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

(10-31-2017 09:06 PM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  Coach Wilder will decide when it's time to quit.

Sure, CEO's have been fired from the companies they've started, but I think this Coach has tenure. He deserves it even if he is "clap happy".

There was a time when every swipe I took at the coach was met with "go back to the Tech boards!". Now we have our very first fire Wilder thread. lol

Nah man, this isnt the first. Last year everyone was on the chopping block.

(10-31-2017 09:07 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 09:06 PM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  Coach Wilder will decide when it's time to quit.

Sure, CEO's have been fired from the companies they've started, but I think this Coach has tenure. He deserves it even if he is "clap happy".

There was a time when every swipe I took at the coach was met with "go back to the Tech boards!". Now we have our very first fire Wilder thread. lol

Nah man, this isnt the first. Last year everyone was on the chopping block.

Weekly. In a 10-3 season.

(10-31-2017 06:54 PM)SettleDownFolks Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 06:40 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 06:45 AM)SettleDownFolks Wrote:  

(10-30-2017 08:48 PM)Old Blue Wrote:  I don't go with this FBS vs. FCS. A football player is a football player, period. And yes, our talent is no where near what it used to be. The question is why?

Totally not true. For example FCS lines may be big but they are slower. FCS running backs may be fast but they aren't big. There are tons of running backs that can run a sub 4.5 40 but I'd rather have a 6'1 220lb guy do it than a 5'8" 180lb guy doing it.

Colleges recruit on how much weight they can hang on a guy's frame and not sacrifice athleticism which is a science. Typically FCS guys don't get players that fit both categories. The knock on Taylor was that he had small hands which NFL teams were concerned about as the football gets bigger going from high school to college to the NFL.

Our talent looked better because we played lesser talent, slower defenses and smaller defenses. It makes the offenses look better than they are. That is why even Alabama couldn't touch the Cleveland Browns.

I'm with you on the FBS vs. FCS philosophy, but the football gets bigger? I thought it was the same size HS through NFL. Maybe that's why the Patriots keep deflating it.

That was exactly the issue. Better grip. High school to college gets larger and college to NFL is larger. I didnt realize that wasnt common knowledge. It makes a big difference.

Sent from my SM-G935V using CSNbbs mobile app

Not necessarily

An official NFL football is slightly larger than high school or other professional leagues, but not necessarily larger than an NCAA ball.
The NFL is very strict about the size and weight of the football.
The length should measure 11 inches from tip to tip.
The in circumference at the center of the football is 22 inches.
The football and materials weighs about 14 to 15 oz
the ball is inflated to about 12.5 to 13.5 lbs. per square inch.

The NCAA is not so strict.
Balls used in an NCAA-regulated college football game are roughly 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 inches long. The circumference of the longer side of the ball is approximately 28 inches, and the circumference of the shorter part of the ball is about 21 inches.
The average is approximately 11.5 inches long by 6.7 inches in diameter.

An NCAA football differs from the NFL ball in that it has two 1-inch white stripes that are three to three and one-quarter inches from either end of the ball and located only on the two panels adjacent to the laces.

It can be up to one-half inch shorter or one-half inch longer than an NFL ball; slightly wider or only slightly narrower than NFL balls.

Quote:The NCAA defines a game ball as a "prolate spheroid" which measures 10 7/8" to 11 7/16" long, 20 3/4" to 21 1/4" around middle and 27 3/4" to 28 1/2" around the long circumference. Wilson is licensed by the NCAA as having the official game ball. Wilson's website indicates the Wilson 1001 and 1005 are used by 24 D-I programs, and their footballs are stamped with the NCAA logo. Nike produces the Nike 3005, which is used by over 70 D-I programs. Spalding also produces the Spalding J5V Advance, which is used by Auburn. While Nike may provide footballs for more D-I programs, you would also have to account for all the D-IA, D-II, and D-III programs, where Wilson is likely used by a majority of the schools.

