Who Will Step Foward?

One difficulty playing only five games in a conference season is one game can change  the entire conplextion of a season. Through three weeks of conference play everyone has lost at least one game that changes their season.  Since no one to this point have stepped forward to grab the Big East by the collar we are faced with another week where one game can change your season.  Every game this weekend  has an impact on who will win the Big East football conference this season.

Hunt @ Nash Central:  Hunt should be only contender who walks on the field knowing victory is available which should put them to 3-1 heading to the final night being one of the teams who all they have to do next week is beat their arch rival Fike and look who could be the conference champion.  Hunt humbles Nash Central 31-13

Northern Nash @ Fike:  This needs to be Northern's last stand.   Standing fifth in the standings  this is a must win for the Knights.  A lost and their hopes of sneaking in the back door to first place will be locked out.  A Fike victory and the Wilson County schools play for the title next week.  Fike 36 Northern 24.

Rocky Mount @  Southern Nash:  The winner of this game will be part of the championship sandwich for next week depending on who wins between Hunt/Fike.  A Southern victory over Rocky  Mount will have the Firebirds hoping for a Fike victory next week since they beat Fike.  A Gryphon victory and they will be pulling for Hunt next week.  This is power against speed.  Rocky Mount has not won at Southern since 2008.  Rocky Mount wins 17-14.

Tarboro heads to Northampton. Another victory for the Vikings 42-6. SouthWest Edgecombe host North Johnston and they should win with ease.  41-14. North  Edgecombe host South Creek and this will be be a dilly.  NE will play Tarboro next week for the title.  NE 22 South Creek 18.  Beddingfield travels to  Farmville Central.  Beddingfield loses 26-22.

Went 3-3 last week to run my guess record to 58-17 Need to have a good week.

Round two of the state soccer playoffs started tonight with Fike 11th seed  and Chapel Hill 6th seed butting heads .       Chapel Hill advances beating Fike 4-1.  The second round needs to be completed by Saturday night and there are games going on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Northern 19th seed on the road for the second game heads to Northern Guilford  #3 seed where they will play Friday at 6pm.  Hunt  5th seed the Big East Top seed plays Saturday night hosting Jacksonville White Oak a number 12 seed..

Big Start For Big East Soccer

The Big East sent four teams  to the first round  of the state soccer playoffs and three will live to play another day.  Both Wilson County schools as the top two seeds in the conference got home games and both held serve Fike beat Rockingham County 5-2.  Hunt shutout Northern Vance 5 zip.  Where you can judge how strong  the conference might be is when the lower seed teams hit the road and tonight Northern Nash has advanced to round two after a 1-0 win at Cleveland.  Last night Rocky Mount traveled to Chapel Hill and was knocked out of the playoffs  7-0.  So the Big  East heads to round two with three still alive.

Who would have thunk it.  Had less than 500 week picking NFL games, right at 500 in high school and was 7-0 in last weeks college picks.  I'm up  to 65-23 on college guesses.  Has anybody notices that just about half the ACC teams have a 4-4 record?.  That surely can't help Florida State in keeping them in the top four for the college football playoffs.

North Carolina Wesleyan visits Maryville TN Battling Bishops 4-3 3-2 in USA South while Maryville is 5-2 4-1.  This is another hard one to pick  NCW.  Maryville 32- NCW 24

N C State 4-4 0-4 at Syracuse 3-5 1-3.  The Wolfpack beginning to run out of chances to break their conference losing streak if they don't get it this week.  I think they will.  Can you remember the last time the Pack played in the Carrier Dome.  They beat the Cuse in overtime beating Donavan McNabb.  Pack 31- The Orange 26

ECU 6-1 at Temple 4-3.  I think this game will be played in front of more ECU fans than Temple.  Hard to get up to play in an empty stadium.  Pirates have had a hard time getting up for anybody lately.
real trap game here.  Pirates survive 34-22.

UNC 4-4 2-2 at Miami 5-3 2-2.  If any body is going to win the division besides Duke it's Miami/  34-27 The U.

Duke 6-1 2-1 at Pitt 4-4 2-2.  The Devils keep winning and are 6-1.  They probably are at 7-1 Sunday   35-21.

Virginia 4-4 2-2 at Georgia Tech 6-2 3-2..  Virginia is a decent football team but GT call score on anybody  GT38 Virginia 24

BC 5-3 2-2 at Virginia Tech 4-4 1-3.  I am not picking Tech any more this year and don't see how they beat Ohio St which has to tell you something about the Big Ten.  BC 24 VT 16

Last Chance For Panthers

Thursday night  football returns to the NFL Network only and the Carolina Panthers host the Drew Brees lead New Orleans Saints.   If Panthers lose their playoff chances are cooked for this year.  Last week I was a brillant 7-8  reducing my record for the year to 78-41.  If you can't get half of the game right just trying to pick the winners of each game how in the world can you get any when a point spread is added to complicate your life.  I have never bet on games with point spread but I thought I would take this week's Las Vegas lines and see just how I can compare both ways.  There are only 13 games this week and the Baltimore - Pittsburgh game is a pickem so I will give you my picks both who I think is going to win and then by the spread so here we go.

