When you went to ODU, did you have interest in going to a baseball game? I never really did. I saw them practicing but it mainly meh and I'm a baseball guy. University did/does a poor job drumming up support.
The reason I never go is because most of the season, it is cold outside.
They're trying harder. Also, today would be a GREAT day to go to one. Great weather, just swept JMU @ JMU.
6 PM vs Richmond... 80 degrees, beautiful day!
I've been to some games. But lack of interest in college baseball isn't just an ODU problem. Most college kids couldn't care less. It's a great sport and ery entertaining, but even if we win the national title, it will always take a back seat to football and basketball.
It moves too slow for most people, especially the current generation on campus.
When I was at ODU I was in class with some guys on the team (Kevin Gibbs, Matt Quatrero, etc.) and they were a really good team and I remember a few games (against Clemson) that had pretty good crowds, but other than that, except for Verlander starts it never really draws too many.
There's probably more at the soccer games.
Probably not the best time to mention this, but baseball is one area where Wood Selig has excelled. The modifications to The Bud are awesome, and nothing beats watching the game from the Rally Alley with a cold beer!
With that being said, baseball is such a tricky sport to recruit because you don't know if kids are going to honor their commitment or go pro. But the experience of a game itself? Very good when the weather is nice.
Half the season, it's cold. A bunch of games being played when most are in class. And too many other entertainment options when it is nice out. They should do a better job at promoting throughout Hampton Roads that ODU baseball is an affordable entertainment option for the whole family. That's where they will find fans to fill the seats.
(04-09-2013 12:37 PM)djnva Wrote: [ -> ]It moves too slow for most people, especially the current generation on campus.
When I was at ODU I was in class with some guys on the team (Kevin Gibbs, Matt Quatrero, etc.) and they were a really good team and I remember a few games (against Clemson) that had pretty good crowds, but other than that, except for Verlander starts it never really draws too many.
There's probably more at the soccer games.
Those games against Clemson back then were fantastic. That was a really fun group to watch.
Shane Monahan was a PUNK.
Haha yeah. I remember standing down the right field line heckling the hell out of their right fielder for an entire series. Needless to say he did not enjoy it as much as we did, but as a 16 year old kid that was as fun as watching baseball got for us. I really hope the program can get back on track. I have never enjoyed attending baseball games as much as I enjoyed watching highly competitive college baseball at The Bud.
Maybe Selig excels in cosmetics, and yes they are important, but so far the product on the field has much to be desired. Selig let go a very popular interim coach and brought in a WKU buddy who so far has done nothing.
(04-09-2013 01:08 PM)Old Dominion Wrote: [ -> ]Maybe Selig excels in cosmetics, and yes they are important, but so far the product on the field has much to be desired. Selig let go a very popular interim coach and brought in a WKU buddy who so far has done nothing.
^
Where is Goulet now?
Edit: Nevermind, he's the Associate Head Coach at Daniel Webster College (D2) in his hometown of Nashua, NH. You can follow him on Twitter here:
https://twitter.com/NateGoulet12
The guy has to start getting the local talent to stay home. He does that and he's golden.
I'll probably drop by later in the season! Too much work right now.. Though it's a fantastic day for baseball!
Showing my age...baseball was played behind Larchmont Elementary when I went to ODU. Had an old wooden 4-row set of bleachers to sit on. Had to pull out the splinters later. Won't say where the splinters were....
(04-09-2013 02:49 PM)Challenger Wrote: [ -> ]Showing my age...baseball was played behind Larchmont Elementary when I went to ODU. Had an old wooden 4-row set of bleachers to sit on. Had to pull out the splinters later. Won't say where the splinters were....
Didn't they also play baseball at Foreman Field?
(04-09-2013 02:13 PM)djnva Wrote: [ -> ]The guy has to start getting the local talent to stay home. He does that and he's golden.
That is a tough thing to do around here. We produce a lot of high end talent that skips college all together but not a ton of kids that would be in that really good college baseball player range but aren't quite good enough to enter the draft early. I actually think part of the programs downfall was Guzzo sucking up local talent that just wasn't good enough. When ODU was really good they got a ton of kids from the Northeast.
(04-09-2013 02:49 PM)Challenger Wrote: [ -> ]Showing my age...baseball was played behind Larchmont Elementary when I went to ODU. Had an old wooden 4-row set of bleachers to sit on. Had to pull out the splinters later. Won't say where the splinters were....
I remember those days too. Returning to my apartment I would stop at the bleachers and watch the rest of the game. I remember a stop in play when a couple of guys took a short cut through the outfield.
(04-09-2013 03:52 PM)Monarchblue Wrote: [ -> ]That is a tough thing to do around here. We produce a lot of high end talent that skips college all together but not a ton of kids that would be in that really good college baseball player range but aren't quite good enough to enter the draft early. I actually think part of the programs downfall was Guzzo sucking up local talent that just wasn't good enough. When ODU was really good they got a ton of kids from the Northeast.
Well, there's the caveat of the local talent being good enough obviously.
But for a while local kids that wanted to play at this level were going to VCU or JMU or even W&M. Those kids need to stay home.
Recruiting the northeast is tough. Shorter season, fewer games, so you need to trust your instincts.
(04-09-2013 02:59 PM)devyanks90 Wrote: [ -> ] (04-09-2013 02:49 PM)Challenger Wrote: [ -> ]Showing my age...baseball was played behind Larchmont Elementary when I went to ODU. Had an old wooden 4-row set of bleachers to sit on. Had to pull out the splinters later. Won't say where the splinters were....
Didn't they also play baseball at Foreman Field?
Devyanks90, not saying they never did, but I don't ever recall them playing at Foreman Field. If so, it was before my time.