(10-31-2017 09:07 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 09:06 PM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  Coach Wilder will decide when it's time to quit.

Sure, CEO's have been fired from the companies they've started, but I think this Coach has tenure. He deserves it even if he is "clap happy".

There was a time when every swipe I took at the coach was met with "go back to the Tech boards!". Now we have our very first fire Wilder thread. lol

Nah man, this isnt the first. Last year everyone was on the chopping block.

The point I was making was that in the beginning no one would dare question the coach. Anyone who did (me) faced enormous backlash. Then came the next questionable call, then the next. Until fans couldn't take anymore of the amazingly stupid play calling.

Nevertheless, Bobby Wilder will be ODU's coach for years to come.

Bobby Wilder's playcalling can certainly be questionable at times and the recruiting has really not been up to par lately (this is in part because of our piss poor facilities).

He is also a bit of a victim of his own success with all the early winning, playoff appearances, winning a bowl game etc.

Down years happen. Injuries happen, especially in football. Wilder deserves a chance to turn it around.

Meanwhile jones has taken us nowhere in 5 years with superior facilities to just about everyone in the league.

Funny how people have such differing opinions.

(10-31-2017 11:09 PM)Razor Ramon Monarch Wrote:  Bobby Wilder's playcalling can certainly be questionable at times and the recruiting has really not been up to par lately (this is in part because of our piss poor facilities).

He is also a bit of a victim of his own success with all the early winning, playoff appearances, winning a bowl game etc.

Down years happen. Injuries happen, especially in football. Wilder deserves a chance to turn it around.

Meanwhile jones has taken us nowhere in 5 years with superior facilities to just about everyone in the league.

Funny how people have such differing opinions.

This comment should end this thread as it is 100% correct. The only thing I'd add is we need to fire the Defensive Coordinator.

(10-31-2017 11:09 PM)Razor Ramon Monarch Wrote:  Bobby Wilder's playcalling can certainly be questionable at times and the recruiting has really not been up to par lately (this is in part because of our piss poor facilities).

He is also a bit of a victim of his own success with all the early winning, playoff appearances, winning a bowl game etc.

Down years happen. Injuries happen, especially in football. Wilder deserves a chance to turn it around.

Meanwhile jones has taken us nowhere in 5 years with superior facilities to just about everyone in the league.

Funny how people have such differing opinions.

Has it occurred to you that maybe this staff doesn’t know how to evaluate talent? We aren’t losing recruits to schools with better facilities and we rarely steal recruits from schools with worse facilities.

With the exception of a few of our players, we are their only FBS offer. That’s the problem, not the facilities.

We have WAY too many former walk ons in our two deep. And I think player development is lacking. Whether that’s partly due to subpar strength coaches or coaches not recognizing the ceiling on players they recruit.

Does BW deserve a couple more years? Yes, but not because of his success at the FCS level or the facilities.


Although it never ceases to amaze me how you can make EVERYBODY thread about basketball and Jones.

(11-01-2017 07:56 AM)Justanodufan Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 11:09 PM)Razor Ramon Monarch Wrote:  Bobby Wilder's playcalling can certainly be questionable at times and the recruiting has really not been up to par lately (this is in part because of our piss poor facilities).

He is also a bit of a victim of his own success with all the early winning, playoff appearances, winning a bowl game etc.

Down years happen. Injuries happen, especially in football. Wilder deserves a chance to turn it around.

Meanwhile jones has taken us nowhere in 5 years with superior facilities to just about everyone in the league.

Funny how people have such differing opinions.

Has it occurred to you that maybe this staff doesn’t know how to evaluate talent? We aren’t losing recruits to schools with better facilities and we rarely steal recruits from schools with worse facilities.

With the exception of a few of our players, we are their only FBS offer. That’s the problem, not the facilities.

