Michael Vick is the new college football coach at Norfolk State. He understands the challenges of NIL at a small school and will encourage his players to do what is best for them even if it could hurt his team in the short term.
The 44-year-old does not want to be naïve to reality!
Vick, a native of Newport News, will coach college football just a few miles from where he grew up. The Spartans won only nine total games in the last three years so it will be a process to rebuild the program. The last time Norfolk State had a sellout was in 1997. A crowd of approximately 80% capacity showed up to a game in 2021, which was the second-largest in school history.
The wait is over 👿
— Norfolk State Football 🔰 (@NorfolkStateFB) April 1, 2025
Our 2025 schedule is here!
📝 https://t.co/iKRSMDRQeR#GoldStandard🔰 pic.twitter.com/pRRkuWLWYT
Fans do not care unless the team is winning. Vick knows that.
It’s about winning. That’s what I’m all about in every phase of life. You gotta prepare and push yourself to be the best version of yourself that you can be. I would be doing myself and this team a disservice if I didn’t ask them that on a consistent basis.
— Michael Vick
Winning obviously requires talent just as much as good coaching. A head coach and his staff can only call so many plays. The players must be good enough to execute the game plan to see results.
With that in mind, Michael Vick overhauled his roster during the offseason. The Spartans return both of their starting running backs and most of their receiving corps and some of its offensive line but that’s about it. They added 22 transfers through the portal, 14 on defense, as well as eight freshmen.
Former South Florida signal-caller Izzy Carter is expected to be named as Vick’s first starting quarterback. Three FBS transfers are going to anchor the defense.
However, this kind of roster turnover is just the beginning.
If Norfolk State starts winning, its top players are going to be of interest to bigger programs with more NIL money at their disposal. Vick, who already teased an innovative NIL partnership with new rival head coach and former teammate DeSean Jackson, will do his best to retain his top talent.
And yet, he is not going to hold them back. He wants them to chase the money.
Vick explained his approach to finances during an appearance on Da Get Got Podcast with Marshawn Lynch. It is a little bit different than what other coaches might do and/or say. There will be no ill will toward anyone who wants to leave for greener pastures. Rather, the opposite.
I’m taking the embrace it approach. I know you’re going to have options if you do what you got to do. You go win the MEAC and you make First Team and Clemson comes calling and they offering you some money. I can’t tell you no. They’re offering you some bread. I can’t do that. The only thing I can do is match. The only thing we can do is get in the game.
— Michael Vick
Some of his players have already told him that they want to play only for him throughout their entire careers. Vick would actually prefer to see them go succeed (and get paid more money) elsewhere.
I’ve told a couple of them that, and they’ll be like, “Nah coach, I want to be with you the whole time.”
And I’m like, “Alright. Well, when somebody comes and calls you, they get $700,000. Let me see if you want that.”
— Michael Vick
Norfolk State has not responded to my request(s) for clarification on its NIL budget. I would be curious to know more about the size of the financial pool, if there is one. I would also like to know what Vick meant when he said that he would be working closely with Jackson on NIL.
It seems to me like the Spartans are not even trying to pretend that they have money. Because they don’t. Certainly compared to high-level FCS programs like Montana State or any team on the FBS level.
Michael Vick accepted the job with an understanding of the situation. He is going to build up his hometown program with the cards he is dealt. But unlike other coaches, he wants his program to be a stepping stone. If his players are getting offers to play elsewhere, that means Norfolk State is winning.