What ODU needs to worry about is getting physically beat up early for the rest of the year. I've seen enough football to know anything is possible. But unless we turn it over a ton we should win at minimum 3 TDs. Our offensive line should be able to bully your front all day. We're much more established than we were game 1 against App St.

We don't play many FCS teams, but when we do they are almost always ranked. I've seen national championship GA Southern teams lose to a 2-9 ECU squad. We have only lost 1 games to an FCS/1-AA team in our history and that was during the early 80s right after the split. WE DON'T LOSE these games.

OK, on one hand you might think ODU will be overwhelmed for all the reasons that you listed, but I, and I would suggest the players by extension, see it differently. ODU are an exciting team who know how to win, albeit at the FCS level. The future is looking promising and everyone is buzzed about the prospect of FBS football and the future. We're good and we're going to get better. As one of the top FCS teams we know that we can contend with some FBS teams. We expect to put up a decent fight and be in with a chance, although a slim one, against ECU, UMD and Idaho. I don't expect us to win at all against UMD or ECU but I wouldn't be astounded if we did.

Personally I see Pitt and UNC as a league above, I would be shocked if we came away with a victory from either of those games, the kind of thing we would be remembering for years like with JMU and VT. Our offense is good enough, but as people have said, our defense is a huge issue. It wasn't good enough against FCS teams, not by a long way and I expect to get punished against FBS teams and possibly some of the FCS dark horses like The Citadel. I don't honestly think we can improve enough in defense for the ECU and UMD games, maybe even the whole season.

In summary I'd be really happy with wins in all the FCS games and Idaho, that would be an excellent season. If we could get lucky in another FBS game I'd be ecstatic.

(02-27-2013 07:40 PM)ODUgradstudent Wrote:  OK, on one hand you might think ODU will be overwhelmed for all the reasons that you listed, but I, and I would suggest the players by extension, see it differently. ODU are an exciting team who know how to win, albeit at the FCS level. The future is looking promising and everyone is buzzed about the prospect of FBS football and the future. We're good and we're going to get better. As one of the top FCS teams we know that we can contend with some FBS teams. We expect to put up a decent fight and be in with a chance, although a slim one, against ECU, UMD and Idaho. I don't expect us to win at all against UMD or ECU but I wouldn't be astounded if we did.

Personally I see Pitt and UNC as a league above, I would be shocked if we came away with a victory from either of those games, the kind of thing we would be remembering for years like with JMU and VT. Our offense is good enough, but as people have said, our defense is a huge issue. It wasn't good enough against FCS teams, not by a long way and I expect to get punished against FBS teams and possibly some of the FCS dark horses like The Citadel. I don't honestly think we can improve enough in defense for the ECU and UMD games, maybe even the whole season.

In summary I'd be really happy with wins in all the FCS games and Idaho, that would be an excellent season. If we could get lucky in another FBS game I'd be ecstatic.

The ODU team I watched play GA Southern is going to really struggle against FBS teams. There is a very big difference between the two divisions. Of course we can talk all we want and none of it matters except for the actual outcome of the game. What I am saying however, is I don't think some of the ODU posters have any idea what kind of struggle their team is in for as they make the transition to a better league and division.

Also MD was down last year because of their QB injuries. They get healthy they are going to be much better with that alone.

To all the ECU posters on this thread (and other C-USA fans who happen to drop by):

We are really looking forward to the game in Greenville this year - - and against our remaining C-USA bretheren next year. We are excited to be leaving the CAA and moving up to "Big Boy" football, and we believe that the Monarchs will be competitive in C-USA in 2014 and a dominant force in the Conference for years to come. This is not in any way smack talk or intended to be disrespectful of any of our future conference brothers. It is just a simple statement of our expectations.

Don't misunderstand us or the exuberance we display. We clearly recognize that joining C-USA is another step up in the level of competition, and that any win against ECU or the other FBS schools on the schedule in 2013 will be an upset. Unlike you, we just believe it is definitley in the realm of possibiliy, and that belief is rooted in a culture of winning that has been the core of this football program (for coaches, players and fans alike) and has been since day one. Yes it is only four years, but it is the entire life of this program.

So, see you in Greenville, Pirates!

GO MONARCHS!

