THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610190489
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 55 lines
While there will be few, if any, tears shed by the Norfolk State Spartans when they play their last game at Foreman Field today, head coach Darnell Moore says there are more than a few reasons the Spartans hope to pack the 26,000-seat stadium.
Homecoming is an obvious reason. But the Spartans also have targeted this game as one they want prospective recruits to attend to get a taste of what a big NSU crowd feels like.
Then, as Moore said, they can go home with the thought of adding 4,000 more screaming NSU faithful. The Spartans plan to play in a new 30,000-seat, on-campus stadium next season.
``It's amazing what the recruits who come on campus and look at our new stadium actually see,'' Moore said. ``I see a lot of bricks and mud laying around. They see the finished product. They see a packed house.''
The Spartans play their last four games on the road. After today, their next home game will be in their yet-to-be-named new stadium.
TRICKY DARNELL: During his days at Wilson High, Moore was famous for calling trick plays.
Like when all-state wide receiver Van Edwards lined up for injured quarterback Darren Sparrow in the 1991 Division 5 state championship game, walked to the sidelines feigning confusion, then took off downfield to catch a halfback option pass for a touchdown.
But Moore's habit for chicanery has been under wraps in his two-plus years at Norfolk State's helm. The Spartans have tried little more than the occasional reverse.
Has Moore given up on the art of deception?
``Some coaches try trick plays, or as I like to call them unusual plays, every game,'' Moore said. ``So far, the timing hasn't been right to try any of ours. Besides, I don't ever want a trick play to get us over the hump.''
INJURY REPORT: Moore said the Spartans' week off following a 24-14 loss to Central State of Ohio was well-timed. Three key players were injured against Central State and the week off allowed two, and maybe all three, to heal to the point of being available today. Linebacker Robert Johnson (bruised thigh) and defensive back Theo Roach (bruised shoulder) are expected to be ready. Lineman David Fabrizius is still nursing a sprained ankle.
UFA ON HOLD: The United Football Association, a group of historically black colleges and universities that was forming in hopes of garnering a national/regional television contract with ABC, has been put on hold after prospective UFA members from the Southwestern Athletic Conference backed out.
The deal had been negotiated by Backstreet Entertainment Group and ABC over a year ago and had originally been approved by SWAC commissioner James Frank and then-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference commissioner Ken Free. According to Karin English of Backstreet, the deal fell through when Southern refused to play in TV games negotiated by the conference.
Norfolk State was the only non-Division I-AA school invited into the UFA over the summer and there was a possibility that the NSU-Hampton University game on Nov. 16 would be the third game in the three-game package. by CNB