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

(12-13-2020 06:19 PM)RoanokeMonarch Wrote:  So, many of us are completely fed up with the mess called ODU’s Men’s Basketball. Now what? What do we do about it? I mean, really do about it? Moaning and complaining on a message board won’t amount to much.
I am open to suggestions. Do we mount a write in campaign to the President? What options do we have? Holding back our money doesn’t seem the answer. Pull a Richmond and buy a billboard?
I absolutely am a proud grad of ODU and am a Monarch for life. But, this mess has got to stop now if we have any hope of ever getting back to the old competitive days in my life time.
Let us be the agent of change.... meaningful suggestions?

We could boycott the games and not show up lol

A10 headquarters in Newport News. There would be nearby conference competition in VCU, Richmond, George Mason, and George Washington. Fans can have easy travel to road conference games. With those nearby schools in conference, this means guaranteed games against them that won’t count against available out of conference slate. Thus we could theoretically schedule strong out of conference competition since our regional rivals would be covered.
Figure out a way to keep football FBS and get to the A10. I’m starting to prefer that route than the AAC.
Conference USA is a borefest purgatory to me now. Also, it will be hard to become complacent when you move to an improved conference with regional foes to worry about. But with the A10 at 14 members I fear this not being a realistic option but who knows.

I would be in favor of independent football and the A-10. I also know that’s not a popular choice. People I know and respect as true Monarchs disagree. But it seems to work for LU and UMass.

(12-13-2020 09:11 PM)webster Wrote:  A10 headquarters in Newport News. There would be nearby conference competition in VCU, Richmond, George Mason, and George Washington. Fans can have easy travel to road conference games. With those nearby schools in conference, this means guaranteed games against them that won’t count against available out of conference slate. Thus we could theoretically schedule strong out of conference competition since our regional rivals would be covered.
Figure out a way to keep football FBS and get to the A10. I’m starting to prefer that route than the AAC.
Conference USA is a borefest purgatory to me now. Also, it will be hard to become complacent when you move to an improved conference with regional foes to worry about. But with the A10 at 14 members I fear this not being a realistic option but who knows.

VCU has surpassed us in basketball, but we have an FBS football team who has beaten VT. All VCU has - and all they will ever have - is basketball. We sold out our basketball team for football. It’s that simple.

Beating VT in football was nice. It was especially nice considering the underdog status we had for that game and that the upset got some media attention. However, I have way higher hopes for our football program. My goal is to be consistent peers with institutions like VT and UVA. I want to consistently compete with and hopefully beat them. It would feel pathetic if ten years from now, that is viewed as our highest football accomplishment.
I want both football and basketball success. But I would easily take a final four run and making the dance often than to be some sad football program who beat VT once.

Are you missing the point? We invested in an FBS program at the expense of our basketball program. If we didn’t have an FBS program, then I’m sure we would be playing in the A10 and making more noise than we did in the CAA. We have football and vcu doesn’t. That is our trade-off. Got it?

This is what games against VCU used to be like:

https://youtu.be/zSarIRWkg6s

That was some rock fight basketball but there was nothing more exciting. I still have my yellowed CAA conference championship t-shirts because I can’t bear to get rid of them.

(12-13-2020 09:22 PM)monarx Wrote:  I would be in favor of independent football and the A-10. I also know that’s not a popular choice. People I know and respect as true Monarchs disagree. But it seems to work for LU and UMass.

FBS Independent seems to work for UMass? What are you smoking? Even Notre Dame joined the ACC over remaining independent. Liberty is the sole exception. FBS independent for football is a death sentence.

(12-13-2020 10:09 PM)ODUDon Wrote:  

(12-13-2020 09:22 PM)monarx Wrote:  I would be in favor of independent football and the A-10. I also know that’s not a popular choice. People I know and respect as true Monarchs disagree. But it seems to work for LU and UMass.

FBS Independent seems to work for UMass? What are you smoking? Even Notre Dame joined the ACC over remaining independent. Liberty is the sole exception. FBS independent for football is a death sentence.

Agreed - it’s a foolish notion. C’mon Monarx - I hope you realize that isn’t a possibility. We are in for a penny, in for a pound w/CUSA. Do you honestly see another option? Please enlighten us on how that would unfold.

(12-13-2020 10:07 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  Are you missing the point? We invested in an FBS program at the expense of our basketball program. If we didn’t have an FBS program, then I’m sure we would be playing in the A10 and making more noise than we did in the CAA. We have football and vcu doesn’t. That is our trade-off. Got it?

I understand that had we not gone FBS at the time then we would have likely joined the A10 when they did. But I seek success in both sports and don’t think it has to be one or the other.

Not many Mids (G5) with FB and good basketball, we still need to be better in MBB.

