THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510280445
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
After playing two seasons of football at the University of Buffalo, Sunnil Motley was beginning to think New York state's northwest corner wasn't where he should be.
It was a long way from his home in Danville, Va., making it difficult for his father to see him play. And the Bulls' football program was about to undergo radical change after head coach Jim Ward stepped down.
Motley's decision to transfer was solidified when he returned to campus following last year's Christmas break.
Born in Liberia on the Grain Coast of West Africa and accustomed to a warmer climate, Motley had to shovel snow off his apartment's doorknob to get in.
``The temperature was in the negatives, the wind chill was knocking it down even lower,'' Motley said. ``The police were arresting people who didn't stay in their homes because there were too many cases of frostbite.''
Goodbye, Buffalo.
Hello, Norfolk State University.
Motley, who as a youth moved stateside with his merchant seaman father after a serious outbreak of malaria in his homeland, decided to become a Spartan. His switch from a Division I-AA school to Division II made him eligible to play immediately.
The transfer has paid immediate dividends for the Spartans, who host Johnson C. Smith today at 3:30 in their homecoming game at Foreman Field.
Motley, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, leads the team in tackles with 64 as Norfolk State heads into its final two games of the season. In a tribute to his aggressive approach, 10 of Motley's tackles have been for losses and he has three sacks.
In spite of Motley's school change, he still isn't where he wishes to ultimately be: strong safety. He even wears a jersey number (29) that appears out of place when lined up at outside linebacker.
``Yes, it's a defensive back's number,'' Motley said. ``And I wear it for a reason.''
Coincidentally, Motley's defensive coordinator at the University of Buffalo is now at Norfolk State. When the Buffalo coaching staff dissolved, James Garland landed in Norfolk as the newest addition to second-year head coach Darnell Moore's staff.
``When preseason practice began, coach Garland said `I need you to play outside linebacker again,' '' Motley said. ``So here I am.''
``We know Sunnil has those aspirations,'' Moore said, ``but we've got to look at what we have and put the best 11 folks out there. And Sunnil has the heart of a linebacker.''
Still, if Motley is to play professionally, it will likely be as a strong safety, for which he seems naturally suited. With 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash - he played tailback at Buffalo as a freshman before switching to defense - he has enough quickness to succeed in pass coverage.
He hopes his play at linebacker will actually increase his stock with pro scouts next year.
``Maybe if they see me playing linebacker and see that I can take the punishment,'' he said, ``they'll think I have a future as a nickel back.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
NSU's Sunnil Motley, a native Liberian, has 10 tackles for losses
and three sacks this season.
by CNB