Dilfer took path Rivers may follow He learned a brutal lesson at the college coaching level JOHN BRICE USA Today Oct 29, 2026 Oct 29, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save COMMENTARYkAmu@C `c J62CD[ }r $E2E6 6>A=@J65 s2G6 s@6C6? 7@C >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD — 2?5 ?6G6C 6?;@J65 2 `_\H:? D62D@?]k^AmkAm%96 (@=7A24< ;@3[ 244@C5:?8 E@ >F=E:A=6 A6@A=6 H9@ DA@<6 H:E9 &$p %~sp* $A@CED[ 4@F=5[ D9@F=5 2?5 A@E6?E:2==J H:== 36 >F49 >@C6 >@G:?8 7@CH2C5]k^AmkAmtDA64:2==J 27E6C s@6C6? =@DE fc 82>6D D:?46 a_`b[ :?4=F5:?8 `e @7 9:D 7:?2= bb] QxE :D 2 A96?@>6?2= ;@3P[Q 2 7@C>6C }r $E2E6 6I64FE:G6 E@=5 &$p %~sp* $A@CED] QtDA64:2==J :7 E96J 564:56 E@ :?G6DE >@?6J]Qk^Am kAmt?E6C !9:=:A #:G6CD] p?5 6?E6C %C6?E s:=76C[ H9@ <?@HD 36EE6C E92? >@DE 3@E9 E96 A@E6?E:2= 2?5 E96 A6C:= @7 >2<:?8 E96 =62A #:G6CD 4@F=5 36 4@?E6>A=2E:?8]k^Am People are also reading… Republicans win all the local races in McDowell County in 2026 elections Groundbreaking set for new affordable housing neighborhood in Old Fort. Here's where Marion City Council member Juanita Doggett announces resignation Will North Carolina have a cold, snowy winter? Here's what NOAA predicts Marion woman charged with trying to steal dog from McDowell County residence Old Fort's November First Friday brings live music, art and town's first drum circle God's Pit Crew helps displaced couple move into fully furnished home in Nebo Where does Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young rank statistically after NFL Week 8 Old Fort man charged with breaking and entering at Marion warehouse Hunter's Liver Mush needs help with repairs, rising costs to keep Marion business operating Dia de los Muertos returns Saturday to downtown Marion Ole Waterin’ Hole offers customizable dirty sodas, energy drinks in downtown Marion Sugar Hill Market in Marion to hold Spooktacular on Friday Who will become the next James Bond? | Streamed & Screened podcast Marion man charged with stealing $58,000 tractor in March, arrested in October kAmp7E6C 3F:=5:?8 A@H6C9@FD6 }2D9G:==6 AC:G2E6\D49@@= AC@8C2> {:AD4@>3 p4256>J[ s:=76C ;F>A65 5:C64E=J 7C@> 9:89 D49@@= 4@249:?8 E@ E96 uq$ =6G6=[ E2<:?8 @G6C &pq 367@C6 E96 a_ab D62D@?] w6 H2D 5:D>:DD65 :? >:5\~4E@36C a_ad]k^AmkAm}@H #:G6CD 4@F=5 7@==@H 2 C6>2C<23=J D:>:=2C A2E9] }r $E2E6 7@@E32==VD >@DE 72>@FD 2=F> :D 4FCC6?E=J E96 9625 4@249 2E p=232>2 AC:G2E6 D49@@= $E] |:4926= r2E9@=:4 w:89 $49@@=[ H96C6 96 4@2496D 9:D D@? 