Friday night was home coming at Rocky Mount High and as I sat there in the first half I was rather disappointed in the crowd. Yes there was a nice crowd there but this is home coming and this Gryphon team is heading to the playoffs for the first time in three years. Halftime I found out there were a lot more fans there they just were not sitting down. Once you get to the end of the bleacher the patio area between the concession stand and the bathrooms were wall to wall people.
Evie Hunter was named homecoming with dad Sam as her escort. Every game that the Hunter children have ever played in volleyball or soccer Sam has been there with a camera in hand filming his kids. I sure hope mama Victoria was in the stands filming Friday. J'Kyra Brown was the runner up. Austin Warner was crowned home coming king at a pep rally Friday since he was in the locker room at the half with his football team mates.
Talk throughout the stands is about how amazed everyone is in the attitude of the players this season. There is no doubt that one of the strong points of Jason Battle is how well he relates with the kids just in the hallways. If there was any question about whether he could transfer that to the football field has been answered.
You can look at the players body language and this team simply hasn't drooped even when losing at Hunt. Coaches job is to get everything a player has to give in order to win any game. Jason Battle has gotten more from this team than any one expected. You can see this team is having fun something that never happened last year.
Winning seems to do this to any team. It is always more fun winning than not. Winning doesn't just happen by luck. Somebody had to put all the pieces in place and Jason Battle has done that. It is customary that the coach that wins first place will win the Coach of the Year in the Big East. There is no doubt that Jason Battle has brought pride back to the Gryphon nation and he should be COACH OF THE YEAR!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Thundered But Never Rained
Today those folks who pull for the Duke Blue Devils should hold their heads high tonight as to the question is this Duke Football team any good was a very solid yes-yes-yes. There was a period of time today in Blacksburg Virginia where many people who pull for the best football program was on the verge of losing to Duke. It thundered but but the Hokies stayed dry.
Yes, so far this year these Hokies are not the Hokies that make VA Tech the best program in the ACC. I am sure there were more people in Lane Stadium ready to fire Bud Foster the Tech D coordinator when Duke was ahead 20-0 than those that even thought the Hokies could win the game.
Duke lost 41-20 but anybody that thinks this is the same old Duke in football had better not hope they still have these Devils on the schedule the rest of the season. Their schedule that they have left they may not win another game but I bet every film session that every future Duke opponent has left will not fall asleep this year when watching Duke film.
Miami has given up more points than Carter has pills and yet today Carolina and their hurry up offense can score but 18. N C State scores 37 on Miami and loses. What does all this add up to? The State-Carolina game should be a dandy when they play in a few weeks.
ECU used Homing Coming to rout Memphis and all Pirate fans went away from Greenville happy.
Preseason basketball polls have all three triangle schools in the Top 15. Last night a huge crowd showed up at the PNC Center as N C State gave their fans that braved the traffic of the State Fair their first look at Mark Gottfried's second team. I am sure those in Chapel Hill had fun watching the Tar Heels dance last night. Right now everyone is having fun since everyone is still undefeated.
The Carolina Panthers play Dallas next Sunday. Cam Newton has not had the season they he had last year. If he doesn't improve his play the Panthers will be destined for another losing year not the playoff year many fans thought could happen.
Yes, so far this year these Hokies are not the Hokies that make VA Tech the best program in the ACC. I am sure there were more people in Lane Stadium ready to fire Bud Foster the Tech D coordinator when Duke was ahead 20-0 than those that even thought the Hokies could win the game.
Duke lost 41-20 but anybody that thinks this is the same old Duke in football had better not hope they still have these Devils on the schedule the rest of the season. Their schedule that they have left they may not win another game but I bet every film session that every future Duke opponent has left will not fall asleep this year when watching Duke film.
Miami has given up more points than Carter has pills and yet today Carolina and their hurry up offense can score but 18. N C State scores 37 on Miami and loses. What does all this add up to? The State-Carolina game should be a dandy when they play in a few weeks.
ECU used Homing Coming to rout Memphis and all Pirate fans went away from Greenville happy.
