Norfolk State wide receiver P.J. Hayden, the second leading receiver on last year's team, will redshirt this season after being ruled academically ineligible.
His loss means Norfolk State will be trying to replace more than two-thirds of its receiving yardage, more than half its receptions and all but one touchdown.
In addition to Hayden, the Spartans lost quarterback Dennis Brown to graduation and receiver Chris Bell, who left a year early to attempt to go pro.
Coach Pete Adrian said the academic issue was not grade-point-average related, but occurred because Hayden repeated a class and didn't meet the NCAA's credit-hour requirement. He will remain in school and participate with the scout team.
Running back DeAngelo Branche becomes the team's leader among returning players in receiving yards with 250, and the top pass-catcher due in camp will be wideout Jeremy Wicker. He caught 25 passes for 191 yards.
"We have four guys who played regularly," Adrian said. "We had three freshm en redshirt - they have speed - and we brought in a JUCO (Montel Gamble). We've also got some running backs who are hybrids and can catch the ball and run with it."
To be fair
Adrian began his conversation at the MEAC Media Day on Friday by stressing that Norfolk State's recently-released Academic Progress Rate (for 2008-09) was tops in the MEAC and among all Historically Black College and University football programs. The point system is used by the NCAA to grade a colleges' academic success.
During the yearly gathering, opposing coaches even took time to pick Adrian's brain about how the Spartans achieved that mark.
"He makes sure all his guys are up and go to breakfast," Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor said. "When you're up, you're going to go to class."
Better Battle
The MEAC preseason poll, which included votes from league coaches and sports information directors, indicated this year's Battle of the Bay ought to be much more competitive than last year's 46-6 Spartan shellacking.
Norfolk State was projected to finish third, exactly where it ended last season. Hampton was selected fourth. The Pirates, who added four transfers from major BCS conferences and will switch to a spread offense, were one of three teams to earn a first-place vote.
"Our biggest thing is what we think about ourselves. In our minds, we're going to give ourselves a first-place vote," said Hampton coach Donovan Rose, though he added that the first-place vote his team got was not his. "That's the reason we're here, is to play to be the best."
Taking Note
Adrian dismissed the importance of most preseason accolades, but he did take note of one: Spartan center Will Falakiseni finished last year first-team All-MEAC. He was placed on the preseason second team.
"He must have done something wrong in the offseason," Adrian said. "He's the best center in the league, period. He'll be told about that Monday, because I won't see him today."
He was one of eight Spartans who earned preseason honors. First-teamers included Branche, Kendall Noble, Dwight Fluker-Berry and Josh Turner and the other second-teamers were Sherron Childress, Calton Ford and Anthony Taylor.
Legacy lapse
The conference coaches chose diplomacy over decisiveness when it came to discussing the proposed Legacy Bowl.
The MEAC is discussing opting out its automatic bid to the FCS playoffs and pitting its champions against the SWAC winner in a revival of the Heritage Bowl.
"My take will be whatever the conference wants to do," Adrian said.
Of seven coaches who were asked about their preference, none were openly in favor of the Legacy Bowl over the playoffs. Florida A&M's Joe Taylor - the conference's leader in wins, longevity and, most likely, job security - was the only of the seven who said outright that he was against giving up the automatic bid for the bowl.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Monday, August 2nd 2010 at 2:06PM
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