Showing posts with label Norfolk State University Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norfolk State University Football. Show all posts

Friday, October 22, 2010

NSU report: Spartans lose leading tackler for the season

Norfolk State Spartans  Coach Pete Adrian
NORFOLK, VA | Anthony Taylor, Norfolk State's middle linebacker, leading tackler and quarterback of the defense, tore his left ACL during the fourth quarter of last weekend's 7-6 loss to Hampton and is out for the season.

Facing a Florida A&M team Saturday that has utilized a power running game, Taylor's absence will hurt. Through six games, Taylor had 40 tackles. Against Florida A&M last year, he had 14 - his best game during a season in which he finished fourth in the MEAC in tackles and earned second-team all-league honors.

"That takes a toll," fellow inside linebacker Corwin Hammond said. "He's a leader for the defense. With his play and what he did on the field, it's memorable. People want to compete with him, follow him. I definitely miss playing next to him."

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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Finally, Norfolk State Releases 2010 Football Schedule

NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk State University released its 2010 football schedule on Wednesday. Highlighting the non-conference slate are another date at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Rutgers, the continuation of the Spartans’ rivalry with Virginia State and a date at Savannah State to close the season.

The Spartans open the 2010 schedule by traveling to Piscataway, N.J., to face Rutgers University on Thursday, Sept. 2. The schools first met in 2007, with the 13th-ranked Scarlet Knights of the Big East prevailing 59-0. NSU went on to finish 8-3 that season, their best mark since moving to Division I in 1997. The Scarlet Knights finished 9-4 last year, winning their fourth straight bowl game with a 45-24 victory over Central Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity whenever you get to play an FBS team,” NSU head coach Pete Adrian said. “Rutgers has been an excellent program over the last several years and this year will be no exception. We felt like playing there in 2007 really helped serve as a catalyst to our 8-3 season, and it’s a great challenge to play them again.”

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NSU Spartans 2010 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
9/2/2010 Rutgers, Piscataway, NJ TBA
9/11/2010 *North Carolina A&T (Fish Bowl Classic) Norfolk, VA 4 p.m.
9/18/2010 Virginia State Norfolk, VA 6 p.m.
9/25/2010 *Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach,FL TBA
10/9/2010 *South Carolina State Orangeburg,S.C. TBA
10/16/2010 *Hampton (Battle of the Bay) Hampton,VA TBA
10/23/2010 *Florida A&M (Homecoming) Norfolk,VA 2 p.m.
10/30/2010 *Howard, Washington,D.C. TBA
11/6/2010 *Morgan State Norfolk,VA 1 p.m.
11/13/2010 *Delaware State Norfolk,VA 1 p.m.
11/20/2010 Savannah State Savannah,GA TBA

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Norfolk State opens 2010 football season at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The BIG EAST Conference and Rutgers University announced the 2010 football schedule Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights play seven home games next season and have four games already set to be televised on ESPN or ABC. Rutgers opens the season Thursday, September 2 vs. Norfolk State at Rutgers Stadium. The Scarlet Knights go on the road in week two of the season for their first visit to Florida International on Saturday, September 11.

Norfolk State was slammed 59-0 in their initial meeting with the Scarlet Knights in 2007. Hopefully, the 2010 game will be more than an easy "light scrimmage" for the State University of New Jersey this time around. The signing of this "money game" contract effectively takes Norfolk State University out of the running for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 7, 2010.

From our view, the likely candidate slips to the Morgan State Bears for the challenge. The MEAC's unnamed opponent will have to face the rebuilding Southern University Jaguars under first year Coach Stump Mitchell.

The NSU Spartans have not released their 2010 Football Schedule. But, we have been able to confirm the following dates for that schedule shown below. The MEAC home games will be Delaware State, Morgan State and North Carolina Central. The away conference games are at: Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Howard.

