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

Ladies and Gentlemen, this one is a no brainer. It is about money. JMU/Richmond/Liberty/W&M would all demand a higher price tag then NSU, Albany, VMI or Hampton. We have to conserve where we can. We also are going to have to seriously consider the games like Vandy with no return for a big payday to help defray the loss of TV dollars and the payment to athletes. It is what it is.

Meh. If we want a more interesting game then drop the FCS game altogether and schedule another G5 opponent. If we want an FCS cupcake, then make sure it's cheap and we're assured a win, being local is just a bonus. We very well could lose to JMU or W&M some years. It's typically the first game of the season so people will come out.

(06-13-2016 09:44 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  Meh. If we want a more interesting game then drop the FCS game altogether and schedule another G5 opponent. If we want an FCS cupcake, then make sure it's cheap and we're assured a win, being local is just a bonus. We very well could lose to JMU or W&M some years. It's typically the first game of the season so people will come out.

Agreed, though local/close regional opponents also cover both the cost and likely win aspects.

That brings up another question, though: Who exactly *is* an interesting G5 opponent? Most of the AAC, obviously (Tulane, Tulsa and SMU probably not unless they're good that season). Boise State and I presume San Diego State in the MWC. Appalachian State and Georgia Southern (and perhaps Georgia State) in the Sun Belt. And ... that's all I can think of. Everyone else comes in, it's like "OK, sure, it's a team to play, let's go Monarchs!" more than "holy s**tsnacks, look at who's coming to Foreman Field!"

I guess my point in general is that people shouldn't get hung up on having a schedule filled with interesting opponents because that won't happen. Into each life some anonymous games must fall.

(06-13-2016 09:59 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 09:44 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  Meh. If we want a more interesting game then drop the FCS game altogether and schedule another G5 opponent. If we want an FCS cupcake, then make sure it's cheap and we're assured a win, being local is just a bonus. We very well could lose to JMU or W&M some years. It's typically the first game of the season so people will come out.

Agreed, though local/close regional opponents also cover both the cost and likely win aspects.

That brings up another question, though: Who exactly *is* an interesting G5 opponent? Most of the AAC, obviously (Tulane, Tulsa and SMU probably not unless they're good that season). Boise State and I presume San Diego State in the MWC. Appalachian State and Georgia Southern (and perhaps Georgia State) in the Sun Belt. And ... that's all I can think of. Everyone else comes in, it's like "OK, sure, it's a team to play, let's go Monarchs!" more than "holy s**tsnacks, look at who's coming to Foreman Field!"

I guess my point in general is that people shouldn't get hung up on having a schedule filled with interesting opponents because that won't happen. Into each life some anonymous games must fall.

I like playing:

1 local team; either NSU, Hampton, or WM
1 Big Time School; ACC- NC State, UVA, or VT
2 G5 schools with some sort of reasonable driving distance-App State, Wake, ECU, UMASS; one home and one on the road.

I think playing UNC and VT both in the same year is asking too much and then VT, @ECU, and @UVA is extremely tough.

Our annual I-AA game is just that, our annual I-AA game. It really does not matter what I-AA school we play as long as they agree to come to Foreman on the cheap and we win.

We should not be scheduling anyone as a cupcake game that we have a realistic shot of losing to. That is why the MEAC schools are worth having on the schedule. Would we be favorite to beat JMU/Richmond/W&M etc.? yes, but not by more than 10 or so. Since NCAA doesn't play exhibition football, the MEAC schools (or whatever conference VMI plays in) is essentially our exhibition. No need to try and prove anything by playing JMU. All downside, no upside.

The last two posts are spot on.

(06-13-2016 10:18 AM)BigBlue23 Wrote:  We should not be scheduling anyone as a cupcake game that we have a realistic shot of losing to. That is why the MEAC schools are worth having on the schedule. Would we be favorite to beat JMU/Richmond/W&M etc.? yes, but not by more than 10 or so. Since NCAA doesn't play exhibition football, the MEAC schools (or whatever conference VMI plays in) is essentially our exhibition. No need to try and prove anything by playing JMU. All downside, no upside.

