With his Virginia Union football program in disarray, Athletic Director Michael Bailey said he will move swiftly to replace Greg Richardson, who was fired Tuesday after only one season.

Virginia Union began the season with great expectations, but the Panthers collapsed at midseason. As a result, Greg Richardson’s contract will not be renewed for the 2009 season.

Instead of finishing with a flurry, Virginia Union barely made it across the finish line in its season finale yesterday in losing 36-13 to CIAA nemesis Elizabeth City State.

Virginia State travels to Elizabeth City State licking its wounds. The Trojans are likely to be outmanned Saturday, in part because of injuries to sophomore linebacker LaQuentin Milo and junior offensive guard Manuel Becker. Milo went down with a knee injury early in the fourth quarter during VSU’s 23-13 loss to Fayetteville State. He is listed as questionable and could be replaced by freshman Trent Bowe or junior James Dixon.

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It pains Hurley Hemphill to watch the game film of Tuskegee unleashing an aerial assault that overwhelmed the Virginia Union defense in last year’s Pioneer Bowl. The Panthers’ stunned defense spent much of the afternoon back on its heels during a 109-point shootout. Union’s explosive offense couldn’t bail out a defensive unit that spent the second half of the 2007 season trying to seal one crack after another.

Lamar Little isn’t off to his usual fast start this season, mostly because of nagging ankle injuries. But he flashed signs of recovery on Saturday by completing 10 of 17 passes for 167 yards and a season-high five touchdown passes. “Lama is still coming around, but he isn’t there yet,“ said Virginia Union coach Greg Richardson. “He’ll try to make a big play when he doesn’t have to. We’re insisting he take what [defenses] give him.“

Where: Zable Stadium (cap. 12,259), Williamsburg
  When: 7 p.m.
  Radio: WCLM (1450), 6:30
  Tickets: $25 adult, $17 youth, sideline; $19 adult, $12 youth, end zone
  Records: Norfolk State 2-1, William and Mary 1-1
  Players to watch: NSU—RB DeAngelo Branche, So., 64 carries, 319 yds., 3 TDs, LB Anthony Taylor, So., 18 tackles, 2 sacks, PR Jeremy Wicker, So., 21.8 yd. average. W&M—QB Jake Phillips, Sr., 28-48-4, 311 yds., 4 TDs, TB Terrence Riggins, So., 27 carries, 231 yds., SS David Caldwell, Jr., 17 tackles, 1 sack

CIAA: Davon Clark, defensive lineman, Virginia Union: made four tackles and helped the Panthers to a 27-2 win over Fort Valley State.
  ACC: Brett Warren, Virginia Tech, defensive lineman, recorded a career high 15 tackles and forced a fumble in the Hokies win over Georgia Tech; Darren Evans, Virginia Tech, rookie, ran for 94 yards and a score on 19 carries.