Norfolk State Spartans "Partial" 2010 Football Schedule
Sept 2, at Rutgers, Piscataway, N.J.
Sept 11, North Carolina A&T, Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA (Fish Bowl Classic)
Sept. 18, Virginia State, 6 p.m., Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA
Oct. 16 at Hampton , Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA (Battle of the Bay Classic)
Oct. 23, Florida A&M (homecoming), Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA

2010 Rutgers Football Schedule
Thursday, September 2 Norfolk State
Saturday, September 11 at Florida International
Saturday, September 25 North Carolina
Saturday, October 2 Tulane
Friday, October 8 Connecticut* (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 16 Army (New Meadowlands Stadium)
Saturday, October 23 at Pittsburgh*
Wednesday, November 3 at USF* (ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, November 13 Syracuse*
Saturday, November 20 at Cincinnati*
Friday, November 26 Louisville* (ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC)
Saturday, December 4 at West Virginia* (ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC)

*Denotes BIG EAST game

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Friday, August 1, 2008

NSU Tickets Available for Kentucky, William & Mary Road Football Games

Norfolk State University head football Coach Pete Adrian (Mark's Digital Photography)

By Matt Michalec, SID

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State University Department of Athletics has received a limited number of tickets to sell for the Spartans’ road football games at Kentucky (Sept. 6) and William & Mary (Sept. 20).

Kentucky Ticket Information
• Tickets are $35 each. A $3 processing fee will apply to all mail orders.
• The designated NSU sections are 113, 114, 115 and/or 116. If handicap seating is needed, please notify the NSU Ticket Center Representative when placing your order.
• Orders will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, tickets will be sold until the allotment has been depleted. Full payment must be remitted when the order is placed.
• Sales will begin immediately. The last day to purchase tickets will be Friday, Aug. 22.
• Tickets can be mailed or picked up at the NSU Ticket Office.
• Begin Mail Date: Monday, Aug. 4.
• Will Call Deadline: Monday, Sept. 1.

William & Mary Ticket Information
• The tickets are $25 for sideline seats and $19 for end zone seats. A $3 processing fee will apply to all mail orders.
• If handicap seating is needed, please notify the NSU Ticket Center Representative when placing your order.
• Orders will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, tickets will be sold until the allotment has been depleted. Full payment must be remitted when the order is placed.
• Sales will begin immediately. The last day to purchase tickets will be Friday, Sept. 5.
• Tickets can be mailed or picked up at the NSU Ticket Office.
• Begin Mail Date: Friday, Aug.8.
• Will Call Deadline: Wednesday, Sept. 17.

The NSU Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (757) 823-9009.

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Friday, April 11, 2008

Norfolk State Spartans have plenty of depth for a change

NORFOLK, VA - Spring football practice at Norfolk State has been an embarrassment - of riches, that is. Even with the freshmen still a few months from arriving on campus, the Spartans are bursting with depth, particularly at quarterback.

This spring, five Spartans are on the roster with the letters "QB" by their names. UConn transfer Dennis Brown is getting the most attention but also on the list are Oscar Smith graduate Dexter Merritt, a redshirt last year; Rakeem Kersey; Tallwood graduate Brian Jackson, also the starting punter; and Jones, a rising senior.

With Brown taking the majority of the snaps this spring, Adrian said the Spartans are more versatile offensively.

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Norfolk State's football recruit/Sherando’s Brisco is fastest in 100 meters

Photo: Running back Markeith Brisco, #29 (5-11/195) eluding Millbrook's Butch Kaczmarzewski (44), rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns in helping the Warriors clinch their second straight district title. Brisco has signed a NLI to play football for Norfolk State University Spartans.

STEPHENS CITY, VA — When Sherando High School track and field coach Tom Grim was asked last week about who the Warriors’ top newcomers were this season, he didn’t want Markeith Brisco’s name to be mentioned publicly because of his concern over a hamstring injury that Brisco suffered in practice.

The Sherando senior, competing in the same stadium in which he thrilled fans on a routine basis on Friday nights for the football team, recorded a time of 10.9 seconds to win the 100 meters, faster than any area athlete ran during the entire 2007 season. Though his time might have been aided by a breeze, even a strong wind in the face of the muscular Brisco likely would have been just a mere annoyance, much like his opponents were during football season.

#29 ALL-STATE RB Markeith Brisco, Sherando High School Warriors; 2007 Virginia State Championship Runner Up (13-1 season).


