Holt's Prediction Comes True....

Sitting here today, a freshman in college and away from home for the first extended period of time, I look around and see many reminders of home and Rocky Mount High School. A baseball hat, a Gryphons mini football and basketball (thanks to cheerleading coach Lou Buck), and walls adorned with newspaper clippings of the Gryphons baseball team’s state championship run. As one of the team’s biggest fans, Wes Bradshaw, says, we were the Boys of Spring, capping off a season like no other, and for us five seniors, going out on top to finish our high school careers.

But this story is not as much about the baseball team winning or the great stories that everyone has from those few weeks, it’s about Rocky Mount head football coach B.W Holt. As my eyes wander to the framed picture of the exuberant dog pile in Five County Stadium’s infield, I hear Coach Holt’s voice saying ‘I told you so.’

You see, this story goes way back. Back beyond the beginnings of this past year’s graduating class’ high school endeavors. This story has its roots in the Edwards Middle School gym.

The year was 2004, and Rocky Mount football had just experienced its first year under Coach Holt. I remember that spring there was a meeting for anyone who had thoughts about playing any sport at Rocky Mount. I vaguely remember Coach Donald Thomas talking about reminders about physicals and the sort, but remembered this man standing off to the side.

As a naïve middle school student, I didn’t attend any of the Gryphons football games the previous fall in Coach Holt’s first campaign. But it soon became apparent what Coach Holt’s visions were for athletics at Rocky Mount High School.

Only a few words into his talk, mainly introducing himself and a word or two about football tryouts, when he came out and said “By the time your class graduates, you will have won a State Championship in some sport, I don’t know which one, but we will have won one somewhere.”

I’m pretty sure we all thought Coach Holt’s words were crazy, words trying to get us excited about high school and high school athletics. Who was this man to say what would happen in the future?

We were quickly turned into believers as we saw Holt’s football teams quickly began to turn into state contenders, and now have become powerhouses.

In 2007, the Gryphons’ Chalonda Silver brought home an individual championship in indoor track. But it was not the fruits of our class’ efforts.

As the weeks wound down towards graduation, it appeared Coach Holt’s words would not be fulfilled. Then a magical run began, both literally and figuratively.

First, Jacobi Jenkins outran the competition in the Eastern Finals to earn a spot in the state Championships. There, he captured the Championship in the 110 meter hurdles and brought the Class of 2008 its first champion. But again, the championship was an individual one.

At the same time the Gryphons’ baseball team was beginning its run through the playoffs. I remember Bradshaw announcing Jacobi’s results and the applause he received. Inside, I believed that he helped push the baseball team that much harder, because we wanted to have that same feeling.

After a run through the playoffs, and a hard-fought Championship Series, the Gryphons baseball team was finally able to celebrate.

Now there was no question – Holt’s promise was complete, both individually and as a team. He was in the stands in Zebulon, along with many of Rocky Mount’s other athletes.

Seeing the celebration, will it now push those athletes in the other sports to want it that much more? What will Coach Holt’s next speech be, now that the Gryphons are serious contenders?

As I look at the celebratory pictures again, and the ring that represents all of the hard work that was put into it, I remember taking time out of that late afternoon in May from celebrating to think back to those words so many years ago.

Call me crazy, or random, or whatever, but along with the memories and feelings from those magical weeks, I will forever remember Coach Holt’s words. Thanks Coach, for instilling the dream and pushing us along the way, even if you didn’t always realize it.

Game Changed...

Just read off Tony's Doughtie's blog that the Rocky Mount-Southwest Edgecombe marquee matchup has already been postponed til Monday night....as I am writing, I just recieved a text-message confirming the decision.

But as I look at the radar, which shows the rain is definately coming, the big rain is not here yet. Even if it does rain during the game, what's wrong with a little water on the ball, and mud on the jerseys?

I'll tell you - money. Now I don't know everything about that sort of thing, but a good indicator of a big game is when tickets are sold starting earlier in the week. This game is being said to have somewhere around 3,000 people or more. And I don't doubt that estimate at all, but if tonight's game was played in the rain tonight, how many of those same fans would be there? Just look at last week's Rocky Mount-Northern Nash game. A short, light rain about an hour before gametime and the crowd was less than expected. Even though the rivalry has lost a little bit of its hype over the last few years, I still believe that the crowd would have been larger with no rain leading up to the game.

So it's now official - Monday Night Football will continue for another season. Each year of NEW 6 Conference play these two teams will have played on Monday night. Dare I say that the Gryphons and Coach Holt will continue this game as a non-conference opponent? Will they still have to play on Monday nights? Or will they finally play some Football Friday???

Interesting thoughts, but the crowd should still show up for Monday night, in large numbers. I will go out on a limb and say thaat there will be more people there on Monday than there would have been tonight. Something about rain and watching football don't mix for fans in the Twin Counties.

Rocky Mount Gryphons Football

Rocky Mount vs. Southwest Edgecombe

Tonight is the night that most fans on both sides have been anticipating for weeks. Since the start of NEW 6 play, the winner of this game has come away as the Conference Champs. I don't see this year as any different. Also, each year of this conference matchup has been played on Monday night instead of Friday night....will the final NEW 6 meeting bring change???

Fans should show up early, I wouldn't say it's a stretch to show up around 6:00 - 6:30....seriously. And by then you still might be in the standing room only portion of the crowd.

Even if you're gonna have to stand the whole game, this is a game that you don't wanna miss.....trust me.....I've seen some good games over the last few years.....

This Rocky Mount team is as good as any in the B.W. Holt era....go out and support them.

How 'bout those Sox!!!

For those of you who missed it, or those who turned away early, the Red Sox have lived for another day after coming back from 7 runs down to beat the Rays 8-7. The comeback was the second largest in playoff history, behind only the Philadelphia Athletics (yes the A's played in Philly....way, way, way back) in 1925.

The Sox now have to go back down to Tampa Bay and the Trop....how come that name never stuck 'til the Rays finally began to win? Personally, and maybe slightly biased, I think the Sox have the better chance to come back and win two straight on the road. The comeback showed them that they CAN do it, and the Rays have got to be feeling some pressure after being 7 runs up with 7 outs between them and the World Series.

Regardless of what happens, Game 6 on Saturday night (and, hopefully, Game 7) should be a good game. Also, my pick to win the World Series is the American League winner, regardless if its the Rays or the Red Sox. I like the Phillies, but I just think that a) the Red Sox experience combined with coming off a 3-1 defecit, or b) the Rays and their young talent will be too much for the Phils.

For those of you that have been to Fenway Park, I envy you. Hearing that place roar last night makes me want to visit there even more. The history there, the Green Monstah, and the Sox combine to make it a magical place.

Welcome to my blog...

Being an avid follower of Rocky Mount sports, I finally got tired of reading Charles Alston, Wes Bradshaw, and Tony Doughtie talk about the Gryphons.

I will use my new blog to talk about the Gryphs, as well as my thoughts about current college and professional sports topics, and maybe a word or two on what's going on in my day-to-day college life.

So here I go....take it or leave it. Thanks to everyone who reads this and I hope you enjoy!!