Preseason basketball polls have all three triangle schools in the Top 15. Last night a huge crowd showed up at the PNC Center as N C State gave their fans that braved the traffic of the State Fair their first look at Mark Gottfried's second team. I am sure those in Chapel Hill had fun watching the Tar Heels dance last night. Right now everyone is having fun since everyone is still undefeated.
The Carolina Panthers play Dallas next Sunday. Cam Newton has not had the season they he had last year. If he doesn't improve his play the Panthers will be destined for another losing year not the playoff year many fans thought could happen.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Gryphon Slump Is Over
Next Friday night three years ago Rocky Mount beat Southern Nash 24-19 and since then tonight is the next time that the Gryphons have scored more than 20 in a Big East Conference game. Armad Harrell opened the first play of the game scampering 51 yards then two plays later Mason Hines went ten yards for a touchdown and the Gryphons were on their way to 20 points before the half and a 28-14 victory over Fike.
Despite their offensive first half explosion it took a fourth quarter drive, two keys Mason Hines runs, a made fourth down and then a catch on the sidelines by Hines who acted like Raymond Berry who had just caught a pas from Johnny Unitas or in this case J T Smith with a defender drape on him to secure the Gryphon victory.
J T Smith's qb sneak at the start of the second quarter and a Brodrick Caudle six yard run gave the Gryphons a 20 -0 lead with 3:39 until half. Fike drove the field to score with 28 second in the half and then opened the second half by taking a long drive down the field and Gryphons fans were sweating as the Gryphons looked once again as if the second half would produce no scoring. A fumble recovery and two ints help keep Fike out of the end zone rest of the way
Mason Hines went over the century mark rushing the football with 104 yards and Armad Harrell added 82 of the 270 yards the Gryphons rushed on the evening. J T Smith added 46 more through the air. Fike who failed to make a first down in the first quarter rushed for 176 yards on the night while adding 50 through the air.
This victory sets up a showdown next Friday night with Southern Nash for second place in the Big East and a possible home game in the opening round of the playoffs for the #2 in the Big East. This showdown comes after Southern lost at home to Hunt after the game had been tied 21 all but Hunt wins it 30-21.
The battle at the Junction even though it was in Tarboro the Vikings looked like the Vikings of the past four years as they beat SWE 43-14. Nash Central won their first conference game of the year rolling over Northern Nash 33-7.
Finally tonight: One of the greatest people in education ever in the state of North Carolina died today in Bill Friday. Somehow or other an N C State graduate made his way to Chapel Hill and during his 30 years at the helm of the UNC system help lead the UNC System into one of the United States best college systems. Seen for the past 30 years on his public TV interview show North Carolina People. If you ever got on his show you had to be someone special to the State Of North Carolina. Friday who has been ill since the spring has not done his show since and it is something I miss. Bill Friday was 92 years old.
Despite their offensive first half explosion it took a fourth quarter drive, two keys Mason Hines runs, a made fourth down and then a catch on the sidelines by Hines who acted like Raymond Berry who had just caught a pas from Johnny Unitas or in this case J T Smith with a defender drape on him to secure the Gryphon victory.
J T Smith's qb sneak at the start of the second quarter and a Brodrick Caudle six yard run gave the Gryphons a 20 -0 lead with 3:39 until half. Fike drove the field to score with 28 second in the half and then opened the second half by taking a long drive down the field and Gryphons fans were sweating as the Gryphons looked once again as if the second half would produce no scoring. A fumble recovery and two ints help keep Fike out of the end zone rest of the way
Mason Hines went over the century mark rushing the football with 104 yards and Armad Harrell added 82 of the 270 yards the Gryphons rushed on the evening. J T Smith added 46 more through the air. Fike who failed to make a first down in the first quarter rushed for 176 yards on the night while adding 50 through the air.
This victory sets up a showdown next Friday night with Southern Nash for second place in the Big East and a possible home game in the opening round of the playoffs for the #2 in the Big East. This showdown comes after Southern lost at home to Hunt after the game had been tied 21 all but Hunt wins it 30-21.
