Norfolk State University Coach’s Show with Michael Vick on 13NewsNow+

NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State University Coach’s Show is giving fans an unprecedented inside look at Spartan football. 

Every episode features Norfolk State Head Football Coach Michael Vick and 13News Now’s Brian Smith and Shane Fordham. They’ll dive deep into the team’s strategy, analyzing key moments, victories and challenges while previewing upcoming games.

Coach Vick is providing exclusive insights that extend far beyond traditional game analysis, combining tactical breakdowns with behind-the-scenes stories from his career. From dissecting crucial plays to sharing intimate locker room experiences and highlighting the players who embody Spartan excellence, the show captures the essence of NSU Athletics.

The show, brought to you by Banister Automotive, will blend detailed game analysis with compelling narratives, all infused with genuine Spartan pride. Viewers gain exclusive access to the strategic thinking, determination and passion that fuel Norfolk State University football.

The Spartans announced their 2025 season opener against Towson will take place on Thursday, Aug. 28, with a 7 p.m. kickoff at William “Dick” Price Stadium. 

The City of Norfolk and Norfolk State are each anticipating heavy traffic on game days, and free transportation and parking options are available. 

Here’s when the show will air:

• The first show will air Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
• The next show will air on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.
• The third show will air Saturday, Sept. 6 at 11:30 a.m.
• Then, the weekly show will be available on 13NewsNow+ Wednesdays at 7 p.m. throughout the college football season.

The free 13News Now+ app lets you stream local news, live events and original programming on your smart TV and any major streaming device, like Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. 

Just download on your TV and watch for free! Look for “13News Now” on your device’s app store. You can find a step-by-step guide on our website.

The Spartans are already showing steady improvement under first-year head coach Michael Vick.

When asked what’s changed since spring ball, Vick said the growth has been competitive, intense and crucial to team development.

“I just think our knowledge of the game,” Vick said during NSU’s fall football camp. “We go back and forth. Sometimes the offense wins, sometimes the defense wins. We’re just challenging them to push each other every day.”

Vick also built a coaching staff with a wealth of talent, including four former NFL players.

“I just like the fact that our offense comes out and competes just as hard as our defense and vice versa and they push one another,” Vick said. “It’s like a heavyweight boxing match. I’ve never seen a football game where things are picture perfect and if you expect it to be picture perfect, you’re in the wrong business.”

Junior quarterback Israel Carter, a transfer from South Florida, opened fall camp as the team’s QB1. 

Carter, a former 3-star recruit out of Corona, California, had an impressive list of scholarship offers when he was coming out of high school. Programs like Arizona State, Oregon, Colorado, Kansas, BYU, Washington State and Tulane all extended offers to the talented dual-threat quarterback.

Players will also have a steady and experienced presence in the backfield — Chesapeake native and former Oscar Smith High School star Kevon King.

The veteran running back was named to the preseason Walter Payton Award Watch List, a nod to his standout play in 2024. In 12 games last season, King rushed for 944 yards and found the end zone 10 times, proving to be one of the Spartans’ most reliable offensive weapons.

On signing day, Norfolk State signed Phoebus Wide Receiver Romeir Smith, who had a breakout season in 2024. He became a major downfield threat with 13 touchdowns. Smith, who stands 6’4, was Class 4 first team all-state this past season. 

2025 has been a big year for Coach Vick.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in January, recognizing him as a Hampton Roads legend who helped guide Virginia Tech to its first-ever 11-0 regular season in 1999. In April, BET announced that a new docuseries would highlight Vick’s transition into coaching and the impact he makes on and off the field.

The Newport News native holds multiple school records, including single-season passing efficiency, single-season yards per completion, single-season yards per attempt and career yards per attempt. He was the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in 2001, drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. The Warwick graduate would go on to be a 4-time Pro Bowler in 14 years. 

That Hall of Fame announcement came less than a month after Vick was named as NSU’s head coach. To say it brought excitement to the historically Black university is an understatement.

Experts say Vick’s presence at the helm of NSU football will almost certainly engineer more donations, corporate partnerships and increased ticket sales. Even the team’s inaugural spring football game attracted major buzz and a few famous faces.

All that attention is only elevating NSU’s place on the national stage.

Like most HBCUs, NSU is enjoying increased enrollment. According to the State Council of Higher Education, the Norfolk university has 6,053 students, an increase of almost a thousand students over the last nine years. 

“Step up. Do it. Don’t be afraid.”

That’s the advice legendary coach Tommy Reamon Sr. gave Vick when he first received the job offer from Norfolk State. And for Vick, being home made the transition even easier. 

“I feel like God opened a door and I wanted to walk through it,” Vick said in a one-on-one interview in March.

As legendary coaches like Nick Saban retire, Vick is part of an era of new coaches that truly connect with today’s youth. Vick said the young men in his locker room help keep him young, and their suggestions are helpful, too.

“I’m trying to establish a program that 10 years from now, the culture remains the same. And the standard remains the same,” Vick said.

His definition: a winning culture and a winning atmosphere. However, he wants his players to remember that the most valuable asset is the degree they will earn. 

Vick says Norfolk State football will be a winning program in 2025. 

“That’s it,” Vick said. “We’re gonna win games.”