THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 28, 1995 TAG: 9509280474
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
While Norfolk State's jump to Division I is still two seasons away, the Spartans will get an early taste of Division I-AA football for three consecutive weeks, beginning this week at Delaware State.
Following that, Norfolk State hosts Bethune-Cookman and Hampton University at Foreman Field. All three are members of the MidEastern Athletic Conference, which the Spartans will most likely join when they move up.
The Delaware State game will be Norfolk State's first against a Division I-AA opponent since a 33-31 loss to Bethune-Cookman in the final game of the 1993 season.
``It's not like we haven't played Division I-AA teams before,'' Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said. ``Maybe people who look at things from the outside of our program will look at it and say, `It's three straight games against I-AA teams.'
``But we're not preparing for this game with any thoughts of: `This is a I-AA team. We'll have to do things differently.' It's a football game against a football team.''
Still, Moore says once the three-game stretch is completed he will look back and evaluate where his team stands in its progression toward the Division I-AA ranks.
``If I don't, I'd be crazy,'' he said.
QB CONTROVERSY: Delaware State senior quarterback Dennis Jones was expected to have a big season for the Hornets after leading them to a 7-4 mark last year. But he's felt the sting of an 0-3 start and will likely give way to MacAdoo Harrison-Dixon against NSU.
Harrison-Dixon replaced Jones in Delaware State's 41-14 loss to Liberty last week.
In exchanging film with Delaware State, the Spartans received game film of the Hornets against Western Illinois, a game in which Jones played quarterback and Harrison-Dixon was a backup receiver. So the Spartans coaching staff has no film of Harrison-Dixon, an option quarterback who likes to pass.
But Moore has seen Harrison-Dixon up close before, working with him when he was a high-schooler attending a University of Virginia football camp.
``He's an exceptional athlete with an extremely strong arm,'' Moore said. ``He can throw it through a door.''
WHY THE MOVE? The Delaware State-Norfolk State game was moved from Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus to Delaware State's home field in Dover, Del. - and switched from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m. - after promoters of the game in Philadelphia failed to meet several deadlines and monetary obligations with Penn officials.
``There was a chain of events that happened,'' said Delaware State athletic director and football coach Bill Collick. ``We were very concerned for our fans. We thought it was in the best interest of all concerned to play here.''
WHO'S THAT GUY? Kermit Buggs admits he still gets a bit misty-eyed when the Spartan Legion takes the field and blasts out ``Behold the Green and Gold'' prior to Norfolk State's games.
But he no longer has a helmet to mask his emotions. Instead, he wears a fanny pack filled with medical supplies. Buggs, 23, is serving as a graduate assistant trainer this fall.
You can't miss him on the sidelines. The former NSU quarterback is the only NSU trainer bold enough to pick up a ball and play catch with receivers to warm them up. Or is there another reason?
``I can't keep my hands off the ball,'' admitted Buggs, who has interned twice with the Indianapolis Colts during the preseason.
Buggs will take the training certificate examination in November, then begin secondary education classes at Norfolk State in January.
``I like being a trainer,'' Buggs said. ``It's a good way to stay involved in sports and help out young people. But I think I want to teach school . . . and maybe coach.''
NOTES: The Spartans nearly swept player of the week honors in the CIAA. Offensive tackle Kenny McDaniel, quarterback Aaron Sparrow and wide receiver James Roe swept the conference's offensive player honors. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Donald Broussard and linebacker Sunnil Motley garnered defensive player honors. Winston-Salem State defensive tackle LaTori Workman was named newcomer of the week. by CNB