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Pardon me as I opt to vent a bit this week about the sad state of D-1 college football this year in North Carolina.

Everybody is bad, to include Dook (better known as Duke). Yea, I know the Devils are 4-0, but whom have they played thus far? Answer: Elon, Northwestern, UConn (better known as UCan’t) and Middle Tennessee State University. To date, that foursome has a combined record of six wins and ten losses.

This past Saturday was a total disaster for our North Carolina teams.

UNC got embarrassed at home, 70-50, vs. James Madison. Yep, you read that right…..Seventy to Fifty and it took the Tar Heels outscoring JMU 29-17 in the second half to make it appear that they had a chance. James Madison set a first-half scoring record by a visiting team at Kenan Stadium by leading 53-21 at the break.

Meanwhile down in Clumpson, the Tigers buried my beloved NC State Wolfpack, 59-35, deep under the Death Valley soil.

We won the fourth quarter, 21-0, over the Clumpson reserves to make the final score much closer than it actually was.

The ‘Pack hasn’t won in Death Valley since the 2002 season where T.A. McLendon rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-6 rout.

East Carolina made the trip to the rolling hills of Lynchburg, VA on Saturday where the Pirates ship was sunk in the second half of a 35-24 loss at Liberty University.

ECU, now 2-2 overall, led 17-7 at halftime, but the Flames ignited in the second half, scoring four touchdowns to improve to 4-0 overall.

Our state’s other D-1 schools didn’t fare well either on Saturday. UNC Charlotte got a big fat paycheck for making the trip to face Big 10 member Indiana, but paid the price on the scoreboard in a 52-14 loss. App State lost to South Alabama, 48-14, on Thursday. Western Carolina led 27-21 at halftime at Montana on Saturday, but the Grizzlies mauled the Catamounts 25-8 in the second half en route to a 46-35 victory. Western Carolina fell to 1-3 with the loss.

Even though they didn’t play this past Saturday, Wake Forest is 1-2 overall after back-to-back losses (Sept. 7 and Sept. 14) to Virginia and Ole Miss.

While our North Carolina teams aren’t enjoying much success so far this season, even if they were a bit better I don’t think they could compete for a national championship. The rich keep getting richer within the ranks of major college football. Five of the nation’s top 10 teams are from the Southeastern Conference: Texas (#1), Georgia (#2), Alabama (#4), Tennessee (#5) and Ole Miss (#6).

Tennessee has already mopped the floor against NC State while Georgia routed Clumpson (now ranked #17 nationally at 2-1 overall) in the season opener.

The highest ranked ACC team is Miami (#7 and 4-0 overall).

NC State was ranked in week 1, but about all we can hope for now is perhaps a berth in the Jim Bob’s Lube & Auto Front End Alignment Bowl in December.

While on the subject of college football here in our state, I’m hopeful that Chowan University can pull out a win this coming Saturday (Sept. 28) when they host Mississippi College in a 1 p.m. game at James G. Garrison Stadium.

The Hawks, winless last season, are off to a 0-2 start this year, but have been extremely competitive in the process. This program needs a win in a big way to build confidence and momentum. I encourage everyone to go to Murfreesboro on Saturday, arrive early for a meal at one of the great local restaurants, and then head to the stadium and get loud!!

There is even more sad news to share this week as one of my favorite professional football players has passed away.

Eugene Edward “Mercury” Morris died Saturday, Sept. 21 at the age of 77. He played in the National Football League for eight seasons, seven of which he spent with my favorite team, the Miami Dolphins.

An All-American at West Texas A&M, a Division 2 school, Morris attracted the attention of pro scouts and was selected by the Dolphins in the third round of the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft. His nickname – “Mercury” – came due to his mercurial quickness and athleticism.

One year prior, Miami had selected Larry Czonka and Jim Kiick in the draft. Czonka was a “bust your chops” running back while Kiick added versatility as a runner and receiver.

When Morris joined that duo in 1969, Miami added an explosive runner to the backfield. In his very first game, Morris returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown and a legend was born.

According to NFL.com, from 1971-1973, Morris went to three consecutive Pro Bowls while the Dolphins played in three straight Super Bowls over that same three-year span.

In 1971, Morris averaged 5.5 yards per carry and led the AFC with 28.2 yards per kickoff return. The Dolphins lost Super Bowl VI, 24-3, vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

One season later, Miami posted the NFL’s only perfect season, going 17-0 capped by a Super Bowl VII win over Washington. Morris rushed for a league-best 12 touchdowns and 1,000 yards that year. Coupled with a 1,117 yard season from Czonka, it was easy to see how the Dolphins posted their perfect record. Czonka and Morris became the first, single season 1,000 yard rushing teammates in NFL history.

A season later, Morris, now the starting halfback for Miami, led the NFL with 6.4 yards per carry. He had 954 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He was a driving force in the Dolphins repeating as Super Bowl champs with a win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Morris suffered a knee injury in the fifth game of the 1974 season, but bounced back in 1975 to rush for 875 yards and four touchdowns.

After ending his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers, Morris’s life took a downward turn. He was convicted in 1982 for cocaine trafficking and conspiracy. After serving three years of a 20-year prison term, that conviction was overturned and Morris became a motivational speaker, offering advice on the dangers of illegal drugs.

“Beyond the field, Mercury was a devoted father, a loving brother, a loyal friend, and a pillar in the community,” his family wrote in the statement following his death. “His presence extended far beyond football, as he touched the lives of many throughout his time in Miami.”

Over the coming days, weeks, months and years, if you see a flash of lightning in the sky, it’s just jersey #22 streaking for another touchdown!

Cal Bryant is the Editor of Roanoke-Chowan Publications. Contact him at cal.bryant@r-cnews.com or 252-332-7207.