THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190486
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Norfolk State head coach Darnell Moore is expressing concern about his team's average of 110 penalty yards per game, but says it is not an indicator of a ``lack of discipline.''
``When we look at the penalties on film, we don't see undisciplined penalties,'' Moore said. ``Undisciplined penalties are things like offsides or players who want to constantly fight and push and shove after plays.
``We haven't had a lot of unnecessary roughness penalties or personal foul calls. And we haven't had anything near a fight.
``Holding and clipping are judgment calls. Holding can be called on every play.''
Moore said if there is an underlying theme in the Spartans' rash of penalties, it is that the Spartans have ``had the same officiating crew for three (of their seven) games.''
``Familiarity sometimes breeds contempt,'' Moore said. ``Maybe that crew has seen us too much.''
Moore also pointed out that the three least penalized teams in the CIAA - Fayetteville State, Virginia Union and Winston Salem-State - are also at or near the bottom of the conference standings.
``We don't personify an undisciplined team,'' Moore said. ``And you can look at the least penalized teams in the CIAA and their records and see there's no correlation.''
TITLE AT STAKE: Saturday's game between Elizabeth City State and Virginia State could decide the conference championship. The Trojans are unbeaten in the conference, while surprising Elizabeth City has just one loss.
``This is one of those self-motivating games,'' Elizabeth City coach George Moody said. ``They have an excellent ballclub, and we've got our work cut out for us.''
The game is Elizabeth City's last CIAA contest. The Vikings finish the season against Hampton, Knoxville and Grambling. If Elizabeth City can get by Virginia State and then knock off either Hampton or Grambling, the Vikings are hoping for a Division II playoff berth.
``We didn't expect to be in this situation,'' Moody said. ``But we're enjoying it.''
INJURY UPDATE: Cornelias Biagas, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound sophomore who was slated to start at left tackle for Norfolk State this season, will be redshirted and return next season with sophomore eligibility.
Biagas hurt his lower back the week prior to the Spartans' season opener. The coaching staff hoped he would return to the lineup against Delaware State three weeks ago. But when that didn't happen, the decision was made to scrap him for the season.
The Spartans lose three seniors off the starting line this season and recruiting linemen and defensive tackles will be an offseason priority for the coaching staff.
``We want to bring in three offensive linemen this season,'' Moore said.
Moore likes the offensive line's prospects for next season. David Fabrizius, a 6-4, 315-pound freshman, has been getting increased playing time. Meanwhile, Moore has high hopes for 6-3, 280-pound freshman Chris Berry, who is being redshirted this season. Also, former Salem High School lineman Lee Lewis, who played last season for the Tidewater Sharks, is enrolled and should be eligible next season.
SCHOLARSHIP SWITCH: With Norfolk State moving from Division II to Division I-AA, the Spartans have gone from Division II's limit of 34 whole scholarships sliced any way they wish to a limit of 63 players on football scholarships of any amount.
Moore said the Spartans should have between ``13 and 15 available scholarships'' to offer this recruiting season.
The days of bringing in a number of players who were NCAA non-qualifiers are gone. Under Division I standards, any nonqualifiers going to Norfolk State can play only three years after sitting out a season instead of four, which Division II schools allow. ILLUSTRATION: Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore says, ``. . . on film, we
don't see undisciplined penalties.''
by CNB