Mike Vick to become Norfolk State head coach

1 hr ago

Chris Francis Sports Reporter

By Chris Francis (Sports Reporter), Bast Bramhall (Video editor)

Former NFL superstar Michael Vick has come full circle. The quarterback who took the league by storm in the early 2000s is set to become the next head coach at Virginia’s Norfolk State University.

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Vick grew up about 20 miles from NSU’s campus in Newport News, Virginia.

Vick led Virginia Tech to an undefeated regular season and the National Championship game in 1999 as a freshman with his running ability and electric playing style. He was the first Black quarterback taken No. 1 overall in the NFL draft.

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As a member of the Atlanta Falcons, he instantly rose to stardom and revolutionized the way NFL quarterbacks played the game. But his career was interrupted during its prime years.

In 2007, Vick was convicted for financing a dog fighting ring in his home state. He was sentenced to 23 months, ultimately spending 21 months in prison.

Upon his release and return to the NFL in 2009, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Two years later, Vick won the comeback player of the year award.

He played 13 seasons in the league for four different teams and went to the Pro Bowl four times.

Since his playing days, he’s worked tirelessly to mend his image in conjunction with animal rights advocates. Vick also works as a television football analyst for Fox Sports. He has never been a coach.

He takes over a Norfolk State program that posted a 15–30 record the last four seasons under former head coach Dawson Odums.

The Spartans play at the Football Championship Subdivision level in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The conference has seen its numbers dwindle to just six programs over the last couple of seasons.

He appeared to confirm the hire in a Facebook post Tuesday, Dec. 17 saying, “It’s an honor to announce that I’ll be the new head coach of Norfolk State University… looking forward to coming back home.”

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Straight Arrow News contacted the university’s athletic department to confirm the hire. However, university officials told SAN they planned to release a statement on the coaching search soon.

Tags: Atlanta, dogs, Football, Norfolk Southern, Philadelphia Eagles, Sports

[Chris]

MORE THAN TWO DECADES AFTER BECOMING AN NFL SENSATION, FORMER QUARTERBACK MIKE VICK IS NOW THE HEAD COACH AT VIRGINIA’S NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY. IT’S A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR THE FOUR TIME PRO BOWLER.

VICK WHO LED VIRGINIA TECH TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN 1999 AS A FRESHMAN WAS THE FIRST BLACK QUARTERBACK TAKEN #1 OVERALL IN THE NFL DRAFT.

HE INSTANTLY ROSE TO STARDOM WITH THE ATLANTA FALCONS AND REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY QUARTERBACKS PLAYED THE GAME. BUT DURING HIS PRIME IN 2007 VICK WAS CONVICTED FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN A DOG FIGHTING RING AND SPENT 21 MONTHS IN PRISON. UPON HIS RETURN TO THE NFL HE SIGNED WITH THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AND IN 2010 WON COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

HE TAKES OVER A NORFOLK STATE PROGRAM THAT WENT 15-30 THE LAST FOUR SEASONS. THE SPARTANS PLAY IN THE MEAC CONFERENCE AT THE FCS LEVEL.

IN A FACEBOOK POST TUESDAY NIGHT VICK SAID “It’s an honor to announce that I’ll be the new head coach of Norfolk State University… looking forward to coming back home”

VICK GREW UP IN NEWPORT NEWS WHICH IS 20 MILES FROM THE NORFOLK STATE CAMPUS. HE SPENT HIS POST PLAYING CAREER AS AN ANALYST WITH FOX SPORTS AND HAS NEVER BEEN A COACH.

WHEN I CONTACTED THE UNIVERSITY TODAY THEY SAID THEY ARE PLANNING ON RELEASING STATEMENT ON THE SEARCH SOON. FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CHRIS FRANCIS