Labor Day Classic Week Activities | Game Notes | Live Video | Live Stats | Listen Live
NORFOLK, Virginia --Two long-time rivals meet for the first time in five years Saturday as Norfolk State hosts Virginia State in the ABNB Labor Day Classic at Dick Price Stadium to open the 2017 season. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
Game 1: Virginia State (0-0) at Norfolk State (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 2 • 6 p.m. • William "Dick" Price Stadium (30,000)
Radio: WGH 1310 AM, WNSB 91.1 FM (Pre-game - 5:30 p.m.) - Play-by-Play: Ross Gordon; Color: Maguell Davis
Twitter Updates (NSU): @NSUSpartans • @NSU_FB
Series History: 51st meeting - VSU leads 26-20-1 (3 NSU wins vacated)
Last Meeting: NSU 24-0 (Sept. 1, 2012)
Series Streak: NSU won 6 straight on field; Last VSU win - 2005
1st and 10
1. NSU kicks off the 2017 season with the return of long-time Labor Day Classic foe and former CIAA rival Virginia State University.
2. The teams have not met since 2012, but have played 50 previous times. The teams met each other in the first game of the season every year from 1991-2009 in what became known as the Labor Day Classic.
3. Virginia State leads the all-time series with NSU. The Spartans have won 23 games on the field, but vacated three wins, leaving the series at 26-20-1 in VSU's favor.
4. Norfolk State College used to be a part of Virginia State University system. NSC teams were known as "Little State" and "Baby Trojans" and even wore blue and orange like VSU's teams. The Norfolk Division (now NSU) achieved its independence in 1969. In Greek mythology, the Spartans were a warlike people who were enemies of the Trojans, leading NSU to adopt its current nickname.
5. The Spartans return 19 players who started at least one game from last season's team which went 4-7 for the second year in a row, yet won three of its final four games to close 2016.
6. The Spartans were picked to finish seventh in the MEAC preseason poll of conference head coaches and sports information directors. DL Chris Lee (first team), TE Demetreus Ferebee (second team) and LB Kyle Archie (third team) were voted preseason All-MEAC selections.
7. This will be NSU head coach Latrell Scott's first time coaching against a VSU program which he directed from 2013-14. Scott compiled a 19-4 record in two seasons leading VSU, including a CIAA title and first-round NCAA Division II playoff win in 2014.
8. Scott is one of several NSU staff with close ties to VSU. Associate head coach and inside linebackers coach Andrew Faison preceded Scott as the head coach at VSU. Faison compiled a 58-52 record as coach of the Trojans from 2002-12. In addition, NSU director of football operations Shawn Hunt was a placekicker at VSU from 2011-13, playing under both Faison and Scott. Defensive coordinator Matt Dawson held the same position at VSU in 2013 under Scott.
9. Virginia State was picked to finish second in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division behind Bowie State in the league's preseason poll, and third overall when divisions were combined.
10. Senior running back Trenton Cannon was named both a preseason All-CIAA pick and a preseason black college All-American by Box To Row after leading the Trojans with a school-record 1,214 rushing yards last year.
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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