The battle at the Junction even though it was in Tarboro the Vikings looked like the Vikings of the past four years as they beat SWE 43-14. Nash Central won their first conference game of the year rolling over Northern Nash 33-7.
Finally tonight: One of the greatest people in education ever in the state of North Carolina died today in Bill Friday. Somehow or other an N C State graduate made his way to Chapel Hill and during his 30 years at the helm of the UNC system help lead the UNC System into one of the United States best college systems. Seen for the past 30 years on his public TV interview show North Carolina People. If you ever got on his show you had to be someone special to the State Of North Carolina. Friday who has been ill since the spring has not done his show since and it is something I miss. Bill Friday was 92 years old.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Teenage Prank?
Yesterday during the weekly Big East Cross country run at Southern Nash Mason Holt of Rocky Mount was the winner of the boys race. Sometime during the race students identified as Southern Nash football players tried to block or slow down Mason as he ran. Who they are is of no concern to me because I am of the opinion that this was a teenage prank. Yes I am sure that Mason being a Gryphon just might have lead to this mischief considering a Southern Nash runner was running second.
Here is what concerns me about this situation and that is the lack of respect given to other athletes in others sports. I realize that Cross Country is not a money making sport but for those who participate it is very important to them. Holt has already been accepted to Campbell for his academics not his running ability. He has visited Buies Creek talking with the Track/Cross Country Coaches about a possible athletic scholarship. If he had of gotten an injury resulting in a teenage prank it might have cost him his running future. I bet if a member of the chain gang ran out on the field an tackled one of those football players during a game they would not be very happy about that.
Tonight Northern Nash Lady Knights have beaten Rocky Mount in the special playoff game for third place in the Big East. Northern won three games to one. Both Northern and Rocky Mount will be on the road but because of the loss and if I read the brackets right Rocky Mount heads south to Cumberland County and takes on the #1 Seed from the Cape Fear Valley where Northern will travel the first round back to Hunt where they have already played once this year.
Two Twin County area football players have been selected to play in the Shrine Bowl game coming up the week after the State Championship football games in December. Northern Nash's Dequavais Mann who has committed to play football at Duke will represent Nash County in the 2012 Shrine Bowl game which pits the All Stars of North Carolina and South Carolina. Mann will be joined by Tarboro's Tyquan Lewis who is headed to OhioState.
Whole lot to talk about and out of space. The big game of the week Hunt at Southern Nash.. Hunt 28 Southern Nash 14... Weldon at North Edgecombe. Weldon 22-6. Despite four losses this one in Tarboro will be a dandy Tarboro 34- SWE 26. Northern Nash will help Nash Central fall even more. Northern 20 Nash Central 14. Home Coming at Rocky Mount the Gryphons will need a score in the second half to win. Rocky Mount 26 Fike 20.
Heard on the David Glenn Show this afternoon while Glenn was interviewing David Cutcliffe of Duke. "Coach do you realize the six conference games you have left since 2004 when all of these teams have been in the ACC that Duke has won only one game and lost thirty Nine." Cutcliffe's answer "Please don't tell our players that stat"
Here is what concerns me about this situation and that is the lack of respect given to other athletes in others sports. I realize that Cross Country is not a money making sport but for those who participate it is very important to them. Holt has already been accepted to Campbell for his academics not his running ability. He has visited Buies Creek talking with the Track/Cross Country Coaches about a possible athletic scholarship. If he had of gotten an injury resulting in a teenage prank it might have cost him his running future. I bet if a member of the chain gang ran out on the field an tackled one of those football players during a game they would not be very happy about that.
Tonight Northern Nash Lady Knights have beaten Rocky Mount in the special playoff game for third place in the Big East. Northern won three games to one. Both Northern and Rocky Mount will be on the road but because of the loss and if I read the brackets right Rocky Mount heads south to Cumberland County and takes on the #1 Seed from the Cape Fear Valley where Northern will travel the first round back to Hunt where they have already played once this year.
