DATE: Saturday, November 15, 1997           TAG: 9711150394

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   95 lines

WHERE DID NSU'S FANS GO?

As Norfolk State struggles through a difficult first season in Division I-AA, many of the Spartans' faithful appear to have lost the faith.

Attendance, formerly one of the strongest assets of the school's football program, has plummeted precipitously this year, despite the move to a new, on-campus stadium. The attendance drop has put a serious strain on an already tight budget, increasing the pressure on the 1998 Spartans to produce more wins.

``Bad weather has had a lot to do with it, but we can't keep losing,'' said Norfolk State president Dr. Marie V. McDemmond, who already has directed athletic director Dick Price to cut the athletic budget. ``Financially, we just can't afford it. Athletics has to support itself.''

The Spartans' 2-7 record heading into today's season finale against Bethune-Cookman masks the fact that they have been competitive in their inaugural I-AA campaign. Of their five losses to teams that either have been or are ranked among the nation's top 25, three were by eight points or less. Their biggest margin of defeat in those games was 15. And they've actually outscored their six MEAC opponents 146-140.

But attendance has still fallen dramatically for the Spartans, who led Division II in attendance the last two years and 12 of the previous 16. Norfolk State's average crowd was 15,190 in 1995 and 15,676 in '96. This year's average: 11,866.

After a school-record 33,872 fans turned out for the Spartans' season opener at the new Dick Price Stadium, just over 9,000 showed up for the 50th annual Fish Bowl. Organizers were expecting 15,000. And the largest crowd for the Spartans' next three home games was 6,521 for the annual ``Battle of the Bay'' against Hampton. The average crowd for the last three Norfolk State-Hampton games at Old Dominion University's Foreman Field was 21,734.

In the four games since opening day, the average crowd has been 6,365.

With Price Stadium set to open, NSU officials projected a dramatic rise in ticket revenue. McDemmond said she hoped the stadium would be filled ``three or four times.'' But the combined attendance of the Spartans' last four home games wouldn't fill Price Stadium once, and the team is almost certain to finish the year with its lowest average attendance since 1987.

The Spartans certainly haven't caught any breaks from Mother Nature. It has rained the past three weekends - all Spartans home dates - and rain could fall today. And some of Norfolk State's fans have always been subject to ``front-runner syndrome.'' Joe ``The Fat Boy'' Butler, who for years has run the Spartans T-shirt concession on campus, said his $5 T-shirts move briskly when the Spartans are winning, but he sells virtually nothing when the team slumps.

The Spartans' attendance held up under similar circumstances in previous years. In 1993, for example, the Spartans brought a two-year record of 6-12-1 into their homecoming game against Johnson C. Smith, and it rained throughout. Yet more than 11,000 fans showed up, nearly 5,000 more than the turnout for last week's homecoming game against Liberty.

Bad weather and the team's record, it appears, explain only part of the attendance decline. Among other reasons cited by longtime Spartans fans who have gone less often this year:

Unfamiliarity with opponents: Some fans miss their traditional CIAA rivals, particularly Elizabeth City State, a team the Spartans have played more than any other. McDemmond said that during the homecoming parade, at least four fans asked her why the Spartans were playing Liberty.

No-umbrella policy: Prior to the season, NSU officials decided to ban umbrellas from Price Stadium, fearing people using them for shade would block other fans' view. No one holding an umbrella will be turned away from Price Stadium on rainy days, but many fans only know the school's original policy.

Tougher concessions policy: With NSU now getting revenue from concessions - this money went to ODU when the Spartans played at Foreman Field - officials have become more vigilant in not allowing fans to bring food into the stadium.

Lack of parking: Since there is little parking available near the stadium, most fans have to take shuttle buses.

According to McDemmond, though, the new system is here to stay. The shuttle buses have worked well, she said.

And she remains bullish on the idea of being a Division I school.

``It's exciting seeing our scores flash on CNN,'' said McDemmond, who has attended every Spartans game this season. ``The exposure does help us.''

In August, McDemmond sent shock waves through the athletic department when she said, ``The coaches and athletic director will run the program and, hopefully, they will do a great job. If they don't, we'll get a new athletic director and new coaches.''

Wednesday, McDemmond didn't back down from that statement.

``That's the way it is with everybody here,'' she said. ``If I don't do a good job, the board of visitors will be looking to replace me.''

But McDemmond also said she is sympathetic to the adjustments required when moving from Division II to Division I-AA.

``It's a big jump,'' she said. ``We haven't assessed where we're going to go with any of our programs yet. No decisions have been made. But I know it takes time to build.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

NHAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

Despite a new stadium and a move up to Division I, Norfolk State has

played to vacant seats this season.

Graphic

NSU Attendance

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