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Markeith Briscoe (5-11/195) was ranked #7 statistically by the Washington Post of the Top 20 Rushers in the Metro Washington, D.C. Region with 221 rushes, 1726 yards, 26 TDs (averaging 123 yards per game/7.8 yards per carry) in 2007/08 season.

His team finished 13-1, as Virginia Class AA State runner-up. Virginia's top division is AAA.

Sherando lineman Joey Christine (6-2/300) also signed with Norfolk State.

NSU coach Pete Adrian was quoted on NV daily.com of saying, "Markeith, I think, is going to be an outstanding college running back,"Adrian said. "He just finishes a run with such, what I call, a nasty attitude, a 'You're not going to tackle me."

"We saw the stadium, and I didn't know what to say," Briscoe said. "I tried to imagine what it would be like with all the fans in there. We're very excited, and we're ready to go down there and play some ball. "I'm just happy to see Juicy's (Christine) ugly mug for four more years," he was quoted as saying--laughing.

Christine was a steamroller for the Sherando offense, helping Markeith Briscoe rush for over 1,700 yards and QB Ross Metheny (signed with University of Virginia) pass for over 2,200 yards.

As a DT, Christine played dominant football with 70 tackles and 4.5 sack his senior season.

Coach Pete Adrian said both Briscoe and Christine will compete for playing time as freshmen. The Spartans also have freshman standout Takeem Hedgeman, who rushed for nearly 2,900 yards as a senior at Monticello (VA) High School coming with this star quality 2008/09 class.

With the incoming players to build upon their 8-3 record of 2007, Norfolk State appears to be major competitive trouble for the rest of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the fight for the 2008/09 championship and FCS playoff bid.

Just maybe, 2007 was not a fluke season after all for Pete Adrian's team.

-beepbeep

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Last season's success pays off for the Norfolk State Spartans

Photo: Norfolk State University head football coach Pete Adrian.

NORFOLK, VA -Three months after Norfolk State's best football season in 23 years, the Spartans continued to reap the benefits. NSU signed 19 recruits Wednesday, including nine who received All-State recognition. Coach Pete Adrian said he expects the 2008 Spartans to be the deepest and most athletic team in the 10 years NSU has been in Division I.

"The big thing when I went into living rooms this time was I didn't have to say, 'If we win,' " said Adrian, whose incoming class includes 17 players from Virginia, one from Washington, D.C., and one from Florida. Adrian said the incoming class will allow the Spartans to be particularly deep at special teams, in the secondary and at linebacker.

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Included among the signees are 19 high school players and two Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly I-A) transfers who are already enrolled at NSU.

Norfolk State University 2008 Football Signees

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School

1. Michael Alphonse* LB 6-0 230 Miami, Fla./Akron Univ./Norland HS
Spent three seasons at Division I FBS Akron…redshirted 2005 after suffering a knee injury…in high school, tallied 78 tackles en route to all-district and all-county honors as a senior ...made 82 stops as a junior…named All-Broward County...earned second-team all-county as a sophomore, tallying a career-best 90 tackles…has two years of eligibility remaining.

2. Markeith Brisco RB 5-11 195 Stephens City, Va./Sherando HS
First-team All-Northwestern District, All-Region II and second-team all-state Group AA as a senior…rushed 221 times for 1,726 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry…led Sherando to the state Division 4 title game…also all-district as a kick returner and intercepted four passes on defense…high school teammates with fellow NSU signee Joey Christine.

3. Dennis Brown* QB 6-3 203 Miami, Fla./Univ. of Connecticut/Central HS
Attended UConn for three years…started two games (Rutgers, West Virginia) as a freshman in 2005, going 28 of 54 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions…redshirted 2006…went 5-for-12 for 48 yards and one TD as the Huskies’ backup in 2007… in high school, Brown was third-team all-state Class 6A as a senior, when he passed for 2,001 yards and 18 touchdowns…has two years of eligibility left

4. Steven Bunce DL 6-3 270 Richmond, Va./Henrico HS
Honorable mention All-Capital District pick as a senior…three-year starter and team captain…also played three different positions on offense during his career (tight end, fullback, center).

5. Joey Christine OL 6-3 300 Stephens City, Va./Sherando HS
First team all-state selection by the Virginia High School Coaches Association (VHSCA) on the offensive line and second team at defensive line… also first-team all-state (OL) by The Associated Press and Virginiapreps.com… also a two-way first-team All-Northwestern District pick and first-team All-Met by The Washington Post…rated the No. 53 recruit in the state according to The Roanoke Times…did not allow a sack his last two seasons, and helped Sherando rush for more than 3,000 yards his senior season…70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks on defense as a senior.

6. Frank Clemmons LB 6-3 210 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
Amassed 68 tackles, 27 for loss, as a senior at Indian River…helped the Braves reach the Eastern Region Division 5 championship game…played for an IRHS defense that ranked in the top 10 in the area in fewest points allowed and total defense…teammates with fellow NSU signee Terrence Pugh.

7. Marcus Cooperwood DB 5-10 180 Hampton, Va./Bethel HS
First-team All-Peninsula District at defensive back and wide receiver…also first-team Daily Press All-Star and second-team All-State Group AAA on defense…intercepted 11 passes as a senior, returning five for touchdowns…also caught 21 passes for 510 yards and four scores on offense…helped Bethel to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Eastern Region Division 6 semifinals.

8. Marquis Cuffee DB 5-10 175 Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam HS Second-team All-Beach District…posted approximately 60 tackles to go with two interceptions as a senior…also played some quarterback and running back on offense, averaging 12 yards per carry.

9. Theo Duncan OL 6-4 265 Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry HS
Three-year starter along the offensive line…named to the All-Colonial District team as a junior and senior…also all-district, all-region and all-state in the shot put

10. P.J. Hayden WR 5-11 175 Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe HS
First-team All-Battlefield District and All-Region I at receiver, defensive back and kick returner as a senior…also a first-team All-State Group AA selection at kick returner by both the AP and Virginiapreps.com…second team all-state by the VHSCA at all three positions…had 2,302 yards receiving and 28 touchdowns in his three years on varsity…had 13 career interceptions and eight career return touchdowns…averaged better than 27 yards per kick return and 22 per punt return in his career.

11. Takeem Hedgeman RB 5-10 195 Charlottesville, Va./Monticello HS
Rushed for a Virginia High School League (VHSL) state record 51 touchdowns as a senior, leading Monticello to its first-ever state Group AA Division 3 title…ran for 2,891 yards in 14 games, the fourth-highest single-season mark in VHSL history…first-team All-Jefferson District, All-Region and All-State…Virginiapreps.com Group AA state player of the year…ran for a school-record 6,385 yards in his career, the 12th-most in state history.

12. Eric Hitch LB 6-1 230 Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial HS
Played fullback and linebacker for the Patriots…honorable mention All-Beach District at running back his senior season…rushed for 315 yards on 50 carries (6.3 average)…scored five touchdowns (four rushing) and blocked for 1,000-yard rusher Tony Gregory, a Virginia Tech signee

13. Kenneth Johnson TE 6-5 250 Montross, Va./Washington & Lee HS
First-team All-Northern Neck District and All-Region A at offensive tackle…honorable mention all-state Group A…also plays basketball for W&L…former high school teammate of NSU receiver Jermaine Weldon.

14. Devon Lesesne OL 6-4 300 Washington, D.C./Ballou HS
First-team All-District of Columbia Intercollegiate Athletic Association East (DCIAA) East on the offensive line…two-way starter…also posted three sacks as a defensive lineman

15. Kendrick McClary TE 6-4 245 Chester, Va./L.C. Bird HS
Earned first-team Group AAA all-state, Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro and All-Dominion District honors as a senior…recorded 32 pancake blocks…had 15 receptions for 328 yards and two touchdowns…helped Bird finish 10 in the regular season and win the district title.

16. Blake Matthews OL 6-4 285 Manassas, Va./Osbourn HS
Second-team All-Cedar Run District on the offensive line and honorable mention all-district on the defensive line…helped Osbourn to the Group AAA Division 6 state title as a junior and to an appearance in the championship game as a senior…gave up just three sacks as a senior…posted 68 total tackles (45 solos) with nine tackles for loss and five sacks on defense.