Two Twin County area football players have been selected to play in the Shrine Bowl game coming up the week after the State Championship football games in December. Northern Nash's Dequavais Mann who has committed to play football at Duke will represent Nash County in the 2012 Shrine Bowl game which pits the All Stars of North Carolina and South Carolina. Mann will be joined by Tarboro's Tyquan Lewis who is headed to OhioState.
Whole lot to talk about and out of space. The big game of the week Hunt at Southern Nash.. Hunt 28 Southern Nash 14... Weldon at North Edgecombe. Weldon 22-6. Despite four losses this one in Tarboro will be a dandy Tarboro 34- SWE 26. Northern Nash will help Nash Central fall even more. Northern 20 Nash Central 14. Home Coming at Rocky Mount the Gryphons will need a score in the second half to win. Rocky Mount 26 Fike 20.
Heard on the David Glenn Show this afternoon while Glenn was interviewing David Cutcliffe of Duke. "Coach do you realize the six conference games you have left since 2004 when all of these teams have been in the ACC that Duke has won only one game and lost thirty Nine." Cutcliffe's answer "Please don't tell our players that stat"
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Volley Ball Finals Thursday
The Big East #1 Fike will host the Volleyball Tournament championship match against County rival Hunt Thursday night at 7pm. Fike the regular season champion will head into the state playoffs as the Big East #1 regardless of the out come on Thursday.
Before the championship match at 4.30pm Northern Nash and Rocky Mount will square off in a game to determine the playoff seeding. RM and NN both won on the others home court during the regular season. A coin flip was held last weekend and for this week's conference tournament Rocky Mount was seeded third. Both won their first round tournament games and both lost semi finals matches to Hunt and Fike. So to this point neither has an edge to the 3rd seed.
I have been on the NCHSAA web site tonight and looked up we seedings for the state playoffs. What are these two rivals playing for Thursday. The loser will be the #4 seed and travel to the #1 seed in the Cape Fear Valley. The #3 travels to Big East #2.. That of course will be Hunt. Taking on a #1 is a lot harder than taking on Hunt who both Northern and Rocky Mount have been competitive with this year.
We all know that historically the Big East is not a very strong VB conference as all four teams lost last year in the opening round. We can't of course judge anybody from their past but from what I have seen this year this league will truly be lucky if anyone is standing heading into round three.
Haven't heard any results but the Big East tennis started today after the Tuesday rain. The top two teams heading into the team playoffs next week are Nash Central and Rocky Mount. I don' t understand why Rocky Mount as a #2 starts the playoffs at a conference #1. I think that is how the playoffs should be but if it is good for Tennis it ought to be good for Volleyball or football. I really would like to see all playoffs in all sports go back to only the top two teams in each league and if after doing that there are three slots left to make a 16 team bracket fill in with the best three #3's that are left. There are simply too many meaningless
games in the playoffs.
I told you earlier this week that my son Brook's N C State boys Tri Club team qualified for the National Championships this weekend in Maryland. They finished third and the top ten teams all go to the Nationals in April. Come to find out the State Girls team finished 7th and they are in too. It is the first time in the history of the N C State Tri team that both the boys and girls will go to the Nationals... Must be they got a great coach?
Before the championship match at 4.30pm Northern Nash and Rocky Mount will square off in a game to determine the playoff seeding. RM and NN both won on the others home court during the regular season. A coin flip was held last weekend and for this week's conference tournament Rocky Mount was seeded third. Both won their first round tournament games and both lost semi finals matches to Hunt and Fike. So to this point neither has an edge to the 3rd seed.
I have been on the NCHSAA web site tonight and looked up we seedings for the state playoffs. What are these two rivals playing for Thursday. The loser will be the #4 seed and travel to the #1 seed in the Cape Fear Valley. The #3 travels to Big East #2.. That of course will be Hunt. Taking on a #1 is a lot harder than taking on Hunt who both Northern and Rocky Mount have been competitive with this year.
We all know that historically the Big East is not a very strong VB conference as all four teams lost last year in the opening round. We can't of course judge anybody from their past but from what I have seen this year this league will truly be lucky if anyone is standing heading into round three.
