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

(04-01-2013 11:21 AM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote:  I hope JMU rots in the CAA.

+100

JMU must be happy that ODU's administration is much cooler than JMU's. Voting against 450 student athletes right after we asked JMU and UDel to join us is just cold hearted.

Till we build out Foreman Field let JMU sit in the CAA, SunBelt or MAC. We don't owe them jack and we got stab trying to help them get out just a year ago.

JMU could have easily come with us. They elected not too then turned around and voted against us regarding allowing our student athletes compete for a CAA championship. They are pathetic. Nice to know we own them in Football ! The PUKES can rot away.

(04-01-2013 11:15 AM)JMUDukeDawg Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 11:08 AM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 10:45 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 10:23 AM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  If ODU did the same to Richmond, I would still say that was a very different time. Out of control conference realignment wasn't an issue in 2000. Today it is. JMU wasn't using very good strategic judgement with that vote against ODU. You shouldn't be playing checkers when everyone else is playing chess. You have to think more than one move ahead.

So the strategy should have been to burn the remaining CAA schools in the hope that we pleased ODU? Not happening....and even if we had, it wasn't going to change the outcome.

I still fail to see the big deal. ODU made the move KNOWING that this was a repercussion. JMU will have the exact same treatment next year. We didn't advocate the punishment, it was just the cost of business.

The big deal is that by voting against ODU, your admin clearly demonstrated that they would throw us under the bus at the first opportunity. I would prefer NOT to associate myself with someone like that in the future.

ODU made the move knowing we faced the ban...and we accepted the penalty and made the move anyway. JMU placed their vote knowing it would anger ODU, now they must accept that they have alienated a large segment of ODU alumni and fans. And I would contend that the fans and alumni have influence on our administration. As I said previously, actions have consequences.

This is all moot anyway. I thought you guys were a shoe-in for the nBE.

I understand the frustration, but the admin is apparently lobbying for us and Coach Wilder did the same in at least one other article. Maybe a big deal to fans, but obviously not that big of a deal to admin.

Lobbying and saying it would be nice in a live chat on the local newspaper's website are 2 very different things.

Regardless of what BW or Wood says, JMU will be pretty low on our most desirable list. Dolly, JMU Poo and all the rest should stay on your boards. JMU hasn't done us one favor and i remember all of your trash talk. I hope you, your administration and Mickey Mouse stay in that rotten league that catered to VCU. Since I mentioned VCUm U orefer VCU fans to JMU fans. At least they don't have that academic superiority complex.

Yes, but that's *if* JMU decides to move. If they do move ODU I guess prefers them in the same conference.

So far they can't seem to decide whether to jump or not.

I highly doubt, as the new kid in town, we will be telling cusa who they should pick up next.

We can "lobby for jmu" all we want (god knows why, I certainly wouldn't) but in the big scheme, it probably won't make a lick of difference.

If no one else in cusa wants jmu, which is most likely the case, it won't matter at all that out admins do and thank god for that!

Couldn't disagree more about value of JMU, potentially, to CUSA. If they decide to go FBS, I'd much rather have them in CUSA.

1. Doesn't hurt our recruiting at all. If a kid wants to play FBS football away from home, he is not going to stay at ODU. If he chooses ACC, or Marshall, or Charlotte, one of the GSUs or JMU, doesn't make a difference to me.

2. ODU-JMU could become a real nice rivalry (like it was becoming in CAA). No reason it couldn't be as intense, if not more than the old ODD/VCU CAA basketball rivalry. Watch how quick that will fizzle. In CUSA, we'd be competing with JMU for conference championships and bowl spots. Imagine a bowl appearance riding on the outcome of a single game? The game would be red hot. Great for the fans. If they go SB, our rivalry will mean as much as, say, ODU/VTech basketball. In other words, imaginary.

3. A drive-able away game.

If they stay in CAA, fine. If they go FBS - and CUSA is going to expand anyway - I want them in CUSA.

(04-01-2013 07:22 PM)First time Long time Wrote:  Couldn't disagree more about value of JMU, potentially, to CUSA. If they decide to go FBS, I'd much rather have them in CUSA.

1. Doesn't hurt our recruiting at all. If a kid wants to play FBS football away from home, he is not going to stay at ODU. If he chooses ACC, or Marshall, or Charlotte, one of the GSUs or JMU, doesn't make a difference to me.

