THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040534
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Gearing up for its planned move to Division I, Norfolk State has upgraded its football schedule for 1995, adding Division I-AA schools Bethune-Cookman and Delaware State and dropping Division II weak sisters Kentucky State and Lane.
The tentative 10-game schedule also includes Hampton University, giving Norfolk State three Division I-AA opponents next year, the most in school history.
``We're trying to prepare ourselves for I-AA,'' coach Darnell Moore said. ``We don't want to schedule any patsies.''
Lane and Kentucky State certainly fall into that category. The Dragons and the Thorobreds, who have been on the schedule the past two seasons, are annually among the nation's worst in Division II.
Also dropped from last year's schedule are CIAA foes Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State. Added were Livingstone and Bowie State.
Six home games are on the schedule, one less than last season. Moore said he is trying to schedule an 11th game, which would be played Nov. 11.
The Spartans last played Bethune-Cookman in 1993, losing 33-31. They have not played Delaware State since 1954.
Norfolk State is planning to move to Division I in 1997.
NEW DEFENSIVE BOSS: Moore has ended his search for a defensive coordinator by hiring James Garland, a former assistant at the University of Buffalo.
Garland, a native of Baltimore, is a 1990 graduate of Howard University, where he was a two-time All-MEAC selection at linebacker and an academic All-American in 1989.
Garland, 29, has been linebackers coach at Division I-AA Buffalo for the past three seasons.
``He was the unofficial coordinator,'' Moore said. ``I was impressed with his sincerity and his knowledge. We talked a lot of football, and about a lot of things other than football. His attitude will fit in with what we're trying to accomplish here at Norfolk State.''
COLEMAN A CANDIDATE: NSU basketball assistant Mel Coleman is a one of three finalists for the head coaching job at Winston-Salem State, according to a Winston-Salem administrator.
Gerald McCants, special assistant to the chancellor at Winston-Salem, said the finalists are Coleman, Greensboro College coach Sam Hanger and former Winston-Salem assistant Tim Grant.
``I think the chancellor would like to name someone within the next couple of weeks,'' McCants said.
Coleman, the top assistant at NSU for four years, was a finalist for the Elizabeth City State job, which went to Booker T. Washington High School coach Barry Hamler.
REGIONAL TENNIS: Norfolk State will host the south section of the Division II Eastern Region tennis tournament Friday and Saturday. The Spartans (21-7) will play Wingate (12-6) Friday at 3 p.m. Mars Hill (11-8) will play Millersville (9-9), also at 3. The winners will play Saturday at 10 a.m.
The winner of Saturday's match will advance to the Division II finals in Davis, Cal.
``(Hosting the tournament) is an honor that is given to you if you have a good record and I guess you are favored to win it,'' said NSU coach Nathaniel Warren. ``We feel like we'll be very competitive.''
Norfolk State has been led by freshman Avi Kigel, who is ranked No. 4 in the region, No. 21 in the nation.
BASEBALL WAITING GAME: The NSU baseball team is on the proverbial bubble for the NCAA Division II baseball tournament. Twenty-four teams are invited, and the Spartans were ranked 25th in the latest poll.
Norfolk State does not get an automatic bid for winning the CIAA tournament. Instead, the committee will select three teams from the South Atlantic Region, which includes Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
``It's tough when you look at all the states (in the region),'' NSU coach Marty Miller said.
Bids will be announced May 14. by CNB