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
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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
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Union's offense has sputtered (phot<
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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
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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
?