NSU report: Defense too eager, not too slow, coach says

After the loss Saturday to Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian said the Spartans looked slow. After watching film, he thinks he knows why. Rather than coming out flat, Adrian said NSU actually was overeager. The Spartans lacked discipline.

"We weren't any slower than they were," Adrian said. "It wasn't about speed. A couple times, from a linebacker standpoint, they thought it was going left, took two steps that way and the quarterback kept it and went the other way. If you're two steps behind, you look two steps too slow."

Adrian said the coaches were surprised the struggles came in the fourth game rather than earlier.

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NSU Spartans romp Virginia State Trojans

Norfolk, VA - Senior running back DeAngelo Branche (Norfolk, Va.) rushed for 167 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Norfolk State to its most points in five years in a 51-28 rout of Virginia State on Saturday night in the Spartan-Trojan Classic at Dick Price Stadium.

Quarterback Chris Walley (Tallahassee, Fla.) completed 17-of-22 passes for 237 yards and two scores for the Spartans (2-1), who piled up 505 yards of total offense en route to their fifth straight win over the Trojans (2-1). The five-game winning streak is NSU’s longest in the series, which dates to 1963. The 51 points recorded by NSU is the team’s most since ...

Branche puts legs to work as Spartans trample Trojans

NORFOLK, VA - The only labor came from the scoreboard operator. Behind running back DeAngelo Branche's career-high four touchdowns and quarterback Chris Walley's best effort yet, Norfolk State's offense barely broke a sweat. The Spartans were efficient throughout a 51-28 trouncing of Virginia State on Saturday, scoring on two of their first three offensive plays.

"I kept saying in the first quarter that we could do whatever we wanted to, run or pass," Norfolk State wide receiver Victor Hairston said.

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Norfolk State Spartans Football 2010 preview

NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State ended last season on a high note. They finished 3rd in the MEAC, and hope to do even better this season.

MEAC’s schools have a rich tradition with DeMatha Catholic High School

DeMatha Catholic High School (Hyattsville, Maryland) will have two of its top runners complete in the MEAC this winter.

William Kellogg, ranked number 3 in the United States at 500 meters during the 2010 high school indoor season will carry his talents to Hampton University.

Robert Corbitt III, a New Balance National 4x4 Outdoor All-American will be running for North Carolina Central University. Corbitt shown below in the video running the third exchange for DeMatha -- will follow in his father’s footsteps -- Robert Corbitt, Jr., a 1985 graduate of NCCU.

Corbitt III also will be feeling the heat from older sister Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Sports Information Director/Media Relations at Alabama A&M University. Jamilah was an outstanding scholar and played scholarship basketball at Vermont, and Central Connecticut State University and knows a few things about collegiate track and field. She covers both the men's and women's track and field programs for the Bulldogs, among other responsibilities.

The Corbitts' are native Washingtonians and strong supporters of NCCU Eagles.

DeMatha participated in the New Balance Nationals 2010 at North Carolina A&T State University (June 17-19, 2010) in Greensboro, N.C., and was in a 18th-way tie for 38th place in the Boy's competition, out of more than a 150+ competing teams.

The Stags are coached by Norfolk State University Spartans 1982 graduate, Anthony Bryant. Coach Bryant will be entering his 18th season as DeMatha's Head Track & Field coach. DeMatha will be loaded again next season with the return of Christopher Walker (48.17/ 400m), Thomas Gaither (1:53.54/800m) and Michael Williams (38.55/300m hurdles).

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack: 4x400 Relay (3:15.54 / Gaither, Williams, Corbitt, Walker).

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack: Section 2 – Thomas Gaither (1:53.54)

Norfolk State and Hampton University win MEAC All-Sports Awards

NSU Spartans Dwight Fluker-Berry avoids North Carolina A&T State University tacklers.

NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk State University has won its sixth straight Talmadge Layman Hill Award, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's all-sports trophy, the league announced. This marks the first time a MEAC men's program has won six straight all-sports awards since South Carolina State won 11 in a row from 1974-84. The Spartans tallied 70 points to win their seventh Talmadge Layman Hill Award overall, 15 points ahead of runner-up Delaware State. The Spartans first won the award in 2001.

Hampton University (74.5 points) won its ninth straight Mary McLeod Bethune Women's All-Sports Award, with NSU (68 points) finishing a close third. The Lady Pirate programs totaled 74.5 points, besting North Carolina A&T, which finished second with 68.5. Hampton won conference titles in women's basketball and outdoor track and field and finished runner-up in indoor track and field and women's tennis.

“Winning the Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s All-Sports Trophy again is symbolic of Hampton University’s commitment to the welfare of our student-athletes by providing expert coaching, superb training and superior game and practice facilities,” said HU athletic director Lonza Hardy in a release.

5-10 junior forward Quanneisha Perry, from Decatur, Georgia Tower High School continues to make major contributions to the Lady Pirates basketball program.

Each winning school also receives $20,000, meaning NSU has totaled prize winnings of $145,000 over the past six years. Points are awarded in a descending order beginning with 12 points for championships or first-place finishes. Second-place teams get 10 points, third-place teams nine, and so on. Tied teams split the total points.

Highlighting the year for the Spartan men were three more running titles, one each in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. NSU became the first men's program to sweep the indoor and outdoor MEAC track championships in five consecutive years. The baseball and football teams placed third in the regular-season MEAC standings, and the men's basketball team finished fourth.

The women's teams were led by first-place finishes by the cross country and indoor track teams, and a second-place finish at the outdoor track and field championship. The Spartan bowling team also finished second in the regular-season Southern Division conference standings.

CFL Calgary adds pair of MEAC stars

Former Norfolk State University quarterback Dennis Brown, #10 from Miami Central High School (Florida) has a legitimate shot with the Canadian Football League Calgary Stampeders.

Two more quarterbacks and one more defensive back have been added to the Calgary Stampeders' training camp roster. The Stamps announced Wednesday that quarterbacks Michael Desormeaux and Dennis Brown, as well as DB Jason Horton, have signed contracts with the team and will be at training camp, which kicks off with rookie camp a week from today.

Brown, meanwhile, completed his college eligibility at Norfolk State University last fall, passing for 2,228 yards while throwing for 18 touchdowns; he also set a school record with 571 yards in rushing and five touchdowns.

Horton will be trying to resurrect a career that started promisingly. After a brief stint with the Toronto Argos in 2003, the 30-year-old North Carolina A&T State University product played two seasons with the Green Bay Packers in 2004 and 2005, and has since spent time on practice rosters or injured reserve with Houston, Kansas City and Oakland without playing another game.

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2010 UDFA Profile: Terrell Whitehead, S, Norfolk State

Norfolk State's free safety Terrell Whitehead #9 is the Spartans first-ever three-time Division I FCS All-American. How this 6-1/196 gem of a defensive player was overlooked and not drafted in 255 picks is a complete mystery to MEAC fans. (photo by Mark Sutton)

We are currently in the midst of the 2010 mini-camp for the Jaguars and unfortunately I am unable to attend. So instead I'll defer to the judgement of those that were able to attend, namely BCC's own Alfie Crow. In his last post, reviewing day 1 of mini-camp, Alfie singled out Norfolk State safety Terrell Whitehead as one of the undrafted free agents that has a chance to make the final roster:

A free agent rookie to keep an eye on is Norfolk State safety Terell Whitehead. He intercepted a Luke McCown pass during what was supposed to be one-on-one drills. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker told him to jump the route if he could on the play, which Whitehead did, and was abruptly met with a "Hey man! Not fair!" by the intercepted quarterback.

