Michael Vick is preaching trust in his first season as Norfolk State’s football coach.
After a rough Week 1 showing against Towson, the Spartans trusted each other when it counted most, overcoming a two-score deficit to defeat rival Virginia State 34-31 in overtime Saturday night.
The win is Vick’s first as Norfolk State head coach.
“I’m proud of the guys for hanging in there and continuing to believe. We stress it’s a four-quarter game,” Vick said during Monday’s MEAC Coaches’ Conference “They were in tune with the game plan, they were mentally and physically prepared for the challenge. It was a 13-point deficit for a long time, but we made adjustments and found ways to win.”
Norfolk State trailed 23-10 before Vick turned to grad student quarterback Otto Kuhns, who rallied the Spartans back in front 24-23, then engineered the drive that tied the game again at 31 late in the fourth quarter.
After a defensive stop on the first possession, kicker Evan Helfrich’s 29-yard boot gave NSU the win.
“Wins like that build character. You never know when you have a game where you have to go into overtime and find a way to win,” Vick said. “It’s good for our guys, I’m glad they got the sour taste of their mouth from Week 1.”
Vick’s mantra of “trust” is starting to sink in with his football team.
“It’s about durability. I felt our guys got stronger as the game went on,” he said. “Trusting themselves, trusting their technique, trusting the things they’ve been taught. You make a call and leave it up to them to go execute.”
Next up for the Spartans is a trip to Piscataway, New Jersey to face Big Ten member Rutgers this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
“We’ve got a good opponent that we’re going on the road to face. We just want to go in there and put on our best showing,” Vick said. “There’s no need to take our foot off the gas, let’s go compete, compete hard and try to find a way to win.”