17. Trent Porter LB 6-3 210 Dendron, Va./Surry County HS
First-team all-district, All-Region A and Group A All-State as a senior…tallied 115 tackles, recovered five fumbles and intercepted seven passes, three of which he returned for touchdowns.

18. Terrence Pugh LB 6-4 205 Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS
First-team All-Southeastern District and All-Tidewater by the Virginian-Pilot on defense…also second-team all-district at offensive tackle…had 34 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and six forced fumbles…led Indian River to the Eastern Region Division 5 championship game.

19. Andre Purnell OL 6-5 290 Hampton, Va./Phoebus HS
Two-year starter for prep powerhouse Phoebus at right tackle…played on the Group AAA Division 5 state championship team as a junior…as a senior, blocked for the Peninsula District’s best offense, which averaged over 350 yards and nearly 40 points per game

20. Ricardo Volcin SS 6-2 200 Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS
First-team All-Dade County and second-team all-state by the Florida Sports Writers Association…recorded 73 tackles, 11 sacks and one interception from his linebacker position…also caught 16 passes for 307 yards and four TDs on offense

21. Tory Williams DL 6-4 250 Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside HS
A two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines at Bayside…finished his senior season with 34 total tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles…graded out at 89percent on his assignments on the offensive line

* - Denotes 4-year transfer currently enrolled at NSU for spring 2008 semester.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Linebacker transfers to Norfolk State from Akron

Photo: Michael Alphonse, Linebacker, 6-0/230, Sophomore from Miami Norland HS, Miramar, Florida runs a 4.6 40 yard dash.

With signing day just a few weeks away, Norfolk State has added a second transfer to its football roster. Inside linebacker Mike Alphonse, who spent three years at the University of Akron, including a redshirt season, already is enrolled at NSU. Alphonse will have two years of eligibility remaining.

The Spartans recently added Dennis Thomas, a backup quarterback from the University of Connecticut. Thomas also is enrolled at NSU for the spring semester.

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For those non-believers out there in the blogsphere, it does make a difference that Norfolk State has College of William and Mary, and University of Kentucky on its schedule for 2008.

NSU track record proves the fact that quality players do not transfer to programs just for the opportunity to play MEAC or SWAC competition. Norfolk State, South Carolina State, Delaware State, Delaware, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State understands what is required to build a highly competitive program--play FBC competition and recruit D-1 talent.

It's not difficult to understand that great players want to play the best at the upper division level.

-beepbeep

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Norfolk State University 33, FAMU Rattlers 27

Photo: Norfolk State University Head Football Coach Pete Adrian has made winners of the Spartans in his third season, fulfilling his promise to the NSU administration.

by beepbeep

The Florida A&M University Rattlers learned first hand Thursday evening that the Spartans of Norfolk State University are for real and will be a major player in determining the MEAC championship for this season. What's more amazing is this team has knocked off Hampton, South Carolina State, Bethune Cookman and FAMU in the same season. These teams may have better overall talent that NSU, but the Spartans execute their plays with superior passion and precision.

With the upset of FBS #2 ranked South Florida by Rutgers, who blanked NSU 59-0 last month, the Spartans have proven that they are a very good football team with a powerful running game. Daryl Jones, soon to become MEAC player of the week, rumbled for 256 yards on 38 carries with one 9 yard touchdown run.

The Rattlers could not tackle Jones and when they did, he always pushed the pile of bodies forward for an extra 2-3 yards. I have not witness this type of bull running since Earl Campbell played at Texas. Jones is around 5-10/250 pounds but can turn the corner on you quickly and get into the secondary which he did repeatedly to FAMU.

Never mind that game conditions included a major downpour of rain, standing water on spot areas of the football field and 12,287 faithful Rattlers' fans in attendance. Norfolk State came to play and win, showed determination on overcoming every miscue. Quarterback Casey Hansen had a sub par game completing 8 of 21 passes for 133 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT, making for an interesting last 2 minutes of the game.

FAMU had a chance to overtake the Spartans when NSU could not run out the clock on their next to last possession. An interception of a FAMU pass in the final minute by NSU defense preserved the victory for the Spartans. This victory ends the 9-0 win streak that FAMU had over Norfolk State.

