THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260491
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 81 lines
When a football player has a nickname like ``Mad Dog,'' it can conjure many strange images:
Wide, wild eyes that seem to look right through you. Unkempt hair jutting in every direction. A low growl coupled with a nasty twitch friends refer to as a nervous tick.
So how did clean-cut, mild-mannered, dean's list student Robert Johnson get such a handle?
``I was in all kinds of trouble in the ninth grade,'' said Johnson, who grew up in Goldsboro, N.C. ``I was a snotty-nosed kid on the verge of flunking out. I stayed out late at night, was getting in fights, got expelled. I had a lot of caged-up anger.
``Finally, my football coach, Elvin James, got me to go out for the team. I turned all that caged-up anger, that negative energy, towards football.''
The troublesome teen has become a thing of the past. But his ``Mad Dog'' approach to football remains.
Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior middle linebacker, has added bite to a Norfolk State defense that has shaken its reputation as a pushover as it heads into Saturday's 49th annual Fish Bowl at 2:30 p.m. at Foreman Field against Delaware State.
Two seasons ago, NSU gave up an average of 31 points a game. Last season, NSU improved a bit, allowing 25.9 points a game. But the Spartans still allowed 30 or more points four times.
This year's 3-1 squad has yet to give up 30 points.
In addition, the Spartans' defense is scoring points. Against Livingstone two weeks ago, defensive back Robert Weaver recovered a fumble in the closing minutes for the winning touchdown.
Saturday against Bethune-Cookman, Lonnie White and Sunnil Motley returned interceptions for touchdowns.
After not scoring a defensive touchdown in 1995, the Spartans have three in two weeks.
``Any time you lose three All-Americans from your offense (quarterback Aaron Sparrow, receiver James Roe, tackle Kenny McDaniel), the defense is going to be asked to do a lot more the next season,'' said Johnson, who is second on the team with 30 tackles and has four sacks and an interception. ``Coming out of spring practice, we knew the offense might struggle early and we were ready to produce big plays that would give our offense time to grow.''
Johnson began his college career at North Carolina A&T. But after two years there, he didn't see much future for himself and decided to transfer.
Johnson switched majors as well, going from electrical engineering to technology education - he wants to coach football and teach math and vocational tech some day - and became a self-described ``building block'' for NSU's football future.
That's an apt analogy, with construction of Norfolk State's 30,000-seat, on-campus football stadium only yards away.
``When I was looking to transfer, coach (Darnell) Moore told me Norfolk State was going to move from Division II to I-AA,'' Johnson said. ``I knew I wouldn't still be playing when the move was finally made (next season). But I wanted to be part of the start of a dynasty. I wanted to lay a foundation for it.''
Last season, Johnson kept himself on a short leash, not saying much and letting his play do the talking as he finished second on the team in tackles with 71. But he's barked loud and often this season.
When the Spartans were sitting through a 35-minute rain delay with a 21-14 halftime lead over Bethune-Cookman, Johnson spilled words of encouragement throughout the locker room.
``He was telling everyone, `Bethune-Cookman is a great comeback team. We can't ease up. We've got to come out and make some big plays,' '' NSU linebackers coach James Garland said.
When the Spartans held Bethune-Cookman on the Wildcats' first two possessions, NSU's offense responded with two touchdowns. On Bethune-Cookman's third possession of the second half, Motley picked off a Todd Walker pass and raced 33 yards into the end zone for a 41-14 lead.
Johnson's nickname has even made it into the Spartans' playbook.
``We even have a blitz called `Mad Dog,' '' Garland said. ``Robert's the guy I ask to tell me about the other team's blocking schemes. And when I ask him if we can blitz the `Mad Dog,' he'll give me an honest answer. He'll tell me `Yes, it's open' or `No, it's not there - yet.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
KEYWORDS: PROFILE BIOGRAPHY FOOTBALL by CNB