That's All We Need

Oh boy, four more bowls games than what we had last year.  Now 78 teams from D1 football  will go someplace to play an extra football game this year called something.  There are only 128 teams in D1 so we are getting ever so close to sending a team with a losing record to a bowl game.  I think we have reached the point where we need to let the selection committee should value of the worse four teams and lets have a four team playoff to determine who is the worse team.  Wouldn't that be more exciting that finding out who is the best?

Sounds a lot like high school playoffs when teams with 3 wins or less get in.  There is a good chance that the team winning the NFC South in the NFL  just might not win half their games either.  What we will do to make more money?

So we now have the four  that can still win the so called national championship.  The first semi final will be  Alabama and Ohio State and the other Oregon and Florida State with the two winners meeting  in the jumbo winner take all game.  All other games are now just the . com bowl games to give 74 other teams something to do over the holidays.  Included in those 74 other teams are four from right here in our back yard.

Carolina will be heading to Ford Field in Detroit for their Bowl Game now called the Fast Lane Bowl.   Game time  will be at 4:30  on Friday after Christmas and they will be playing Rutgers.

Duke is heading for a bowl game for the third year in a row which has never been done by Duke Football before.  They will meet 15th rank Arizona  St. in the Sun Bowl.  Game time is December the 27th at 2pm.

If you are a Big Four fan there will be a double header on the 26th.  N C State is heading South to play UCF  in the St Petersburg Bowl or the bitcoin.com Bowl.  That game is scheduled for 8pm

ECU gets up for teams that are from named programs or other in state school.  They will get a shot at the Southeastern  Conference when they meet Florida in the Birmingham Bowl.  That game is on January 3rd at noon.

It is really nice to say you have gone to a Bowl game but Carolina and State are playing the day after Christmas.  These two games are not top tier games and can either school sell their quota on top of Christmas.  Duke's game at least is on the weekend  but can Duke sell that many tickets  for El Paso.  ECU game is on New Years weekend and I think they will sell out their allotment.

Rumors have been  flying for more than a year now and it is finally it has come to past as Kevin Crudup has resigned as the football coach at Nash Central.  He leaves Nash Central having lost the last 24 games he coached which is the third longest active streak in North Carolina High school football.  Now those rumors about who wants the job are on fire  even more. 

The big question is always when a coach leaves or gets canned  is there anyone on staff qualified to take over the program?  You know the perception ever since Nash Central was opened that Nash Central had and has  good athletes and would be a good program to coach.  The perception to the outside world now is that the administration  at Nash Central views sports as a necessary evil and to find a coach that wants to coach at a school under those circumstances will be hard to find a quality coach from the outside world.

Strength Of Schedule

We now know the results from the Saturday football conference championship games  and Alabama, Oregon , Florida State, TCU, Ohio State  and Baylor won their games Saturday.  Four of them will play in the playoffs that will be announced on ESPN today at 12:30.  Please note that the timing in not in conflict of any NFL game.  I hope you are aware of this but the playoff selection committee will also be deciding on where Carolina, Duke, State and ECU play in a bowl game.

Every week now for the last five or six weeks this committee has given us their rankings and from one week to the next it seems they have altered the top four just to see the reaction the fans would get to where ever their team was placed.  It seems to me that one of the five criteria that the committee looks at is conference champion.  So these past weeks they have played with 48 cards instead of 52 because until last night nobody knew who the aces were in the deck.  So all this speculations has been fun but you know like I know this has all been for TV ratings for ESPN.  There is no reason they couldn't lock up the committee this weekend in a hotel like college basketball and spit out the teams in.  Isn't life more fun with Bracketology in basketball over these ranking without knowing conference champions.

One of the five points of value to the committee is Strength of Schedule.  As of Thursday  before any game was played this weekend  the top team in Strength of Schedule was Auburn.  They are 21st in the voting so where does strength of schedule fit in.  Second is Mississippi who is 8th in the playoff voting. 

I know there has been plenty of conversation this year about the poor non conference schedule that N C State played  but they played the 20th toughest schedule in the country.  Alabama was first in the playoff voting but SOS was 34.  FSU 75, Oregon, 73, TCU 70, Ohio St 69 and Baylor was 148.  It is obvious to me that SOS only matters if you win.