2. ODU-JMU could become a real nice rivalry (like it was becoming in CAA). No reason it couldn't be as intense, if not more than the old ODD/VCU CAA basketball rivalry. Watch how quick that will fizzle. In CUSA, we'd be competing with JMU for conference championships and bowl spots. Imagine a bowl appearance riding on the outcome of a single game? The game would be red hot. Great for the fans. If they go SB, our rivalry will mean as much as, say, ODU/VTech basketball. In other words, imaginary.

3. A drive-able away game.

If they stay in CAA, fine. If they go FBS - and CUSA is going to expand anyway - I want them in CUSA.

Not me. JMU will be a drain on any future conference (SB included). They're in debt to their eyeballs, they offer no market potential, and they're financial support is wavering. Not to mention it's not really a rivalry. They have to win a game to make it a rivalry. If they couldn't beat us with all the advantages they had, they never will. They fit best with 'Nova, Delaware, W&M, Maine, New Hampshire, etc.

(04-01-2013 08:03 PM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 07:22 PM)First time Long time Wrote:  Couldn't disagree more about value of JMU, potentially, to CUSA. If they decide to go FBS, I'd much rather have them in CUSA.

1. Doesn't hurt our recruiting at all. If a kid wants to play FBS football away from home, he is not going to stay at ODU. If he chooses ACC, or Marshall, or Charlotte, one of the GSUs or JMU, doesn't make a difference to me.

2. ODU-JMU could become a real nice rivalry (like it was becoming in CAA). No reason it couldn't be as intense, if not more than the old ODD/VCU CAA basketball rivalry. Watch how quick that will fizzle. In CUSA, we'd be competing with JMU for conference championships and bowl spots. Imagine a bowl appearance riding on the outcome of a single game? The game would be red hot. Great for the fans. If they go SB, our rivalry will mean as much as, say, ODU/VTech basketball. In other words, imaginary.

3. A drive-able away game.

If they stay in CAA, fine. If they go FBS - and CUSA is going to expand anyway - I want them in CUSA.

Not me. JMU will be a drain on any future conference (SB included). They're in debt to their eyeballs, they offer no market potential, and they're financial support is wavering. Not to mention it's not really a rivalry. They have to win a game to make it a rivalry. If they couldn't beat us with all the advantages they had, they never will. They fit best with 'Nova, Delaware, W&M, Maine, New Hampshire, etc.

Again. What you said isn't true regarding debt or financial support. But spout misinformation if it makes you feel better.

(04-01-2013 08:39 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:03 PM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 07:22 PM)First time Long time Wrote:  Couldn't disagree more about value of JMU, potentially, to CUSA. If they decide to go FBS, I'd much rather have them in CUSA.

1. Doesn't hurt our recruiting at all. If a kid wants to play FBS football away from home, he is not going to stay at ODU. If he chooses ACC, or Marshall, or Charlotte, one of the GSUs or JMU, doesn't make a difference to me.

2. ODU-JMU could become a real nice rivalry (like it was becoming in CAA). No reason it couldn't be as intense, if not more than the old ODD/VCU CAA basketball rivalry. Watch how quick that will fizzle. In CUSA, we'd be competing with JMU for conference championships and bowl spots. Imagine a bowl appearance riding on the outcome of a single game? The game would be red hot. Great for the fans. If they go SB, our rivalry will mean as much as, say, ODU/VTech basketball. In other words, imaginary.

3. A drive-able away game.

If they stay in CAA, fine. If they go FBS - and CUSA is going to expand anyway - I want them in CUSA.

Not me. JMU will be a drain on any future conference (SB included). They're in debt to their eyeballs, they offer no market potential, and they're financial support is wavering. Not to mention it's not really a rivalry. They have to win a game to make it a rivalry. If they couldn't beat us with all the advantages they had, they never will. They fit best with 'Nova, Delaware, W&M, Maine, New Hampshire, etc.

Again. What you said isn't true regarding debt or financial support. But spout misinformation if it makes you feel better.

