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

I've been a walk-on Monarch fan since 1986, having been invited by thoughtful co-worker to attend a Sunbelt Conference game against UAB at Scope -- the very game which turned out to make Headline News when UAB Coach Gene Bartow climbed into the stands to go after some raucous students.

I've been a men's bb season ticket holder since the opening of the Ted -- not primarily due to the new facility but rather because my kids were big fans of Valdas Vasylius out of Norfolk Collegiate.

But the best part of being an adopted fan of ODU is actually more than just the sports. It is the privilege of watching the astounding job that the school has done with integrating itself into the local neighborhood and the Norfolk community as a whole. I am not much of a football fan, but just walking around the Kaufman Mall or any of the tailgate lots before a fall home game is an eye-opening view of what a good college program can mean to an entire community -- a feeling of local pride that extends far beyond the students and the alumni.

Closer to ODU than Charlotte - I can see some great away games for ECU.

I applied to schools in the state that had an engineering program besides UVA. I was accepted to Tech, VCU, JMU, and ODU. I was leaning towards Tech but my parents told me to give ODU some major consideration since I was offered a merit scholarship, which would help my parents out. ODU emphasized about helping students with finding internships and jobs. My father obtained a masters degree at ODU when he was stationed in the area. I was hesitant at first because of of the school's reputation and a lot of people told me that mainly idiots went here. I've learned that there are plenty of people here because they want to learn and succeed. In the fall I'll be starting my senior year as a Mechanical Engineering student and there hasn't been a day where I regretted my choice. I'm currently working a fantastic internship that I found through ODU's CareerLink site. I've always been a little disappointed that I didn't start going to ODU sporting events until my sophomore year. I love going to watch our football, basketball, and soccer teams. I'd like to be a season ticket holder in basketball and football once I graduate.

(05-29-2012 06:27 PM)UDO Wrote:  I applied to schools in the state that had an engineering program besides UVA. I was accepted to Tech, VCU, JMU, and ODU. I was leaning towards Tech but my parents told me to give ODU some major consideration since I was offered a merit scholarship, which would help my parents out. ODU emphasized about helping students with finding internships and jobs. My father obtained a masters degree at ODU when he was stationed in the area. I was hesitant at first because of of the school's reputation and a lot of people told me that mainly idiots went here. I've learned that there are plenty of people here because they want to learn and succeed. In the fall I'll be starting my senior year as a Mechanical Engineering student and there hasn't been a day where I regretted my choice. I'm currently working a fantastic internship that I found through ODU's CareerLink site. I've always been a little disappointed that I didn't start going to ODU sporting events until my sophomore year. I love going to watch our football, basketball, and soccer teams. I'd like to be a season ticket holder in basketball and football once I graduate.

What's up with the smudge/UDO lovefest? 25 +1 reps given, all by smudge? lol http://csnbbs.com/reputation.php?uid=59013

(05-30-2012 07:57 AM)Monarchs Wrote:  What's up with the smudge/UDO lovefest? 25 +1 reps given, all by smudge? lol http://csnbbs.com/reputation.php?uid=59013

They know each other.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in high school. Avg grades, but high IQ, but lacked desire and direction.

Went to TCC to see what interested me. Wanted to go to VA Tek, back then the only requirement to be accepted to Tek was, "are you breathing?" If you answered that correctly you were in. After two years of working and attending TCC my mother passed away 2 weeks before my 20th B-day. Glad that I wasn't away at school when that happened. But it strengthened my resolve - a life changing wake up call. Went back to TCC full time for a third year. Took Principles of Accounting and made a pact that if I did well I'd transfer to ODU and major in Accounting. Easiest classes I took in my life. Worse grade on a test in Principles that year was a 98. Longest it took me to finish a final exam was 50 minutes.....so my career was begun.

Transferred to ODU and never looked back. Had a 3.6 in my major. Public accounting never appealed to me though and have always worked in private industry. Waited a while before sitting for the CPA exam, until sort of shamed into it by my ex brother-in-law. My work expereince, my degree at ODU did wonders and 15 years after I graduated I passed the CPA exam on one attempt.

Being local I have followed ODU all my life. Die a thousand deaths when we lose to Gayson or Crayolla U. Looking forward to rivalries with Marshall and Charlotte. ECU not so much. I don't like ECU nor have any respect for them. Won't miss the CAA one bit. Looking forward to when we are invited, after 3 or 4 very successful years in the C-USA to the SEC or ACC!!!!

Nice stories guys.

From Roanoke, all of my drug addict friends were going to VT and JMU. The responsible friends went to UVA, and my 3.5/1290 weren't good enough for that... Accepted @ VT, but my dad worked on their servers and would have randomly "interupted my studying". Additionally VT requires acceptance into the Engineering program seperately and didn't allow 1st year kids to drive which seemed like hastles.

ODU Engineering challenged me every day. The opportunities during and after school, that arose purely b/c of ODU were outstanding. The professors were excellent and classmates were respectable. Not excluded from the typical college mistakes but in comparison with my VT & JMU buddies, my life is a dream now 6 years after graduation. I couldn't be more grateful for the way things worked out and have ODU, God, and my folks to thank. GO MONARCHS!

I do not know why people think idots go to ODU. They have an excellent reputation as an egineering school, nuclear medicine, physical therapy, business, and education. I guess it's the local opinion of those who could not get in. I have taught high school for 25 years and it is a lot harder to get into ODU now then it was 25 years ago.

Is an idot some type of Apple product?

(05-31-2012 02:28 PM)ODU True Blue Wrote:  Is an idot some type of Apple product?

Heavens, you don't mean Appleachian State do you?

(05-31-2012 02:28 PM)ODU True Blue Wrote:  Is an idot some type of Apple product?

So much WIN in this statement!!!