I don't like this confusing method of every team on your schedule floats every week based on each team on your schedule and what they did.  The only time where a team is ranked is the week you played them.   I sure would love for the Wolfpack to have played Clemson towards the end of the year instead of the middle because Clemson wasn't nearly as good late in the season as they were when they hosted the Pack early in conference play.

 There is talk this morning that Oklahoma losing yesterday to Oklahoma State is bad for TCU and Baylor but both also played Okla St. Why should any game effect you if you were not involved in the game?  Here are my four  Alabama 1, Oregon 2, Florida State 3 and Ohio St  4.  To make this a national championship playoff that need a team from the north or Midwest.

Just for the matter of knowing Carolina is 57th in SOS, Duke 205 and ECU 201.  RPI voting is  State 43rd, Carolina 57th, Duke 28th and ECU 59th.  If you look at those numbers it all adds up to a popularity contest.  The committee can say they are going by five basic rules but in the end they will vote for who makes for the best TV ratings and we will all watch.  Unlike basketball where the underdog is exciting the first weekend  there will be no underdog announced today.

We live in a modern world right?  There are many things that are politically correct.  I can guarantee you one thing about this power five conference deal in college football.  The good ole boys still run college football  but there is one new member to the club ESPN.

Taste Of Old Bad Medicine

Tonight the Rocky Mount Gryphons got a taste of the tall tree medicine that for the past several years they prescribed for their opponents but Doctor South Central gave to the Gryphons.  South Central starting  Six nine D1 prospect center who is only a sophomore and several other trees taller than the Gryphons dominated the second half and laid the wood to the Gryphons 65-49.  I know in the last 13 years of covering Rocky Mount they have been handle worse than this but I can't recall it right now.

Josh Carlton the big youngster scored 19 and grabbed  11boards.  He had plenty of help from Brian Brightwell 15 points and 10 boards. The Falcons out rebounded the Gryphons 41-27.  The Gryphons using speed on defense in the first half to be only down 26-24 at the half.

The Gryphons needed outside shooting to hang in this one and there was none to be had as it took to 1:10 to play in the game for the first and only Gryphon  Isaiah Alston to hit double digits with 11.  Kenaz Cooper scored nine on the night and lead the Gryphons in rebounding with six coming mostly on long rebounds from his point guard position.

The run and gun Gryphons committed only 12 turnovers while forcing South Central into 14.  This one was never in doubt in the fourth quarter as South Central wins by 16.  The next action for Rocky Mount is Tuesday in Ahoskie against Hertford County and the next home game is Wednesday against East Wake.

The Lady Gryphons pitched a shutout in the second quarter  leading the Lady Falcons 28-5 at the half.  The entire second half was all what can we do next to lose this game as South Central out scored the Lady Gryphons 40 to 14 to pull off a miracle comeback but they got plenty of help from Rocky Mount.

The Lady Gryphons had 20 turnovers in the second half and 32 for the game but the killer of this game was on the night Rocky Mount was 10-25 at the freethrow line including 0-4 the last 50 seconds.  Michelle Gainey was 7/10 at the line leaving all her teammates to be 3 of 15. If there is one stat that truly mystifies you in this one is Rocky Mount was dominant on the boards 37-20.  The entire second half the Gryphons struggled with ball handling and passing as once again  Keyanna Spivey dominated inside scoring 12 points in the first half but only four in the second half in rebound put backs.

Lady Gryphons truly have to improve ball handling and passing as they drop to 2-2 on the season.  The boys are also 2-2 and it is plain and simple they played about as well as they could
Being dominated on the boards the way it played out.  Against teams their own size they are going to be good but surely against in big team in order to compete they need to get taller which I think we all know is what they have done to everybody else for years.

Early Season Basketball Trends

Just a little more than a week into the high school basketball seasons for the four high schools in Nash County trends are developing into what we might see as this season unfolds.  Northern Nash girls who are the preseason  favorites in the Big East with about the whole team returning except the Big East Player of the year Alexus Hill is off to an undefeated  start so far including a couple of wins over 4-A schools.   The other end of the spectrum the Northern boys had yet to win .

