CSNbbs

I keep seeing Debbie White's name mentioned here, but I went on the ODU AD site, looking for event manager. Bruce Stewart's name is mentioned as event manager/facilities/football. There's a Rick French and Greg Smith mentioned as having something to do with facilities and events and operations. From what I can tell, there are other people who have responsibility for that.

(08-31-2014 09:34 AM)TheDancinMonarch Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-31-2014 08:30 AM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote: [ -> ]14) I believe tailgating should be extended for 1 hr more with the rule that everyone MUST be in their seats 15 minutes prior to the start of the game. If not....tailgating will be shortened by 1 hr. It is horrible display from our alumni base for the the National Anthem, and pre game intro of the team to be happening with the stands half empty. Unacceptable....give people more time to socialize but require them to be in the stadium 15 minutes before game time.

This!

Who's going to enforce this -- and how. Ban people who come to the stadium 10 minutes before kickoff? This seems like a completely unenforceable idea that will alienate a somewhat large segment of our so-called fan base.

They can judge by the amount of people coming into the game before the game and by canvassing the tailgating lots 15 minutes prior to the game. Easy...then if the lots remained occupied, simply inform everyone via email that if things don't improve the next game, that then following game the tailgating time will be shortened by 1 hr.

How hard is for fans /alum to wrap up their tailgating parties 15 minutes earlier so that everyone is in the stadium for the pre-game activities. To me it would be awesome to have another 45minutes or so to tailgate. I just think that 4 hrs is pushing it to setup, cook, serve, eat, socialize, clean up, packup and walk to the game. It goes very fast !

That's an absurdly childish way to treat your fans

Not only should we be in our seats 15 minutes before a game, we should line up in class order and file in single file. No talking and be sure not to run in line. We should file out this way as well, being sure to maintain order and complete silence so as not to disturb the band as they play.

Any other ways to make it like an elementary school assembly???

I sent this to Debbie White last year after a few on the boards had brain stormed a few concepts to improve the game day experience. I got a two word response from her.

"Thank You"


There should be a Proclamation / Signage as you enter the stadium posted at every entrance.

You are Entering the Jungle

As the tradition expands we could have or use lots of props to emphasis the jungle theme. This can be added to over time and other traditions will grow from this theme. (When the new stadium is built, I would love to see the student section at one end where the Band is surrounded by students...something like what they have at ECU). That section should be called "The Zoo"

There should be some kind of Monarch Zoo Countdown

1) 15 mins. before the game starts the Cannon should be fired. That would signal the start of the count down (fans would know it is time to enter "The jungle". When the new stadium is built, if they have a bell tower, they can ring the bell to have the same effect.

Recently another poster suggest a "Call to arms" ..,.,. with video board images to enhance the "Call to arms" theme. The Announcer should start the count down after the cannon is fired and the "Call to Arms" should be hyped with some Hollywood style video enhancements. At the conclusion they should start the next set of crowd teasers with....
.
1a). Edit.... The Monarch Marching Band enters for pre-game. They play the song or show they have prepared. After they have played their pre-game show They execute the drill to get ready for the Star Spangled Banner. The Star Spangled Banner is played and the Band moves to the goal post to extend the teams entrance tunnel run-way to the bench.

2) The Animated Monarch that is on the Video Big Screen, should start the "Big Blue Video" where he is jumping into the stands from the top of the game day building (the new stadium should have a killer sound system and Mega Video Board....wow that would make all this awesome).

3) As that is playing Big Blue (locked in a cage) should be pulled in the stadium by the Monarch Maniacs ...all pulling and holding on to a long rope (hopefully there will be 200-1,000 students). At the end of the rope is a circus like cage with Big Blue inside. Get a past ODU Sports Hall of Fame Member to unlock the cage. Like a Verlander, Washington, Anthony, Ann Donavan, Nancy Liberman, Tichia, Dave Twardzik ….so many others.....anyway you get the concept.

4) As soon as the cage gets to mid field "It is Unlocked" at that point ....blast the song "Welcome to the Jungle" the crowd gets pumped, and the announcer says "The Beast is Lose! ~ as the cage is opened, Big Blue comes out. Audible Roars from the speakers in the Stadium and Roaring Lion images on the Big Video Board. The Cheerleaders with the crowd should start a very simple unison cheer to a theme (a cadence that the band can emphasize with a beat).

5) As the the Music continues to play and the crowd gets PUMPED UP.... The .Howitzer fires and the team enters from the tunnel out of the fog into "The Jungle" At that point the Band plays the Fight song and fire works are streamed into the air from the top of game day building and the Crowd would go wild.