***
Terrell Whitehead was the safety to backup Jaguars CB Don Carey at Norfolk State for three years and was a very successful one at that. Whitehead was injured for the first two games of his freshman season, found the field as a reserve for the next five games and started his last four games. From then on, Whitehead was nothing short of a superstar for Norfolk State. In both his sophomore and junior seasons he was named to the 1st team All-MEAC and the 3rd team FCS All-American teams. In his senior season, Whitehead earned a spot on the 1st team All-MEAC and the 1st team FCS All-American teams. He remains the only player in NSU history to earn spots on the All-MEAC and the FCS All-American teams in three years.

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NSU Spartans' defense focuses on safety issues this spring‎

NORFOLK, VA - Backing up Terrell Whitehead wasn’t the most demanding job a Norfolk State football player could’ve had last season. The All-American free safety, who led the team in interceptions and passes broken up and was second in tackles, rarely came off the field. That left few opportunities for the No. 2 man , redshirt sophomore DeVonte Reynolds. “I’d get a couple of reps per game,” he said. “Mostly, I played special teams.”

NSU head football coach Pete Adrian said Dwight Fluker-Berry, 6-2, 200-pound senior, is one of the team’s most versatile players. “He’s not a bad cover guy, and he’s a big physical guy who can come up and make a tackle.”

Reynolds played them well, becoming one of the Spartans’ top kick-coverage guys. Now, he’s in the mix to replace Whitehead, a task that is considerably more challenging than being his understudy. “To replace Terrell, that’s tough,” he said. “He played all over the field and had great instincts. Me, I’m still learning.” The learning curve has been steep for both Reynolds and Dwight Fluker-Berry, who are vying for the starting free safety job. Reynolds has two years in the system under his belt. Fluker-Berry is returning to safety after playing receiver last year.

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Norfolk State goes for the beef; 16 players signed

Norfolk State signs 16, expects more

NORFOLK, Va. -- Norfolk State football coach Pete Adrian announced Wednesday the signing of 16 players to national letters of intent to play for the Spartans beginning next fall. The list released Wednesday consists of 14 high school signees and two junior-college recruits. The Spartans bulked up with the signing of eight linemen, five who project as offensive linemen and three as defensive linemen. NSU also signed three wide receivers, three defensive backs, one linebacker and one junior college quarterback.

"We're extremely excited about this class," Adrian said. "Especially being able to bring in eight linemen…it's not easy to get that many in one class, especially with the size and talent level of this group. That lays a good foundation for the program's future. We also signed some very athletic skill people and we got some much-needed experience at the quarterback and receiver positions with the junior college recruits." Following is a player-by-player breakdown of the class, with statistics, honors and Adrian's quotes on each. Adrian also said that he anticipates a couple of additional signees in the coming days.

Adrian Announces 16-Member Football Signing Class


















1. Tremondae Branch, DL, 6-1, 290, Flint, Mich./Carman Ainsworth HS. Notes: A first-team All-Big 9 selection…also selected to the all-state Division 2 team, the second-largest in Michigan. Adrian says: “Branche is a real physical player with good quickness off the ball. We’ll look at him as a nose guard, but he is also capable of playing tackle for us.”

2. Dionte Edwards, WR/KR, 5-8, 170, Norfolk, Va./Booker T. Washington HS. Notes: First-team All-Eastern District at receiver and second team as a utility player…tallied 1,400 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns in seven games before suffering an injury…scored five TDs in one game. Adrian says: “Dionte has good speed and quickness not only as a receiver, but we’ll also give him the chance early to earn a spot in our return game.”

3. Montel Gamble, WR, 6-2, 190, Tarpon Springs, Fla./West Hills (Ca.) CC. Notes: First-team All-Northern California Football Association pick...had 26 receptions for 412 yards and three touchdowns…first-team All-Suncoast and honorable mention all-state class 4A pick as a senior at Tarpon Springs HS. Adrian says: “Gamble is a tall receiver who catches the ball across the middle. He has great hands, deceptive speed, and really attacks the football.”