We have WAY too many former walk ons in our two deep. And I think player development is lacking. Whether that’s partly due to subpar strength coaches or coaches not recognizing the ceiling on players they recruit.

Does BW deserve a couple more years? Yes, but not because of his success at the FCS level or the facilities.


Although it never ceases to amaze me how you can make EVERYBODY thread about basketball and Jones.

Holy crap. You could say all of those same things about basketball, but you somehow don't see it on that side.

Wilder waited one season before transitioning to the FBS so his seniors could play for an FCS National Championship. Had that FCS team played the 2013 transition schedule in 2012, it would have beaten ECU, played Maryland tough, beat Pitt and wouldn't have given up 80 points to UNC. It certainly would have impressed recruits. Instead, it stunted ODU's growth.

ODU also had quite a bit of discipline issues and dismissals which may have turned off a lot of parents.

The 2015 class saw several highly rated recruits flip to FCS and P5 schools. This was the year Wilder had to backfill with questionable talent. Sure, Wilder still goes after the big fish, but I think it's the fear of flipping that has him going after unrated recruits.

ODU's facilities indeed play a part in its recruiting woes. Build a minimum 25k seat stadium and a indoor facility. Oh, and ditch Under Armour for Adidas. I'm not being funny. It's because Adidas doesn't have to take a side on political issues. Under Armour's Founder praised Trump right after his victory which got tremendous backlash. We don't need parents boycotting ODU because of a brand it wears.

The fallacy of being in a "recruiting hotbed" like HR is that all of the ACC schools, some SEC, Penn State and other major, major programs come here fishing for talent. I;'m sorry to say it, but we can't complete with most of those, so it does us no good to be here other than to grab some crumbs and an occasional better kid that slips through. I'm not familiar with where all of our players are from but Harper might be the best local guy we've had in a while. Vaughn, too, but too oft injured. Could be a couple of linemen, I don't know.

They gambled with Hoy. They gambled with LaRussa. They lost. It was something they felt they needed to do, and it was a mistake.

BTW, we weren't "lucky" to get Taylor, and we weren't "lucky" that he developed the way that he did. Whitcomb had much to do with his development. Don't think so? Ask him why he comes back here in the summers to work with him. He could go anywhere else he wanted to go.

(11-01-2017 10:14 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  The fallacy of being in a "recruiting hotbed" like HR is that all of the ACC schools, some SEC, Penn State and other major, major programs come here fishing for talent. I;'m sorry to say it, but we can't complete with most of those, so it does us no good to be here other than to grab some crumbs and an occasional better kid that slips through. I'm not familiar with where all of our players are from but Harper might be the best local guy we've had in a while. Vaughn, too, but too oft injured. Could be a couple of linemen, I don't know.

They gambled with Hoy. They gambled with LaRussa. They lost. It was something they felt they needed to do, and it was a mistake.

BTW, we weren't "lucky" to get Taylor, and we weren't "lucky" that he developed the way that he did. Whitcomb had much to do with his development. Don't think so? Ask him why he comes back here in the summers to work with him. He could go anywhere else he wanted to go.

I agree. This area has always produced a ton of talent, but it seems that it is mostly high level talent. We don't seem to see the same amount of mid level talented. I think basketball has at times produced more quality mid major talent, and baseball seems to produce very little mid level talent. It is very odd. Or maybe I just don't pay enough attention to the guys who are not at the top.

We're on the same page with this. I keep hoping some big-time local in some sport will accept the challenge of staying home and elevating the program. I'm old enough (dammit) to remember what Mark Aguirre did for DePaul way back when. A guy can dream, I guess.

(11-01-2017 07:56 AM)Justanodufan Wrote:  

(10-31-2017 11:09 PM)Razor Ramon Monarch Wrote:  Bobby Wilder's playcalling can certainly be questionable at times and the recruiting has really not been up to par lately (this is in part because of our piss poor facilities).

He is also a bit of a victim of his own success with all the early winning, playoff appearances, winning a bowl game etc.