Haven't heard any results but the Big East tennis started today after the Tuesday rain. The top two teams heading into the team playoffs next week are Nash Central and Rocky Mount. I don' t understand why Rocky Mount as a #2 starts the playoffs at a conference #1. I think that is how the playoffs should be but if it is good for Tennis it ought to be good for Volleyball or football. I really would like to see all playoffs in all sports go back to only the top two teams in each league and if after doing that there are three slots left to make a 16 team bracket fill in with the best three #3's that are left. There are simply too many meaningless
games in the playoffs.
I told you earlier this week that my son Brook's N C State boys Tri Club team qualified for the National Championships this weekend in Maryland. They finished third and the top ten teams all go to the Nationals in April. Come to find out the State Girls team finished 7th and they are in too. It is the first time in the history of the N C State Tri team that both the boys and girls will go to the Nationals... Must be they got a great coach?
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
What Have You Been Smoking?
Don't pass out when I say this but should Duke beat Virginia Tech on Saturday since they play the early game on TV they could be the first ACC team this year that would have earn an invite to a bowl game. Now if you have been in a coma for the past thirty years or even if you haven't then you know that Duke going to a bowl game just ain't going to happen. Just one more is all they need and the way the Hokies are playing this might be the year for the Devils to beat the Turkeys. Heck Carolina just beat them and they hadn't beat Tech in Chapel Hill since 1924. If might have helped that they had a fifty year spell that the two teams didn't play each other but hey 1924 is a long time.
This Friday night just might be the biggest Friday night of the year in Big East football. Right now the two teams at the bottom play for last. The two teams in the middle play for the lower bunk while the loser has to climb in the top of the bunk bed. Then the two at the top square off. This scenario just might not happen again this year.
Those Northern Nash fans out there looking at what has transpired the first two weeks just might be able to say "Boy we have played both of the big boys". Surely the way the Knights played their non conference schedule they were going to be a factor when conference cranked. So far not so as they lost big to Hunt and lost to Southern. Both those teams remain unbeaten in conference play. Nobody else can say they have played both. If Northern can score the way they did in non conference they just might finish third. I still scratch my head at Nash Central. Just maybe as much talent as anyone in the league but they just plain and simple haven't got the pieces put together.
Hunt and Southern will be playing with the winner a leg up for the top seed which after Friday night has only two games to go before the playoffs. The winner of this game can propel themselves to a high playoff seeding and the loser has got to keep from falling back in the pack the last two weeks.
Rocky Mount will host Fike and for each one of these teams this is a playoff game. The loser will have two losses in conference and each will have a game left with either Hunt or Southern. Fike has scored a lot of points but can't stop anybody. Rocky Mount has played good defense but their offense has slumped in the second half of both conference games. The winner will have the edge for third place but not guaranteed.
Tonight in semi final Volley Ball the three seed Rocky Mount is at Hunt while the 4th seed Northern is at #1 Fike. The two winners collide in the finals Thursday at the highest seed left.
This Friday night just might be the biggest Friday night of the year in Big East football. Right now the two teams at the bottom play for last. The two teams in the middle play for the lower bunk while the loser has to climb in the top of the bunk bed. Then the two at the top square off. This scenario just might not happen again this year.
Those Northern Nash fans out there looking at what has transpired the first two weeks just might be able to say "Boy we have played both of the big boys". Surely the way the Knights played their non conference schedule they were going to be a factor when conference cranked. So far not so as they lost big to Hunt and lost to Southern. Both those teams remain unbeaten in conference play. Nobody else can say they have played both. If Northern can score the way they did in non conference they just might finish third. I still scratch my head at Nash Central. Just maybe as much talent as anyone in the league but they just plain and simple haven't got the pieces put together.
Hunt and Southern will be playing with the winner a leg up for the top seed which after Friday night has only two games to go before the playoffs. The winner of this game can propel themselves to a high playoff seeding and the loser has got to keep from falling back in the pack the last two weeks.
