In the near corner of Rocky Mount High’s football practice field, second-year coach Dickie Schock stood in front of a group of young men. As the majority of his team walked toward the locker room, Schock spoke to his seniors — the collection of 16 he has challenged to step up and take control of a team struggling to find its identity in more ways than one.

Overhead, a storm cloud lingered. No rain, just a strip of dark gray sky stretching from one sideline to the other. To its left and right? Sun-stroked ozone. A beautiful day.

Rocky Mount has a proud football history. Under legendary coach B.W. Holt, who spent six years with the program and amassed a 71-12 record, the Gryphons reached three Eastern Regional Finals and won four conference titles. The school boasts two state championships — 1962 and 1963.

It’s that kind of success, both recent and long-term, that leads to a 2009 campaign where the Gryphons lost in the second round of the 3-AA state playoffs being popularly termed a down year. Most everyone heard that phrase during the offseason, including Schock.

“It was not a bad year, but it tells you the expectations here and what some of the history has been,” said Schock, who led the Gryphons to a 7-5 record last season.

“I know what these kids are doing, what they’re capable of. It can consume you and eat you up if you start worrying about what other folks are saying. It eats me up enough worrying about what I want to get done, and what I want to see these players do.”

So far, Schock has witnessed improvement. Improvement in a group that lost a three-year starter at quarterback and the school’s alltime leading rusher. Improvement by starting two quarterbacks who are using their on-field skills to compliment one another. Improvement by rotating four capable runners in the backfield. Improvement by constantly working with a young offensive line. Improvement by molding a vast conglomeration of kids into a unit that works together to win games and has something to prove.

On the current roster of 47 players, none have received scholarships for football. When Holt coached the Gryphons, he did so with immense athletic talents at his disposal. The Stephan Virgils and Terrell Hudgins’ of the world.

“There are no scholarship offers that are awaiting anybody. It’s what it is right now. You’ve got to play. And some of those guys can play. And some of them can go on and play at the next level. It’s just time for them to step up a little bit and lead,” Schock said.

So as quarterbacks Diandre Harris and Tevin Taylor take snaps in practice and try to settle not only themselves, but the team, into a comfort zone, Schock knows the task ahead of him is a difficult one. Especially given that pesky history, and its resulting expectations.

“We’re still trying to figure out what’s the best this group can be. They’ve still got a lot of that in their hands. A lot of it is still to be determined,” Schock said.

As Schock finished speaking to his seniors and dismissed them to the fieldhouse, the cloud still hovered above, but it didn’t drop its rain. For the time being, the day is beautiful.

“You don’t want to stay satisfied. You’ve got to keep that drive and keep working. That’s the pressure. That’s the grind of it. You’re pushing them, and you’re trying to get them ready to play. That’s a hard thing for young men to understand. And sometimes old men, too,” Schock said.

Nick Cammarota can be reached at 407-9951 or ncammarota@rmtelegram.com