DATE: Sunday, September 14, 1997            TAG: 9709140276

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: PAUL WHITE

DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA.                 LENGTH:   45 lines

NSU'S PEARSON SUFFERS BLACKOUT NEAR GAME'S END

A chilling scene unfolded late in the fourth quarter of Norfolk State's 41-26 loss to Florida A&M Saturday when starting linebacker Carnell Pearson apparently blacked out on the Norfolk State bench.

Six paramedics worked on Pearson while running back Maurice Kelly sprinted towards him with a stretcher and three more paramedics in tow.

After being prone for several minutes, Pearson was able to sit up and watch the final two minutes, his upper torso cradled in the arm of defensive back Lydell Finley. He was then taken by stretcher to Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.

One paramedic said the move was mostly precautionary and that Pearson didn't appear to be in a life-threatening situation.

NSU's Spartan Legion vs. FAMU's Marching 100

The performance of Norfolk State's Spartan Legion appeared to come as a pleasant surprise to Rattler fans, who cheered enthusiastically when the unit played the Earth, Wind and Fire classic ``Reasons'' and a contemporary medley featuring tunes by Lil' Kim and Puff Daddy.

But the crowd went wild when Florida A&M's Marching 100, a group about three times as large as Norfolk State's, spelled out ``Star Wars'' as they played the tune and whipped through some ``old school'' hits.

The verdict: Norfolk State's band more than held its own, while the Rattlers' band showed why it's generally regarded as the best black band in the county and is Sports Illustrated's choice as the nation's top college band, period.

Rattlers bit early, then sat on lead

Although Rattlers quarterback Oteman Sampson insisted his team took Norfolk State seriously as an opponent, running back Antoine Flowers admitted the players got a little complacent when they scored twice in the game's opening nine minutes.

``As a group, we were like, `We're going to run right through these boys,' '' Flowers said.

The Rattlers wound up doing just that until the fourth quarter, when the team got burned for 26 points. Florida A&M also committed 14 penalties.

``Once we get these miscues and lapses out of the way, we just may be an awesome football team,'' Rattlers coach Billy Joe said.

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