Gurley doesn’t mind if this parent hollers at him

Mike Gurley hears a voice in the bleachers behind him and thinks, “Oh gosh, there’s another parent.”

The parent’s voice may be questioning a play call, a referee’s decision or maybe, he just wants to cajole the coach.

But this voice doesn’t bother Gurley. He’s heard it before.

It’s his dad.

Bob Gurley making a trip to his son’s games is like putting salt and ketchup on french fries. It’s going to happen.

“I started watching him at the Y, then middle school, then high school, then college,” the elder Gurley said. “And I go to practice games.”

When asked if he has seen 1,000 basketball games, he answers, “More than that.”

And why has he spent so many nights in those dimly lit gymnasiums?

“He raised a basketball player,” smiles Mike.

A divorce had the younger Gurley living in Lincoln County when he was growing up but he told his mom, Shirley, he just didn’t want to play high school sports in Lincoln County. So he moved in with his father and attended North Mecklenburg.

Gurley marvels at how his father seemed to show up everywhere. Once, while he was redshirting at Belmont Abbey University, the team traveled to Mars Hill College, which is located on the other side of Asheville. He looked up and Dad was there.

Over the years, Bob has become a favorite of his son’s players.

“He loves these guys and they love him,” says Gurley of his current edition of the West Rowan Falcons. “They know his credit card might pop out and there will be a free meal somewhere.”

But let’s get back to that coaching from the stands.

“He knows I’m irritable enough (not to yell),” Gurley grinned.

Bob tells the story of a practice game when some people were venting toward Scooter Sherrill.

“Yeah, they were on Scooter,” Bob remembers with a grin. “I yelled out, ‘Leave Scooter alone or you’ll have to answer to me.’

“Mike said, ‘You shut up.’ ”

It may have been the closest Mike Gurley has ever come to getting a spanking on the court.

“I told him, ‘I don’t have to shut up. You don’t coach me.’ ” Bob laughed.

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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com .