Michael Vick’s impact on Norfolk State University’s football program is impossible to ignore, even amidst a challenging season that sees the Spartans potentially finishing with just a single win. Remarkably, fan attendance has surged, illustrating a significant shift in community engagement and support for the team, especially during big events like Homecoming.
Despite raising season ticket prices by 82 percent and changing the Homecoming ticketing system, Norfolk State has managed to achieve one of its highest attendance figures in the past decade. The catalyst for this change appears to be Vick’s arrival as head coach, which has generated a newfound excitement and curiosity surrounding the program.
Homecoming serves as a barometer for fan engagement at Norfolk State, and Vick’s influence was immediately evident. The Homecoming game against South Carolina State in 2025 attracted 47,273 fans, compared to just 24,960 for the game against Morgan State in 2023—an increase of 22,313 fans. This nearly two-fold increase cannot be attributed solely to the new ticketing policy implemented by the university, which required all attendees—alumni, vendors, and general spectators—to secure game tickets for entry. While this policy did inflate attendance numbers, the sheer magnitude of the growth indicates a larger trend driven by Vick’s star power and the excitement surrounding the team.
In examining the last games of the seasons, the data further illustrates Vick’s impact. For the 2023 final home game against South Carolina State, only 3,087 fans showed up. In contrast, the 2025 season finale against Morgan State saw attendance reach 7,294—an increase of 4,207 fans—even though the Spartans had a worse record that season (1–9 compared to 3–7 in 2023). Typically, a losing record leads to dwindling interest, but under Vick, fan engagement appears to have stabilized and even grown.
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Historically, Norfolk State’s attendance has averaged between 8,000 and 15,000 over the last decade. However, in 2025, the Spartans drew a remarkable total of 106,062 fans across five home games, surpassing the combined totals of 2023 and 2024 and marking one of the largest attendance figures in recent program history.
Several interconnected factors contribute to this attendance boom: Vick’s national allure, a revitalized sense of relevance for the HBCU program, the new ticketing policy, heightened community interest, and a collective belief that positive change is on the horizon—even if it hasn’t yet manifested in wins.
As Vick himself noted, “People want to support when they feel momentum. Our job is to give them something to believe in.” Despite the challenges faced on the field, the significant turnout suggests that Vick is achieving something profound: making Norfolk State football matter again.
Moving forward, the path for both Vick and the Spartans appears promising, as the program continues to cultivate a passionate fan base even amid adversity. The challenge now lies in translating this renewed interest into tangible success on the field.
