THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9408260757
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: R14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Preview: College Football '94
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Archie Cooley left Norfolk State some pretty good football players. He left a schedule stacked with home games, too.
But most importantly, he left.
Cooley's departure, and the subsequent arrival of Darnell Moore, were the most significant events of the Spartan offseason, and the cause, players say, of a transformation in attitude.
Many teams talk about a change in attitude this time of year. At Norfolk State, it's palpable.
``People are feeling confident about themselves,'' defensive end James Walton said.
``We have a winning attitude,'' said tailback John Quinerly. ``We didn't have that last year. We were all tense.''
Losing caused tension. But so did Cooley's brand of discipline. Players were suspended. Players left, accusing Cooley of verbal abuse. Players fought, finally, one day in front of the student union building.
``That's all in the past now,'' said quarterback Aaron Sparrow. ``This is my third year, and it's the first time I've seen a togetherness.''
If good feelings alone were enough to win football games, Norfolk State would be set. But the fact is, Moore inherits a team that is talented in spots, but undersized and thin overall.
``We'll be thin, but that's nothing new,'' Moore said.
Moore had a reputation for doing a lot with a little at Wilson High, where he won state championships in 1989 and '91. That talent will be tested in his first year at NSU.
The main concern is along the offensive line, where just two starters return and most of the reserves are freshman.
``If they can go, we can go,'' Sparrow said. ``They bust the doors open for us.''
Given enough support, Sparrow can definitely go. A former Parade All-American under Moore at Wilson, Sparrow had a strong rookie year but was used only in relief last year.
A talented group of receivers also returns, led by two-time All-CIAA pick James Roe, an All-American candidate who should become Norfolk State's all-time leading receiver this year.
The biggest addition on the offense is tailback Jeff Henderson, who missed '93 with a knee injury after leading the team in rushing in '92. A healthy Henderson would give the Spartans the breakaway threat they lacked last season, when they managed just 117 yards per game on the ground.
Moore has scrapped Cooley's run-and-shoot in favor of a more balanced attack.
``We won't be throwing the ball 40 times, or running the ball 50 times,'' Sparrow said. ``It's balanced. Whatever works that day, we're going to go with.''
For all Norfolk State's faults last year, Cooley's pass-oriented attack did ring up a school-record 304 points. Problem was, the defense gave up a school-record 295.
Although five starters are back, this year's defense only loosely resembles last year's. Walton and Antonio Britt, linebackers last year, are moving to defensive end. Donald Broussard, a transfer from Southern, takes over at middle linebacker. Carlos Robertson, another Southern transfer, will play safety.
``Quicker linebackers, bigger linemen, faster DBs,'' said offensive tackle Kenneth McDaniel. ``Our defense is 100 percent better.''
It's not unrealistic to expect that Norfolk State could be 100 percent better, as well. For that to happen, the Spartans would have to win six games.
Here's where the schedule should help. Not only do the Spartans play seven of their 10 games at home, two of their ``road trips'' are to Hampton and Elizabeth City. The Spartans will spend just one night in a hotel, when they travel to Charlotte to play Johnson C. Smith.
Norfolk State was just a few plays away from six wins last season. With three very winnable games to go, the Spartans were 3-4-1. But mental errors and defensive breakdowns cost them all three games.
Moore has promised to cut down on the mental errors.
``Overall, week-to-week and game-to-game we'll be better prepared,'' he said. ``To me, that has to mean something.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore, right, took over a team in
turmoil, but his players enter the season with a new attitude.
by CNB