The only teams that are now standing in the way of NSU for its first MEAC championship is Morgan State and Delaware State. Howard and Winston Salem State may not be able to match the strength of the NSU defense, but you cannot count out any MEAC team with the parity of the league, today.

Photo: RB Daryl Jones is a surprise leader in MEAC rushing yards (#2, 818 yards/7 games) as he runs away from Hampton University's top NFL draft prospect, All-American/All-MEAC DE Kendall Langford in last week's game.

Morgan has a better running back in conference rushing leader Chad Simpson who leads the MEAC with 994 rushing yards, 10 TDs and a 4.9 yard average. Daryl Jones is second in the conference at 818 rushing yards, 10 TDs, and a 4.7 yard average.

Norfolk State will get the opportunity to face Morgan State's Chad Simpson on November 3rd and Delaware State's Kareen Jones on November 10th. Both are stronger than FAMU and NSU will have to play better on the road in order to win the MEAC title.

Norfolk State's coach Pete Adrian deserves MEAC Coach of the Year honors for moving his perennial cellar dwellers from the bottom of the conference to the very top in less than three years. Daryl Jones is a serious contender for MEAC offensive player of the year honors, as I have not watched a more determined runner in football this season.

Jones rushed for 256 or the total 272 yards achieved by Norfolk State on the ground and helped the Spartans control the clock for about 10 minutes more in time of possession. Without out his hard running and production, this game would have been won by FAMU.

For a team that was fore casted to finish near the bottom of the MEAC standings, Norfolk State is the surprise team of the season in the MEAC that will have their first winning season in Division I, since their move up ten years ago.

The Spartans are now 6-1 overall with a 5-0 record in the MEAC. Way to go Norfolk State!
Behold, the Green and Gold.

Friday, September 21, 2007

NSU Spartans Host Bethune-Cookman in MEAC Opener


NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University hosts Bethune-Cookman University at 4 p.m. Saturday at Dick Price Stadium in the 60th annual Fish Bowl Classic. The game represents the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for the Spartans.

NSU (1-1) returns home after suffering a 59-0 defeat at the hands of Rutgers (Division I FBS No. 11 AP/Coaches Poll) last Saturday. The Wildcats are 2-1 overall, 0-1 in the MEAC after a 45-13 win at Savannah State last week. B-CU also boasts a 31-17 non-conference win over Jacksonville on Sept. 1, but lost 24-13 to South Carolina State in its MEAC opener on Sept. 8.

The Porte Towne Magic! Singers will perform the National Anthem as part of the "Portsmouth Shows its Spartan Spirit" promotion. The Porte Towne Magic! Singers are the signature music performing ensemble for Portsmouth Public Schools. They are composed of three different groups: singers, jazz band and orchestra.

The game can be heard live in the Hampton Roads area on WNSB Hot 91.1 FM.

Bethune-Cookman is 2-1 overall after a 45-13 win at Savannah State on Saturday.
Quarterback Jimmie Russell had his second three-touchdown performance of the season,
scoring three times on the ground. Russell accounted for 177 total yards (65 rushing, 112 passing). B-CU scored on its first three possessions and led 24-0 at halftime.

FOLLOWING THE GAME
Radio: Ross Gordon (play-by-play) and Terence Green (color) will have the call for
NSU on Hot 91, WNSB 91.1 FM.

Internet: Log onto www.nsu.edu/athletics and click the ‘Listen Live’ link to hear the
audio stream of the game.

Live Stats: Live play-by-play statistics are available on Bethune-Cookman’s athletic
web site, www.bccathletics.com.

THE SERIES
• Bethune-Cookman holds a 12-5 edge in the all-time series with Norfolk State.
• The Wildcats have won the last nine meetings between the teams, but the last two games have been decided by a total of three points. B-CU claimed a 22-21 win last year in Daytona Beach, and squeezed past the Spartans 63-61 in four overtimes in the last meeting at Dick Price Stadium in 2005.
• NSU’s last win over B-CU was a 21-7 decision in 1997, NSU’s fi rst year in Division I. Thatwas NSU head coach Pete Adrian’s fi rst year as defensive coordinator at B-CU.