Yes, we would be huge favorites over JMU/Richmond/W&M. The step up from where they are to where we are now is huge; which has shown in the last 2 years of us playing Big Boy football.

(06-13-2016 10:26 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:18 AM)BigBlue23 Wrote:  We should not be scheduling anyone as a cupcake game that we have a realistic shot of losing to. That is why the MEAC schools are worth having on the schedule. Would we be favorite to beat JMU/Richmond/W&M etc.? yes, but not by more than 10 or so. Since NCAA doesn't play exhibition football, the MEAC schools (or whatever conference VMI plays in) is essentially our exhibition. No need to try and prove anything by playing JMU. All downside, no upside.

Yes, we would be huge favorites over JMU/Richmond/W&M. The step up from where they are to where we are now is huge; which has shown in the last 2 years of us playing Big Boy football.

Over the course of a season, absolutely. But Richmond, JMU and William and Mary have all beaten ACC schools in the recent past, so it definitely wouldn't be a Chaminade-tier upset if one of them beat ODU in Norfolk.

(06-13-2016 10:31 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:26 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:18 AM)BigBlue23 Wrote:  We should not be scheduling anyone as a cupcake game that we have a realistic shot of losing to. That is why the MEAC schools are worth having on the schedule. Would we be favorite to beat JMU/Richmond/W&M etc.? yes, but not by more than 10 or so. Since NCAA doesn't play exhibition football, the MEAC schools (or whatever conference VMI plays in) is essentially our exhibition. No need to try and prove anything by playing JMU. All downside, no upside.

Yes, we would be huge favorites over JMU/Richmond/W&M. The step up from where they are to where we are now is huge; which has shown in the last 2 years of us playing Big Boy football.

Over the course of a season, absolutely. But Richmond, JMU and William and Mary have all beaten ACC schools in the recent past, so it definitely wouldn't be a Chaminade-tier upset if one of them beat ODU in Norfolk.

Agreed, but we would be at least a 14 point favorite at home. We were a 24 point favorite vs. Hampton and are a much better team now.

Here's how I see it. Give the fans and exciting game!! Hell you only have 6 home games a year. Why should we waste one against a MEAC team? I am also afraid games like this would not sell out. Our fans are becoming much more sophisticated. Do you honestly think a game with Campbell would sell out?

(06-13-2016 10:35 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:31 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:26 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:18 AM)BigBlue23 Wrote:  We should not be scheduling anyone as a cupcake game that we have a realistic shot of losing to. That is why the MEAC schools are worth having on the schedule. Would we be favorite to beat JMU/Richmond/W&M etc.? yes, but not by more than 10 or so. Since NCAA doesn't play exhibition football, the MEAC schools (or whatever conference VMI plays in) is essentially our exhibition. No need to try and prove anything by playing JMU. All downside, no upside.

Yes, we would be huge favorites over JMU/Richmond/W&M. The step up from where they are to where we are now is huge; which has shown in the last 2 years of us playing Big Boy football.

Over the course of a season, absolutely. But Richmond, JMU and William and Mary have all beaten ACC schools in the recent past, so it definitely wouldn't be a Chaminade-tier upset if one of them beat ODU in Norfolk.

Agreed, but we would be at least a 14 point favorite at home. We were a 24 point favorite vs. Hampton and are a much better team now.

Oh yeah, from a Vegas standpoint ODU would be double-digit favorites against any FCS school not named North Dakota State.

(06-13-2016 10:40 AM)Old Blue Wrote:  Here's how I see it. Give the fans and exciting game!! Hell you only have 6 home games a year. Why should we waste one against a MEAC team? I am also afraid games like this would not sell out. Our fans are becoming much more sophisticated. Do you honestly think a game with Campbell would sell out?

I don't think any FCS game really moves the needle that much. I think you stand a better chance at a sellout for JMU than VMI, but I think if ODU is what ODU has been from the get-go, then both games are going to sell out, or at least come close. An FCS game isn't for the fans so much as it is a chance (at least on paper) to get an easy win with plenty of opportunity for the second and third strings to log PT in game conditions. What the fans do get (again, at least on paper) is that easy win, one that allows them to leave the stadium happy.