New Orleans -2 at Carolina.  New Orleans can't beat anybody on the road Lost 7 in a row.  I'm picking the Panthers so I guess that means with the Saints a two point favorite I'll take Carolina on both picks.  27-24

San Diego +2 at Miami.  I hope the Chargers have their two cornerbacks who have been injured back after a ten day rest.  If they do Chargers D will be good.  Chargers  win outright 31-17

Jacksonville +11 at Cincinnati,  Cincy wins and they cover and win by more than 11  34-20

Tampa Bay +6.5 at Cleveland.  TB has taken everyone to the last second.  I'll take Cleveland to win the game and Tampa keeps it close.  27-23 Cleveland.

Washington +2.5 at Minnesota.  This shows you how Vegas feels about the Skins beating Dallas.  They are underdogs to the   Vikes who win outright   27-23

Philadelphia +2.5 at Houston   What ever happened to Chip Kelly was going to change the NFL. seems the NFL has figured out his offense. I think Houston wins 30-26

Jets +9 at Kansas City.  Take Kansas City in a blow out 34-13

Arizona+4 at Dallas.  You got to be kidding me that Dallas is the favorite.  What was Jerry Jones doing on the field when Romo went down telling coach to put him back in.  Here we go again Jerry thinks he knows football and Dallas loses.  I think Dallas might win this one but by a point 24-23.

Rams +9 at San Fransico.  Can't see the Rams winning this game much less keeping it close    SF 27- STL 17

Denver -3 at New England.  I think this will tell us about both teams this year.  Denver wins they probably make it to Super Bowl.  NE wins AFC is up for grabs.  Denver 38  Patriots 27

Oakland +9 at Seattle.  I think Oak can be pesky on the Seahawks, I'll take Hawks but Raiders cover.  24-17 Seahawks

Ravens even with Pittsburgh.  I don't think Pittsburgh can play that great two weeks in a row  Ravens 24-21

Indy -3 at Giants.  Indy can score points.  They can also give up points but this is Eli who will give at least seven to Indy..  Indy 37-Giants 24  

There is a Thursday night ACC game which could be a rather good one. Florida St at Louisville.  You know Louisville is going to throw the kitchen sink at the Noles.  Louisville didn't impress me beat N C State but this is close.  FSU 31 Louisville 27

Tragedy Strikes The Gryphon Nation

Monday was the first day for winter sports practice for all schools throughout North Carolina.  It was an extremely hard day for everyone at RMHS as they learned the news that Tiara Hinton had died in a Sunday car wreck.  Tiara wore #31 on the basketball team also a volleyball player and member of the track team an as a senior had already taken her senior graduation pictures.

Life is full of death in our life times and it seems the younger they are the harder it is to accept.  Those of us that watch our young people perform in sports find it harder than those in the class room because we don't get to watch them perform in the classroom like we do in sports.  Those injured will not only have to heal their physical pain but will have to heal the emotional pain that comes from death from someone you knew and loved.  Everyone that knew Tiara and those of us who only saw her play pray for healing for everyone involved with her life.  Her family and friends and classmates once they get over the shock will need healing time to go forth in life with out Tiara.

Monday in Fayetteville Terry Sanford high beat the Rocky Mount girls tennis team 6-0 to end the Lady Gryphons tennis season at 18-2. 

There is a four way tie for first in Big East football between Fike, Hunt,Southern Nash and Rocky Mount.  Northern is just a step back and both of their upcoming games are against teams ahead of them. Northern is right square in the middle of the hunt for the top seed in the conference.   Nash Central has been eliminated as far as finishing first but until they incur one more loss are still right in the middle  of the playoff hunt.  They still could be 2-3 and that hasn't eliminated them as of yet because every team in front of them only has two wins or less.

Fike still has Northern Nash and Hunt on their schedule.  Neither of those two games are gimme's. Hunt still has Nash Central and Fike.  They should win the NC game and a toss up with Fike.  Southern still has Rocky Mount and Nash Central.  More than likely a toss up with RM and a win against NC.  Rocky Mount still has Southern and Northern so nothing is guaranteed in either.  Northern still has Fike and Rocky Mount both tough games but look if they win both where they will be.

