NSU Football Coach Ready For New Season Team Displays New Uniforms At Media Day

By Randy Singleton

Community Affairs Correspondent

New Journal and Guide

NORFOLK

Members of the NSU football team proudly displayed their new uniforms for the 2015 season during Media Day at Price Stadium on Sunday (August 23). Gone are the bright yellow helmets from the past few seasons as they have been replaced by solid green helmets with a gold stripe down the center.  The Spartans’ new head coach, Latrell Scott, answered some questions from the New Journal and Guide about the upcoming season.

New Journal and Guide: What type of offense will the NSU fans see this season?  Will it be exciting with reverses and trick plays?

Coach Scott: We are going to do whatever it takes to score.  What is exciting to the fans may not always work.  We do have some unique formations and play designs that should help us get into the end zone.

NJG: NSU kicker Cameron Marouf  is one of the better kickers in the MEAC.  Will NSU go by the motto: ‘3-points adds up’ and send Cameron out to kick a field goal rather than go for it on fourth down?

Coach Scott: I think we have found Cameron’s range and if we can get the ball into the red zone, then he is definitely a threat to score.  Bo Lomax, a true freshman, has been in competition with Cameron all summer.  Those guys will split the kicking duties this season.

NJG: Will NSU be a run-oriented team or a pass-oriented team?

Coach Scott:  I think there is the possibility of both.  There will be games where we throw it more than run.  There will be games where we will run it more than we throw.  I think it is a matter of taking advantage of what the defense gives us and being able to attack their weaknesses.  At the end of the day, I hope we are 50-50.

NJG:  NSU has a tough schedule. What are your thoughts?

Coach Scott:  Those teams are on the schedule so we are going to play them.  I really think our non-conference schedule is great for us.  We get television exposure.  Our conference gets exposure. And by the time we get to our MEAC games, we will be battle-tested, so we will know a lot about ourselves.

NJG: Do you feel comfortable about our group of running backs?

Coach Scott:  I’m excited about our running backs. Gerard Johnson leads the group. He will handle the bulk of the carries.  Quintrell Chung, a true freshman, has come in and given us a capable backup to Gerard. Shakeem Copeland is probably our number 3.  All of those guys can run, protect, and catch the ball as well.

NJG:  Is there anything you would like to say about the Defense?

Coach Scott:  Our defense has had a very solid training camp.  A lot of guys were lost to graduation.  A lot of guys have moved in nicely.  Defense has been the trademark of NSU but we have got to move past that.  We expect our defense to be good.  Now, we have got to make sure that our offense is able to catch up and is able to support our defense.

NSU opens the season September 5 with a road game at Rutgers.