NFL coaches Mike Tomlin, Sean McDermott give William & Mary football program a boost
There was no way William & Mary could lose on the opening Sunday of the NFL, but the Tribe won twice. In a battle of Tribe alumni who are head coaches in the NFL, Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers beat Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills 23-16.
The Carolina Panthers, with offensive coordinator Joe Brady, beat the New York Jets. The Panthers followed last weekend with a 26-7 win over New Orleans, while Buffalo rebounded to beat Miami 35-0. Brady, like McDermott, played for and coached at W&M.
Tribe head coach Mike London was asked during his weekly press conference about the impact they have on W&M’s brand and football recruiting.
“As head football coach of William & Mary football, it resonates with every young man, or young woman or anyone that knows of the sport of professional football, that (people) like Sean McDermott, Mike Tomlin and Joe Brady went to school here, that they were students here, that they graduated from here and that they had success on the field and in the classroom,” he said.
“Even in the NFL, now, they talk about doing it the right way, winning with class and being exemplary about how they run their programs. It makes you proud as head coach here to know it’s not just about the football aspects of it — everybody sees it’s also about the accomplishments off the field.”
London is close enough with Tomlin and McDermott that he texted to ask them to participate in the videos W&M makes to award scholarships to walk-on players.
“Within minutes, both of them texted back and said (they would) love to do it (and) when do you need it?” London said. “That’s the kind of alumni that they are.”
The Tribe (2-1) opens Colonial Athletic Association play at Elon (1-2) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Cincinnati transfer leads NSU rushing attack
Two years ago, J.J. Davis was a preferred walk-on at the University of Cincinnati hoping to play running back at the FBS level. On Saturday, he rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries for Norfolk State.
“Norfolk State was my first offer out of high school,” said Davis, a Cincinnati native. “I ended up going to the University of Cincinnati at home but decided I wanted to transfer. I told my mom when I first entered (the transfer portal) I wanted to go to an HBCU.”
Davis reconnected with NSU offensive coordinator B.T. Sherman, also a Cincinnati native, and transferred to Norfolk State in January 2020.
“Coach Sherman is from my city and I trusted him,” Davis said.
Davis helps lead a dynamic rushing attack that constantly subs in new players at the position. Rarely does a back cross the 15- or even 10-carry threshold.
“Just be ready when your name is called,” NSU coach Dawson Odums said. “It’s a deep (running back) room. It’s a talented room.”
Davis picked up MEAC Rookie of the Week honors for his performance against Elizabeth City State and will look to continue that success against St. Francis (Pa.) at noon Saturday.
HU receivers coming up big
It’s hardly a surprise that the wide receivers are making the most noise early this season for Hampton University. The returning group, already reckoned to be the most talented and experienced for the Pirates (2-1), added Virginia Tech transfer Hezekiah Grimsley.
Grimsley’s 95-yard touchdown reception from Jett Duffey in the 48-32 win over Howard was not only the longest in Big South Conference history, it is just three yards short of the school-record 98-yard TD pass in 2004 from Princeton Sheppard to eventual NFL Pro Bowler Jerome Mathis. Jadakis Bonds caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Duffey against Howard, moving him to within one TD reception of the school-record 22 shared by Johnnie Barnes (1988-91) and Marquay McDaniel (2003-06).
The Pirates have a bye this week before hosting Norfolk State on October 2.
CNU looking for consistency
A glimpse, as the Don Cheadle character told Nicholas Cage in the movie “The Family Man,” is by definition something impermanent. Forget permanence, Christopher Newport University coach Art Link will settle for a more consistent display of the Captains’ first-quarter glimpse in the 26-19 loss to Ferrum.
The offense balanced its 124 yards nicely those first 15 minutes, with Adam Luncher gaining half of the 70 rushing yards, while quarterback Matt Dzierski passed for 55 and ran for 20. The defense, led by linebacker Connor Ryan, allowed just 21 yards.
But four failed runs inside the Ferrum 5 and a missed short field goal left the Captains with only a 7-0 lead after 20 minutes of dominance in the trenches. They were outgained 343-167 the final three quarters in falling to 1-2 going into Saturday’s first meeting with Catholic in Washington, D.C.
Link said the Captains will “go back to the drawing board” to figure out who needs to become more involved on offense to increase success in the red zone and which defensive personnel will improve the Captains’ third down efficiency.
