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

(10-04-2019 02:09 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(10-04-2019 12:15 AM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  

(10-03-2019 10:26 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(10-03-2019 09:03 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Look at it this way: If everyone in CUSA had top 25 percent as an expectation for one sport, 75 percent of them would be bitterly disappointed in any given year. Expand that to top 25 percent in EVERY sport and I'm pretty sure that number grows to 100 percent. ODU isn't to CUSA what Gonzaga is to the WCC. I don't think top quarter in all sports is a bad goal at all, and it's certainly not a case of lowered expectations, unless you honestly believe that ODU by birthright should be lapping the rest of the conference on their way to the AAC and eventually a P5 home.

Cool. So being pretty decent is something to strive for. Maybe we as fans should just strive to be top 25% in CUSA in budget too. Bet Wood would disagree with that.

The goal should be to be the standard bearer for the conference. Not because we have a birth right, but because we want to be the best, and are committed to constantly assessing our athletics program in that context. That is what it takes to take it to the next level. Do you think Dabo told Clemson that he wanted to build a team that finishes in the top 25% of the ACC when he took over a very average Clemson program? Do you think Coach K strove to be top 25% of the ACC? Was satisfied with finishing 4th? Nick Saban? It is a **** goal. It is a bean counter's goal. It is not a goal that someone who is committed to being the best would ever consider.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I agree that the goal should be to win the conference, although I'm not sure what your definition of "standard bearer" is. But there is a difference between goals and expectations. Yes we should strive to win the conference every year, but you shouldn't expect it. Even Coach K doesn't win every year. I think go through the Fire Wilder thread you will see what a lot of people's expectations are. Personally I'm very conflicted on what to expect for football, but I can tell you that I will become very agitated if losing seasons become the norm. I don't think playing a post-season game more often than not is too much to expect.

To me the mandate for the athletic department should be to be the standard bearer, for conference. That means that we are the most respected athletic program in the conference. That does not mean you win a championship every year. It means that when people think of CUSA, they think of ODU. You accomplish that by being one of the best teams in the conference in those two sports every year, and by being in contention for a championship most years. Not winning a championship most years, but having a legitimate shot to win it most years.

Will it take some time and a ton of effort and commitment to achieve those goals, of course. But lets make it clear that that is indeed the goal of the athletic program and then weigh every decision against that mandate.

We have a long way to go in that regard. Marshall, La Tech, USM, UAB, Rice all have greater recognition. On good days we are on par with FAU, UNT, WKU