4. Matthew Grant, DL, 6-4, 250, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson HS. Notes: Played defensive end and tackle for Boyd Anderson…also saw some time on offense at tight end…helped Boyd Anderson reach the state Class 5A regional semifinals. Adrian says: “Grant is a very quick defensive tackle who has only played ball for a couple of years. He has a great first step and fits into our scheme well.”

5. Darrin Marrow, DB, 6-1, 190, Virginia Beach, Va./Cox HS. Notes: Recorded 30 tackles, six pass deflections, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as a senior…started three games at free safety and eight at corner…had four interceptions as a junior, when he helped Cox reach the playoffs for the first time in its 48-year history…also helped the Falcons make the playoffs his senior year…100-meter runner on the track team. Adrian says: “Darrin is a great high school athlete. We’re looking at him as a safety, but he can also play corner and possibly even receiver.”

6. Justin Myler, OL, 6-5, 270, Woodbridge, Va./Freedom HS. Notes: A two-way starter on the lines for Freedom HS…also a standout basketball player. Adrian says: “We think Justin will be a very good offensive tackle for us. He’s very athletic with good feet and long arms.”

7. Devonte Norman, LB, 6-0, 215, Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown HS. Notes: First-team All-Beach District and second-team All-Tidewater and All-Eastern Region…tallied 110 tackles and 18 sacks as a senior. Adrian says: “Devonte is in the same mold as (current All-MEAC Spartan) Anthony Taylor. He’s a very smart player, does a great job off the edge in the blitz game, and is very tough with a great motor.”

8. Charlie Ricks, WR, 5-11, 170, Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith HS. Notes: Led the Tidewater area with 59 catches for 996 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior…intercepted eight passes as a defensive back…first-team All-Southeastern District and All-Eastern Region at both positions…first-team All-Tidewater defensive back…named to the VHSCA all-state second team on offense…helped Oscar Smith finish 13-1, winning the district and Eastern Region Division 6 championships before losing in the state final. Adrian says: “Charlie is one of those guys who could score any time he touches the ball. He could get into our rotation as a freshman because he is a potential game-breaker.”

9. Edwin “E.J.” Rogers, OL, 6-4, 320, Alexandria, Va./Edison HS. Notes: First-team All-National District and honorable mention All-Northern Region offensive lineman…helped team to a 7-4 mark and a berth in the Northern Region playoffs…blocked for unit which ran for over 2,000 yards and averaged 330 total yards per game…all-academic team member...named team’s top offensive lineman. Adrian says: “E.J. is a big, physical guard who is light on his feet as a big man. We’re expecting big things from him.”

10. Ali Scott, OL, 6-4, 330, Portsmouth, Va./Churchland HS. Notes: First-team All-Eastern District on both sides of the line…second-team All-Tidewater as an offensive lineman…named team MVP…also plays basketball for Churchland. Adrian says: “Much like Rogers, Scott is an athletic player who should be a fine college guard. He comes off the ball like a truck.”

11. Dionte Sullivan, DB, 5-10, 170, O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon HS. Notes: A first-team all-conference and all-area selection as a junior and senior… tallied 55 tackles, five interceptions and 16 pass deflections as a senior…also played receiver, catching 28 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns...also a standout track athlete for O'Fallon. Adrian says: “Sullivan is a great man-to-man cover guy. Though he isn’t really big, he is a physical football player and runs a 4.4 in the 40.”

12. Nick Taylor, DB, 5-9, 175, Richmond, Va./Varina HS. Notes: A first-team all-district and second-team All-Metro and 2nd team All-Central Region pick as a senior…started 44 games in his career for Varina, one of the top teams in the state…four-time all-district and academic all-district selection. Adrian says: “Nick is a great athlete, a heck of a defensive back who hits well. He started every game since his freshman season at Varina, which says a lot.”