(12-13-2020 10:26 PM)webster Wrote:  

(12-13-2020 10:07 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  Are you missing the point? We invested in an FBS program at the expense of our basketball program. If we didn’t have an FBS program, then I’m sure we would be playing in the A10 and making more noise than we did in the CAA. We have football and vcu doesn’t. That is our trade-off. Got it?

I understand that had we not gone FBS at the time then we would have likely joined the A10 when they did. But I seek success in both sports and don’t think it has to be one or the other.

There is a big difference between playing and recruiting in CUSA vs the A10. You can seek all you want, but it won’t change reality. VCU has a HUGE leg up on us in recruiting playing in the A10. And we beat VT and host ACC football teams - something vcu will NEVER enjoy.

If football is the reason for basketball’s decline then so be it. I don’t want to sacrifice football for basketball.

Basketball should be the priority or, at the very least, equal. For a mid major, the ceiling is miles higher in basketball than it is in football.

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(12-13-2020 10:37 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  

(12-13-2020 10:26 PM)webster Wrote:  

(12-13-2020 10:07 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  Are you missing the point? We invested in an FBS program at the expense of our basketball program. If we didn’t have an FBS program, then I’m sure we would be playing in the A10 and making more noise than we did in the CAA. We have football and vcu doesn’t. That is our trade-off. Got it?

I understand that had we not gone FBS at the time then we would have likely joined the A10 when they did. But I seek success in both sports and don’t think it has to be one or the other.

There is a big difference between playing and recruiting in CUSA vs the A10. You can seek all you want, but it won’t change reality. VCU has a HUGE leg up on us in recruiting playing in the A10. And we beat VT and host ACC football teams - something vcu will NEVER enjoy.

Your point is fair. VCU has an advantage over us for sure, but we are still not as good as we should be. Not even close. We should aspire to be the flagship CUSA program in basketball, and we should be able to achieve that. We are nowhere near that level now.

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(12-13-2020 11:21 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  Basketball should be the priority or, at the very least, equal. For a mid major, the ceiling is miles higher in basketball than it is in football.

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I can agree on equality. And I also believed that the ceiling was higher for basketball, but if you break it down it’s not much higher. Comparing levels of achievement that are relatively the same for both sports:

National Championship: about the same.
“Final Four”: basketball wins here.
Conference championship: you could argue basketball wins here but I say about the same.
Winning record: about the same.
Postseason: about the same.

The big difference is the basketball postseason consists of a huge tournament with the potential for moving up. Realistic football postseason is one bowl game but it is easier to get a bowl game than the big dance. And while getting to the Final Four may be slightly more realistic than making the football playoffs, both would require lightning to strike.

So yeah, somewhat higher ceiling, but c’mon, we have FOOTBALL!

I might be in the minority here, but why can't we be good in both sports. We live in supposedly one of the top athletic hot spots in the country. Sure, we are not always get the five stars or even four, but we can get others. Plenty of talent to go round. Not recruiting locally done in coach young, coach capel, and coach wilder. You have to recruit man. Don't be afraid and if you put out a winner or be competitive, people will be back, if not just ask those coaches and ask the squires and the admirals. Coach jones, you seem like a nice man, but what you are running out there is not up to the odu I know standards,sorry.

with the facilities we have, the location, the reputation, it should not be that difficult to recruit better talent! Jeff Jones AND his staff just aren't and have never gotten the job done. They are terrible recruiter. The problem is the further you fall behind the more difficult it is to get the right kind of players. Also JJ doesn't recruit big men? Haven't got the slightest clue why not but he just doesn't. And his coaching style requires a big man? If everybody is satisfied with the direction this program is heading, fine, keep JJ. I myself remember the better days and want to get back to that level. But can't do it with JJ. Some ask how do you convince AD to get rid of him? Simple, money talks. All the season ticket holders need to sign a petition stating they will not renew their tickets next year if JJ is still head coach and give it to the president. Guaranteed to work!

(12-13-2020 10:33 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  Not many Mids (G5) with FB and good basketball, we still need to be better in MBB.

Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis, WKU, Marshall, Toledo, even UAB and Temple some years. It’s possible to be good In both. We should be. And frankly, since our ceiling in FB is a no-name bowl against another G5, anyway, I just want a bowl game to consider the season good. That’s not too much to ask from football. Winning seasons. In basketball however we have a chance to actually compete against the best. That’s why I think if moving to the A10 would help hoops, we have to do it. Even w Indy football. (Win 7 games and one of these bowls will pick you up.) Basketball is our history and our opportunity. Football is a fun thing for the fall. Heck, I’d even be fine with FCS football if it meant top 50 basketball on a consistent basis.

Back to the VCU game. Just read the post game article. Jones says it’s on him, and we weren’t ready to play. HOW ARE YOU NOT READY TO PLAY AGAINST YOUR BIGGEST MOST HISTORIC IN STATE RIVAL!!!!. Just crazy.