THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 13, 1994 TAG: 9408130415
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Norfolk State will open football practice Monday with enough new faces to field a separate team. Of the 76 players listed on a pre-season roster, 24 did not play for the Spartans last year.
Most of the newcomers were brought in by former coach Archie Cooley, who resigned in May. A handful were signed by new coach Darnell Moore, who took over too late to do much recruiting.
``The best ballplayers were gone,'' Moore said. ``And I wasn't going to take somebody just to be taking somebody and waste the school's money.''
Most everyone expected back from last year's 3-7-1 team has returned, with a few exceptions. Running back Paul Nixon, last year's starting tailback and the team's second leading rusher, has left school. Also gone are lineman Eric Galloway, who left the team, and Stembridge Freeman, an academic casualty. Both were projected as starters this year.
The loss of Nixon could be more than offset by the return of Jeff Henderson, who led the Spartans in rushing in 1992, but missed last season with a knee injury.
``He's strong, he's quick and no one person tackles him,'' Moore said.
Galloway and Freeman will be harder to replace. Their departure makes the offensive line a potential problem area.
Moore, however, is not complaining.
``It's like playing cards,'' he said. ``If you're dealt certain cards anybody can play them. When you don't have all of what you want that's when you find out how good a coach you are.''
The Norfolk State deck Moore will pick from is stacked with young players. There are only 10 seniors on the roster.
``We'll start 16 to 18 underclassmen,'' Moore said. ``You'll see a lot of faces, because we're going to play a lot of people.''
Some of the more prominent newcomers:
- Donald Broussard, Richard Montgomery and Carlos Robertson, transfers from Southern University. Broussard is a linebacker, Montgomery a defensive lineman and Robertson a defensive back.
- George Spencer, a 5-11, 185-pound tailback who transferred from Missouri Western. If Henderson is not completely recovered from his knee injury, Spencer could start, Moore says.
- Johnnie Harrell, who comes over from the baseball team. Harrell, from Cradock High, will likely back up Aaron Sparrow at quarterback.
Players began trickling in Thursday. Equipment will be issued today, with practice set to begin at 9:30 Monday morning. by CNB