13. Chris Walley, QB, 6-2, 190, Tallahassee, Fla./Joliet JC (Ill.) Notes: Passed for a school-record 2,656 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore at Joliet…named to the all-conference and all-region second teams…was a first-team All-State 1A-1B player as a senior at North Florida Christian School in Tallahassee…enrolled at NSU in January of 2010 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Adrian says: “Chris is a veteran quarterback who makes good decisions on film. He is a drop-back passer but can also run the football.”

14. Nico Washington, DL, 6-4, 300, Waldorf, Md./North Point HS. Notes: First team All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference at both OL and DL…first-team all-county and second-team All-Met by the Washington Post at OL…honorable mention Big School All-State team selection at DL. Adrian says: “Nico can really run for a player his size. He has a lot of ability and could get into our rotation as a freshman.”

15. DeAnte Williams, OL, 6-3, 250, Hyattsville, Md./St. Johns College HS. Notes: Honorable mention all-conference selection…two-way starter on both sides of the line.
Adrian says: “We’ll look at DeAnte as a center because he has good movement for that position. He needs to get a little bigger, but he should develop into a very good player.”

16. Julius Wormley, OL, 6-5, 285, Yorktown, Va./Tabb HS. Notes: A first-team All-Bay Rivers and second-team All-Region I selection on defense...had 39 tackles and six tackles for loss despite missing a game due to injury…started on both sides of the line for the Tigers…helped pave the way for Tabb to average 370 total yards of offense per game. Adrian says: “Julius can play offense or defense, but he is just what we’re looking for in an offensive tackle. He moves very well and is an extremely tough kid.”


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Norfolk State wide receiver Chris Bell enters NFL draft

Norfolk State wide receiver Chris Bell, who left Penn State after a host of legal and academic issues, announced Thursday he is leaving school a year early to enter April's NFL draft.



The Virginian-Pilot reported the NFL Advisory Board informed Bell he could be selected anywhere from the fifth to seventh rounds, and Bell is working out in New Jersey preparing for the draft. Bell (6-3, 210) caught 51 passes for 958 yards and 13 touchdowns and was Norfolk State's best receiver. The rest of the team combined for just five touchdown passes and 1,279 yards. "Once the NFL said he was draftable, it was pretty clear he was gone," Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian said. "I wish him the best."

NSU won't have to move Nov. 14 Delaware State game

Norfolk State picked up its first victory of the 2009 football season Wednesday. The Spartans learned they won't have to give up their valued midseason open date to re-schedule a game at Delaware State. The Hornets had asked NSU to move its Nov. 14 game to Oct. 3 so they could play a $500,000 "guarantee game" at Michigan. That would have left the Spartans playing 10 straight games without a break.

















North Carolina A&T State University athletic director Wheeler Brown holds the trump card on whether the DSU Hornets will play at Michigan for a $500,000 pay day in 2009.

Norfolk State balked at the request. With the schools at an impasse, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference commissioner Dennis Thomas had the final say. NSU President Carolyn W. Meyers was told Wednesday that the Spartans' schedule can remain as is, athletic director Marty Miller said. The conflict arose when the Hornets signed to play Michigan on Oct. 17, the same day Delaware State was scheduled to play North Carolina A&T. The Aggies agreed to move the game to Nov. 14, which is when Delaware State was scheduled to play NSU.

The Spartans weren't consulted and refused to budge from the Nov. 14 date. At a news conference last week, school officials said the MEAC schedule is set more than a year in advance, and Delaware State needed to abide by it.

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Steeler report: Norfolk State corner to pay South Side a visit

PITTSBURGH, PA - The parade of potential draft picks continues this week at the South Side facility, as at least four players have been scheduled for pre-draft visits. On April 8, Norfolk State CB Don Carey will be in town. Carey has already worked out for the Miami Dolphins who are said to be extremely interested in him and will have him back the day before he is in Pittsburgh on April 7. He has also worked out for the Seattle Seahawks and they plan on having him back in for another interview next week.

