Robert Mitchell a preseason all-MEAC lineman from NCCU

Lineman for life - Robert Mitchell, out of Millsboro and Cape Henlopen, is now a preseason all-MEAC offensive lineman for the North Carolina Central Eagles. Robert played his first two years for the Lackawanna Falcons. Robert is 6-feet-4-inches and 310 pounds, but so are a lot of people. What makes Big Rob different is that he has great feet and good hands (not allowed to touch the ball), he can get off the line, collide with and drive those Tonka trucks that play D line with their hands in the dirt, and he can chase down linebackers. Robert started 10 games for the Falcons in the 2019 season (2020 season lost to COVID) and is now a college senior and getting looks from NFL scouts. Robert also played basketball his senior season at Cape. He is kin to the extended Hopkins family out of Harbeson. 

Coach speak - Head football coach Trei Oliver of North Carolina Central was quoted on the school’s website talking about season prospects. He said, “We have changed the culture. I truly expect to be in the championship mix when the smoke clears at the end of the season.” Speaking of defensive linemen, Oliver said, “We have to be physical and make teams one-dimensional. We have to stop the run first and foremost, and we have to outwork people, especially the defensive line.” Relatable flashbacks from my football life: A few years back, a nice-looking athletic kid showed up for the start of Cape football season three days late. The coaches discussed whether they should let him come out for the team. One said, “We’ve got to change the culture around here.” I said, “That is the culture around here. Better be ready to bend like Gumby if you want to win games.” Back when I was playing offensive guard for Temple, some size 9 helmeted Polish nose guard came right over me and blew up a trap play. A coach said, “Frederick, looks like he wants it more than you do.” “I’m pretty sure he does, coach. I excel in the gaps between games.”  

South Padre Island, Texas - Jersey Mike’s USLA National Lifeguard Championships are Aug. 4-7 at South Padre Island off the southern coast of eastern Texas, about 2,000 miles as the silver bird flies. The Sussex County chapter sent 41 athletes to the competition, second only to Los Angeles County. Lainey Shockro won the U19 female beach flags competition Wednesday. Declan Burke won the U19 distance run for males. I’m watching more closely than usual because my 17-year-old grandson Mikey, along with Dewey Beach Patrol teammates C.J. Fritchman, Eid Nouhra and Reed Tanasovich, is defending reps and going after a national championship in the soft sand relay. I could have gone to cover it, but I’d look like a fish out of water and may have been thrown into the warm waters of the gulf and washed up on the shores of Mexico. Anyone here order a Gringo Grande? 

Snippets - Katie Boyer, former Cape field hockey player and recent Penn State graduate, has been named the new head field hockey coach at Indian River High School. The Indians were 14-1 and lost in the state finals to Delmar 6-3 under coach Jody Stone in 2019, then went 8-4 in 2020, losing in the second round to Archmere 2-1. Cape will play at Indian River at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 28. A celebration of life for coach Lou Nicoletti will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 12, at Parsell Funeral Homes on Kings Highway. Coach Nic passed away April 9, 2020, at the age of 70. The maskless, back-out-playing people in my sports world have been enthusiastically happy this summer. I don’t understand the grouchies who go out to dinner. I just can’t relate to the easily annoyed class of people. Maybe we should arm servers with yellow and red cards, and just not tolerate unsportsmanlike behaviors. The Mets, Phillies and Braves are separated by 2.5 games after playing 108 games. Only one of these teams will make the playoffs. The best way to think about it is: “The playoffs begin now.” Why are there so many Jamaican sprinters who rise to elite levels? As l told local high school runners who raced against them at the Penn Relays, “Don’t go out with Kingston in the 400 meters because Grizzly Adams will be riding on your back by the time you hit ‘bear alley’ at 250 meters.” My personal motto for each day is: “Start out slow, then back it down.” Go on now, git!