You cut 10 sports ~ 5 years ago because of funding. Now your asking to increase the budget for every remaining program, yet you have no financial issues??? This doesn't even account for the facilities upgrades you recently financed, nor your paltry endowment (which illustrates JMU's apathy toward giving back), nor the forfeiture of NCAA basketball units you recently acquired. Yet I'm to believe you have the expenses covered easily? I'd say your financial position is questionable at best.

(04-02-2013 07:57 AM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:39 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:03 PM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 07:22 PM)First time Long time Wrote:  Couldn't disagree more about value of JMU, potentially, to CUSA. If they decide to go FBS, I'd much rather have them in CUSA.

1. Doesn't hurt our recruiting at all. If a kid wants to play FBS football away from home, he is not going to stay at ODU. If he chooses ACC, or Marshall, or Charlotte, one of the GSUs or JMU, doesn't make a difference to me.

2. ODU-JMU could become a real nice rivalry (like it was becoming in CAA). No reason it couldn't be as intense, if not more than the old ODD/VCU CAA basketball rivalry. Watch how quick that will fizzle. In CUSA, we'd be competing with JMU for conference championships and bowl spots. Imagine a bowl appearance riding on the outcome of a single game? The game would be red hot. Great for the fans. If they go SB, our rivalry will mean as much as, say, ODU/VTech basketball. In other words, imaginary.

3. A drive-able away game.

If they stay in CAA, fine. If they go FBS - and CUSA is going to expand anyway - I want them in CUSA.

Not me. JMU will be a drain on any future conference (SB included). They're in debt to their eyeballs, they offer no market potential, and they're financial support is wavering. Not to mention it's not really a rivalry. They have to win a game to make it a rivalry. If they couldn't beat us with all the advantages they had, they never will. They fit best with 'Nova, Delaware, W&M, Maine, New Hampshire, etc.

Again. What you said isn't true regarding debt or financial support. But spout misinformation if it makes you feel better.

You cut 10 sports ~ 5 years ago because of funding. Now your asking to increase the budget for every remaining program, yet you have no financial issues??? This doesn't even account for the facilities upgrades you recently financed, nor your paltry endowment (which illustrates JMU's apathy toward giving back), nor the forfeiture of NCAA basketball units you recently acquired. Yet I'm to believe you have the expenses covered easily? I'd say your financial position is questionable at best.

We cut 10 sports because we had one of biggest Athletic departments in the nation and had Title IX issues. The funding from those programs was reallocated, not saved. Title IX will not be an issue with the additional FBS scholarships as JMU currently exceeds compliance numbers. So totally off there.

We would be increasing our AD budget by about 15% with an FBS move. A huge consideration, and one ODU faces as well.

Next you mention facility upgrades. These were done through private support and bond issues with extremely low coupon rates (3.5% avg). We are not drowning in debt...not even close. Debt service will make up about 9% of our total athletic budget in 2013.

Endowment is paltry, but has grown 200% in under 10 years. That is not indicative of weak support....it is indicative of being a teachers college for 75 years. Our 7% alumni giving exceeds ODU's 6%. (USNWR). Duke Club donations have increased 300% as well since 2005.

You can bash JMU all you want. I will only take issue with incorrect information. I just want the 2 (maybe 3) ODU fans who support JMU to CUSA to have the correct info.

(04-02-2013 09:19 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-02-2013 07:57 AM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:39 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:03 PM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 07:22 PM)First time Long time Wrote:  Couldn't disagree more about value of JMU, potentially, to CUSA. If they decide to go FBS, I'd much rather have them in CUSA.

1. Doesn't hurt our recruiting at all. If a kid wants to play FBS football away from home, he is not going to stay at ODU. If he chooses ACC, or Marshall, or Charlotte, one of the GSUs or JMU, doesn't make a difference to me.

2. ODU-JMU could become a real nice rivalry (like it was becoming in CAA). No reason it couldn't be as intense, if not more than the old ODD/VCU CAA basketball rivalry. Watch how quick that will fizzle. In CUSA, we'd be competing with JMU for conference championships and bowl spots. Imagine a bowl appearance riding on the outcome of a single game? The game would be red hot. Great for the fans. If they go SB, our rivalry will mean as much as, say, ODU/VTech basketball. In other words, imaginary.

3. A drive-able away game.

If they stay in CAA, fine. If they go FBS - and CUSA is going to expand anyway - I want them in CUSA.

