THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Norfolk State's football team doubled its holiday pleasure by receiving verbal commitments from Princess Anne running back Mike Majette and Deep Creek placekicker Joe Verdi.
Majette, a 6-foot, 195-pounder, rushed for 1,680 yards as a senior and finished his career as South Hampton Roads' all-time leading rusher with 4,500 career yards.
Majette has yet to qualify academically under NCAA freshman eligibility rules, but he said Wednesday that there is still a possibility he will.
If he does, he would compete with seniors Jerry Davis and John Quinerly for the starting tailback position.
If not, Majette would have to sit out a year and have three years of eligibility remaining under NCAA Division I rules. Although the Spartans currently are members of Division II, the school has applied for Division I status for the 1997-98 school year (I-AA in football) and must abide by Division I standards in the two years prior the move up.
``If I have to sit out a year, I looked at the fact that they are losing most of their backfield after that season,'' said Majette, who also drew interest from North Carolina and Virginia. ``But I'm hoping I can be eligible by June and compete for the spot next fall.
``The fact that Norfolk State is moving up to Division I really opened my eyes and excites me.''
Verdi, a 5-10, 165-pounder who drew recruiting interest from a number of Division I-AA schools, is expected to shore up a kicking game that has struggled the last few years.
``The coaches have told me they'll just want me to placekick next season,'' said Verdi, who is projected to qualify under freshman eligibility standards. ``I might be asked to punt by my junior or senior year, but they are hoping to get someone else to punt next season.''
Verdi, who has 50-yard field goal range, must adjust to kicking without a tee next season, but he maintains he might be better from off the ground, ``because I don't tend to pull the ball as much.''
Both Majette and Verdi are two-time All-Tidewater selections.
Under NCAA regulations, the school cannot comment about any player until it receives a signed letter-of-intent. Both will sign during the February signing period.
In other developments, Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said that senior quarterback Aaron Sparrow has accepted an invitation to play for the East team in the Snow Bowl, an all-star game for Division II players, played on Jan. 13.
Senior All-American wide receiver James Roe had to turn down a similar offer because he is one of six finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which will be handed out that same week. Robinson Award finalists must spend a week in Los Angeles attending various functions prior to the award presentation. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Mike Majette, left, finished his career at Princess Anne with 4,500
rushing yards. Deep Creek's Joe Verdi, right, will shore up NSU's
kicking game.
by CNB