5a). Edit ... The Monarch Marching Band exits the field to the front or home stands playing the Football Fight Song to a wall of sound as it crescendos to a volume that ignites the fans to finish with M-O-N-O-R-C-H-S Monarchs-Monarchs-Monarchs

The theme of Jungle, Roar, Royal, King, Blue, Monarchs should be used more....

Others have mention a real lion, would love to see. Could very easily be incorporated into this production. When I say production, I feel that is the way the University has to approach this. As a High tech production extravaganza.

Just a suggestion.

Aim High wrote
I like it!!! You make it sound like a theater production!

Last year it was also mentioned by a few on here about the cage on the field.

The idea of pulling the cage by the students they can dress up for another effect is awesome. Coach isn't going to let anything on the field but the sideline would be okay. I think big blue in the cage is cool cause of peta.

Send an email to the school. All low cost option for odu.

If a horse can cascade on to a field in Florida with an Indian holding a flaming staff or what ever it is, and a Masked Rider on a horse in Texas and yet they have no effect on those fields. Or, even an Old Fashion Covered Wagon with a team of horses in Oklahoma. Well.....I think we could use our combined educational resources to design a Circus Cage with rubber wheels that would have no impact on the field (wood/metal shops, School of Engineering). I did notice for both Texas Tech and Oklahoma they have a wide long tarp that is placed down on the field. I assume it is to protect the field.

We have to think outside the box, problems can be solved. I know there will need to be cooperation with all involved, but all things are possible with the right leadership.

Once people have bought their ticket, they should be free to attend, not attend, leave early, tailgate through the game, be in the stadium 30, 15, 10 or 5 minutes before the game or whatever they choose. It would be nice if the stadium was packed for the enter ire game plus the pre game festivities, but you can't mandate it.

(08-31-2014 01:58 PM)ODUgradstudent Wrote: [ -> ]Once people have bought their ticket, they should be free to attend, not attend, leave early, tailgate through the game, be in the stadium 30, 15, 10 or 5 minutes before the game or whatever they choose. It would be nice if the stadium was packed for the enter ire game plus the pre game festivities, but you can't mandate it.

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't ODU indeed have a policy that the tailgate lots must be cleared when the game starts, thus forcing everyone to the game in a mostly timely manner?

Many schools don't (or didn't) have that rule, and consequently tailgating goes on for the entire game.
I personally have done that at Michigan, UMD, and UVA in past years. At W&M many get a hand stamp, and leave the stadium at halftime to tailgate, only to return some time later.

(08-31-2014 02:15 PM)ODUalum78 Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-31-2014 01:58 PM)ODUgradstudent Wrote: [ -> ]Once people have bought their ticket, they should be free to attend, not attend, leave early, tailgate through the game, be in the stadium 30, 15, 10 or 5 minutes before the game or whatever they choose. It would be nice if the stadium was packed for the enter ire game plus the pre game festivities, but you can't mandate it.

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't ODU indeed have a policy that the tailgate lots must be cleared when the game starts, thus forcing everyone to the game in a mostly timely manner?

Many schools don't (or didn't) have that rule, and consequently tailgating goes on for the entire game.
I personally have done that at Michigan, UMD, and UVA in past years. At W&M many get a hand stamp, and leave the stadium at halftime to tailgate, only to return some time later.

I think you're right about that, I'm just saying that in my opinion you should be able to do as you please within reason. I don't think that forcing people to be in the stadium 15 minutes before kickoff is reasonable.

(08-31-2014 01:58 PM)ODUgradstudent Wrote: [ -> ]Once people have bought their ticket, they should be free to attend, not attend, leave early, tailgate through the game, be in the stadium 30, 15, 10 or 5 minutes before the game or whatever they choose. It would be nice if the stadium was packed for the enter ire game plus the pre game festivities, but you can't mandate it.

Agreed, We (the fans) have to have a reason for us to be there early. A need, a desire to be a part of the pre game experience. The reason we all attend is for the love of the game, our school and to support ODU. The only way to get fans In the stands early will be if they can connect to the emotional and excitement of a pre-game that we (the fans) feel a part of. A unique and electrifying energy that ignites the atmosphere to the WOW factor.

