THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180712
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 98 lines
The few, the proud. There was a time when Corporal Eric Musgrove thought this would be his lifelong motto.
But when you're 6-foot-5, weigh 290 pounds and can bench press 500 pounds while just goofing off, friends have a way of repeatedly asking why you aren't playing college football.
Musgrove was unable to come up with a good answer, which explains why a 25-year-old former Marine from Illinois will be lining up at right tackle when the Norfolk State Spartans host Virginia Union Saturday at Foreman Field.
``I came to a point in my military career where it was obvious I didn't want to be a career man,'' Musgrove said. ``About that same time, I went home on leave and watched my younger brothers play in some junior varsity and eighth-grade games. They were having so much fun playing. That's when I thought about playing again.''
Musgrove had at one point played college football until a freak injury chased him from the game. Seven years ago as a freshman offensive guard at Illinois Valley Junior College, Musgrove became entangled in the yardage chain and wrenched both knees.
``I woke up the next morning and my knees were bigger than my thighs,'' Musgrove said. ``The doctors never could figure what was wrong with them, but they drained water off them and they're arthritic now.''
Unable to attend class due to the severity of the pain, Musgrove quit school. A few months later, his knees healed and he enlisted.
The Marines took him places he'd never imagined. To San Diego . . . across the Pacific to Okinawa . . . to the Atlantic at Beaufort, S.C.
He saw a lot of the world, but the football bug kept biting.
When he got out of the Marines, his playing career picked up where it had left off, at Illinois Valley. Soon thereafter, the NSU coaching staff picked up on Musgrove.
The Spartans' timing couldn't have been better. Musgrove was watching college highlights on ESPN when NSU's Aaron Sparrow did a cartwheel to get away from a defender, then completed a 50-yard bomb.
Hours later, Musgrove's phone rang. It was offensive line coach Joe Cannon asking if Musgrove would be interested in NSU, a school that until hours earlier he'd never heard of. Then head coach Darnell Moore called, and after a 75-minute talk, Musgrove was all but ready to sign with the Spartans right then.
``I'd talked to coaches at 62 other schools and they all were talking about how going to their school could be a step to the pros,'' Musgrove said. ``Coach Moore never mentioned the pros. He talked about getting an education and preparing myself for life after football, something I already know a little about.''
After playing on the defensive line last season, Musgrove moved back to offense and has played every line position except center.
``He's been instrumental to our success,'' Moore said. ``Without Musgrove .
On Monday, Musgrove accompanied Moore to a Norfolk Sports Club function. One of the sports club members, curious at Musgrove's presence, asked how many white players were on the team.
Musgrove had to think hard before answering.
``I was standing up there counting 'em in my head,'' Musgrove said. ``I'd never thought about it. It was hard for me to answer for two reasons. First, I'm part of a team and I don't see color. Second, it's not like there's just one or two. There are seven.''
In Moore's initial conversation with Musgrove, he told the then-prospective recruit that NSU was an historically black university. For Musgrove, it was never an issue.
``The color of someone's skin has never meant anything to me,'' Musgrove said. ``Yeah, I grew up in the midwest in a predominantly white town, but we have a Del Monte plant there and a large part of the population is Hispanic. Besides, you get into the U.S. Marines and there isn't such a thing as race.''
Nor is there when Moore is out recruiting.
``I don't care if a guy is black, white or polka-dot green,'' said Moore. ``I'm looking for football players who want to play at Norfolk State and can make us a better team.''
Musgrove came close to leaving NSU before his career began when his then-girlfriend began pressuring him to return home three weeks after he arrived.
First, Musgrove's father lectured him on the importance of finishing his education. Then Musgrove heard almost the same speech from Moore, with Moore asking where he'd be and what he'd be doing in two years if he quit school.
``Other than my dad, there are two father figures in my life and both are black: My staff major, Abraham Sales, and coach Moore,'' Musgrove said. ``When I told him that my dad had said almost the same thing, coach Moore said, `You've heard it in white and you've heard it in black. Now that you've got it in black and white, it must be true.' ''
Eric might not be the last Musgrove at NSU. Younger brother Lance is already receiving Division I recruiting interest from a handful of midwest schools. Still, he's increasingly asked Eric about the prospects of playing for the Spartans. Lance is a 6-1, 230-pound linebacker. Eric's youngest brother Damon, a junior lineman, is 6-5 and 285 pounds.
Which answers why Musgrove's parents haven't made it to an NSU game, and probably won't.
``It's hard for dad to take leave from work,'' Musgrove said. ``He has to keep up with the food bill.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by BILL TIERNAN, The Virginian-Pilot
Eric Musgrove first heard of Norfolk State watching college football
highlights on ESPN. by CNB