2?5 7@FC\DE2C (@=7A24< 4@>>:E>6?E vF??6C #:G6CD]k^Am kAm%92EVD H92E >2<6D s:=76CVD A6CDA64E:G6 A2CE:4F=2C=J C6=6G2?E]k^Am kAm%96C6 H:== 36 E9:?8D #:G6CD D:>A=J :D?VE AC6A2C65 7@C :7 96 >2<6D E96 ;F>A[ s:=76C D2JD] %96 BF6DE:@? :D H96E96C E92E D9@F=5 AC6G6?E }r $E2E6 7C@> 36EE:?8 @? 9:>]k^Am kAmQx E9:?< !9:=:A 92D 2 9:DE@CJ @7 36:?8 2? :?4C65:3=6 7@@E32== >:?5[ 2? 6=:E6 =6256C[ 92D DEC@?8 4@?G:4E:@?[ 2?5 E96C6VD 8@:?8 E@ 36 DEF77 96VD ?@E C625J 7@C[Q s:=76C D2:5 |@?52J[ ~4E] ae] QqFE ?6:E96C :D E96 5676?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C[ ?6:E96C :D E96 ?6IE\36DE 8FJ @FE E96C6] *@F <?@H H92E x >62?n p?5 J@F E2=< E@ E96 8FJD 2C6 92G:?8 DF446DD C:89E ?@H] (:== $E6:? 2E z6?EF4<J[ x 36E :7 J@F 42==65 (:== $E6:? C:89E ?@H 96VD =:<6[ V*629[ xVG6 366? =62C?:?8 @? E96 7=J] x 92G6 8@@5 A6@A=6 2C@F?5 >6]Vk^Am kAmQ(96C6 x 72:=65[ H6 5:5?VE 72:= :? )D 2?5 ~D @C H:E9 E96 C64CF:E:?8] x 72:=65 :? C2==J:?8 E96 32D6] x ;FDE[ x 4@F=5?VE 86E E96 &pq 32D6 C2==:65] qFE 96VD DF49 2 >@C6 ?2EFC2= 7:E] x >62?[ E96 32D6 H:== 36 ADJ49@E:42==J C2==:65 2C@F?5 E96:C 2==\E:>6 8C62E6DE A=2J6C 36:?8 E96:C 9625 4@249][ :7 E92EVD :?5665 H92E 92AA6?D]Qk^Am kAms:=76CVD 6IA6C:6?46 2=D@ E2F89E 9:> E92E E96C6 :D ?@ H2J E@ 7F==J AC6A2C6 7@C 6G6CJE9:?8 #:G6CD H@F=5 6?4@F?E6C]k^AmkAmQ%96 @=5 ,q:==. !2C46==D BF@E6 E92E J@FVC6 ?6G6C C625J E@ 36 2 9625 4@249 F?E:= J@F 364@>6 2 9625 4@249[ D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E92Ej E96C6VD ?@ H2J J@F 4@F=5 2?E:4:A2E6 @C AC6A2C6 7@C 2== E96 ?6H E9:?8D J@FVC6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ =62C? @? E96 7=J[Q D2:5 s:=76C[ 2? 6=:E6 A@DED62D@? }u{ BF2CE6C324< H9@ 86?6C2E65 2 d\` >2C< :? D:I A=2J@77D DE2CED] QqFE E96C6VD ?@ H2J J@F 42? 2?E:4:A2E6 2== E96 E9:?8D J@F 92G6 E@ =62C? @? E96 7=J E@ 364@>6 2 AC@ BF2CE6C324<[ 6:E96C[ @C 562= H:E9 25>:?:DEC2E:@?D :? 9:89 D49@@= @C A2C6?ED] p== @7 FD E92E 92G6 8@?6 @? E9:D ;@FC?6J 92G6 =62C?65 9@H E@ =62C?] x <?@H E92E D@F?5D 6D@E6C:4[ 3FE x E9:?< J@F <?@H[ @?6 4@>>@? 56?@>:?2E@C 36EH66? }u{ BF2CE6C324<D :D H6VC6 2== G6CJ A=:23=6[ 2?5 H6 2== 42? =62C?]Qk^Am kAmqFE #:G6CDV C625:?6DD H@F=5 36 @?=J A2CE @7 E96 6BF2E:@?]k^AmkAm$@ H92E >:89E E96 46:=:?8 36 2E }r $E2E6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J H:E9 E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 2 ac\E62> A=2J@77 =@@>:?8nk^AmkAmQ$E:== 2 E@A\92=7 3F586E :? E96 prr[Q 2 4FCC6?E (@=7A24< DE277 >6>36C E@=5 &$p %~sp* $A@CED]k^AmkAmQ(6 23D@=FE6=J H@F=5 92G6 36?67:E65 8C62E=J 7C@> E96 6IA2?565 A=2J@77]Qk^Am kAm%96 =2C86C :DDF6 :D H96E96C }r $E2E6 H@F=5 AC@G:56 #:G6CD H:E9 6?