THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 22, 1994 TAG: 9410220433
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Harold Jackson didn't expect to be the Virginia Union coach this season, and he's not sure he'll be around next L season.
So the former NFL wide receiver - who brings his team to Foreman Field today to take on Norfolk State - is making the best of things, and not looking too far ahead.
``I'm just trying to maintain what we have, and just hope we can get through,'' Jackson said.
The Panthers are 1-5, 1-3 under Jackson, who took over after Hank Lattimore was fired two weeks into the season.
For Jackson, 48, agreeing to step in for Lattimore was a difficult de- cision. They've know each other for more than 30 years, since Jackson was playing high school ball in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Lattimore was coaching at a rival school.
Jackson and Lattimore hooked up again at Jackson State University, and again after Jackson's 16-year NFL career ended in 1983. Jackson went on to a second career as an NFL assistant, but found time to help Lattimore during his tenure at North Carolina Central.
Their paths crossed again last summer when Lattimore, who was starting his second season at Union, invited Jackson to be his receivers coach. Jackson had just stepped down after two years as receivers coach at Tampa Bay, and decided to give it a shot.
He got more than he bargained for.
``It was hard for me to take something like this,'' Jackson said. ``I didn't come up here to do what I'm doing now. Unfortunately, that situation came up.''
Jackson has the job at least until the end of the year, and, according to Union officials, can have the per- manent job if he wants it. But Jack- son says he's yet to make up his mind.
`It's been fun, but we don't really have the kind of talent here to be as successful as I'd like.
``It's kind of hard to change a lot during the season. You've got to in- stall your stuff during training L camp.''
Jackson has worked on changing attitudes, as much as anything.
``With this team it seems like when we make a mistake, they go in the tank,'' he said. ``You've got to be able to overcome those things.''
Union played well for a quarter but fell to NAIA power Central State, 49-0, last week. Today, their challenge is to slow down a Norfolk State offense that has thrown for 940 yards in the past two games.
``Every game it seems like they have 400 or 500 yards throwing the ball,'' Jackson said. ``We've got to find some way to stop them.''
Jackson, who caught 579 passes, 11th best in NFL history, knows a thing or two about throwing the ball and said he'd like to do more of it at Union. But with tailback Bobby Phillips (1,500 yards in '93) on hand, and without time to install a new system, the Panthers have been run-oriented.
GAME NOTES: Norfolk State will be without fullback Stanley John- son, who strained a ligament in his left knee against Hampton last L week. Chris Williams will play in his place. The Spartans may also be without linebacker Chris Hall, who is nursing an ankle injury. ... Norfolk State quarterback Aaron Sparrow needs 10 yards to break the school's single-season passing yardage record of 2,024. by CNB