Friday, September 14, 2007

A winning proposition for Norfolk State

BY ALEX DELANIAN, Star-Ledger Staff

Division 1-AA teams reap benefits when they take on the big boys

It's a win-win situation.

And who knows, you might even win.

Division 1-AA football teams get a pretty good deal when they add a Division 1-A team to their schedule. They receive attention, a chance to compete against the best and a significant payout from the team in question in return for a likely loss.

Norfolk State, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will receive $265,000 from Rutgers when they play tomorrow, divided between cash, hotel rooms, tickets and other benefits like courtesy tents for alumni.

Now, Appalachian State showed that the rewards can extend much further.

With their win over Michigan two weeks ago, the Mountaineers of Boone, N.C., made two important announcements. The teams in the next tier, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision, are not only less fearsome of the bullies above them -- they're getting better, too.

If Michigan's unexpected loss this year was to Northwestern or Eastern Michigan, it would've been embarrassing. Losing to Appalachian State, however, is historic, and all it cost the Wolverines was a hefty $400,000 to become the butt of every college football joke for the next year. The payouts given to these schools in return for scheduling a game may be in jeopardy if the big names in the former Division 1-A (now the Football Bowl Subdivision) are less inclined to put themselves at risk.

Charlie Cobb, Appalachian State's athletic director, believes an already difficult process will only become more frustrating. He remembers trying to schedule another 1-A team which was offering $300,000 to a less prestigious 1-AA school. He called about five times, offering to play the game for $100,000, but the 1-A team wasn't interested in playing the more dangerous Mountaineers, the two-time defending 1-AA champion.

Norfolk State is adopting a similar attitude. Athletic director Marty Miller said the payout is not an inconsequential amount of money and has a vast impact on his program. The real value, however, comes from pitting his team against a program like Rutgers to see where they stand.

"This is a great opportunity to expose our football team to that level of competition," Miller said. "... (The money) does help our program, but we're going in with the mind-set that we're not going in to lose a ballgame. We're trying to be as competitive as possible."

Rutgers plans to continue scheduling 1-AA opponents even with the payouts rising year by year. Deputy director of athletics Kevin MacConnell said he will continue to make calls for future games but doesn't sense any backtracking from other top programs.

"I wouldn't know if schools are apprehensive after Appalachian State," MacConnell said.

There are certainly no reservations on the other side of the fence -- the experience of playing a 1-A team doesn't have a price tag. Cobb was excited to give his players a chance to play at Michigan's famed Big House in front of 109,000 fans, to give the school band an exciting venue at which to perform and to build the national exposure of his school.

And in the "1-in-100" chance that you win the game, he now knows that the benefits are immeasurable.

"Our university cannot buy the exposure that we've received in the last 10 days," Cobb said.

For a school with a $9.5 million budget for 20 sports, the $400,000 payout has serious impact. It can pay a number of salaries, improve facilities and pave the way for better things in the future. Cobb has received estimates that say by also winning the game and receiving unprecedented media coverage, the school "earned" anywhere from $10 to 20 million.

The top 1-AA schools have become more threatening because scheduling top teams shows recruits that they'll have the chance to play some prominent games, and you can't win without players. Pittsburgh is one of six Big East teams to play a 1-AA school this year. Last week it hosted Grambling State, whose athletic director, Troy Mathieu, said the team is trying to broaden its approach to tougher opponents.

"From our end, it helps with recruiting," Mathieu said. "They (the players) all have visions in high school of playing 1-A football. As the process unwinds, everyone can't go to a 1-A school ... you may have a better chance of getting a quality college football experience at a school our size. One of the tools that we use in recruiting is if you have a desire to play against the big boys, you will get the chance."

MacConnell said the payouts are often in the same range, anywhere from $200,000 to $300,000, depending on travel costs and familiarity between the schools.

Miller has scheduled a rising SEC school, Kentucky, for next season. Cobb's list of recent and future opponents reads like the annual preseason top 25: Michigan, Wake Forest, Auburn, LSU, NC State, Florida, Georgia and Virginia Tech.