@F89 C6D@FC46D E@ 3F:=5 2?5 C6E2:? 2 C@DE6C 42A23=6 @7 C6249:?8 E92E 46:=:?8]k^Am kAms:=76C DEC6DD6D E96 7:?6 =:?6 36EH66? G2=F:?8 A=2J6CD 2?5 @G6CG2=F:?8 E96>] %96 =2EE6C[ 96 D2JD[ :D HC64<:?8 3F586ED[ :7 ?@E C@DE6CD[ E9C@F89@FE 4@==686 7@@E32==]k^AmkAmQ%96C6VD E@?D @7 @G6CG2=F65 C64CF:ED[Q D2:5 s:=76C[ H9@ H6?E bf\c :? 9:D 7:?2= E9C66 D62D@?D 2E {:AD4@>3 2?5 E96? H2D 4@FCE65 E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 AC@8C2> 2D 9625 4@249 27E6C 9:D 6I:E 7C@> &pq] Qx E9:?< H92E H6 <?@H 7C@> @FC }u{ 52JD :D H92E ECF6 G2=F6 :D] xE H2D ?@E 92C5 E@ 7:?5 G2=F6] (92E 8FJD 2C6 G2=F23=6n xEVD E96? 92G:?8 E96 C6D@FC46D E@ A2J E92E ?F>36C]k^Am kAmQp?5 :7 }r $E2E6VD H:==:?8 E@ 8@ 2== :? @? E92E[ E96? !9:=:A H:== 36 2 9@>6 CF? 3642FD6 96V== 36 23=6 E@ 6G2=F2E6 E96>[ C64CF:E E96>[ 2?5 ?@H A2J E96>] (6 4@F=5 6G2=F2E6 E96> 2D 8@@5 2D 2?J3@5J] {@@< 2E E96 8FJD H6 925 2E &pq 2?5 E96JVC6 ?@H !@H6C\u@FC DE2CD] (6 4@F=5 C64CF:E E96>[ 3642FD6 :EVD C6=2E:@?2=[ 2?5 H6VC6 8@@5 2E :E] (6 ;FDE 4@F=5?VE <66A E96>] (6 4@F=5?VE A2J E96>[ 2?5 H6 4@F=5?VE 86E E96 @?6D @FE @7 E96 A@CE2= 3642FD6 J@F 5@?VE 92G6 E96 >@?6J] (6 6G2=F2E65 `d_ 8FJD 2?5 925 E@ D6EE=6 7@C E96 }@] e` b\E649?:BF6] x7 !9:=:A 42? 86E[ D2J[ E96 }@] `f b\E649[ :EVD 2 5:776C6?E DE@CJ]Qk^Am kAmp?5 E92E >2J 36 E96 42E49] QxE 92D 366? E@F89 E@ C6E2:? E2=6?E[Q E96 4FCC6?E (@=7A24< DE2776C D2:5] Q(6VG6 366? F?23=6 E@ >2E49 2?JH96C6 4=@D6 E@ H92E E@A D49@@=D 42? @776C]Qk^Am kAm%96 7@C>6C (@=7A24< 6I64FE:G6 36=:6G6D }r $E2E6 =6256CD9:A 4@F=5 36 >@E:G2E65 E@ 492?86 E92E] %96 A6CD@? A@:?E65 E@ r=6>D@?VD DECF88=6D 2?5 E96 prr @?46 282:? D92A:?8 FA 2D 2 @?63:5 =628F6[ A6C92AD E96 @?=J !\c 4@?76C6?46 E@ D6?5 ;FDE @?6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 E@ E9:D J62CVD `a\E62> ru!]k^AmkAmQx7 r=6>D@? 42E496D H:?5 E92E W}r $E2E6 2>A=:7J:?8 :ED 4@>>:E>6?EX H@F=5 36 :? A=2J[Q E96 A6CD@? D2:5[ QE92E AFED 2 DBF66K6 @? E96> E@ H:? ?@H[ 3642FD6 E96 =@DD @7 A@H6C H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ H:56?] Q|:2>: :D 2=C625J CF??:?8 2H2J H:E9 E96 prr]Q u@C s:=76C[ :E F=E:>2E6=J 4@>6D 5@H? E@ @?6 H@C5i 4@>>:E>6?E] #6G6?F6 D92C:?8[ E96 2DD:DE2?E 4@2496DV D2=2CJ A@@= 2?5 E96 @A6C2E:@?2= 3F586E 2== 92G6 E@ 36 Qr@==686 u@@E32== !=2J@77\42=:36C]Qk^Am kAmQx 72:=65[ 3FE E96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 :? E96 6?E:C6 E:>6[ :?4=F5:?8 8@:?8 E@ E9:D ?6H 6C2 @7 E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2= 2?5 ?@E 92G:?8 C6D@FC46D[ E96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 J@F 4@F=5?VE 7:8FC6 @FE[Q s:=76C D2:5] QxE H2D ?