By Paul DurhamWilson Times
GREENSBORO - The now defunct 3-A NEW 6 Conference celebrated one final hurrah on the East sidelines of the 61st annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game in Greensboro Wednesday.
Leading the East was head coach Raymond Cobb of SouthWest Edgecombe, who had on his staff three former NEW 6 rival coaches in Brian Foster, head coach at Southern Nash; Grover Battle, an assistant at Northern Nash; and Greene Central's Kenneth Grantham, formerly head coach at Nash Central.
"All of us have been together in the NEW 6 the past few years," Cobb said. "We've got a great staff. We've met a lot and put a lot of time into it. We feel like we've picked some high-quality character kids and that's the key to it."
Cobb ran the offense with help from Grantham, who coached the offensive line. Jimmy Williams of East Wake and Ken Whitehurst of D.H. Conley directed the tight ends. Foster was the defensive coordinator while Battle handled the line. Whitehurst and Williams coached the linebackers and secondary.
"We did like we do at SouthWest," Cobb said. "We worked on both sides of the ball."
Except this time, the former NEW 6 coaches were working together.
"I think it's been fun. I've always thought they were good guys and they care about the kids and that's important to me," said Foster, who was chosen to participate in last year's game but declined for personal reasons.
Grantham expressed mild surprise at his first experience as an East-West coach after 18 years in the coaching ranks, including six as a head coach.
"It's a honor, No. 1, to be selected especially with the number of years I've coached. I'm still a young guy," Grantham commented. "It'll be good to reconnect with all those guys from Nash County and the NEW 6."
The familiarity extended to the East roster as five players from The Wilson Times readership area, including three from the former NEW 6, will play: Southern Nash's T.J. Batchelor, Fike's Rashad Parker, SouthWest Edgecombe's Marquis Hines as well as Jumal Rolle from Beddingfield and DaRon Tripp of Greene Central. Three more NEW 6 players -- Nash Central's Danny Allen and Nick Hahula and Torey Lee of Rocky Mount -- were on the team.
"I'm was just honored to be coaching with them," Battle said. "I think we've had pretty good crowd of athletes and kids and the coaches are just outstanding."
Cobb planed on bringing his wishbone offense to Greensboro and Parker got a prominent role. Ryan Hill of West Brunswick was the East starter at quarterback.
Defensively, Foster had to work around such rule changes as no blitzing and playing an odd front.
"It definitely gave the offense the upper hand but was an all-star game," reminded Foster.
Foster pointed to his defensive line, with players such as Fayetteville Jack Britt's Ralph Bonner and Havelock's Deylan Buntyn, along with the linebacking corps featuring Raleigh Leesville Road's Mark Walker, Justin Rodgers of Bunn and Danile Collins of Holly Springs.
Foster added the defense would certainly find a place for Rolle, of whom Foster echoed Beddingfield head coach Tyrone Johnson's sentiments: "That kid can play!"
"We've had some really, really, really good kids," Foster related. "It's amazing when you talk to principals and hear what some of these kids have done."
The players arrived in Greensboro on Thursday and two-a-day practices began Friday. Players took in the all-star basketball games Monday and soccer games Tuesday. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the East players and coaches were all business in attempting for its third straight win which started when the East ended the West's five-game winning streak in 2007.
"I tell you what, I've talked to all of them this summer," Cobb said of his players. "They all sounded so positive, all claim to have been working hard and staying in shape. ... We've became one in a quick short time. I think this crowd's worked hard."
Leading the East was head coach Raymond Cobb of SouthWest Edgecombe, who had on his staff three former NEW 6 rival coaches in Brian Foster, head coach at Southern Nash; Grover Battle, an assistant at Northern Nash; and Greene Central's Kenneth Grantham, formerly head coach at Nash Central.
"All of us have been together in the NEW 6 the past few years," Cobb said. "We've got a great staff. We've met a lot and put a lot of time into it. We feel like we've picked some high-quality character kids and that's the key to it."
Cobb ran the offense with help from Grantham, who coached the offensive line. Jimmy Williams of East Wake and Ken Whitehurst of D.H. Conley directed the tight ends. Foster was the defensive coordinator while Battle handled the line. Whitehurst and Williams coached the linebackers and secondary.
"We did like we do at SouthWest," Cobb said. "We worked on both sides of the ball."
Except this time, the former NEW 6 coaches were working together.
"I think it's been fun. I've always thought they were good guys and they care about the kids and that's important to me," said Foster, who was chosen to participate in last year's game but declined for personal reasons.
Grantham expressed mild surprise at his first experience as an East-West coach after 18 years in the coaching ranks, including six as a head coach.
"It's a honor, No. 1, to be selected especially with the number of years I've coached. I'm still a young guy," Grantham commented. "It'll be good to reconnect with all those guys from Nash County and the NEW 6."
The familiarity extended to the East roster as five players from The Wilson Times readership area, including three from the former NEW 6, will play: Southern Nash's T.J. Batchelor, Fike's Rashad Parker, SouthWest Edgecombe's Marquis Hines as well as Jumal Rolle from Beddingfield and DaRon Tripp of Greene Central. Three more NEW 6 players -- Nash Central's Danny Allen and Nick Hahula and Torey Lee of Rocky Mount -- were on the team.
"I'm was just honored to be coaching with them," Battle said. "I think we've had pretty good crowd of athletes and kids and the coaches are just outstanding."
Cobb planed on bringing his wishbone offense to Greensboro and Parker got a prominent role. Ryan Hill of West Brunswick was the East starter at quarterback.
Defensively, Foster had to work around such rule changes as no blitzing and playing an odd front.
"It definitely gave the offense the upper hand but was an all-star game," reminded Foster.
Foster pointed to his defensive line, with players such as Fayetteville Jack Britt's Ralph Bonner and Havelock's Deylan Buntyn, along with the linebacking corps featuring Raleigh Leesville Road's Mark Walker, Justin Rodgers of Bunn and Danile Collins of Holly Springs.
Foster added the defense would certainly find a place for Rolle, of whom Foster echoed Beddingfield head coach Tyrone Johnson's sentiments: "That kid can play!"
"We've had some really, really, really good kids," Foster related. "It's amazing when you talk to principals and hear what some of these kids have done."
The players arrived in Greensboro on Thursday and two-a-day practices began Friday. Players took in the all-star basketball games Monday and soccer games Tuesday. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the East players and coaches were all business in attempting for its third straight win which started when the East ended the West's five-game winning streak in 2007.
"I tell you what, I've talked to all of them this summer," Cobb said of his players. "They all sounded so positive, all claim to have been working hard and staying in shape. ... We've became one in a quick short time. I think this crowd's worked hard."