Rocky Mount will host Fike and for each one of these teams this is a playoff game. The loser will have two losses in conference and each will have a game left with either Hunt or Southern. Fike has scored a lot of points but can't stop anybody. Rocky Mount has played good defense but their offense has slumped in the second half of both conference games. The winner will have the edge for third place but not guaranteed.
Tonight in semi final Volley Ball the three seed Rocky Mount is at Hunt while the 4th seed Northern is at #1 Fike. The two winners collide in the finals Thursday at the highest seed left.
Monday, October 8, 2012
A Rainy Day For Tennis
The opening day of the Big East Tennis Tournament as you can imagine got a good soaking today and they will try again tomorrow. The next two weeks will be taken up in Tennis with the conference championships for teams and then the individuals. Nash Central once again this season lead by the Price sisters are undefeated in conference play but Rocky Mount with a very young team is set to pounce if Nash Central has a let up in any way. I suspect with the rain today there now might be three straight days of tennis for those who win as the week goes forth.
Today Rocky Mount and Northern Nash who tied for third in Big East Volley ball and Rocky Mount won the coin flip and played at home tonight against Nash Central as the last place or 6th seed. Northern also got a home game and took on Southern Nash as the 5th seed. The Lady Gryphons beat The Lady Bulldogs in three sets 3-0 and Tomorrow travel to Hunt who is the #2 seed in the conference. If Northern Wins tonight they get Fike the #1 conference seed Tuesday at Fike.
Saturday something happened in ACC football that hasn't happen in 18 years. State, Carolina and Duke all won conference games on the same day. It had not happened since Oct 5th 1994. In fact in the 60 year history of the ACC it has only happen four times that all three won conference games the same day. Must show you that these three schools are basketball schools but I bet if we could find all the facts and figures it has happened more in basketball but not as much as you think.
Here is a head scratcher for you. How many times in ACC Tournament history has the Big Four met each other in the opening round of ACC Tournament? Think about that for a couple of days.
If you watched last night's NFL game the question you must be asking this morning is what happened to the real referees. There must have been six of seven pass interference penalties that didn't get called but their was one offensive pass interference called on Antonio Gates in which the defender held him the entire run down the field until he fell down. I sure wish we could get those scabs back.
Finally tonight we all as couch potatoes yell at coaches and players when they mess up but yesterday the Kansas City Chief fans went beyond fans when their starting quarterback Matt Cassell went down with a n injury and the fans cheered. We have become a sick society that has lost all compassion for our fellow man. KC fans now join Philadelphia fans who have booed Santa Claus.
Today Rocky Mount and Northern Nash who tied for third in Big East Volley ball and Rocky Mount won the coin flip and played at home tonight against Nash Central as the last place or 6th seed. Northern also got a home game and took on Southern Nash as the 5th seed. The Lady Gryphons beat The Lady Bulldogs in three sets 3-0 and Tomorrow travel to Hunt who is the #2 seed in the conference. If Northern Wins tonight they get Fike the #1 conference seed Tuesday at Fike.
Saturday something happened in ACC football that hasn't happen in 18 years. State, Carolina and Duke all won conference games on the same day. It had not happened since Oct 5th 1994. In fact in the 60 year history of the ACC it has only happen four times that all three won conference games the same day. Must show you that these three schools are basketball schools but I bet if we could find all the facts and figures it has happened more in basketball but not as much as you think.
Here is a head scratcher for you. How many times in ACC Tournament history has the Big Four met each other in the opening round of ACC Tournament? Think about that for a couple of days.
If you watched last night's NFL game the question you must be asking this morning is what happened to the real referees. There must have been six of seven pass interference penalties that didn't get called but their was one offensive pass interference called on Antonio Gates in which the defender held him the entire run down the field until he fell down. I sure wish we could get those scabs back.
Finally tonight we all as couch potatoes yell at coaches and players when they mess up but yesterday the Kansas City Chief fans went beyond fans when their starting quarterback Matt Cassell went down with a n injury and the fans cheered. We have become a sick society that has lost all compassion for our fellow man. KC fans now join Philadelphia fans who have booed Santa Claus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