And for what it's worth, I think NSU and to a lesser degree Hampton have a better chance of selling out Foreman than a late-season game against Florida Atlantic/Florida International/North Texas/UTSA.

(06-13-2016 10:40 AM)Old Blue Wrote:  Here's how I see it. Give the fans and exciting game!! Hell you only have 6 home games a year. Why should we waste one against a MEAC team? I am also afraid games like this would not sell out. Our fans are becoming much more sophisticated. Do you honestly think a game with Campbell would sell out?

I'm pretty certain that any seats not filled with ODU fans will be filled with HU or NSU fans.

If we can't get WM, JMU or UR, then who do you want? Would any other FCS team pique Monarch fans' interest? At that point why not stay local and play HU, NSU and VMI?

Also, you keep using the word "sophisticated", which is interesting since I don't really see other teams using that word. Rutgers football fans apparently aren't sophisticated since they played NSU last year as well.

The last two years we have struggled to pull away from Hampton and Norfolk State. I'm not sure if we want to schedule a stronger FCS opponent until we are able to field a stronger team. We used to crush these guys when we were FCS.

(06-13-2016 10:53 AM)odufansam Wrote:  The last two years we have struggled to pull away from Hampton and Norfolk State. I'm not sure if we want to schedule a stronger FCS opponent until we are able to field a stronger team. We used to crush these guys when we were FCS.

We beat NSU by 2 touchdowns in the pouring rain last year. The year before we beat Hampton by 2 touchdowns.

In FCS:

Beat NSU by 3
Beat Hampton by 35
Beat Hampton by 3
Beat NSU by 17
Beat Hampton by 14

We can always get a small P5 team to come to ODU. So basically 1 small P5 and 1 one big P5 every year. Two home games with them will sell out the stadium no matter the size. Do It ODU ! That is 2/6 th of total home games.

One FCS win counts toward bowl eligibility.
We likely will always win vs NSU

Playing a JMU and winning is much more problematic (see VT, SMU)
If we are going to compromise strength of schedule by playing an FCS program, we might as well make sure we win.

Playing NSU is good for public relations as it relates to our image as supporting our local community.
Granted we won't get the fervor generated by playing JMU, but one of our primary goals should be to go bowling every year.

Since it is overwhelming likely we play an FCS program every year, then we should play one that we should always win, and in the process generate good public relations.

NSU every year is win/win for NSU, ODU and the community at large.

(06-13-2016 10:58 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:53 AM)odufansam Wrote:  The last two years we have struggled to pull away from Hampton and Norfolk State. I'm not sure if we want to schedule a stronger FCS opponent until we are able to field a stronger team. We used to crush these guys when we were FCS.

We beat NSU by 2 touchdowns in the pouring rain last year. The year before we beat Hampton by 2 touchdowns.

In FCS:

Beat NSU by 3
Beat Hampton by 35
Beat Hampton by 3
Beat NSU by 17
Beat Hampton by 14

True. I remember pounding Hampton that one game. The NSU and Hampton FBS games were both much closer than the score showed. We were up two touchdowns in both teams, but needed the defense to come up with turnovers late in the game when the other team was about to cut it to a single score.

(06-13-2016 10:52 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(06-13-2016 10:40 AM)Old Blue Wrote:  Here's how I see it. Give the fans and exciting game!! Hell you only have 6 home games a year. Why should we waste one against a MEAC team? I am also afraid games like this would not sell out. Our fans are becoming much more sophisticated. Do you honestly think a game with Campbell would sell out?

I'm pretty certain that any seats not filled with ODU fans will be filled with HU or NSU fans.

If we can't get WM, JMU or UR, then who do you want? Would any other FCS team pique Monarch fans' interest? At that point why not stay local and play HU, NSU and VMI?

Also, you keep using the word "sophisticated", which is interesting since I don't really see other teams using that word. Rutgers football fans apparently aren't sophisticated since they played NSU last year as well.

I think it's an appropriate descriptor for a relatively young fan base. Knowledgeable could work as well.