Dec 18, 2024
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Norfolk State students 10 On Your Side spoke to say they are ready to pack the stadium when the season starts in the fall following the news that Michael Vick will be the school's new football coach.  Michael Vick to become next head coach at Norfolk State, per sources “[A] majority of our students are from the area [and] we are an urban university, so that brings on great things,” said Za'Chary Jackson, NSU Student Government Association president. Jackson said they are looking forward to someone who's from the area and who has a big name to coach the team.  “Somebody that's from the Hampton Roads, so you got to look at it like this, it's not just for us," Jackson said. "And obviously, the university is for all of Hampton Roads and all of the 757." Vick has minimal coaching experience since retiring from the NFL. He did a short coaching internship with Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.  “I come to the games more for the Spartan Legion," said Norfolk State junior A'Lauren Gilchrist. "I work for the media team, so I love the band. But I think having Vick here will actually be like the Deion [Sanders] effect. I think a lot of people are going to want to just come to see Vick and see how the team's going to actually advance. So I'm excited for the games." Deion Sanders, a standout football and baseball player who had an illustrious career in the NFL, began his football coaching career at the school he co-founded, Prime Prep Academy, and later coached at Triple A Academy and then became an offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School, where he coached his sons, Shilo, Shedeur and Deion Jr. Sanders then went on to coach at Jackson State, leading the school to two Celebration Bowl appearances and the first undefeated regular season in its history before being named coach at Colorado. Now Vick is taking over as the head football coach, and students 10 On Your Side spoke with said this will be good for the team and the university too.  “We see that the student body are resonating with this new candidate coming in as the new head coach," Jackson said, "and not only just for the football team, but [also] for the whole university, because this brings not only good representation, but great things." But the announcement has come with mixed reactions. Vick overcame a felony conviction for having a dogfighting operation in 2007. He now advocates against animal cruelty.  “The university is always about second chances, giving everyone a fresh start, looking at the future rather than the past," Gilchrist said. "Our motto here is we see the future in you. And so we see the future in Michael Vick." A spokesperson for the university said that "Norfolk State University is all about second chances. Our doors are always open to those proving they are not defined by their mistakes." “If you didn't think it's packed out now, guess what? When Michael Vick is here and a new football team and new head coach put their expertise and experience all together and it comes to a win," Jackson said, "their place will be packed out." ...read more read less
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