This is of course not unusual for the Big East.  The only thing hurt by the Big East is seedings and having to travel during the playoffs.  If one team had an outstanding record they would possible be the best team in the East.  Much like the Southeastern Conference in college football trying to get a team in the top four to make the college football playoff.  They keep beating up each other when in most years they are the best in college football, the Big East keeps sending somebody to the Eastern Finals every year regardless of how many road games they play to get to the fourth round. 

The state soccer playoffs begin Wednesday and four teams from the Big East are in the Big Show.
Hunt seeded 5th and 17-3 host Northern Vance 9-9 and seeded 12th.  Fike 11th seed and 16-4 host Rockingham Co 9-7 seeded 22nd.  Northern Nash is on the road 11-8 seeded 19th travels to 14th seed Cleveland 9-10.  Rocky Mount 10-11 seeded 27th heads toward Chapel Hill 6th seed 17-4.

Rocky Mount Academy 9-0 starts after their second straight State title Friday when they will host Lawrence Academy 2-7 a team they beat earlier in the year 64-8.  Only the top eight teams made the playoffs so RMA is  the top seed Lawrence is seeded 8th.  Arendell Parrott 8-1 seeded second takes on Cary Christian 7th seed and 3-6.  Southampton 7-2 third seed meets 6th seeded Hobgood Acadmey 4-5.  The final game Friday has St David's 6-3 4th seed hosting 5th seed Halifax Academy 5-4.

Northern Dominant In Cross Country

There is an old saying in Nascar that if you run up front enough you will win one after a while.  Northern Nash boys cross country team won the Eastern Regional 3-A championship on Saturday winning for the first time in the Regional since 1993.  Since 93 there haven't been many times that the Knights were not in the top five.

Why is it that they are so strong in long distance running.  You may have heard me say this not but a few weeks ago that football was 80% coaching.  It might be even more in cross country.  How do you convince teenagers that going out and running five miles a day is something you need to do in life when there are so many other distractions for our teenagers.

Jeff Dodrill has been coaching the Northern C/C teams for many years.  I met him for the first time in 1999 when I was doing the game of the week on WHIG TV.  I interviewed him for halftime and then you could see how well the players reacted with him.  There are many great coaches leading our youth in this area and if you could pick five from every sport our children play Jeff would have to be on that list.

He is of course the Athletic Director at Red Oak Middle and he gets first shot as those gangly seventh graders moving  to Junior High.  How in the world do you convince a 7th grader that running could be your passion.  He has and then as Northern Nash High cross country coach he has already invested two years or more  in these kids once they hit high school.  You will find him almost every day running  right along with his runners.

The results Northern is always near the top.  Injuries at the wrong time of year effect everyone one way or another year after year but under Dodrill Northern Nash is a power in cross country.  This Saturday they have a real chance in winning it all a state Crown.  Good luck Knights

Rocky Mount girls tennis team travels to Terry Sanford today for the third round of the State Duel Tennis playoffs.  RM 18-1 and TS 12-0 square off hoping to play in the fourth round Wednesday and if they survive that the state championships this weekend.

The Lady Gryphon doubles team of Chandler Brice and Eliza  Fike finished 3rd in the state doubles losing to the two time State champion duo of the Knors Sisters. 

Taylor Love the singles player from Hunt lost a heart breaker in the singles finals to Asheville's Adrienne Haynes.  The scores were 2-6- 6-2-6-4.

Is This A Surprise To Anybody

Jameis Winston has announced that he will be giving up his college eligibility after football season to pursue an NFL career.  One of the reasons I don't like giving trophies like the Heisman Trophy to under classmen is that  Winston has no way to go forward once you have won the biggest of college's big awards.

I am a believer regardless of who you are if you are getting a free education your actions should held accountable in order to keep getting a free ride.  This includes any one on a academic scholarships as well.  You need to live by the rules of said university.  Break those rules and you lose the free education granted you.  Winston has shown  to have stolen  seafood which was off campus but as a representative of Florida State he embarrassed the University. That should have been enough to kick him out of the University.  But, because he can help FSU win football games he was patted on the butt and told not to do that again.  If I had of done that I'm probably still in jail.

Winston just has too many incidents in his life at Florida State that I think the University is fed up and hope he does leave.  There is one question that this is an indictment against every sports playing University.  Since he knows he not coming back I wonder what his class attendance numbers are right now.  If he is not going to class at all he should be ineligible for this season?  I sure would like to have some record of that.  I am sure there are many college sports players with no intentions of returning at every university which would lead me to believe that colleges and sports are totally out of hand.

