The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Everyone saw Baylor put up a statue for Robert Griffin III. Taylor Heinicke has meant as much to ODU, imo.......moving a whole football program from FCS to Conference USA.

Statues, anything else? Do we wait for the new stadium?

He's done a great deal for ODU and he has earned a place in ODU athletics lore. Whether that translates into statues or any else in that vein, I cannot say.

Maybe retire his jersey number and name a scholarship fund in his honor down the road (assuming you can name scholarship funds after living people).

Retiring numbers just does not work in college football. There are 105 players and only, at most, 100 numbers if you include 00 (not even sure if that is allowed). The name of the player should be honored in some way but the number should remain in use.
Look how ridiculous the situation is for the Yankees. No single digit numbers available after this season.

(09-04-2014 04:31 PM)The Flagship Wrote:  Retiring numbers just does not work in college football. There are 105 players and only, at most, 100 numbers if you include 00 (not even sure if that is allowed). The name of the player should be honored in some way but the number should remain in use.
Look how ridiculous the situation is for the Yankees. No single digit numbers available after this season.

An excellent point.

I might make an exception for Heinicke but good points

(09-04-2014 04:42 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I might make an exception for Heinicke but good points

Taylor Heinicke is ODU football. He made ODU an FCS power in shot time and is on of the reasons I have such respect for your team. Read that Smitty it wasn't your sorry @$$ - well that's not quite true.

Heinicke deserves something

Maybe a scholarship in honor of his father, an avid ODU supporter because of his son and one of the nicest fellows I have ever met.

(09-04-2014 04:42 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I might make an exception for Heinicke but good points

Heinicke is a special player at a critical time. One of the strangest realities of our young program is that we will likely never have a QB with better statistics.
But I think the safe play is to resist the temptation now and the line will be established for the future. If you retire #14, the line is not established. What if someone comes along with a career somewhat close to his? Do you slide the line just a little bit to retire that number too? What if we have a Chuckie Mullins incident or lose a key player during their time here? Emotions will be running high and the temptation will be there. But if we play it safe, we can simply go the way of a name, picture, story, etc. hanging in the concourse of the stadium for all to see.

They could do something like The Heinicke Award, voted on by the players and given to the player deemed to have had the greatest impact on the program that particular season. Create a near-replica of the Payton Award and engrave the names on it, display it in a case inside the main lobby of the new stadium and introduce the player at halftime of a basketball game. Erecting statues and retiring numbers not really a good idea, in my opinion

(09-05-2014 08:20 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  They could do something like The Heinicke Award, voted on by the players and given to the player deemed to have had the greatest impact on the program that particular season. Create a near-replica of the Payton Award and engrave the names on it, display it in a case inside the main lobby of the new stadium and introduce the player at halftime of a basketball game. Erecting statues and retiring numbers not really a good idea, in my opinion

Not a bad idea. I also like Friar Tuck 4400's idea of a scholarship in his father Brett Heinicke's name.

I could see a statue of Heinicke, Wilder, DeMarco and maybe Wilkins or Mayo all together as a "Building the program" sorta thing.

(09-05-2014 02:52 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I could see a statue of Heinicke, Wilder, DeMarco and maybe Wilkins or Mayo all together as a "Building the program" sorta thing.

Hmmm, shouldn't that also include Runte, the MMB and, of course, me and a few other representative fans?

in 10 years I could see a statue of Wilder with a smile and hand on Heinicke's shoulder.

A large corner stone at the base of the foundation of the new stadium.

(09-05-2014 04:59 PM)AimHigh Wrote:  A large corner stone at the base of the foundation of the new stadium.

This. Or a Monarch Wall to commemorate all the figures of ODU lore now and in the future.

And of course, c'est moi to represent all the fans!

What would be really fantastic would be a Monarch Monument at the entrance to the new stadium to greet Monarch Nation fans as they enter the “The Jungle”. Memorialized with an engraving to welcome all…. Just as an example!

Old Dominion University
Norfolk Southern Gateway Stadium
The Pinnacle of Monarch Pride.

When the players take the Monarch walk they can pay tribute as the walk past to enter the stadium with a ceremonial touch or salute when they pass the statue. Potentially, this could become a Game Day Tradition that would honor our history and the players that made a leap of faith. The monument portion of the statue could have a bronze plague dedicate to the 1st team and coaches. Bearing all the names for the 2008 -09 team. For historical purposes it would be fantastic to add a name each year on the monument that would include all past and “Future Greats”. You could engrave the names on a marbleized exterior (polished concrete) starting with 2008 and follow each year thereafter with the senior player voted on by staff and current players that could surround the statue all the way around on all four sides for many years into the future.





edit... The base of the Monument should measure about 7-8 feet high. The Monarch Statue portion maybe another 4 feet. The Monument should be imposing enough to create a majestic stately presence that will attract people to it. Most fans will gather around the statue and read the names engraved and have a greater appreciation of the history of Monarch football. A height of 11-12 feet would also guarantee the visibility of the statue as fans gather around and others enter the stadium.

Just my 2cent
.

AND, of course, a representative of the 12th Monarchs, an outstanding fan representative, someone like - - - well I don't know - ME!

A statue of Taylor Heinicke riding a lion into battle. I need more lions.

Seriously guys while I appreciate it, enought posts about me being on the monument as the representative of the fans. While you are right, of course, emough is enough.