Southern Nash boys who were small but athletic last year are off to a good start as they have yet to lose but the competition so far has not been to the Northern Nash level. In reverse from Northern the Southern  girls have yet to win.

The fall did not treat Nash Central very well in any sport but so far both the boys and girls have yet to  lose in this first week of play in basketball.

Both of the Rocky Mount teams are 2-1 and I think most would tell you that the boys are very competitive with the 4-A schools played so far and the girls considering that this has been a very tough emotional month are pleased to be 2-1.

I don't know now  that all of our schools in the area are through with football whether you noticed the Eastern Wayne-Southern Guilford score last Saturday or not.  The game was postponed because of wets grounds on Friday but they sure played a hum  dinger on Saturday.  Eastern Wayne beat Southern the team that knocked Rocky Mount out 56-55 in over time.  EW plays Havelock in the Eastern Final tonight.

A little follow up on the Dudley High forfeit of their final game for using JV players which kept them out of the state playoffs. Investigations of all Guilford  County High schools results in finding out other schools were doing the same thing as Dudley  and some schools had to forfeits some games. Dudley was found to have used JV players in every game and had to forfeit the entire season.

Just a couple of weeks ago Cardinal Gibbons who I know was feeling pressure for their domination of 3-A  state championships ask for and have been granted permission to join the 4-A with the Durham and Chapel Hill schools next season.  This is of course  not the normal course of action taken because we are in mid cycle of the four year realignment that takes place. 

Not only was Gibbons under fire but the NCHSAA was taking plenty of heat for letting Cardinal Gibbons remain in the public school playoffs and winning 90% of all of the 3-A playoffs.  This move avoids and action by the members of the NCHSAA to vote Gibbons out at least until they start winning 90% of all 4-A playoffs and then if that does ever happen be when Cardinal Gibbons might get voted out.

 I think we all hope this levels the playing field but what happens if Gibbons has  three thousand  students in the future and they win everything in the 4-A playoffs.  Least you will not have to hear me holler about how unfair it is Cardinal Gibbons is winning all the 3-A titles with student from all over the Triangle.  I'll let the Wake, Durham and Orange County teams worry about that now.

Only Picks Left To Do

Ok the high school and college picks are over and the only games left for this year are pro games.  Last week went 11-5  and there were some super match ups and once again this week seems as if every team is still alive for the playoffs.  I now stand at 121-66.

Dallas at Chicago:  What a match up to start the week off.  Both have been great and then both have had moments of who are these guys?  Cutler and Romo probably the two most abused quarterback in the NFL by the media.  Da Bears in a close one 26-24

Steelers at Cincinnati:  Isn't this the same m o as the Dallas/Chicago game? I want to take Cincy but I don't know.  Bengals 23-17

Indy at Cleveland:  Hoyers in for Cleveland but Indy can score too many for the Browns.  31-23 Colts.

Tampa at Detroit:  Seems Tampa plays everyone close and always lose, they will again.  31-20 Lions roar.

Houston at Jacksonville:  If I had a vote J J Watt would be NFL MVP.  He leads Houston to a win in Jacksonville.

Baltimore at Miami:  Here is one of those games. Both teams need this one.  Probably be hot and the fins wins 33-27

Jets at Vikings:  I think Jets have quit so Vikings win.  23-13.

Carolina at New Orleans:  After this one Panthers officially out of the playoffs.  Bree's beats Cam 35-21

Giants at Tennessee:  I think both coaches in New York get canned.  Titans 31 Eli  23.

St Louis at Washington:  This will be high scoring.  St Louis is team to look out for next year 38-35 Rams.

KC at Arizona:  KC is on verge of being out of playoffs while the Cardinals are on the verge of losing the division lead in NFC west.  Zona wins 23-20

Buffalo at Denver;  Bills are improved but they just can't score enough to win this game. 38-23 mile high.

San Fran at Oakland:  It is time to earn number one draft pick that means Oakland loses. 9'ers 31- 13

Seattle at Philadelphia:  This will be the game to tell you whether Seattle has a shot at going back to Super Bowl.  Philly 36-30

New England at San Diego:  This is the game we will know about how good the Chargers are.  This is a shoot out. Super Chargers 38 Patroits 33.

