THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 3, 1994 TAG: 9409030621
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Norfolk State's Darnell Moore will make his debut as a college head coach tonight against Virginia State in front of an intimate gathering of 28,000 or so at Foreman Field.
Intimate because Foreman holds about 26,000, so fans figure to be crammed cheek-to-jowl in the old stadium.
Intimate, too, because Moore is a favorite son, a local high school coaching legend that Spartan fans are counting on to revive a foundering program.
The man attempting to spoil Moore's coming-out party is Virginia State's Lou Anderson, who has some experience at this sort of thing.
Anderson was on the visiting sideline last year when Archie ``Gunslinger'' Cooley made his much-anticipated coaching debut at Norfolk State. After thunderstorms delayed the start of the game by more than an hour, Anderson and Co. rained on Norfolk State's parade, 21-7.
``Last year it was like we weren't even playing,'' Anderson said, referring to the hype surrounding Cooley.
Last year the Trojans were coming off a 3-7 season and weren't expected to be cause for much concern around the CIAA.
But Virginia State surprised everyone and went 10-1. With 11 starters back, the Trojans won't sneak up on the conference this year: They're ranked 13th in the nation in the preseason.
``You've got to be concerned about what they're going to do,'' Moore said.
But Moore is more concerned about what the Spartans can do. He has had just three weeks to install a new offense and new defense.
``We're not as far along as I'd like to be,'' he said. ``But I don't know if you're ever really satisfied, especially going into the first game.''
In quarterback Aaron Sparrow, Moore at least has a familiar figure running his offense. Sparrow played for Moore at Portsmouth's Wilson High and has looked sharp in preseason practice, running a pro-set offense similar to the one used at Wilson.
The question is whether an inexperienced offensive line can give Sparrow the protection he needs.
``If they can go, we can go,'' Sparrow said.
Virginia State has the opposite problem. The Trojans have an experienced line and a young quarterback.
Rodney Granger, a Norcom High graduate, will start at quarterback for Virginia State. Granger, a 5-foot-10 junior, was overshadowed by Sparrow in high school, but he is Norcom's all-time leading passer with 3,460 yards.
``Rodney can throw the football, believe me,'' Anderson said.
Granger spent last season as a backup to Greg Clark, who threw for 3,437 yards and 38 touchdowns.
With Clark gone, Virginia State probably won't be as pass-oriented. But the Trojan defense and running game should be better, Anderson said.
Norfolk State should be better in those areas too. Tailback Jeff Henderson, who missed last season with a knee injury, is expected to improve the backfield. And the defense, undersized last season, has bulked up.
``They've really got an advantage because we don't have any idea, other than what we think he might do, of what coach Moore will do,'' Anderson said.
Moore can't be sure himself, until he gets his team on the field. But he is sure of a few things.
``We'll play with a lot of intensity,'' Moore said. ``And we'll play with some confidence. They won't come out tight.''
In other CIAA games, Hampton begins its quest for a third straight CIAA title at home against Morehouse College. Hampton, ranked as high as second in the nation in preseason polls, has won five of its last six against Morehouse, the latest a 46-19 win in 1992.
Elizabeth City State, hoping to bounce back from a 2-8 season, travels to Bowie State. The Vikings beat Bowie, 16-2, last season.
Elsewhere, Virginia Union is at Savannah State, Winston-Salem State is at South Carolina State, Johnson C. Smith is at Bethune-Cookman, Fayetteville State hosts Livingstone and North Carolina Central is at North Carolina A&T. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo
``We'll play with a lot of intensity. And we'll play with some
confidence,'' Darnell Moore, center, says.
by CNB