excitement builds ahead of nationally televised NSU versus Fu matchup Saturday night Norfolk Virginia 13 news now is counting down until a battle to behold that's the college football showdown between the Norfolk State Spartans and the Florida A&M Rattlers with Saturday's big game right around the corner fans and alumni of Norfolk State University are showing their support for the Spartans ahead of their big game against the Rattlers in Atlanta Georgia over the last few years historically black colleges and universities HBCU like the Spartans have been getting some much needed attention for their football program and their University overall. norfol Virginia 13 news now is counting down until a battle to behold that's the college football showdown between the Norfolk State Spartans and the Florida A&M Rattlers was Saturday's big game right around the corner fans and alumni of norick State University are showing their support for the Spartans ahead of their big game against the Rattlers in Atlanta Georgia over the last few years historically black colleges and universities hcu like the Spartans have been getting some much needed attention for their football program and their University overall this is the first game of the season and the Spartans first appearance in the mid Eastern Athletic Conference Southwestern Athletic Conference challenge Meek swack challenge all this week the 13 News Now sports team of Brian Smith and H real anchor Eugene Daniel and photojournalist Adrien Gara have been covering the excitement in Atlanta ahead of Saturday night's big game Chesapeake Congressman NSU Alam and former NFL player Don Kerrey said the exposure of the players from his Alma Mo will gain is immeasurable in 2009 Kerrie a Norfolk native became the first NSU football player drafted into the NFL in the schools division one era leading to a 10-year professional career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions Carrie attributes his success in the big leagues to his time as a Spartan and said he often referred to his college Playbook to help learn new defensive Concepts early in his NFL career and while he no longer wears the Spartan uniform Carrie said he proudly represents his university everywhere he goes attributing the culture of a historically black college for shaping him on and off the field the excitement isn't limited to players students and alumni nsu's president Dr Javon Adams Gaston also acknowledges what a great opportunity the game will be for the football team and for expanding the schools reach into the national Spotlight according to Adams Gaston a large portion of people in careers such as engineering hail from HBCU despite only representing 4% of high institutions and being vastly underfunded Adams Gaston said the visibility that comes with a big game like the meek swack challenge helps people get what she calls a taste of excellence at HBC use including their unique culture pride and educational opportunities 13 News Now anchor Ashley Smith was on campus at NSU Friday afternoon getting a sneak peek at the building excitement ahead of Saturday's big game the game being held in Atlanta isn't stopping celebrations in norfol students and members of the University's dance team took over campus while Norfolk city councilman Johnny JP Paige delivered the green and gold Proclamation calling upon the residents of norfol to support NSU as they face off against the Rattlers 13 News Now continues to cover the excitement ahead of game day Saturday we will begin our coverage of the game in Atlanta starting on 13 news now at 6:00 then at 700 p.m. 13 news now will have special pregame coverage of a battle to behold up until kickoff at 730 p.m. stick around right after the game for 13 news now at 11:00 followed by a battle to behold postgame coverage