NORFOLK, Va. | The 2023 college football season is finally here!
Norfolk State opens the season with a familiar opponent and a rivalry game as the Spartans play host to Virginia State in the annual Labor Day Classic. Kickoff against the Trojans is set for 2 p.m. from William "Dick" Price Stadium.
Norfolk State will be looking to make it two straight after last year's season-ending victory over South Carolina State. The Spartans, who went 2-9 overall and 2-3 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play last year, return starting quarterback Otto Kuhn, along with running backs
Lex Henry,
Kevon King and
Jordin Lennon. NSU will also be looking to reverse its fortune in season openers as the Spartans have lost their last three games, with the last victory coming in 2018, a 34-13 win over Virginia State.
Virginia State, which went 6-4 overall and 5-3 in CIAA play last season, will be seeking its first season-opening victory since 2017, which was a 14-10 win over Norfolk State. The Trojans won two out of their final three games to conclude play in 2022.
Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+ as Ian Unsworth, Emory Hunt and Cayla Sweazie will have the call. Norfolk State will broadcast the game on Hot 91.1 FM (WNSB) with Ross Gordon and Woube Gebre calling all the action.
Norfolk State head coach
Dawson Odums said the Spartans are excited the season-opener is here and look forward to its matchup against Virginia State.
"I think the guys are excited about the opportunity to open the season and are looking forward to the game," Odums said. "I think we've got a really good football team and we're looking forward to seeing them compete against another colored jersey.
"They're (Virginia State) a really good football team. Coach (Henry) Frazier is a good football coach and he's had success wherever he's been. We've just got to focus on us and control the things we do very well in, doing them in a high level and if we do that, we've got a chance to be very successful."
ABOUT THE GAME
- Norfolk State and Virginia State will be meeting in the annual Labor Day Classic
- The Trojans lead the all-time series, 30-22-2
- The Spartans won the last meeting, defeating VSU, 44-21, in 2019
- Norfolk State is seeking its third straight win in the series with victories in 2018 and 2019
- The Spartans have scored 858 points in the series, including scoring more than 40 points twice (2008 and 2019)
- The Trojans have amassed 987 points with their biggest win coming in 1994 (54-6)
NORFOLK STATE NEWS & NOTES
- The Spartans are looking to rebound off a 2-9 season a year ago
- NSU is seeking its first season-opening victory since the 2018 season, a 44-21 win at home against Virginia State
- Norfolk State has dropped its last six home games, with the last victory coming on October 30, 2021 - a 31-20 win over Morgan State
- The Spartans return starting quarterback Otto Kuhns from a year ago, who earned the starting spot over transfers Cameron Sapp and Ruben Lee II
- NSU plays just four home games this season - Virginia State, North Carolina A&T State, Morgan State and South Carolina State
- Norfolk State placed four players on the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason teams
- The Spartans were chosen to finish fifth in the MEAC predicted order of finish
VIRGINIA STATE NEWS & NOTES
- The Trojans went 6-4 last season and will be seeking their first season-opening victory since 2017 - a 14-10 win over Norfolk State
- Virginia State features six players who suited up for Norfolk State in the past
- Matthew Foster and Willie Drew named to the 2023 Black College Football Player of the Year Award Watch list
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME
- Norfolk State must protect the quarterback
- NSU needs to win the turnover battle
- The Spartans must avoid committing a ton of penalties
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
- Virginia State leads the all-time series, 30-22-2
- The series dates back to 1939
- VSU owns the longest win streak in the series, seven games
- Norfolk State is currently on a two-game win streak (2018 & 2019)
- The last Spartans loss to the Trojans came during the 2017 season (14-10)
- NSU has won seven out of the last 10 meetings against VSU
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT
- Norfolk State will continue its rivalry week with the annual Battle of the Bay against Hampton on Sept. 9
- The Pirates will be making their home opener against the Spartans
- Hampton opens the season in New Jersey at the Brick City Classic against Grambling State on Saturday
- Norfolk State dropped the 2022 matchup, 17-7 and won an overtime thriller in 2021, 47-44
- The installment will be the 64th meeting between the two rivals
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @NSUSpartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
