Kentucky among Norfolk State's football opponents in 2008

Another game against a Division I FBS opponent and the first matchup with in-state foe William & Mary in 23 years highlight the 2008 Norfolk State football schedule, which was announced Wednesday.

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Photo: Norfolk State pounded Coach Adrian's former MEAC mentor, Alvin Wyatts' Bethune Cookman University Wildcats into the turf in '07. Will there be more of the same in '08 for the Spartans?

For those that need just the facts, here it is in the abbreviated version.

Norfolk State has one of the more attractive MEAC schedules for 2008, along with South Carolina State University. NSU athletic director Marty L. Miller is quickly becoming the top Athletic Executive in black college sports with his ability to set up his head football coach, Pete Adrian for an outstanding season, among other positive initiatives.

Last season, Norfolk State University was tops in HBCU football for accumulated home attendance. The Spartans were ranked #7 in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision ("FCS") with 103,320 accumulated attendance for six home games. NSU average game attendance was 17,220 (see our Blog dated 11/22/07 on this topic).

We expect the Spartans to exceed this number in '08, with Virginia State, North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, Morgan State and Delaware State on the slate. The first three teams are noted to travel well with a very large fan base in the Baltimore, Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Richmond commuting regions.

But more importantly, the rivalry games with Hampton University and William and Mary have the flavor of a playoff contest before large crowds. Both the VSU and FAMU games should set new attendance records at William "Dick" Price Stadium, especially with Joe Taylor's Rattlers first return to the Hampton Roads region for Norfolk State's homecoming.

If the famed FAMU Marching 100 Band makes an appearance, expect standing room only with 30,000 plus fans for the FAMU game.

We foresee NSU being in the hunt for an FCS playoff spot in '08.

Remember, its still January so we can go overboard a little for the Spartans. However, by the time the battle with Delaware State is completed in November, the blitz that the Spartans will have received from Joker Phillips and the Kentucky Wildcats will have been forgotten by most on the FCS playoff committee.

All of these ingredients will make for a very exciting season in the Hampton Roads region. We just as well buy season tickets to guarantee us a seat for an exciting season in the Tidewater.

Will this be the season that the MEAC sends more than one team to the playoffs, in a five way battle with Delaware State, Norfolk State, Hampton, FAMU and SCSU State for a playoff spot and the MEAC championship?

Beating William and Mary and with only one loss in the MEAC could get a 10-2 Norfolk State into the playoffs, without winning the MEAC championship. A 9-3 record will get Norfolk State an early start on '09 recruiting.

Outstanding schedule, Spartans!

Photo: Armed with a new contract, will NSU Coach Pete Adrian prove the critics wrong in '08 with a MEAC championship or FCS Playoff berth.

Norfolk State University 2008 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Site Time

Aug. 30 Virginia State Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. (Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic)

Sept. 6 at Kentucky Lexington, Ky. TBA

Sept. 13 North Carolina A&T Norfolk, Va. 4 p.m.

Sept. 20 at William & Mary Williamsburg, Va. TBA

Sept. 27 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA

Oct. 11 at South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA

Oct. 18 at Hampton Hampton, Va. TBA (Battle of the Bay)

Oct. 25 Florida A&M Norfolk, Va. 1 p.m. (Homecoming)

Nov. 1 at Howard Washington, D.C. TBA

Nov. 8 Morgan State Norfolk, Va. 1 p.m.

Nov. 15 Delaware State Norfolk, Va. 1 p.m.

Nov. 22 at Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem, N.C. 1 p.m.

-beepbeep