It was good to see the football team beat Norfolk State last Saturday. When I was growing up, the Fish Bowl was the big rivalry game between the NSU Spartans and Elizabeth City State, my hometown HBCU.

Throughout the 1980s and early ‘90s, Norfolk State would beat up on ECSU pretty bad. When the game was in Elizabeth City, boys around my age whose parents worked on campus would have a game going on beside the stadium while the Fish Bowl was being played, and our game was usually much more competitive. When the game was played in Norfolk, a group of us rode with my dad, who was director of student housing at ECSU at the time.

Every year, it seemed NSU would score a touchdown within the first four plays of the game and the rout would be on from there. The Spartans would keep it up until late in the fourth quarter, boosting the team scoring average at the expense of ECSU. Many of the Viking faithful would make the trip to old Dick Price Stadium, and as the blowout took place before our eyes we could only sit, watch and hope for redemption the following year.

There was a near-victory in 1992, but a Hail Mary touchdown pass in the closing seconds by NSU QB Aaron Sparrow ended the dream of an ECSU victory. There was weeping in the stands, and that ‘92 game left an emotional scar on many Viking fans in Elizabeth City.

A few years after 1992, Norfolk State left the CIAA for the MEAC. The rivalry between the two schools died down because they no longer played each other in football or basketball. There was an occasional scuffle between the softball or volleyball teams, but mostly it was just a war of words.

I got excited when I learned A&T would be traveling to Norfolk State this year because I figured it would be the only away game I would go to. The plan was to use my position as a contributing writer for the A&T student newspaper to get in the game free, get on the sidelines and talk unlimited trash to each and every NSU supporter in shouting distance while I took pictures of A&T running the score up on the overmatched Spartans. The plan also called for Greg Bond, who also contributes to the paper, to get in the press box and report on the actual game story.

My plan almost worked to perfection, but there were several obstacles that had to be overcome. In order to get passes into the game, Bond and I had to go through the A&T Sports Information Director’s office. Anyone who has dealt with the SID office can assure you, nothing is guaranteed with them. On top of that, we had to get from Greensboro to Norfolk using our own mode of transportation.

I solved the transportation problem by stealing my sister’s car Thursday night. Friday afternoon Greg and I left for Elizabeth City to crash at my parents house until the game on Saturday. When we got to NSU’s campus I was surprised to see how it had grown since the last time I was there. Dick Price stadium had been replaced by a 30,000- seat arena.

In order to get in this new stadium, Greg and I still needed passes. Luckily, Lanier Long from the SID’s office showed up at the gate with two passes before the game started. We got in for free, but instead of being on the sidelines with Greg’s camera I would be stuck in the press box along with the other reporters.

The press box is really for those keeping stats of the game and reporters working to get their story. As the posted signs state, there is NO CHEERING allowed in the press box. I bet SID director Jim McNally wonders if I can read.

My seat, which was directly behind the Norfolk State radio broadcasters, was the worst possible place for someone like myself who shows complete disregard for posted signs. All through the afternoon, the listening public in Virginia was treated to my sudden outbursts and vocal reactions from the game. A few times the NSU broadcasters turned around and gave me an evil look, but I would simply point to the field or the scoreboard.

“Look at that,” I told them one time. “That scoreboard is what you need to be worried about.”

Despite the animosity between me and the local broadcasters, the press box adventure was fun and enjoyable. I had a great view of the field and stadium. Right before halftime, I got to see a Yonnick Matthews kick split the uprights and nail a NSU trombone player right on top of his stupid-looking gold helmet. We also had a good view of the late hit by a Norfolk State player that started a brief shoving match on the A&T sidelines. To top it all off, A&T won the game AND the good folks at NSU gave all of us in the press box free chicken and biscuits. I only wish I could have been on the sidelines to participate in the shoving match.

• Chad Roberts