Down years happen. Injuries happen, especially in football. Wilder deserves a chance to turn it around.

Meanwhile jones has taken us nowhere in 5 years with superior facilities to just about everyone in the league.

Funny how people have such differing opinions.

Has it occurred to you that maybe this staff doesn’t know how to evaluate talent? We aren’t losing recruits to schools with better facilities and we rarely steal recruits from schools with worse facilities.

With the exception of a few of our players, we are their only FBS offer. That’s the problem, not the facilities.

We have WAY too many former walk ons in our two deep. And I think player development is lacking. Whether that’s partly due to subpar strength coaches or coaches not recognizing the ceiling on players they recruit.

Does BW deserve a couple more years? Yes, but not because of his success at the FCS level or the facilities.


Although it never ceases to amaze me how you can make EVERYBODY thread about basketball and Jones.

I agree with this. At a minimum, BW should get 2 more years. Minus the occasional diamond in the rough, recruiting has always been an issue for FB (similar to the complaints of JJ and his past recruiting).

For facilities, we couldn't get the improvements done fast enough. However, with that said, take a look at the facilities within CUSA. Currently, I would place our stadium in the bottom 50%, but not the bottom 25%. Our practice facility is definitely in the top 50%. I say this only to point out that, even though improved facilities will help recruiting, it's not as if the current state is putting ODU at a significant disadvantage.

I don't see how ANYONE could expect that our results in 757 recruiting would be better at this point. Listening to Bobby rant about how local coaches thought we were still not recruiting FBS talent on national signing day two years ago told me everything I needed to hear.

Our stadium sucks and the whole area classifies ODU based on that facility alone.

(11-01-2017 11:31 AM)FearTheLion Wrote:  I don't see how ANYONE could expect that our results in 757 recruiting would be better at this point. Listening to Bobby rant about how local coaches thought we were still not recruiting FBS talent on national signing day two years ago told me everything I needed to hear.

Our stadium sucks and the whole area classifies ODU based on that facility alone.

Again, not the best, but not the worst in our league. If we're talking about the VA area, then yes. But regardless, the coaching staff needs to figure it out...at least attempt to adapt. BW rants are smoke and mirrors to the real problem...he (and staff) has shown limited recruiting abilities. Local coaches still think that because it's true. There has been ZERO bump up in the recruiting front to date.

Last year was the rant of facilities and coaching salaries. His assistants got the bump he ranted about, so cross that off this list. Once the stadium is built, cross that off. But at the end of the day, his current staff still won't improve recruiting. Other schools within our league have much worse facilities and their coaching seem to at least making strides in the right direction.

(11-01-2017 12:31 PM)Nukesquad Wrote:  Other schools within our league have much worse facilities and their coaching seem to at least making strides in the right direction.

Which schools have worse facilities?

Foreman field is old and has character but it is literally one of the worst stadiums in college football. You are naive to think otherwise

(11-01-2017 10:11 AM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  Wilder waited one season before transitioning to the FBS so his seniors could play for an FCS National Championship. Had that FCS team played the 2013 transition schedule in 2012, it would have beaten ECU, played Maryland tough, beat Pitt and wouldn't have given up 80 points to UNC. It certainly would have impressed recruits. Instead, it stunted ODU's growth.

ODU also had quite a bit of discipline issues and dismissals which may have turned off a lot of parents.

The 2015 class saw several highly rated recruits flip to FCS and P5 schools. This was the year Wilder had to backfill with questionable talent. Sure, Wilder still goes after the big fish, but I think it's the fear of flipping that has him going after unrated recruits.

ODU's facilities indeed play a part in its recruiting woes. Build a minimum 25k seat stadium and a indoor facility. Oh, and ditch Under Armour for Adidas. I'm not being funny. It's because Adidas doesn't have to take a side on political issues. Under Armour's Founder praised Trump right after his victory which got tremendous backlash. We don't need parents boycotting ODU because of a brand it wears.