The 5-foot-11, 186 pound corner had an informal interview with the Steelers at the NFL Scouting Combine. Carey plays very physical at the line and in coverage and he gets back into the play even if a receiver makes a nice head fake to get an advantage. He has also done a good job with run support. On March 20th during the Norfolk State Pro Day, he recorded a 32 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump, 4.20 short shuttle and a 6.87 three-cone drill time.

Don Carey miss arm tackle on Kentucky's Kyrus Lanxter. The four- year starter had the highest GPA on the Spartans team.

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NSU wants a day off; foe wants to cash in

NSU president Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers says DSU offered to pay NSU between $25,000 and $30,000 for changing their schedule.

Delaware State wants a record pay day. Norfolk State just wants a day off. The conference rivals, accustomed to knocking heads on the football field, are beginning early this year, in a tussle over scheduling. The Hornets, hoping to bank $500,000 by playing at Michigan, have asked Norfolk State to move a game at Delaware State from Nov. 14 to Oct. 3. The problem, that's the Spartans' open date. Move the game, and NSU would play 10 straight weeks without a break - after four weeks of preseason camp.

That's unacceptable, said school officials, who went on the public relations offensive by holding a news conference Friday. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule has been set for more than a year. Delaware State knew that when Michigan called, offering what is believed to be the most lucrative "guarantee" game in MEAC history. "We should not have to be disadvantaged because another university did not respect the conference schedule," NSU president Carolyn W. Meyers said.

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Morgan State wins MEAC men title

Point guard James "Itchy" Bolden helped scratched a 32-year itch for the Morgan State Bears. Bolden spearheaded the Bears first Mid-Eastern Athletic title on Saturday with an 83-69 victory over upstart Norfolk State at Joel Coliseum. It was the steady play of Bolden, who delivered 18 points, two assists and five rebounds, but more importantly helped break the full-court pressure of the Spartans at key moments.

MSU Coach Todd Bozeman completes the Bears rebuilding journey...three seasons...MEAC Championship... NCAA bid with possible 14 or 15 seed.

Backing Bolden was Reggie Holmes who had 20 points and six rebounds, and Rogers Barnes scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists. Freshman Kevin Thompson came off the bench to score 15 points and grab 11 rebounds. The victory for the Bears gives them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as they improved to 23-11 and can look forward to a possible 15th or even maybe a 14th seed in the tournament when the pairings are announced tonight.

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Norfolk State adds receiver, defensive back

Norfolk State signed two more football players to its fall recruiting class Friday. Defensive back Denzel Coleman and wide receiver Derrick Demps signed with the Spartans two days after National Signing Day. NSU signed five players Wednesday. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Coleman played four years at Mays High School in Atlanta. He recorded 71 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two sacks and three fumble recoveries in his senior season. Coleman also ran sprints on the track team for the past two seasons.

Demps, 6 feet and 180 pounds, hails from Florida High School in Tallahassee. The third-team all-state Class 2A selection caught 42 passes for 743 yards with seven touchdowns last fall. Demps also returned an interception 75 yards for a score.

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Norfolk State University Spartan Legion Marching Band


National Signing Day Signees to NSU

Karl Butler, OL, 6-5/310, Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend HS. Was an honorable mention all-district pick as a senior. Adrian says: “Butler is very athletic and comes off ball well. He is excellent in pass protection.”

Quartez Carter, TE, 6-5/250, Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania HS. Two-time first-team All-Battlefield District selection at tight end…also named honorable mention All-Region I as a junior and senior…selected to the all-district second team at defensive end in his final prep season…caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns as a senior…also an all-district pick in basketball. Adrian says: “He has a chance to help us right away. He runs well for his size, has good hands, and is big for a tight end.”

Kevin Leatherwood, QB, 6-2/205, Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville HS. A three-year starter at quarterback for Charlottesville…missed most of his senior season due to injury…was an all-district and all-region performer as a junior, when he accounted for 2,000 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns…also the Jefferson District Player of the Year and an all-state selection in basketball as a junior. Adrian says: “Leatherwood is an exceptional athlete. He’s a smart player who throws the ball with good velocity and understands the game.”