Todd Gurley will be  reinstated to the University of Georgia football team after sitting out  two games as Georgia checked to see if Gurley received money for signing his name to Georgia sportswear.  If the NCAA is to go along with this deal to pay  players here is what I do agree with.  I am against any player receiving money to play sports at a school he is already going to school for free.  I have no problem any time they sign their name to be paid for it for any person seeking autographs.  Why should the guy with all the sportswear get all the profit.  One way Universities could have to stay away from paying players don't put their names on the back of the uniforms.  Then it is the property of the University but the players name is his own and could get paid for it any time people ask to sign autographs.

Now to the business at hand.  UNC report on corruption was released on Wednesday and like everyone in the world knew except those who support UNC that the Moniker THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA should be shelved.   I'm I stupid enough to think that what goes on in Chapel Hill isn't going on right now in most every major University that first judges coaches on wins rather than his student graduation rate?  Maybe not a fake program like at Carolina but certain players are helped to keep eligible.

You know the Valvano Scandal back in the early 90's at State more than anything else was about should certain people be allowed to attend college just because they run fast, make baskets or throw a ball fast.  We all know college is not for everyone.  Don't care how much education you try to give someone but if that person has no more ability than a ditch digger that is all he will ever be.

Sending them to a bogus class and saying he graduated with honors after he has spent the money they make playing ball he will wind up behind the garbage truck.  Money rules the world and it is very unfortunate to say we all have our price.  Me as the consumer allows these school to continue to act as if the student comes first when we all know they play for a football factory, basketball or what ever.

 The ultimate deal is how much money can we get by forming a 15 member conference  and play against teams that we have to take a plane to send our soccer teams to.  The consumer is as fault as much as the Universities because I continue to buy season tickets or watch the game and as long as TV gets ratings they will continue to pay the Universities more money.

 The junior college system worked making those who didn't cut it in the class room in high school spent two years trying to be eligible to play at a major school.  I  think I will protest against all of these schools acting like they are academic institutions when it relates to sports.  I will rule myself ineligible to watch the first half   of  this Saturday's Georgia-Florida   3:30 TV game.  That should cure all the problems I have with college sports.

Can Anybody Believe This League

                                                              URGENT
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The Rocky Mount High doubles team of Chandler Brice and Eliza Fike won both of their matches on Friday and will face the defending State Champions in the team of Devin and Jenna Knors this morning in the semi finals.
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Just walked in the door from a volleyball match tonight in High Point as the Lady Camels of Campbell played at High Point against the Lady Panthers.  This starts the second time around for both as Campbell beat HP 3-1 four weeks ago but since both teams were just 2-5 each  in conference play.

 Only eight teams from the Big South make the tournament in Conway South Carolina in late November and both these teams were tied for eighth heading into tonight.  More than likely the loser will have to fight off UNC Asheville 9th 1-6 and  Charleston Southern 0-7 to make the tournament.  Both these teams played like this was for the conference championship.  Tied two all this went to a fifth  set and HP lead 14-12 with match point but Campbell managed to get to 15-all.  From that point on both teams traded their chance to win and until the final score 25-23 the lead never got beyond a one point lead for either side.  Both sides between them had 11 match points but Campbell scored three points in a row after down 23-22 to win the match.  I am drained more than the players.

Now the business of football.  I hear Rocky Mount had two kick returns called back and with out those points gave up a late field goal and lose for the first time in Big East play 14-12 to Fike.  This game went exactly as I predicted right?  Fike is held to their lowest point total of the year and still win.

Northern Nash did what they had to do shutting out Nash Central 28-0.  After the way all the other games turn out Northern is still in the running for first place in the Big East.  I don't believe if my math is right there any way for a five way tie  at 3-2.  If Nash Central loses all their game that's six losses and with five teams with two losses that is a total of 16 losses with 15 wins.  The worse case scenario would be a four way tie after the final game with one team at 2-3.

Southern Nash has a history of putting the ball on the ground too much and they did it again tonight.  It is hard to score when you don't keep it the entire time you are driving and Hunt took advantage and wins at Southern Nash 18-7.  The results FIke, Hunt, Rocky Mount and Southern Nash are all tied at 2-1 in league play with Northern one behind at 1-2.  All five schools have enough wins to qualify for the State football playoffs.  The only problem now is seedings.  If you are tied for first tonight you might be in fifth next week.

Rocky Mount Academy won their ninth game of the season beating Cary Christian 42-12 and in doing so won their conference championship and finished with an undefeated season.  42 is the least points they have scored all year.  Bet starters stayed off the field once they had this one under control.

North Edgecombe handled Northampton 42-20.  Tarboro is pretty good playing teams at their level 34-20 over Riverside.  South Creek takes down RM Prep 36-6 and SouthWest Edgecombe blistered Farmville 48-13.  Washington clobbered Beddingfield 47-13.

I believe I will try to go to bed but my heart is still pumping from VB.