Michael Vick: A Celebration at Norfolk State University as New 🏈 Coach is Officially Introduced
🚩 2 days until Dec. 25 🎅🏽 Christmas + Hanukkah and 3 days until Kwanzaa
🚩 11 days until Jan. 3, 2025 the 119th Congress is sworn in.
🚩 16 days until the Virginia General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8, 2025.
🚩 28 days until the MLK Holiday on Jan. 20, 2025.
🚩 28 days until Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025.
Black Virginia News is giving you vital news and information on the Black community in Virginia. We give you facts others ignore. Thank you to all of our subscribers! Please support unbossed indy news in Virginia. Thank you!
Follow us on 🦋 BlueSky!
Above: New Norfolk State University head football coach Michael Vick answers questions on stage at the student center at NSU.
Michael Vick: Celebration at Norfolk State University as Local Superstar is Introduced as Head Football Coach
NORFOLK, VA — Today officials at Norfolk State University formally introduced local football star Michael Vick as their new head football coach. The moment was witnessed at the campus student center by invited alumni, elected officials, community leaders and a large group of press.
Norfolk State President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, NSU Athletic Director Melody Webb and NSU rector Kim Brown introduced Vick to a crowded room at the student center on NSU’s campus.
"Today we turn the corner, and we embrace a new season for our football program,” Brown said during introductory remarks.
Below: Vick and his wife Kijafa share a moment on stage today.
Vick’s official introduction was attended by two other sports legends from Hampton Roads, Virginia. They are: Allen Iverson, who grew up in Hampton and Bruce Smith, who is from Norfolk. Vick, who grew up in Newport News, was emotional on Fox Sports TV yesterday when he spoke of coming home.
"It’s a lot of pressure being in your hometown. I’ve always thrived off it,” the NFL star said today on stage. After speeches and introductions and a sit down interview and media Q&A, Vick took even more questions from reporters and then joined a reception with dignitaries.
The announcement puts Norfolk State on the map as a HBCU that will now have a marquee name as a head coach that’s not only a superstar level big name hire but also a well known local phenom. That model of leadership has grown in popularity since former NFL star Deion Sanders took the reins at Jackson State University and then went on to become head football coach at the University of Colorado Boulder. Sanders’ participation in those programs was followed by recruiting victories and national television interest followed.
Several members of the press asked Vick about having no college coaching experience. Vick responded that he will be focused on building the right assistant coaching team around him and would be listening to the advice from others who are currently coaching. Vick also mentioned that he’d spoken to Sanders about the Norfolk State coaching job prior to accepting it and that Sanders was encouraging.
“Deion is Deion. I’m Michael Vick,” he confidently informed the audience.
A large group of Hampton Roads elected leaders, including Congressman Bobby Scott, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and State Senator L. Louise Lucas were in attendance. The event was a special Christmas week gift to the region and the excitement of the announcement is likely to win Norfolk State national attention. As one of the NFL’s game defining players, Vick is widely considered to be one of the modern architects of NFL offenses built around running QBs.
A graduate of Virginia Tech, Vick gave several shoutouts to another graduate of Virginia Tech: State Senator Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach. Vick thanked Rouse for being one of the people who was instrumental in the star QB’s decision to take the head coaching position at Norfolk State.
“This is an exciting day for our community, for NSU, and for the future of Spartan football. With his deep ties to the Hampton Roads area and his wealth of experience, I believe Michael Vick is uniquely positioned to take the Norfolk State football program to new heights. His coaching will provide valuable insights and inspiration to the next generation of student-athletes, and his appointment signals a new era of excellence at NSU,” Senator Rouse said about today’s new chapter for NSU.
Above: Many in attendance were fashionably in sync with the occasion. Below: Many elected officials and other dignitaries were present along with NBA superstar Allen Iverson and NFL Hall of Fame member Bruce Smith.
Above: Vick takes questions from the media.
“It wasn’t the easiest decision to make. I’ve got family that I considered, I care about and I love. This requires a lot of change in lifestyle. But at the same time, it allows me to serve young men in my community,” Vick said standing on a stage with a large green and gold banner with his name and face.
“His journey is one of resilience and redemption and unwavering commitment to growth,” Norfolk State University Athletic Director Melody Webb told the audience.
Vick will have to navigate a new world of college sports that is much different than the one he experienced as a player at Virginia Tech. Players have much more power and leverage over where they want to play and they were only recently able to control the millions being made off their brands.
Vick will finish out his time as an NFL analyst on Fox Sports. It was announced yesterday by his colleagues that he will finish the 2024 NFL season with Fox Sports.
Reading List
1- Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey (Oct. 2024)
2- Positive, Successful, Stylish Black People Coloring Book (2024)
3- When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond: Strong-Arm Politics in Virginia's Capital City by Linwoood Norman (Aug. 2024)
4- Rumor, Repression, and Racial Politics: How the Harassment of Black Elected Officials Shaped Post-Civil Rights America (Since 1970: Histories of Contemporary America) by George Derek Musgrove
5- Son of Virginia, A Life in America's Political Arena (2015) by L. Douglas Wilder
6- The New Jim Crow (2010) by Michelle Alexander
7- Remaking Virginia Politics by Paul Goldman (Jan. 2022)
➡️ SUBSCRIBE TO BLACK VIRGINIA NEWS. “One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.” —Ida Wells. 👨🏽💻 Send press releases, submissions, tips, pitches, comments and corrections to BlackVirginiaNews@gmail.com.