Victor Martin, DL, 6-2/270, Fort Meade, Fla./Independence (Kan.) CC/Fort Meade HS. A second-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection last year…team captain…tallied 62 tackles, 12 for loss, and eight sacks…a first-team All-State Class 1A selection as a senior at Fort Meade HS, when he helped the Miners win the state title…redshirted his first year at Independence, and has three years of eligibility remaining. Adrian says: “Martin has a great ‘motor.’ He is tailor-made for our defense because he moves well and is always around the football.”

Cameron Williams, OL, 6-4/295, Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes HS. A second-team all-state (VISAA) offensive lineman as a senior. Adrian says: “Williams is another athletic lineman who has excellent strength and movement.”

NSU snaps its losing streak with 49-12 win over Howard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After six weeks of futility, Norfolk State finally found a reason to celebrate, overwhelming Howard 49-12 on Saturday at Greene Stadium. Not only did the Spartans win their first game since Sept. 13, they halted a more miserable streak in producing their first victory over the Bison on the road since 1983.

Plenty of green and gold lined the visitors' bleachers on an unseasonably warm afternoon, and those fans enjoyed every kind of Spartans highlight imaginable. NSU (3-6, 2-4) scored on offense, defense and twice on special teams in breaking a five-game losing streak. The 49 points were the most by NSU this season. I'm going to keep this uniform on until next week," said revved-up Spartans quarterback Dennis Brown, who produced one touchdown with his legs and another with his arm. "We're a better team than our record shows. Now all we have to do is come out and run the table."

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Attendance: 2,086 (21%) at Wm. H. Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. (Capacity: 10,000).

'07 thriller sets rematch's stage: Hampton vs. NSU

Hampton University (4-1, 3-0 MEAC) coach Jerry Holmes suffered a sudden, convenient bout of amnesia as he tried to remember last year's game against Norfolk State. "What happened last year?" Holmes asked. He turned to the Pirates players sitting beside him at HU's weekly media luncheon. "Do y'all remember?" With no answers forthcoming, Holmes, in his first year as head coach following three seasons as the Pirates' defensive coordinator, faced his audience again. "Any more questions?"

What happened was that Norfolk State (2-4, 1-2 MEAC), which had won just two games against Hampton since 1992, stunned the Pirates with a 20-19 victory when HU kicker Carlo Turavani's 49-yard field-goal attempt with two seconds left sailed wide right. "It felt really good," Spartans senior defensive lineman Dennis Marsh said. "The first year I got here (from Maryland), in '06, they beat us pretty bad (42-13). They try to set themselves apart from us, and for us to come out and beat them, it felt really good."
























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NSU hopes game with Virginia State starts something big

NORFOLK. VA - James Riddick lists the priorities for any Norfolk State football fan. No. 1 is beat Virginia State in the opener. No. 2: beat Hampton. No. 3 is beat everyone else in the MEAC. It's a sentiment shared by many Spartan diehards, most of who will fill Dick Price Stadium tonight for the annual Labor Day Classic against the Trojans.

The Norfolk State schedule, toughened with a match-up at SEC foe Kentucky next week and CAA stalwart William and Mary later this month, doesn't have a more attractive date to its fans than today's game. Even talk of a future contest with down-the-road rival Old Dominion doesn't hold the same mystique for Spartans fans, who have made this annual showdown with the Division II Trojans a circle on their calendar since 1963.

Six of Price's top 10 crowds have come with Virginia State in the stadium, including the top attendance of 33,872 exactly 11 years ago in the stadium's inaugural game there. As for today? "I'm projecting a sellout," said NSU athletic director Marty Miller, whose only reservation about making such a bold statement is the chance of rain dampening the evening.

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2008-09 NSU schedule kicks off with Bahamas trip

Michael Deloach, 6-0/175 guard, senior, Rocky Mount, N.C., Bonner Academy (Mark's Digital Photography).