Green Bay at Atlanta:   Falcons have a shot still in NFC South.  They have a shot of getting blown out in this one but it will be a game for a while 41-30.

Home Opener Two Gryphon Wins

The Gryphon boys basketball took to the home court and for the first time in several years the Gryphons were not the tallest team on the court.  Hertford  County who has a history of athletic players were matched up well in tonight's match up.  What the Gryphon fans saw was a pesky defense that gave HC all they could handle.

Both teams pull down 35 rebounds but the difference was HC had 28 turnovers while the Gryphons limited their miscues to 15 and it lead to a 64-45 Gryphon Victory.  The tallest Gryphons on the roster stand at six three but it was the shorter guys outside who lead the way scoring in seniors Isaiah Alston  21 and Broderick Caudle 13.  Off the bench Arttavious  Richardson pulled down 9 rebounds while Alston grab 5.  Deshon Smithwas the only Bear to reach ten points.

All four of the public high schools in Nash County will be very similar in size which make for some very interesting basketball during the up coming Nash County tournament in two weeks.  Everyone's
Tallest players are around six three.

The Lady Gryphons roster does not show a senior on it but two returning inside playersKeyanna Spivey  and Tarmara Harper both know how to seal off defenders and were wide open most of the game underneath the basket.  The problem is the passers on the outside had a hard time getting to ball to both inside players.

Spivey lead the Lady Gryphons scoring 24 but there no telling how many she could have had.  Harper scored only six but she hauled down 15 rebounds while Spivey completed a double double with 10 boards.  The Gryphons out rebounded the Lady Bears 50-24 despite both teams being about the same size.  Both teams had trouble handling the ball as the Gryphons gave it to the Bears 26 times while the Bears were gracious 24 times.  Final Lady Gryphons 42-32 over the Bears.

Both Gryphon teams go to 2-1 and will host South Central Friday night in the Gryphon Gym.

The only other local score I have is Southern Nash boys beat Bunn 47-44.

Cofield Makes Third Team ALL ACC

Takoby Cofield the 310 pound offense tackle from Duke  the Redshirt senior from Tarboro is a third team all ACC selections.  If the ACC was a eight team conference from the past Cofield just might be first team but now that the ACC goes from Miami to Chicago and Boston third team is not bad.

That just might tell a little about why Tarboro won three straight titles when the have the likes of an all Conference college lineman in Cofield and an All American back in Todd Gurley playing for them.  Might also tell you a little bit about why the last two years they have not advance past the third round and the type players it takes to win state titles.

Went 2-0 in high school picks last week correctly picking both SouthWest and Tarboro to be bounced from the playoffs.  My high school finishing record for the year was 85-23.

Also the regular season is over in college for our local teams and my pick record in college games was 92-33.  I will pick every bowl game once they are announced next Sunday.  Heavy rumors abound that State and ECU may be matchup in the bowl game in Annapolis Maryland  what ever it is called.  If that happens then the winning team could truly say they are the state champions in North Carolina college football.

You know the ACC formed in 1953 when the ACC members said the old Southern conference was too big when they had 23 teams.  Well we are almost back some 60 years later to the conference being too big.  Wouldn't it be something if one day the pendulum swung back the other way and all the North Carolina D1 schools would form a conference, North Carolina, State, Duke, ECU, Wake, App St, W Carolina, Elon and Charlotte.  The way the TV money is driving sports these days Campbell, High Point , UNC W and anyone with a football program can get into the big money by being D1.

Tonight high school basket ball takes charge in the area as Rocky Mount host Hertford County.  All three other public high schools are on the road.  Northern at Southern Wayne, Nash Central at SouthWest Edgecombe and Southern Nash at Bunn.

Tonight Louisville will represent the ACC in the ACC Big East challenge for the first time.  Louisville is lead by Montrelz Harrell from Tarboro who if I was voting would vote him player of the year in the ACC at this point. Harrell is averaging almost 18 per game and almost nine rebounds per game.  Game time is 9:30 on one of the ESPN channels.