So after our first FBS win yesterday, I've considered this year to be a success in football no matter if we win or lose to UNC. If we lose to Campbell, I may have to gouge my eye out with a spoon similar to JMpoo fans when we got an FBS invite.
So I'm looking forward to 2014 and although we won't know our schedule until about February, I'm concerned with where our team is right now compared to our future CUSA brethren. I've looked at all our future members current sagarin ratings compared to our rating of 121 and it puts us at #8 of 14 teams, right smack in the middle between WKU (96) and UAB (152).
We need to grow up real quick to be able to compete with these guys next year. Our offense shouldn't have any problems, but if our defense doesn't make strides between now and next year it could be rough in 2014.
We have been able to get a ton of experience for a lot of young players. This should be a plus for us and we add more scholarships next year. I truly believe we will be competitive.
Here's the numbers:
52 Marshall 6-3
57 North Texas 7-3
70 Rice 6-3
83 FAU 3-6
86 Midd. Tenn 6-4
91 UTSA 5-5
96 WKU 6-4
121 ODU 7-3
152 UAB 2-7
159 LA Tech 4-5
180 UTEP 1-8
217 Charlotte 4-6
224 FIU 1-8
225 So. Miss. 0-9
The CUSA schedule will be huge. Obviously Marshall and Cato will be ODU's toughest competition in the CUSA East. We are eligible to play in the title game but would likely need to beat Marshall to get there.
Hopefully we get them at home as opposed to Huntington.
WKU is also on the rise with Bobby Petrino, are they going to the West or East with us?
I think a 8-4 overall 5-3 CUSA season would be a nice progression, even 6 wins would make us bowl eligible if there are not 78 bowl eligible teams next season.
I think we will be competitive in a relatively weak CUSA from day one. Indeed likely in the top group.
Certainly from an offensive perspective we should excel; especially now that we understand the need to show enough run to keep defenses honest. TH should be at his best ever, with a bigger, stronger, and faster supporting cast.
The only real "fly in the ointment" could be the O line.
IMO, our defense has improved dramatically since the Citadel game. Our schemes are good, and our younger athletic players getting better. After we settled down vs Idaho, our D dug in and played quite well.
It will be a work in progress, but we should see steady improvement next year as our FBS caliber recruits settle in.
I am optimistic and enthusiastic!
How any team can be ranked below UNC-c is beyond me. Losing to UNC Pembroke and D3 Wesley, while getting blown out at home by a MEAC middle of the pack NCCU team is pretty bad. Even Georgia State had a better first year.
Will be interesting to see if UNC-c loses some fan momentum with the poor onfield play this year.
+1 ^
I have to admit that I felt the same way when we entered CAA play a few years ago - I was optimistic, but was expecting lumps. I first felt like we could compete when we hung in there the first time we played WisM. I am optimistic since we sorta hung in there with ECU and Pitt so I really hope things turn out the same with CUSA play. I'll be even more ecstatic if we can win vs UNC. CAN'T WAIT!
I am pumped to line up against Charlotte, even if they just did get beat by a D3. It will be a solid regional rivalry in time, but I figure that we will take the first 2-3 meetings soundly.
(11-10-2013 08:56 PM)Sithlord Wrote: [ -> ]Here's the numbers:
52 Marshall 6-3
57 North Texas 7-3
70 Rice 6-3
83 FAU 3-6
86 Midd. Tenn 6-4
91 UTSA 5-5
96 WKU 6-4
121 ODU 7-3
152 UAB 2-7
159 LA Tech 4-5
180 UTEP 1-8
217 Charlotte 4-6
224 FIU 1-8
225 So. Miss. 0-9
I don't think this years current sagarin ratings or any rankings will reflect or have any indication of our potential next year. An arbitrary number /rank placing us in some crystal ball prediction of where we will fit in, among CUSA schools in 2014 is impossible to do. No one can determine the intangible of a winning attitude. Just ask Bob Molinaro, who said ODU would not win a CAA game its first year in the CAA. He will be the first to tell you what a brilliant sports mind he has. However, it will in fact be another year where ODU will have to grow up fast.
I think we will be competitive in every game next year. The W's and L's are going to be hard to determine at this time. When the recruiting process has been finalized /completed and if we can fill in some big holes on both sides of the ball, (we still need some athletic big bodies). Well, If we can fill those positions and pick up some strong fast and big defense recruits, Wilder and staff will have more tools available to them to have a very competitive season. We have some great skilled players coming in that have verbal commitments to ODU. If the recruits we have coming in, in fact sign and enroll, that will be a giant step for the program. We will all be able to take a deep breath when they arrive on campus.
The coaches and staff know it is always a job that never ends. To stay ahead of the curve, you can never rest. One thing for sure, next year will be fun.
Aim High Monarchs[b]
I'd feel better about that 121 ranking if we'd played mostly FBS teams. I'm not sure how 7 FCS wins impacts the ranking. At any rate I fully expect to see a much improved Defense next year. I think this year will turn out to be a real positive for the young players.