Norfolk State's men's basketball team has lined up a 2008-09 schedule that includes its typical long December road trip to help fill the athletic department's coffers with guarantee money. But fans willing to do a little traveling can catch the Spartans in-state to begin the season. NSU kicks off the slate with games at Longwood (Nov. 16) and William and Mary (Nov. 19).

The Spartans are also going to take advantage of the NCAA's allotment of an overseas trip once every four years and will travel to the Bahamas in a few weeks for a two-game set against club teams in the Nassau area. NCAA rules allow for 10 days of practice before such trips.

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2008-2009 Men's Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details
11/16/2008 Longwood Farmville, Va. 7 p.m. Details
11/19/2008 William & Mary Williamsburg, Va. 7 p.m. Details
11/25/2008 Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 8 p.m. Details
11/30/2008 Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. 4 p.m. Details
12/2/2008 Jacksonville State Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Details
12/6/2008 * North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA Details
12/17/2008 Wright State Cleveland, Ohio TBA Details

Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tournament
12/20/2008 TBA Springfield, Mo. TBA Details
12/21/2008 TBA Springfield, Mo. TBA Details

Montana State Classic
12/28/2008 Texas-Pan American Bozeman, Mont. TBA Details
12/29/2008 Consolation/Championship Bozeman, Mont. TBA Details

1/10/2009 * Coppin State Baltimore, Md. TBA Details
1/12/2009 * Morgan State Baltimore, Md. 7:30 p.m. Details
1/17/2009 * Delaware State Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
1/19/2009 * Maryland Eastern Shore Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
1/24/2009 * South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. 4 p.m. Details
1/26/2009 Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem, N.C. 7:30 p.m. Details
1/31/2009 * Hampton Hampton, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/2/2009 * Howard Washington, D.C. 8 p.m. Details
2/7/2009 * Bethune-Cookman Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/9/2009 * Florida A&M Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
2/14/2009 * Delaware State Dover, Del. 4 p.m. Details
2/16/2009 * Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, Md. 7:30 p.m. Details
2/21/2009 * South Carolina State Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
2/23/2009 Winston-Salem State Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
2/28/2009 * Hampton Norfolk, Va. 6 p.m. Details
3/2/2009 * Howard Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details
3/5/2009 * North Carolina A&T Norfolk, Va. 8 p.m. Details

2009 MEAC Basketball Tournament
3/10/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/11/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/12/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/13/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/13/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details
3/14/2009 TBA Winston-Salem, N.C. TBA Details

NSU Announces 2008-09 Track & Field Recruiting Class

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University men’s track and field coach Kenneth Giles announced Friday the addition of 11 athletes to his program, which has won the last three MEAC indoor and outdoor titles.

Giles signed an array of accomplished sprinters, hurdles, middle distance specialists and throwers who he feels will help NSU remain among the top track programs on the East Coast. The recruiting class includes two national champions and five state champions.

Leading the list of sprinters to join the Spartans is Sean Holston (Fairfax, Va./Robert E. Lee HS). Holston, a 2007 high school graduate who originally signed with Florida State, has enrolled at NSU and plans to join the track team this season. He won the 200 and 400 meters at the 2007 Nike Indoor National Championships. Holston clocked a meet-record time of 47.12 seconds in the 400, the seventh-fastest time ever run by a U.S. high school athlete. He went on to run a PR of 46.47 outdoors last year at the Southern Track Classic.

Holston, the 2007 Virginia (VHSL) outdoor champion in the 200 and 400, has also run personal-best times of 21.07 in the 200 and 10.59 in the 100. ,

“Sean could be the next Chris Brown for us,” Giles said, referring to the NSU All-American and current Olympian for the Bahamas. “Simply put, Sean is one of the top recruits we’ve ever had here.”

Sean Holston may re-write the MEAC record book before his career is over at NSU. In the 200 meter race on this clip, Spartans signee Thomas Speller finishes second to Holston for a 1-2 finish. Look out MEAC!


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