Spartans return to workouts following months of isolation
NORFOLK — Finally, Rayquan Smith saw the smiles of teammates and coaches without the pixelation and stuttering a video call provides.
Norfolk State football returned to the practice field and weight room last week, ending the team’s monthslong isolation because of COVID-19 safety precautions.
“It feels good being around my guys,” said Smith, a sophomore running back. “Being with them makes me happy, feel great and energetic. I hadn’t seen them in forever so seeing them smiling and laughing was a good time.”
Norfolk State is following safety protocols during practice and lifting sessions.
The team meets for individual drills and conditioning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6 and 8 a.m. The offense runs drills between 6 and 7 a.m. before exiting the field and allowing the defense to come in between 7 and 8 a.m. That order will flip this week, coach Latrell Scott said.
Players wear masks and remain six feet apart for social distancing.
Weightlifting sessions take place throughout the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays, depending on players’ class times with a limit of 12 people in the weight room at a time.
“We try not to use all the weights,” said senior defensive end De’Shaan Dixon, a former Western Branch standout. “We try to keep it as safe as possible and use less weights with higher reps and do some core stuff as well.”
The support given by the school’s administration has been a blessing, Scott said.
Athletic director Melody Webb
is “pro-sports, but she’s pro-safety,” Scott said. School president Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston is “prosports, but pro-safety and it’s been our conversation since day one.
“For them to have the trust in us to go out and do some things says a lot about our administration. We talk to our kids daily about doing the right things and managing these things well.”
Scott has also been impressed with the team’s physical condition upon returning.
“I was shocked at the level of fitness our guys had,” Scott said. “I guess I expected the sky to fall, but credit to the guys for what they did.”
While back in his hometown of Richmond, Smith had a trainer to keep him fit and began each day with a jog.
Taking ownership of his training
regimen taught Smith that “if you want something, you gotta get it yourself. People would check up on you and everything, but you gotta take care of it yourself.”
Dixon remained close to campus and ran to the practice field and around campus to stay in shape. That his teammates also maintained their dedication reminded him that the team is still focused on their ultimate on-field goal.
“It’s keeping your mind on what’s most important,” Dixon said. “You still have to stay focused with your schoolwork online or through working out on your own, but it’s trying to stay together, stay active, stay in the mix and keep the mindset that we are trying to win a championship.”