(02-28-2013 12:31 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  To all the ECU posters on this thread (and other C-USA fans who happen to drop by):

We are really looking forward to the game in Greenville this year - - and against our remaining C-USA bretheren next year. We are excited to be leaving the CAA and moving up to "Big Boy" football, and we believe that the Monarchs will be competitive in C-USA in 2014 and a dominant force in the Conference for years to come. This is not in any way smack talk or intended to be disrespectful of any of our future conference brothers. It is just a simple statement of our expectations.

Don't misunderstand us or the exuberance we display. We clearly recognize that joining C-USA is another step up in the level of competition, and that any win against ECU or the other FBS schools on the schedule in 2013 will be an upset. Unlike you, we just believe it is definitley in the realm of possibiliy, and that belief is rooted in a culture of winning that has been the core of this football program (for coaches, players and fans alike) and has been since day one. Yes it is only four years, but it is the entire life of this program.

So, see you in Greenville, Pirates!

GO MONARCHS!

Wow, 4 whole years of success. Yes, I would say ODU is bound for greatness.

(02-28-2013 12:31 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  To all the ECU posters on this thread (and other C-USA fans who happen to drop by):

We are really looking forward to the game in Greenville this year - - and against our remaining C-USA bretheren next year. We are excited to be leaving the CAA and moving up to "Big Boy" football, and we believe that the Monarchs will be competitive in C-USA in 2014 and a dominant force in the Conference for years to come. This is not in any way smack talk or intended to be disrespectful of any of our future conference brothers. It is just a simple statement of our expectations.

Don't misunderstand us or the exuberance we display. We clearly recognize that joining C-USA is another step up in the level of competition, and that any win against ECU or the other FBS schools on the schedule in 2013 will be an upset. Unlike you, we just believe it is definitley in the realm of possibiliy, and that belief is rooted in a culture of winning that has been the core of this football program (for coaches, players and fans alike) and has been since day one. Yes it is only four years, but it is the entire life of this program.

So, see you in Greenville, Pirates!

GO MONARCHS!

ECU was a big supporter to get ODU into Cusa and on our schedule.
Agree 100%.........no team should take the field if you do not think you can win the game........good luck and look forward to playing ODU many, many years to come:)

I could care less how well we do next year, I am just so freekin excited to have ODU Football!!!

ODU will be served a big slice of humble pie next year with the schedule we play.

ECU will assuredly be an energized environment, which (despite ECU's departure to the BE) should help to validate th decision to bring ODU into the CUSA fold. We are excited, very excited, to see how our product translates to the next level.

I think there is no better time to play ECU than the opener - we are healthy and opening day nerves can affect both sides. And while a competitive and entertaining game is very possible, most of us fully understand that the odds of coming out of Greenville are pretty remote.

Should be fun and look forward to the first of hopefully a longlasting series.

(03-01-2013 09:19 AM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  ODU will be served a big slice of humble pie next year with the schedule we play.

ECU will assuredly be an energized environment, which (despite ECU's departure to the BE) should help to validate th decision to bring ODU into the CUSA fold. We are excited, very excited, to see how our product translates to the next level.

I think there is no better time to play ECU than the opener - we are healthy and opening day nerves can affect both sides. And while a competitive and entertaining game is very possible, most of us fully understand that the odds of coming out of Greenville are pretty remote.

Should be fun and look forward to the first of hopefully a longlasting series.

Well said....

to the ECU folks - keep in mind that everyone told us when we started FB in the first place we'd be lucky to win one game our first year (we won all but 2) and won all but three the next year. then we join the CAA and were told that we'd be lucky to win one CAA game (we finished 2nd in the conf) and won it the next year.

does this mean that I think we're going to beat ECU or any of the FBS teams? no. if we win it'll be a huge upset (especially with our atrocious defense) . its just we've heard how we don't have much of a chance before. we all believe that our QB is the man and I can't wait to see what he's able to do against some much better competition. Personally I think you'll be impressed with him. you'll also probably be impressed at how none of our defensive players know how to tackle a this stage in their FB careers!

personally I can't wait until 2014 especially when we play a full slate of CUSA foe's and hope we make the league stronger than it is along with the other new teams that are joining. even though we stunk in hoops this year I can't wait until we start some new rivalries with the new teams. for the longest time hoops was all we had to look forward to every year until FB started.