The prospect of falling to a 1-AA school may be more likely, but that doesn't make it any easier to stomach. On a conference call Monday, Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian joked that after looking at the Scarlet Knights' game tape, he'd "rather play Michigan."

And considering the money saved and potential ridicule avoided, maybe Rutgers would, too.
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The game will be televised nationally on a pay-per-view basis on ESPN GamePlan and in the New York/New Jersey area on the MSG Network. Fans can hear the game in the Hampton Roads area on WNSB Hot 91.1 FM.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

NSU Football Coach receives 2-Year contract extension

Photo: NSU Head Football Coach Pete Adrian

NSU Sports Information

NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State University athletics director Marty L. Miller announced Thursday that he has signed head football coach Pete Adrian to a two-year contract extension that will keep him as the Spartans’ coach through the 2010 season.

Adrian, who is in his third year leading the Spartans, has compiled a 9-14 record through the Sept. 1 season-opening 33-7 win over Virginia State. The win was the largest for the Spartans over Virginia State since NSU moved to Division I in 1997, and it came before a crowd of 26,970 fans, the second-largest in Dick Price Stadium history.

“We’ve been pleased with the progress that has been made in our football program, both athletically and academically,” Miller said. “The football program is moving in the right direction. We are happy with the improvement in attendance and with the caliber of student-athlete that coach Adrian has recruited.”

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Rutgers taking Norfolk State very seriously

Photo: NSU celebrating win over VSU.

Scarlet Knights remember loss to I-AA New Hampshire

By KEITH SARGEANT, Courier News

PISCATAWAY -- If Greg Schiano is looking to warn his players not to letdown against Norfolk State this week, he won't use Appalachian State as proof that teams from the former Division I-AA ranks can upset major-league competition.

There's no need. The Rutgers University football coach has his own experience to draw back on, and it's right there in the memory banks of his veteran players as well.

"What was New Hampshire, three years ago?'' defensive tackle Eric Foster asked, not knowing exactly when the 35-24 setback to New Hampshire happened but remembering the details nonetheless.

"It's happened here before,'' the fifth-year senior added. "I was here for that. It was a tough loss. It didn't feel good at all, so I can imagine how those guys at Michigan feel.''

It's a feeling that Foster certainly doesn't want to experience again. That's why Rutgers' captain isn't shying away from reminding teammates of the New Hampshire defeat, even though it happened in the days when Rutgers wasn't far from Division I-AA caliber.

It's different now, of course, and Mike Teel believes one reason why is because the team's mind-set has changed.

"The biggest thing that's changed in this program is how we're competing against ourselves,'' Rutgers' quarterback said. "It doesn't matter if it's Norfolk State, if it's Louisville or if it's Maryland. We're playing our football team and we're trying to be the best that we can be.''

In Foster's mind, the Scarlet Knights are facing a Top 25 opponent this Saturday, one that hasn't lived up to its No.‚13 ranking despite decisively winning the past two weeks.

"It's Rutgers vs. Rutgers,'' he said. "We didn't play Buffalo, we didn't play Navy. We competed against ourselves. The ball is in our hands. We control our own fate. And we're not going to let overconfidence get in the way of Norfolk State because they're a I-AA team. We're competing against ourselves and we evaluate ourselves based on how we compete.''

Mistakes were evident in the form of a Big East-high 20 penalties through two games, several missed defensive assignments and a couple dropped passes for touchdowns, Schiano said.

"We haven't played to the level that we expect of ourselves,'' he offered. "So that's the challenge, but I don't think it's because we're playing a Division I-AA opponent. I think if we play our best, we can have the chance to beat any team in the country.

"The problem,'' he added, "is we haven't played our best, yet. Our task at hand is to play the best that we can be and see where that puts us.''

While he acknowleged a game plan exists for Norfolk State, one that includes tendencies of what the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe does well and what Rutgers will try to exploit, linebacker Brandon Renkart said it's how the Scarlet Knights compete that will determine their Homecoming success.

"It really doesn't matter what league a team is from because any team on any given day can win,'' Renkart said. "I mean, on paper everyone says, 'Yeah, they should blow them out,' but if you have an off day, anything can happen. We're really in competition with ourselves.''