Not me. JMU will be a drain on any future conference (SB included). They're in debt to their eyeballs, they offer no market potential, and they're financial support is wavering. Not to mention it's not really a rivalry. They have to win a game to make it a rivalry. If they couldn't beat us with all the advantages they had, they never will. They fit best with 'Nova, Delaware, W&M, Maine, New Hampshire, etc.

Again. What you said isn't true regarding debt or financial support. But spout misinformation if it makes you feel better.

You cut 10 sports ~ 5 years ago because of funding. Now your asking to increase the budget for every remaining program, yet you have no financial issues??? This doesn't even account for the facilities upgrades you recently financed, nor your paltry endowment (which illustrates JMU's apathy toward giving back), nor the forfeiture of NCAA basketball units you recently acquired. Yet I'm to believe you have the expenses covered easily? I'd say your financial position is questionable at best.

We cut 10 sports because we had one of biggest Athletic departments in the nation and had Title IX issues. The funding from those programs was reallocated, not saved. Title IX will not be an issue with the additional FBS scholarships as JMU currently exceeds compliance numbers. So totally off there.

We would be increasing our AD budget by about 15% with an FBS move. A huge consideration, and one ODU faces as well.

Next you mention facility upgrades. These were done through private support and bond issues with extremely low coupon rates (3.5% avg). We are not drowning in debt...not even close. Debt service will make up about 9% of our total athletic budget in 2013.

Endowment is paltry, but has grown 200% in under 10 years. If we keep that rate up, we will exceed ODU within the next 10 years. That is not indicative of weak support....it is indicative of being a teachers college for 75 years. Our 7% alumni giving exceeds ODU's 6%. (USNWR). Duke Club donations have increased 300% as well since 2005.

You can bash JMU all you want. I will only take issue with incorrect information. I just want the 2 (maybe 3) ODU fans who support JMU to CUSA to have the correct info.

I could poke holes in every one of the above points, but it will do no good. We're seeing the subject from opposite sides. You are convinced of JMU's financial strength. So for your sake, I hope they make the leap to FBS. I would personally love to watch you walk the plank. However, just not as a member of CUSA. I think this conference already has a number of financially strained members.

(04-02-2013 09:42 AM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-02-2013 09:19 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-02-2013 07:57 AM)odusteeler Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:39 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:03 PM)odusteeler Wrote:  Not me. JMU will be a drain on any future conference (SB included). They're in debt to their eyeballs, they offer no market potential, and they're financial support is wavering. Not to mention it's not really a rivalry. They have to win a game to make it a rivalry. If they couldn't beat us with all the advantages they had, they never will. They fit best with 'Nova, Delaware, W&M, Maine, New Hampshire, etc.

Again. What you said isn't true regarding debt or financial support. But spout misinformation if it makes you feel better.

You cut 10 sports ~ 5 years ago because of funding. Now your asking to increase the budget for every remaining program, yet you have no financial issues??? This doesn't even account for the facilities upgrades you recently financed, nor your paltry endowment (which illustrates JMU's apathy toward giving back), nor the forfeiture of NCAA basketball units you recently acquired. Yet I'm to believe you have the expenses covered easily? I'd say your financial position is questionable at best.

We cut 10 sports because we had one of biggest Athletic departments in the nation and had Title IX issues. The funding from those programs was reallocated, not saved. Title IX will not be an issue with the additional FBS scholarships as JMU currently exceeds compliance numbers. So totally off there.

We would be increasing our AD budget by about 15% with an FBS move. A huge consideration, and one ODU faces as well.

Next you mention facility upgrades. These were done through private support and bond issues with extremely low coupon rates (3.5% avg). We are not drowning in debt...not even close. Debt service will make up about 9% of our total athletic budget in 2013.

Endowment is paltry, but has grown 200% in under 10 years. If we keep that rate up, we will exceed ODU within the next 10 years. That is not indicative of weak support....it is indicative of being a teachers college for 75 years. Our 7% alumni giving exceeds ODU's 6%. (USNWR). Duke Club donations have increased 300% as well since 2005.

You can bash JMU all you want. I will only take issue with incorrect information. I just want the 2 (maybe 3) ODU fans who support JMU to CUSA to have the correct info.

