THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 16, 1994 TAG: 9408160455
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Darnell Moore didn't lose any sleep Sunday night worrying about the first day of football practice at Norfolk State.
``I've learned patience,'' he said. ``One of the other coaches told me he couldn't sleep last night. I slept.''
Good thing, too. Moore's day began a little after 4 a.m. By 6, the Spartans were assembled in Gill Gym for an hour of conditioning drills. At 9:30, Moore presided over his first practice as NSU's head coach.
For anyone who watched Moore at Wilson High, where he won two state titles, Monday's first practice had some familiar scenes. Moore spent most of his time working with the receivers and quarterbacks, including former Wilson All-American Aaron Sparrow.
For Sparrow, who endured a rough year on and off the field under Archie ``Gunslinger'' Cooley last year, Monday was almost like old times at Wilson.
``During stretching, the focus and attention started to fall back in my mind,'' Sparrow said. ``It was like deja vu.''
Sparrow, noticeably trimmer at 208 pounds, was also noticeably more relaxed than last season. He spent time working with the team's other four quarterbacks and led his group during wind sprints at the end of the morning practice.
``I'm going to have to step up,'' he said. ``Last year, I had a little leadership role, but I had some problems also. That's in the past. I'm looking forward to the future.
``I want to win this year.''
So do Norfolk State fans, who have suffered through consecutive
three-win seasons. Moore, an assistant coach for two years, was hired as interim coach in May and will try to bring some Wilson magic to the Spartans program.
Moore has not promised miracles, but he has said Norfolk State will be better. If attitude alone won games, the Spartans would seem to be on the right track. The consensus Monday among players, coaches and even longtime observers like Ed Darden - who hasn't missed a practice in seven years - was that the Spartans are a looser and more confident bunch this year.
``I feel like we had a winning atmosphere out here,'' running back John Quinerly said. ``We didn't have that last year. We were all tense.''
Sixty-six players were on hand for the first practice, which was conducted in a cool, steady rain. It was the kind of weather players like. Moore, though, said he would have preferred hot weather, the better to run players into shape.
``But even if it rains for the next 12 days, we'll be outside,'' he said.
Notes: Absent Monday were linebacker James Walton, perhaps the team's top returning defensive player, and Jeff Henderson, who is projected as the starting tailback. Walton remained at home in Texas with his father, who is ill, and Moore said he told Walton to stay as long as needed. Henderson, who missed last season with a knee injury, is awaiting medical clearance. . . . With Henderson gone, Quinerly worked out at tailback. The sophomore from Maury High has added 20 pounds of muscle and now packs 190 pounds on his 5-foot-7 frame. . . . Also impressive Monday was backup quarterback Ryan Weiss, a transfer from Holmes Junior College in Mississippi. Weiss is a 6-4, 220-pound junior with a strong arm. . . . Moore has filled out his coaching staff by adding Harold Price (defensive line) and Jim Flowers (defensive backs). Price was Moore's defensive coordinator at Wilson. Flowers is a former NSU cornerback who played briefly with the San Diego Chargers. He has been a football and basketball coach at Norfolk State, and most recently he was an assistant basketball coach at Hampton University. ILLUSTRATION: BILL TIERNAN/Staff color photos
New NSU coach Darnell Moore watches his quarterbacks.
Norfolk State linemen run through agility drills during the first
day of practice Monday. The Spartans are coming off two consecutive
three-win seasons, but running back John Quinerly said: ``I feel
like we had a winning atmosphere out here.''
by CNB