(11-10-2013 08:56 PM)Sithlord Wrote: [ -> ]Here's the numbers:
52 Marshall 6-3
57 North Texas 7-3
70 Rice 6-3
83 FAU 3-6
86 Midd. Tenn 6-4
91 UTSA 5-5
96 WKU 6-4
121 ODU 7-3
152 UAB 2-7
159 LA Tech 4-5
180 UTEP 1-8
217 Charlotte 4-6
224 FIU 1-8
225 So. Miss. 0-9
Head scratcher.... how is FAU #83 with a 3 - 6 losing season. Wins over South Florida, UAB and Tulane?
So next year for sure we play:
vs. Hampton
@ NC State
vs. Eastern Michigan
- Marshall
- Western Kentucky
- Middle Tennessee
- FAU
- FIU
- Cusa West
- Cusa West
- Cusa West
@ Vanderbilt
Looking at that schedule I say we get to 6-6 or even 7-5, realistically.
I hope Marshall is the last game of the year here at FF@SBBS. I believe there is a good chance it would be the game to determine who wins the East.
Edit: Changed "West" to "East". Thanks, "Navy".
(11-10-2013 10:42 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote: [ -> ]I hope Marshall is the last game of the year here at FF@SBBS. I believe there is a good chance it would be the game to determine who wins the East.
fify
I think we get 3 east teams home games and 1 west game. I think wku fau and mtsu and then probably utsa. I say utsa because its a media dream. Two start up programs about the same age. Coker came here to see our program. We have won recruits over them in texas. I also think they play here because its a great way to intro both texas and virginia to us being in the same conference. And may become a natural rival because of the similar programs. Plus that odu will need the tv revenue more then sa. First meeting comes here.
We have given some history too. Wbb is old assist from odu.
This has us at 93rd which is about the middle of the pact in CUSA. Look we also played two FBS schools tight and maybe could of won those at home with a little cooking.
http://warrennolan.com/football/2013/npi
Next season will be a positive if we are .500. Next season is another unknown imo. It's one thing to sprinkle in a few FBS schools it's another to play them back to back all season. I like the first game warm up but from then on is something this teams never dealt with and it's a gauntlet. Looking at the known schedule I see 4 potential wins. After the NSU game every game is potential in my mind.
vs. Hampton W
@ NC State L
vs. Eastern Michigan W
- Marshall L
- Western Kentucky L
- Middle Tennessee L
- FAU W
- FIU W
- Cusa West
- Cusa West
- Cusa West
@ Vanderbilt L
Unless we come out and hold Hampton to 0 and then keep NC State below 28 I have to assume we're going to rely heavily on TH to win us games in the 4th. If our D comes out hot next season (which I'm optimistic, we've seen vast improvement over the last few games) then I'll adjust those W/L's.
(11-10-2013 08:56 PM)Sithlord Wrote: [ -> ]Here's the numbers:
52 Marshall 6-3
57 North Texas 7-3
70 Rice 6-3
83 FAU 3-6
86 Midd. Tenn 6-4
91 UTSA 5-5
96 WKU 6-4
121 ODU 7-3
152 UAB 2-7
159 LA Tech 4-5
180 UTEP 1-8
217 Charlotte 4-6
224 FIU 1-8
225 So. Miss. 0-9
I have been trying to do this type of comparison all year long! Toggling between C U S A standings, Sunbelt, and ESPN's FBS independents. This comparison is awesome! Sithlord, thank you!
I was thinking yesterday while driving. Does Bobby make TH look good or does TH make Bobby look better. I really think TH has bailed out the staff a few times this year. Some of Bobby's play calling, we'll just say it could keep him at ODU for a few years. Love the guy, but without having TH bail him out a few games late in the 4th Qtr this year it could be a different story. Then I think how well Touchdown Tommy played under Bobby and that Bobby has a system that many QBs would excel in. So I'm on the fence.
Maybe having an opportunity to play for a conference title will help in keeping the team motivated and pumped up. I think that will help big time.
(11-11-2013 09:03 AM)DaBigBlue Wrote: [ -> ]I was thinking yesterday while driving. Does Bobby make TH look good or does TH make Bobby look better. I really think TH has bailed out the staff a few times this year. Some of Bobby's play calling, we'll just say it could keep him at ODU for a few years. Love the guy, but without having TH bail him out a few games late in the 4th Qtr this year it could be a different story. Then I think how well Touchdown Tommy played under Bobby and that Bobby has a system that many QBs would excel in. So I'm on the fence.
Maybe having an opportunity to play for a conference title will help in keeping the team motivated and pumped up. I think that will help big time.
Bobby is an aggressive play caller, he has been since he set foot on campus. I wouldn't want it any other way. That said, it is a double-edged sword and does not always work. I think BW is the kind of coach that knows the abilities of his players and continually asks them to stretch and dig for more. Yes, he has made a few head scratcher calls this season, and yes I think TH and the offense has bailed him out on occassion. BW is also growing as a coach. He is coaching players, and against coaches and players at a talent level he is unaccustomed to. We need to remember that coach Wilder, although he has been coaching for many years is also transitioning from the FCS level to the FBS level of football.
I look at some of our Juniors, last years recruiting class, the 2014 class, the very good coaching staff, the fact that ODU will be playing for a Conference Championship next season (and a possible fall-back bowl bid,) and the impending news of a brand new stadium, home games against BCS powerhouses on the schedule, and I am just amazed and grateful that we have gotten to this point so quickly. I am also confident in a very bright future for ODU Football.
AIM HIGH! GO MONARCHS!!!