NORFOLK — Michael Vick didn’t have to be reminded about Rutgers.
It was October 1999 when Vick, then a Virginia Tech quarterback, shredded the Scarlet Knights for 316 total yards and five touchdowns in just his fifth career start.
”All hell broke loose,” Vick joked on Tuesday.
Twenty-five years later, Vick returns to Piscataway, New Jersey, in a much different role — this time, leading Norfolk State as its head coach into its lone Power Four test of the season.
The Spartans (1-1) travel to SHI Stadium on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, looking to build on last week’s overtime win against Virginia State, the first win of Vick’s tenure as coach.
They’ll do so with a new quarterback, as Vick announced that senior Otto Kuhns will start in place of South Florida transfer Izzy Carter. Kuhns came off the bench Saturday to provide a spark to a struggling Spartans offense, delivering 173 yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-20 passing to spark the comeback.
For Norfolk State, the challenge is steep. The Spartans have never beaten an Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and are 0-18 against them since 2007, losing by an average of 33.4 points. Rutgers in particular has been a roadblock, with three lopsided wins in their past meetings — 31-0 in 2010, 38-0 in 2013, and 63-13 in 2015. The athletic department will earn a $425,000 payout for making the trip.
Rutgers (2-0) enters after a 45-17 victory over Miami (Ohio). The Scarlet Knights play in front of crowds topping 52,000 at SHI Stadium, which could make Saturday the largest stage many Spartans have experienced.
For Vick, the moment is less about the spotlight and more about growth. He views this game as a measuring stick.
“It’s not about just the opportunity to go play on a big stage,” he said. “What does that do if you don’t produce? It’s about competing, measuring yourself, and seeing how good you really are.”
Vick has leaned on his own experience playing in big games to prepare his players.
“As the week goes on, we’ll talk more and more about what this opportunity means — a chance to showcase their talents and see how they measure up against a big-time FBS school,” he said. “We know Rutgers has good players, a stand-up program. We’ve just got to go out there and do the best we can, try to take it to them, and challenge them like they’re going to challenge us.”
Regardless of Saturday’s outcome, Vick wants his team to embrace the test as part of a bigger process.
“Every game is a challenge,” he said. “We’re not going to look at them any different than any other opponent. We’re going to prepare like they prepare for us, and then we’ll go to battle.”