@E 92C5] xE H2D?VE :?E6==64EF2==J 92C5] xE H2D 7CFDEC2E:?8 >@C6 E92? 92C5] xE H2D 7CFDEC2E:?8 E@ <?@H H92E 2 8@@5 E62> =@@<D =:<6[ 2?5 E@ D66 H92E 2 8@@5 E62> 4@DED[ 2?5 <?@H J@F 4@F=5?VE 5@ :E]k^AmkAmQqFE :7 J@F AFE !9:=:A #:G6CD 2E }r $E2E6[ 96VD 8@:?8 E@ <?@H H92E 2 8@@5 E62> =@@<D =:<6] w6VD 8@:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ AFE E@86E96C 2 8@@5 E62>[ 2?5 :7 96 92D E96 C6D@FC46D E@ A2J 7@C :E[ 2=@?8 H:E9 C2==J:?8 E96 32D6[ :EVD 2 9@>6 CF?] qFE x H@F=5 E6== 9:>[ 5@ ?@E E2<6 2 ;@3 F?=6DD E96JVC6 4@>>:EE65]Qk^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Republicans win all the local races in McDowell County in 2026 elections During the 2026 elections for McDowell County, Republicans again won in all the local races for the County Commission and the Board of Education. Groundbreaking set for new affordable housing neighborhood in Old Fort. Here's where Catawba Hills will add 13 homes for permanently affordable workforce housing for families in McDowell County. Marion City Council member Juanita Doggett announces resignation “As it says in Ecclesiastes, there is a time and season for everything. I think my season has arrived." Will North Carolina have a cold, snowy winter? Here's what NOAA predicts Newest long-range forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide insight into what this winter could look like in … Marion woman charged with trying to steal dog from McDowell County residence The dog's owner provided footage to law enforcement of the reported breaking and entering.
Republicans win all the local races in McDowell County in 2026 elections During the 2026 elections for McDowell County, Republicans again won in all the local races for the County Commission and the Board of Education.
Groundbreaking set for new affordable housing neighborhood in Old Fort. Here's where Catawba Hills will add 13 homes for permanently affordable workforce housing for families in McDowell County.
Marion City Council member Juanita Doggett announces resignation “As it says in Ecclesiastes, there is a time and season for everything. I think my season has arrived."
Will North Carolina have a cold, snowy winter? Here's what NOAA predicts Newest long-range forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide insight into what this winter could look like in …
Marion woman charged with trying to steal dog from McDowell County residence The dog's owner provided footage to law enforcement of the reported breaking and entering.