Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson made their official debut as college football head coaches on Thursday, facing challenges right from the start. These former Philadelphia Eagles teammates were brought in last winter, despite having little coaching experience. Their hiring aligns with a growing trend in college football, often attributed to the influence of Deion Sanders.
Vick took the reins at Norfolk State, located near his hometown of Newport News, Virginia, while Jackson was named head coach at Delaware State. Both institutions compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Unfortunately, the first games for both coaches were less than ideal. Norfolk State faced a tough loss against Towson, losing 27-7. Delaware State, going up against in-state rival Delaware, fell short with a score of 35-17.
At Norfolk State, Vick’s team struggled significantly on offense. They didn’t score until the fourth quarter, managing only 39 rushing yards from 31 attempts. Adding to their woes, they committed nine penalties totaling 78 yards. Their passing game had some success but mainly due to being in a deficit for most of the night.
In Jackson’s debut, his team faced a Delaware squad that recently moved up to the FBS level. While they held Delaware scoreless for almost two quarters, the momentum shifted before halftime, allowing Delaware to score on four of their last five drives.
Despite the loss, Jackson acknowledged his team’s effort post-game, stating, “We played with a lot of intensity. Could have been a little more disciplined. We left a lot of points out on the field. But I’m proud of my team. I talk about the little things all the time and I feel like the little things got us today. We’ll go back and watch the film, but great effort out there by the guys.”
It’s essential to keep a larger perspective in mind, however, as these results come from just one game. Both coaches were brought in to lead programs that have struggled in recent years. Delaware State previously recorded only two wins in two seasons under the last head coach, while Norfolk State has had just one winning season since 2007. Developing a successful program takes time—even if expectations might have been high due to Deion Sanders’ rapid success at Jackson State, which led to his recent hiring at Colorado.
Before stepping into these coaching roles, Vick had limited experience, having interned with the Kansas City Chiefs and served as offensive coordinator for a team in the Alliance of American Football. On the other hand, Jackson had only one year of experience as the offensive coordinator at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in California.
In an interesting twist, Vick and Jackson’s teams are set to face off on October 30 at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Eagles, where they once played together as teammates.
The trend of hiring former NFL stars as college coaches is becoming more common. Sanders has been a pioneer in this area, alongside other noteworthy examples such as Eddie George at Tennessee State and Trent Dilfer at UAB. George had a successful debut season last year with a 9-4 record and began his new season on the same day as Vick and Jackson with a strong 26-7 victory over Lafayette.
With this new approach in college football, the coming weeks will be crucial for Vick and Jackson as they seek to find their footing and build their respective programs. Expectations might be high, especially in light of recent success stories, but patience will be key as they work to establish their identities as coaches. The journey of transforming underperforming programs into competitive squads is often fraught with ups and downs, and both men will need time to implement their visions.