Old Dominion needs to have a memorable and anticipated tradition that will draw fans to the stadium before the start of the game. Something the Alumni, fans and visitors will never forget. Once they have experienced it, it will bring them back for the "chills" and tradition that they will not want to miss. Yes, everyone will enter the stadium ahead of time for the extravaganza. The experience of sharing this with 20,000 or more (when the new stadium is finished) cheering, screaming ODU fans with a passion will keep everyone coming back for more.

We will find it, or it will find us. Monarch Football Fans will embrace this, what ever it becomes, and it will be electric. When we as Fans, Alumni, Students and visitors anticipate the pre-game tradition... I promise you no one will ever miss the pageantry and excitement that will feed the crowd into an emotional frenzy that will explode into deafening cheers as the howitzer shakes the stadium and the team enters. The students will not only be a part of this, but will enhance it in the future.

At that point the experience becomes bigger than just a tradition. It becomes a shared adventure. Monarch Nation's pride and traditions will be epic.

Example ....Texas Tech's Masked Raider

A second example FSU's Renegade and Chief Osceola ride into the stadium.

(08-31-2014 02:27 PM)ODU Oldtimer Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-31-2014 01:58 PM)ODUgradstudent Wrote: [ -> ]Once people have bought their ticket, they should be free to attend, not attend, leave early, tailgate through the game, be in the stadium 30, 15, 10 or 5 minutes before the game or whatever they choose. It would be nice if the stadium was packed for the enter ire game plus the pre game festivities, but you can't mandate it.

Agreed, We (the fans) have to have a reason for us to be there early. A need, a desire to be a part of the pre game experience. The reason we all attend is for the love of the game, our school and to support ODU. The only way to get fans In the stands early will be if they can connect to the emotional and excitement of a pre-game that we (the fans) feel a part of. A unique and electrifying energy that ignites the atmosphere to the WOW factor.

Old Dominion needs to have a memorable and anticipated tradition that will draw fans to the stadium before the start of the game. Something the Alumni, fans and visitors will never forget. Once they have experienced it, it will bring them back for the "chills" and tradition that they will not want to miss. Yes, everyone will enter the stadium ahead of time for the extravaganza. The experience of sharing this with 20,000 or more (when the new stadium is finished) cheering, screaming ODU fans with a passion will keep everyone coming back for more.

We will find it, or it will find us. Monarch Football Fans will embrace this, what ever it becomes, and it will be electric. When we as Fans, Alumni, Students and visitors anticipate the pre-game tradition... I promise you no one will ever miss the pageantry and excitement that will feed the crowd into an emotional frenzy that will explode into deafening cheers as the howitzer shakes the stadium and the team enters. The students will not only be a part of this, but will enhance it in the future.

At that point the experience becomes bigger than just a tradition. It becomes a shared adventure. Monarch Nation's pride and traditions will be epic.

Example ....Texas Tech's Masked Raider

Put much better than I could have. I remember going to a Tech game and my friend who is a tech alum demanded that we get to the stands for Enter Sandman and you could feel a rush of people getting there for the team entrance. People won't get there early for an extra minute of football or the national anthem, but they will get there early for tradition, we're in the position that we have to make our traditions.

It is called pride for your school ! It is disrespectful not to be in your seat to cheer the team onto the field. We need a pregame tradition...raising the ODU /monarch flag, we are monarchs / blue /white, some thing that brings us together as a University !

There is probably a better video of this. Tops in NCAA.

I don't know mabey we could get Bruce Hornsby to write a song for us.
Yeah fans need to get in their seats and quit playing around in the parking lot with the food and beverage. It looks bad on TV everyone walking around everywhere and 3/4 of the stands filled on the opening kickoff. Not much class there.

They should band the damn electronic cigarette (e-cig or e-cigarette), personal vaporizer (PV) or electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) from the stands. A dude in the row in front of me was puffing on one the whole game. It smelled like garbage when he blew out. I dont know much about ecigs. Whatever that junk was was blowing right up in my face stunk.

Even as simple as Va Techs enter sandman entrance is, it's pretty badass

15). Wear the color specified on the ticket...show some pride and make sure we have some unity ! Saw many in colors that were not blue.

Yikes...

Not a bad atmosphere at ODU. 36 Sell outs in a row.

Lighten up and enjoy the games...

This beats the hell out of VCU football!!!

The point is....we can do a lot better. We will see if the sell outs continue as the season progresses. We need to have a unified, loud, and excited fan base to create a home field advantage. We can no longer think small time. It is time to start elevating the atmosphere at our home games because we have a national TV audience now. If we show good in the stands and on the field....the profile of the university will grow both from an academic and athletic stand point. Time to step up our game as fans and alum.