I could poke holes in every one of the above points, but it will do no good. We're seeing the subject from opposite sides. You are convinced of JMU's financial strength. So for your sake, I hope they make the leap to FBS. I would personally love to watch you walk the plank. However, just not as a member of CUSA. I think this conference already has a number of financially strained members.

Agree to disagree then. JMU is not in a position of Financial Strength, nor as we in dire straights. The truth, as always, lies in the middle.

While I wish ODU could have competed for CAA titles this year, I get why the vote went the way it did. Even if JMU and George Mason thought the rule was bull****, if they voted for ODU and Georgia State to get an exception, they'd telegraph their intention to get the heck out of Dodge for all the world to see. And while all but the most casual observers know that's the case anyway, at that level they put a high priority on putting on a good public face. FSU and Maryland didn't support the ACC's exit fee hike, and that got tounges wagging. Conversely, the Catholic Big East schools approved two schools they knew they wanted little if anything to do with to save face. If they flatly opposed them, they'd lose leverage when it came time to move, because then it would be seen as a strictly reactionary move by a group of schools who tried to keep their conference from getting better (or at least not getting significantly worse).

Now to live up to my name: I wonder if ODU's support of JMU is mostly for show, knowing that a) there's little chance C-USA goes to 16 and b) even if they do, ODU doesn't have the sweat equity to wield much influence. If C-USA wants or doesn't want JMU, Old Dominion's support won't move the needle at all.

Separating on-field hate from off-field business, it benefits ODU more to have JMU added to the conference than an Arkansas State or Louisiana-Lafayette, even if the latter are more established. Having an in-state conference rival helps goose interest and (when necessary) ticket sales. Ark. State and U-LaLa would be quality adds that elicit a massive yawn from most of the fanbase. And there's nobody else in the regional footprint they could add, unless you want to count Liberty, and I'm guessing most of you don't.

(04-02-2013 10:59 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  And there's nobody else in the regional footprint they could add, unless you want to count Liberty, and I'm guessing most of you don't.

I just wanted to point out how the very next post about JMU not being financially able to make the jump you point out that not many ODU fans want Liberty in (who is set financially for the move).

Funny thing is, in the same post you noted what ODU wants doesn't mean a hill of beans.

Ha. Wonderful irony.

Liberty is a sleeping giant. I know most people turn their back on God these days, but he still commands about 40% of the population. There is enormous potential there. Look at Tebow... his jersey is an NFL best seller and he isn't even a very good QB... all because he isn't afaid to express his Christianity.

(04-02-2013 10:59 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  While I wish ODU could have competed for CAA titles this year, I get why the vote went the way it did. Even if JMU and George Mason thought the rule was bull****, if they voted for ODU and Georgia State to get an exception, they'd telegraph their intention to get the heck out of Dodge for all the world to see.

The CAA is NOT the ACC.

It is each school out for their own, and if each of those schools wanted to vote against ODU that's fine, but by them doing so is just as much a slap towards ODU as it would be to the CAA if they voted against the measure.

If the A10 did not have defections, George Mason would still be in the CAA. Same with JMU and the Sunbelt. They both lucked out from their administrations previously poor decisions making. Delaware looks like one of the biggest losers in all of this.

Out of this entire process, ODU acted very professionally and went well out of its way to have a smooth transition to only be unnecessarily penalized by AD's and President that are too short sighted to even see what's in the best interest of their own schools.

To hell with them all, and I'd be happy if we didn't play any of the mentioned schools again in the future for any sport.

Would it be nice to have an instate rival? Who really knows if it makes much of a difference right now, but I do know we certainly don't need it to be successful. The CAA certainly did not help ODU rise to a higher profile locally or nationally.

(04-02-2013 11:08 AM)Jerry Falwell Wrote:  

(04-02-2013 10:59 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  And there's nobody else in the regional footprint they could add, unless you want to count Liberty, and I'm guessing most of you don't.

I just wanted to point out how the very next post about JMU not being financially able to make the jump you point out that not many ODU fans want Liberty in (who is set financially for the move).

Funny thing is, in the same post you noted what ODU wants doesn't mean a hill of beans.

Ha. Wonderful irony.

Not really. I've never made the point about JMU being ready or not financially to make the move. I suspect if they weren't, they would have quashed talk of a move once and for all, or at least the least, they wouldn't have hired a consulting group with a pro-FBS record to conduct the feasibility study.