Couldn't agree with Smitty more. I am excited about next year because it will tell us exactly how much improvement we need to make to be competitive. And I am fully confident ODU will rapidly rise to the top of CUSA in terms of football competiveness. I am not saying we will dominate, just that we will certanly be upper division. As a mid major basketball program we had to deal with the reality that BCS teams were hard to schedule. Now we get to play fbs/bcs teams on a regular basis. That's exciting.

What MT experienced (IMO) when moving up in 1999 is there is a super-fine line between 5-7 and 7-5 in FBS football. Until you get a full stable of scholarships with a competitive balance of upper classmen, it's hard to break out from 5-7.

Football is won on the lines so it's line depth & experience that take a beating. The roster looks good in September, but when you lose 4 starting o-linemen & your starting tailback to injury.....and then face USM on the road: that's when you get introduced to the realities of FBS.

I hope ODU comes out strong because it helps the conference. But I'd expect a tough road for 5 years. Fans used to winning have to adjust expectations while coaches build for long term success.

I certainly think ODU has lots of potential including a tremendously fertile recruiting ground. The issue is going to be size, depth and speed. ODU is also going to come into a pretty decent league. So instead of starting out at the bottom, ODU is coming in somewhere in the lower middle range.
Some of the talk from ODU fans on this board however, sound very unrealistic and ill informed about what it takes to win on the FBS level. Of course this is why the game is played. You line up and see what happens.

(03-01-2013 09:19 AM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  ODU will be served a big slice of humble pie next year with the schedule we play.

ECU will assuredly be an energized environment, which (despite ECU's departure to the BE) should help to validate th decision to bring ODU into the CUSA fold. We are excited, very excited, to see how our product translates to the next level.

I think there is no better time to play ECU than the opener - we are healthy and opening day nerves can affect both sides. And while a competitive and entertaining game is very possible, most of us fully understand that the odds of coming out of Greenville are pretty remote.

Should be fun and look forward to the first of hopefully a longlasting series.

Anyone hear of a time yet? Last year our first game in Aug. against App. St. was noon and boy the heat was deadly. Thank goodness Coach Connor had ECU ready. Over 200 people needed medical attention and was sent to the hospital.

Last week I called the ECU athletic office to see what time the game would be, and they still did not have a time. If no one has picked up on the time, I will call again Monday and let you all know what I find out.

In anticipation of an evening game due to the heat, a group of us senior 12th Monarchs are planning to stay overnight after the game to avoid the drive home late after maybe having a brew or two. However, if the game is early, the plan will be to go down Friday evening to spend the night and do a little pregaming at the hotel. We have not selected the hotel yet, and we are waiting to see what time the game is before booking our reservations. Once the place and date decisions are made, I will post in case anyone wants to join the senior 12th Monarchs (old farts).

edit: Nothing on the ECU Athletics web site regarding game time as of noon Saturday, 3/2

(03-02-2013 12:10 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  Last week I called the ECU athletic office to see what time the game would be, and they still did not have a time. If no one has picked up on the time, I will call again Monday and let you all know what I find out.

In anticipation of an evening game due to the heat, a group of us senior 12th Monarchs are planning to stay overnight after the game to avoid the drive home late after maybe having a brew or two. However, if the game is early, the plan will be to go down Friday evening to spend the night and do a little pregaming at the hotel. We have not selected the hotel yet, and we are waiting to see what time the game is before booking our reservations. Once the place and date decisions are made, I will post in case anyone wants to join the senior 12th Monarchs (old farts).

edit: Nothing on the ECU Athletics web site regarding game time as of noon Saturday, 3/2

Just like last year tv will drive the starting time....not weather forcast.
It really was a dangerous situation especially for the youth and seniors. The key to this game will be how well both teams second and third depth charts play. Hopefully ECU will continue to play ODU for many years to come as we gave up our home game with Citadel to ODU so ODU would come to Greenville. That helped ODU with two games (Citadel @ ODU) for its schedule as ECU was a big supporter for ODU into Cusa membership.

Your description of how this game got put together is exactly the way I understand it from the media in Norfolk. From this ODU fan, a big thank you to ECU. Putting together a 12 game (6/6 FBS/FCS split) was not an easy process, which, as you are probably aware, was not completed until just a few days ago when Pitt completed the schedule.

I, and I believe the vast majority of the ODU fan base, would love to see the ODU/ECU game become a long standing rivalry game, perhaps on Thanksgiving weekend.

See you in Greenville on 8/31.