THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511050249
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The Norfolk State Spartans kept onlookers guessing until gametime as to whether Aaron Sparrow would play in the final collegiate game of his career against North Carolina Central.
And Sparrow didn't give many overt indications that he would play either.
When he boarded the team bus Friday afternoon, his separated left shoulder was still in a sling.
Then Saturday morning, a Norfolk State assistant coach went so far as to tell a radio reporter from campus station WNSB that Sparrow wouldn't play.
But those closest to Sparrow knew the truth.
``I had no doubt,'' said Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore. ``He is a tough, tough kid.
``Plus I needed him to start. If he got hurt then, we'd bring in Robert Morris. But if we started Morris and Morris got hurt, we'd have been scrambling at quarterback. I had to have one fresh guy on the bench.''
Sparrow spent Saturday morning with Moore and his wife Faye in their hotel room rehashing the last decade. Sparrow played four years of high school ball under Moore's direction at Wilson High before both ended up at Norfolk State.
``We had some good conversation,'' Sparrow said. ``And we prayed to God that I'd be able to play today.''
Following Norfolk State's 276th victory, wide receiver James Roe said he never doubted Sparrow would play.
``He told me on Wednesday that he'd gotten down that morning and done a couple pushups,'' Roe said.
NO TD CATCH FOR ROE: Roe, dogged by a double-teaming defense all day, caught seven passes for 105 yards.
But his only catch in the end zone came on a two-point conversion play, ending a 15-game streak of catching at least one touchdown pass.
He also failed to break New Mexico State receiver Ryan Yarborough's all-time NCAA mark of career games with a touchdown catch. The pair share the record with 27. At least Roe beat Jerry Rice's mark of 26.
``It's disappointing, but they had a good game plan,'' Roe said. ``And it allowed others to get the ball and do some things.''
Roe closes out his career with 4,468 receiving yards, a NCAA Division II record.
Only Rice (Mississippi Valley, I-AA) has more on any level (4,693).
Roe also finished third in Division II in career receptions (239) and second in Division II in career touchdown receptions (46). And he caught at least one pass in each of his 41 games as a Spartan.
``I even remember the first catch,'' Roe said. ``I thank God for the opportunity to play here. It's been great. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.''
QUICK HITS: The Spartans' back-to-back 7-3 records are the first consecutive winning seasons by the school since 1990-91. . . . Norfolk State and N.C. Central came in as the CIAA's two most penalized teams and didn't disappoint, combining for 258 yards in penalties. . . . Spartans backup quarterback Robert Morris had his best day punting, averaging 46.7 yards on three attempts. . . . Norfolk State's four interceptions gave the team 17 for the season. Defensive back Lydell Finley and linebacker Donald Broussard tied for the team lead with three each. by CNB