THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 29, 1995 TAG: 9509270193
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
LAST SEASON, Portsmouth's Aaron Sparrow, whose gifted right arm is making Norfolk State one of the top scoring football teams in the nation, was picked as the offensive player of the year in the CIAA.
This year, he has become a strong candidate for more prestigious honors.
Norfolk State's sports information department has started a push for two Spartans in the race to be college player of the year in the Division II ranks.
Sparrow and the player on the receiving end of most of his passes, James Roe, are being jointly supported as Norfolk State's premier candidates for the Harlon Hill Award. The Hill Award goes to the top Division II player.
The publicity campaign is starting with a flier that is called the Spar-Row Report and went out this week to about 140 sports information directors who vote in Division II.
``We'll be following this up with current statistics on both of them,'' said Norfolk State sports information director John Holley.
In leading Norfolk State to victories in its last two outings, Sparrow passed for 889 yards. He opened the season by throwing for 257 yards in a loss to Virginia State, then came back with 243 more aerial yards in a victory over Bowie State.
Four games for 1,389 yards!
A senior who is unquestionably headed into the professional ranks next year, Sparrow is en route to break the school passing record he posted last season. In 1994, Sparrow, a 6-2, 210-pounder, threw for 3,212 yards.
But record-breaking achievements have become routine accomplishments for Sparrow. He rewrote virtually every passing record at Wilson High School in his four years as the Presidents' quarterback (see chart on this page).
That included leading Wilson to a state championship and an undefeated season in 1989. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER RIDDICK
Aaron Sparrow passed for 889 yards in his first two outings with
Norfolk State University this season.
CAREER RECORD OF AARON SPARROW AT WILSON
Staff graphic
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB