When Michael Vick was announced as the new head coach of Norfolk State University’s football team, his fans, followers, and family were buzzing with pride. A Virginia native and former NFL quarterback who electrified crowds for 13 seasons with teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, Vick’s return to his roots in Norfolk felt like a homecoming. But in the midst of it all, his wife, Kijafa Vick, made a quiet yet bold statement on social media.

When it comes to family pride and college spirit, emotions can run surprisingly deep. It’s in those small, everyday exchanges where personality and identity often shine the brightest, sometimes in the form of a heart emoji and sometimes in a firm “no.”

Amid the congratulatory energy, it was Michael’s wife, Kijafa Vick, who stirred an entirely different conversation online, one centered around personal pride and college loyalty. She recently found herself at the center of one such moment, and it unfolded not in a press room or podcast, but in one of her Instagram DMs.

In response to one of her Instagram Stories, Marcus Vick, who is Michael’s younger brother, playfully slid into Kijafa’s DMs with a simple request: “Can you perhaps start using these 💛💚 hearts? Thanks in advance.” The green and gold heart emojis are the official colors of Norfolk State University (NSU), a proud HBCU located in southeastern Virginia.