NORFOLK, Va. — 13News Now is counting down until "A Battle To Behold": that's the college football showdown between the Norfolk State Spartans and the Florida A&M Rattlers!
With Saturday's big game right around the corner, fans and alumni of Norfolk State University are showing their support for the Spartans ahead of their big game against the Rattlers in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the last few years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like the Spartans have been getting some much-needed attention – for their football program and their university, overall.
This is the first game of the season and the Spartans' first appearance in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southwestern Athletic Conference Challenge (MEAC SWAC Challenge).
All this week the 13News Now Sports Team of Brian Smith and Conner Rhiel, Anchor Eugene Daniel and Photojournalist Adrian Guerra have been covering the excitement in Atlanta ahead of Saturday night's big game:
Former Norfolk State football standout Don Carey
Chesapeake congressman, NSU alum, and former NFL player, Don Carey said the exposure the players from his alma mater will gain is immeasurable.
In 2009, Carey, a Norfolk native, became the first NSU football player drafted into the NFL in the school's Division I era leading to a 10-year professional career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions.
Carey attributes his success in the big leagues to his time as a Spartan and said he often referred to his college playbook to help learn new defensive concepts early in his NFL career.
And while he no longer wears the Spartan uniform, Carey said he proudly represents his university everywhere he goes; attributing the culture of a historically Black college for shaping him on and off the field.
President of Norfolk State University Javaune Adams-Gaston
The excitement isn't limited to players, students and alumnae, NSU's President Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston also acknowledges what a great opportunity the game will be for the football team – and for expanding the school's reach into the national spotlight.
According to Adams-Gaston, a large portion of people in careers such as engineering hail from HBCUs despite only representing 4% of high institutions and being vastly underfunded.
Adams-Gaston said the visibility that comes with a big game like the MEAC-SWAC Challenge helps people get what she calls "a taste of excellence at HBCUs," including their unique culture, pride and educational opportunities.
Celebrations held on campus at Norfolk State University
13News Now Anchor Ashley Smith was on campus at NSU Friday afternoon, getting a sneak peek at the building excitement ahead of Saturday's big game.
The game being held in Atlanta isn't stopping celebrations in Norfolk. Students and members of the university's dance team took over campus while Norfolk city Councilman John E. "JP" Paige delivered the Green and Gold Proclamation, calling upon the residents of Norfolk to support NSU as they face off against the Rattlers.
13News Now continues to cover the excitement ahead of game day Saturday, we will begin our coverage of the game in Atlanta, starting on 13News Now at 6.
Then at 7 p.m., 13News Now will have special pre-game coverage of "A Battle To Behold" up until kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Stick around right after the game for 13News Now at 11, followed by "A Battle To Behold" post-game coverage.