nothing about who fired the shots.  These are society issues that must be dealt with the very first time a player  steps out of line in the seventh grade.

We have some cleaning up to do.  Northern Nash beat Southern Vance 47-0.  I think they could have scored 70 but the running the clock rule gave mercy to everybody plus Northen called off the dogs.

Tarboro lost at Roanoke Rapids 22-20

Rocky Mount Academy beat  Community Christian 62-0 and North Edgecombe beat Weldon 32-6.

Gryphons Defenseless

Last week Rocky Mount could not stop the passing attack of Rose high school.  Tonight the Gryphons could not stop the Cougar running game lead by Devontrelle Hyman.  All the Gryphons saw from Hyman was the dirt flying from his cleats as he  chewed up the Gryphons.  Hyman rushes near three hundred yards as SouthWest beats Rocky Mount 35-21.

After giving up only 7 points during their first three games against questionable quality teams this year The Gryphons have now given up 92 points in the last two.  The Gryphons lose their second straight  and fall to 3-2 while SWE playing their top two rivals back to back improve to 3-2.

The losing streak continues as a road trip to Beddingfield produces Nash Central's 18th straight lost as the Bruins rebound from the licking they took from Fike last week winning 30-7.

Fike continues to impress as they put more than fifty on the board beating Smithfield Selma 55-10

Out in Wilson County  Curtituck is involved in their second straight week  in a game where at least 50 points are scored.  Last week Currituck produced more than sixty, tonight they give up 54 as Hunt wins 54-14.

At this writing don't have a final score in the Northern Nash game at Southern Vance.  Looks as if it won  't matter as the clock is running with Northern ahead by more than 40.  Looks as if the Knights are beginning to put both sides of the ball together.

Cousin Lauren Doughtie is tied for 42nd in the Futures Tour "tour championship in  Daytona Beach.  Looks like she will finish in the top 50 which will keep her in the Futures Tour again  next year.

Tonight I come to you from Salisbury Maryland as we once again on the road with Campbell volleyball.  Had no idea would be here as thought we had to work on Saturday but cancelled late Thursday afternoon.  Rolled out of the driveway at 5am this morning with no hotel for the night.

Thank goodness for the internet while driving down the highway.  Wife Pat found an available room at Laquinta Inn while driving on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  Two matches today and two Saturday.

Lot OnThe Line Saturday

The Pirates of ECU have the Tar Heels coming to town on Saurday and this just might be one of the best games ever between the two schools.  ECU seems on a roll from last year till now and the Tar Heels seem capable of rolling up points.  The problem for North Carolina is they may not be able to stop the Pirates enough to win.  ECU 42 North Carolina 35

The WolfPack take on the church of Presbyterians the week before they meet Florida St.  Pack may post 50 over the Blue Hose who are no bigger in size as NCW. Pack 56 Blue Hose  0.

The Clemson Tiger go to Florida State absent their quarterback for a half.  This is an interesting game as FSU has  not played like number one team.  I'm taking the Noles in a close one.  28-26

The battle of the Techs Georgia Tech visits Virginia Tech  and the gobblers gobble the Rambling Wreck.  26-20.

The College football game right here in Rocky Mount has Benedict College from Tennessee taking on Elizabeth City State.  ECSt 36 BC 23

Here is an interesting game as Maryland travels to Syracuse.  I hate to do it but the Terps win on the road. 31-22.

Maine at BC:  if they can handle the men of Troy no problem with Maine. BC 44 -14.

The Black Knights of Army visit Wake.  This is two teams of equal value.  USMA 23 Wake 17

Tulane at Duke:  Hard to pick against the way they are playing right now.  Duke. 48 Tulane 23.

Last week went 9-4 to run my college picks to 30-6.  Have started the week 1-0 after the Battling a Bishops lost last night at the Sports Complex 31-28

Non-Conference Almost Over

We head into the next to the last week for most of their non-conference schedule and many games this week leave us much to ponder.  went 7-2 last week to run my season record to 28-8

Rocky Mount @SouthWest Edgecombe:  Rose passed at will and the Gryphons had no answer.  This week a 180 degree  turn-a-round as the Gryphons meet up with the run happy Cougars.  If there is one good point for the Gryphons they scored more points on Rose than anyone else has done.  Gryphons 34 SWE 22

Northern Nash @ Southern Vance:  This should be another chance for the Knights to show everyone that their offense is capable against anyone.  Northern 35 Southern Vance 16

Tarboro @ Roanoke Rapids: The Vikings non conference schedule is as good as anyone around as they have taken on larger schools and have proven to be as good as anybody in the area.  Tarboro wins again  26-19

Currituck @ Hunt:  Hunt headed east last week and  came back with their heads on a platter.  This week Currituck heads west but last week they put 60 on the board.  Doubt they get any where close to that this week.  Hunt 38 Currituck 23

RMA@ Community Christian:  I think this will be a game if the Eagles want 80 they can get it.  Don't think the need for the first string to play after the half.  RMA 62 Community Christian 12

Rocky Mount Prep@ Kipp Pride:  They already have one win under their belt this year over Pride and I think the second one comes Friday  RMP 33 KP  16

Nash Central @ Beddingfield:  Beddingfield was manhandled by Fike but this is at the other end of the Big East food chain  Beddingfield 35 Nash Central 20.

Fike @ Smithfield Selma:  Over what they use to be SSS has improved but not enough to take out one of the Big Dogs of Big East.  Fike 42 SSS24

North Edgecombe @ Weldon:  If North Edgecombe is as good as they have shown thus far this season this one has to be a no doubter.  Warriors 26 Weldon 13

We will end our high school picks by moving over to the first game of the week to be played at the sports complex  tonight when NCW host Christopher Newport.  Newport is not as good as they have been lately but good enough.  CNU  34 NCW24