ELACT C?t LE( Much Ado Ab< this season, my assistant coaches did all anyone could ask. ? "When 1 became head coach at Union, I was entering a situation I was ip familiar with," says Bailey, who served seven years at VUU under Tom Harris. "At Norfolk, it was like starting all over again." _u ? - uiiicuuug a icam wnn 1/ starters returning from last year's 5-5 campaign, Bailey has wasted no time in bringing the Spartans' program to the high standards he established at Union. At press time, Bailey's Spartans were 8-1, nationallyrranked in Division II and drawing an average of more than 20,000 fans at Foreman Field. For the Oct. 27 Homecoming contest against Howard, a turnaway mob estimated at 27,500 showed up to witness another victory. 4 Of course, for years, Norfolk State has ranked among the top two in the nation in attendance in Division II. TL- I.. J!ff - - i iic umy un icrence now is mat tnose folks have plenty to cheer, for. "Hopefully, our attendance will help us get some of those playoff games at home,", says Bailey. "It would be nice to have the crowd cheering for our side, for a change." . Because of bewildering poor attendance in Richmond, Union was forced to play four of its five playoff games on the road. Each time the Panthers were defeated. Under the Division 11 playoff format, schools with, impressive turnstile counts are rewarded with home games irr the first two rounds of the playoffs. Only the championship game is at a While its defense remains steady, by Joe Daniels). Page 8-November, 1984555S555555S55 " I '? * -* ? S ,?.,?' W '??>**? A li l ? * I j? SCCCIf CEVI >ut Norfolk cc p :? ^7 -.$9 ^ k .* ml &JJ ^Bbk U hps />4m K _ _ aAW , ( mo wizard Bailey: Working his magic at his all season (photo by Joe Daniels.) neutjral site. If it continues its winning ways, Norfolk would have an excellent chance of hosting first- and second-round games before rabid, pro-Spartan audiences. That would make the CIAA's firstever national football title in Division V DHBHGHHDHHH |fln W* S k Union's offense has sputtered (phot< ? 0 0 06 6 0 6 6 6 6 6 6 Mi m JS 6' 6 6' 0~6f JT 6 S jT ''^^E/^BPS^I^^B, m* | V \ _^B Jinr^^Hp < > i^wi i v H^H ? * ^wV ma mater with basically the same tale II a very real probability.. But all this is happening so soon. Last year the Spartans were a struggling 5-5 ballclub that lost four of its last six games (including setbacks to arch rivals Union, Virginia State and Hampton) under Coach Dick Price. I Meanwhile, 0 I' the party ma I FREEMAN PLEASANTS Review Staff Writer Turn out the lights. The party's I over. For the first time in six years, there will be no.post-season foot ball to toast at Virginia Union I University. When VUU lost, -6*0, la Nor -folk-State onOct. 20, it was like I" two ships passing in the night ... one era (Union's) fading, another (Norfolk's) on the rise. "Right now, we're just trying to salvage a winning season," said first-year Coach Joe Taylor. A "winning season" is small consolation for a program that won three straight CIAA titles and made five straight trips to the > NCAA Division II playoffs before Coach Willard Bailey left \ * -rr r * * mk Jfl ? Illjjgj^ jj ^^^HH?T< ** ^^Ujr i S^^ML? ?? ? I - \ ^1 . '^l^H |H -7 j^Biv |.' .. f \\z:~~-': ^JlBBBiBBIIBSBl HSKt^f - '3 <:>>> .. H nt Norfolk had during a mediocre *83 now, with virtually the same cast, the Norfolk fans are talking not only C1AA, but national championship. Can any one man have made that huge a difference?, "The players respect Coach Bailey it Va. Union y be over Richmond last winter to revitalize Norfolk State. Under Taylor, a former Bailey assistant at Villi th* PonrK?ep ? T w Wf Mtv * HIIU1VI0 were a top-heavy favorite to defend their CIAA title this season. With about half oY last year's starters returning from a 10-2 -ekifer-tiiwoii iuukedHke a sure winner, even minus the Bailey influence. But it wasn't to be, despite the CIAA preseason rankings. Following a season-opening, 52-0 rout of J.C. Smith, the Pan *t- _ xncrs naa to rally to tie Fayette ville State, 22-22, in Fayetteville. Then came a 12-7 loss to Hampton Institute, at home. It was one of only a handful of losses at Hovey Field in the last Please See Page 16 ?