I guess it is all opinion, but you are saying some wild things with certainty. ODU's defense was terrible in 2012; Heincke essentially carried that team.

23 points to Duqesne
61 to UNH
37 to Richmond
38 to Nova
26 to Delaware
27 to George State
31 to William and Mary
35 to Coastal Carolina
49 to Georgia Southern

Yet, they would have beat ECU, Pit....seems unlikely.

(11-01-2017 10:11 AM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  Wilder waited one season before transitioning to the FBS so his seniors could play for an FCS National Championship. Had that FCS team played the 2013 transition schedule in 2012, it would have beaten ECU, played Maryland tough, beat Pitt and wouldn't have given up 80 points to UNC. It certainly would have impressed recruits. Instead, it stunted ODU's growth.

ODU also had quite a bit of discipline issues and dismissals which may have turned off a lot of parents.

The 2015 class saw several highly rated recruits flip to FCS and P5 schools. This was the year Wilder had to backfill with questionable talent. Sure, Wilder still goes after the big fish, but I think it's the fear of flipping that has him going after unrated recruits.

ODU's facilities indeed play a part in its recruiting woes. Build a minimum 25k seat stadium and a indoor facility. Oh, and ditch Under Armour for Adidas. I'm not being funny. It's because Adidas doesn't have to take a side on political issues. Under Armour's Founder praised Trump right after his victory which got tremendous backlash. We don't need parents boycotting ODU because of a brand it wears.

I agree except for the under armour thing. Maybe its because I'm in MD., but thats all the kids wear up here. UA is the up and coming, cool, underdog brand. Adidas is old school, Nike is snooty (but they still have the shoes) Just from my experience on the street, UA is where its at. Plus they give us a LOT more money than Nike did, and they also sponsor Baze and Curry.

(11-01-2017 01:45 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(11-01-2017 10:11 AM)Sirloin Burger Wrote:  Wilder waited one season before transitioning to the FBS so his seniors could play for an FCS National Championship. Had that FCS team played the 2013 transition schedule in 2012, it would have beaten ECU, played Maryland tough, beat Pitt and wouldn't have given up 80 points to UNC. It certainly would have impressed recruits. Instead, it stunted ODU's growth.

ODU also had quite a bit of discipline issues and dismissals which may have turned off a lot of parents.

The 2015 class saw several highly rated recruits flip to FCS and P5 schools. This was the year Wilder had to backfill with questionable talent. Sure, Wilder still goes after the big fish, but I think it's the fear of flipping that has him going after unrated recruits.

ODU's facilities indeed play a part in its recruiting woes. Build a minimum 25k seat stadium and a indoor facility. Oh, and ditch Under Armour for Adidas. I'm not being funny. It's because Adidas doesn't have to take a side on political issues. Under Armour's Founder praised Trump right after his victory which got tremendous backlash. We don't need parents boycotting ODU because of a brand it wears.

I agree except for the under armour thing. Maybe its because I'm in MD., but thats all the kids wear up here. UA is the up and coming, cool, underdog brand. Adidas is old school, Nike is snooty (but they still have the shoes) Just from my experience on the street, UA is where its at. Plus they give us a LOT more money than Nike did, and they also sponsor Baze and Curry.

I want to stay away from Adidas uniforms at all costs. Every single one of their football uniforms looks exactly the same but with different colors. It's the way they do their sleeves and how tight the jerseys look... but that's just me. Nike is the apparel juggernaut but they're also super stingy, or at least they have been to us. UA gave us a lot and IMO they have done a good job with our uniforms (FB/MBB/WBB). They also have signed athletes like Steph Curry, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, our own Kent Bazemore, and outside of football and basketball they have athletes like Jordan Spieth, Bryce Harper, and Michael Phelps. Nike is my favorite apparel brand but I have been very pleased with UA since signing a deal with them