No, what ODU wants probably won't matter much outside of water-cooler talk among fans, alumni and conference realignment nerds. My point is that some of the fans are confusing on-field rivalries with what's best for the institution when it comes to conference membership. Among feasible potential additions in the region, JMU leads the way. And having a regional addition benefits ODU more than fortifying or expanding the western side of the conference.

I'm not even making a case for or against Liberty; I'm just pointing out an obvious issue that for whatever reasons (lack of previous conference relationships, lack of athletic success, academic questions, baggage attached to your avatar's namesake, a deep and brooding hate for all things U.S. 29, whatever), a lot of people are going to have issues with your inclusion. Personally, I think you guys should move up, since you clearly have the budget, facilities and vision that far far outstrips the rest of the Big South. And the Sun Belt forum's wildly reactionary response every time someone utters the L word is amusing. But you're not at JMU's level, or the C-USA's level, yet. You can't buy your way into relevance. It's my same hangup with Georgia State, who to me is an even less worthy candidate that got as far as it has because it's in the middle of Atlanta.

(04-02-2013 11:22 AM)monarchman Wrote:  

(04-02-2013 10:59 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  While I wish ODU could have competed for CAA titles this year, I get why the vote went the way it did. Even if JMU and George Mason thought the rule was bull****, if they voted for ODU and Georgia State to get an exception, they'd telegraph their intention to get the heck out of Dodge for all the world to see.

The CAA is NOT the ACC.

It is each school out for their own, and if each of those schools wanted to vote against ODU that's fine, but by them doing so is just as much a slap towards ODU as it would be to the CAA if they voted against the measure.

If the A10 did not have defections, George Mason would still be in the CAA. Same with JMU and the Sunbelt. They both lucked out from their administrations previously poor decisions making. Delaware looks like one of the biggest losers in all of this.

Out of this entire process, ODU acted very professionally and went well out of its way to have a smooth transition to only be unnecessarily penalized by AD's and President that are too short sighted to even see what's in the best interest of their own schools.

To hell with them all, and I'd be happy if we didn't play any of the mentioned schools again in the future for any sport.

Would it be nice to have an instate rival? Who really knows if it makes much of a difference right now, but I do know we certainly don't need it to be successful. The CAA certainly did not help ODU rise to a higher profile locally or nationally.

How is it a slap in ODU's face that the other schools voted to uphold an established rule? VCU got on the midnight train to the A-10 when faced with that issue last year. ODU could have worked to move early were it so inclined (and allegedly Georgia State tried), but it didn't. Now had the schools voted to let Georgia State compete for CAA titles and NCAA bids, but not Old Dominion, then that would be weapons-grade bullplop and everyone associated with it can swallow deez nuts until the break of dawn. But that didn't happen.

Of course it's a stupid and petty rule. The big conferences, for whatever flaws they have, at least don't do this. The Big East title game was between two ACC-bound schools. The ACC let Maryland stumble through its tournament. Memphis got to win one more C-USA title (even though they had the tournament ripped away from their arena and sent to Tulsa as punishment). But it's what you signed on for.

Plus, let's be honest, conference votes are dog-and-pony shows. Has there ever been a conference expansion vote that goes something like 6-5? Or even 9-2? There may be lots of BSing before and after the vote, but when the time comes, the presidents and ADs put on the public airs and cast a unified ballot.

And while it's easy to say "pfft, CAA, shmeAA, who ever needed those gaggle of losers?" the fact of the matter is doing well quickly in the CAA helped the football program gain immediate credibility. ODU doesn't get as much consideration for moving up if they played four good independent seasons, or two independent and two Big South seasons. But losing just three CAA games in two years and making the playoffs twice sent a clear message that ODU really DOES have something special in its football program. Hell, you'll even see it when people talk about the C-USA additions -- "Man, Charlotte and UTSA are unknowns; at least ODU won a lot of games really quickly in the CAA". And sure, the basketball was almost always a step or two behind the Sun Belt of the 80s or even the C-USA of tomorrow, but it provided a close group of like-minded institutions and decent relationships in the past 20 years. Let's not act as though they were a random grouping of middling strangers that got to bask in the reflected glory of ODU. It's a good school and a good program, but it's not Gonzaga to the CAA's Pepperdine either.