Michael Vick demands ‘pride’ after Norfolk State drops third straight game

Brian Schaible

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Michael Vick demands ‘pride’ after Norfolk State drops third straight game image

Norfolk State’s trip to Staten Island ended in frustration as the Spartans squandered a 13–0 halftime lead and fell 18–13 to Wagner. The loss marks their third straight defeat, dropping them to 1–4 on the season.

Head coach Michael Vick didn’t hold back in the postgame press conference after watching his team get shut out in the second half. “We didn’t come out with the intensity we were supposed to come out with,” Vick said. “When you got a team down 13 to nothing, every possession matters. We had three turnovers in the first half. We got to capitalize on those. We just needed a spot. We needed some energy. We didn’t get it from anywhere. So now we got to live with that.”

The former NFL quarterback admitted the transition to coaching leaves him feeling helpless at times. “That’s the toughest part, but, you know, we try to equip them with the tools to go out there and be successful on the field. It’s a totally different realm when you’re player versus coach. All we can do is put them in position. It’s up to them to take advantage of it. Continue to learn how to win, continue to learn how to convert on third downs, convert on first and 10, and find ways to put themselves in position.”

With the Battle of the Bay rivalry against Hampton looming, Vick emphasized urgency. “Play with some pride. We got to play with some pride, man. They got the skills to do it. They got the tools to do it. And like I just told them, it’s about what they do. We put them in position. That’s all we can do.”

Although MEAC play hasn’t started, Vick stressed the importance of winning now. “Everything’s still right there for us, but I live in it now. We want to win now. That’s our attitude and you ask everybody in that locker room, they’re going to tell you the same. It ain’t how you start, it’s how you finish. We got to find ways to put forth the effort, the things that we do in practice, go out and do, put it on display in the game, trust one another, believe in one another. That’s what’s most important now.”

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Brian Schaible

Brian Schaible is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering college and professional sports. Brian holds a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from Kent State University.