With its offense struggling, NSU fires coordinator

NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk State football team, struggling under the weight of a stagnant offense, replaced offensive coordinator Kirk Mastromatteo with tight ends coach Joe Blackwell on an interim basis Monday.

Mastromatteo will not coach in the Spartans' final four games and his contract will not be renewed. The Norfolk State offense has scored just two touchdowns during the team's four-game losing streak and the Spartans have just 39 points in those games, including two touchdowns scored by the defense.

"My job is to win games," Mastromatteo said. "My job is to score points. Of course it's frustrating. It's not a lack of effort, it's not a lack of experience or knowledge. In this profession, sometimes someone has to be the guy (to go). Right now, I'm the guy.... This is a great profession, but it's a nasty, nasty business."



NSU notes: It's 3,000 yards and counting for Branche

NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State running back DeAngelo Branche, who needed 42 yards to reach the 3,000-yard mark for his career, finished with 89 yards on 26 carries. The Maury graduate is just the second Spartan to hit the milestone and the first to do it at the FCS level.

"It was one of my goals," Branche said. "You can enjoy it a little. Even after a loss, an achievement is still an achievement. My name's in the record books. When I leave here, it'll still be here." Doing it on homecoming made it extra special.

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