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

(03-24-2018 07:48 PM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Like I said before. The story is not what ODU would like. It's whether they would HAVE to give up FBS football. Or stated differently, whether CUSA would take a school for a football-only deal.

I didn't see that in Minium's article, excellent writer or not. A FBS-only home for football is not Wood's call, it is CUSA's. And I just haven't seen the precedent in our league. But perhaps I'm not looking hard enough. Til then, I'll assume we're 100% in like everyone else.

It's fascinating. One minute we're trying to make the CUSA case for JMU, then it's the case for Liberty, now it's just ODU move everything away from the league except football. My neck is hurting from reading all these awesome opinions.

There is a precedent for football only membership in CUSA. Army was a football-only member from 1998-2005. My big take away from that: We are not Army. My personal take away: The A-10 is not that exciting enough of a reason to split up the marquee sports. Now if this was the new Big East sure but the A-10 just doesn't have that sizzle. I'm not saying I would not warm to the idea after a few home and homes with Mason and Richmond Trade School.

I like seeing our mid-Atlantic kids competing with Gulf Coast and Texas talent. When I see La Tech get 6 kids drafted over a 2 year period, I call that an "aim high" level.

In fact, that it is EXACTLY as many as Virginia Tech had over the same period and more than several ACC programs. And I just hope to see the day that ODU is not only putting out that kind of talent, but winning the league too.

CUSA is far from a terrible spot to be in our 10th year of football existence. Many schools in this league take football seriously and I embrace that for ODU.

(03-26-2018 12:55 AM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  

(03-25-2018 06:22 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  Ever thinks jumping to new conferences is as easy as making his tin foil hats.

An old Chief that worked for me in the Navy used to say, “The only difference between ‘can and can’t’ is an apostrophe. Don’t be an apostrophe!”

Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be pursued. We have to dream big, swing big and aim high to better our situation. I’m a realist...it may never happen...but I want us to exhaust all avenues before accepting the status quo.

Great quote - and a reasonable point of view. I think it’s more than a hard situation to overcome and could potentially drive the football program into a ditch. But it will be interesting to see if the idea has legs. Time will tell and I’m sure Wood will act in ODU’s best interest.

I just think with ODU as an independent we could do better than UMass. Nothing against UMass at all, but a couple of things we have that they don't: a recruiting hotbed, and a full stadium. I don't think it would be all that difficult to make an attractive home schedule when there are several teams who want to recruit the area. I also don't think being in CUSA is the reason we are able to schedule VT at home. It's because we count as an FBS win for them and we are in the 757. We would get VT if we were in the MAC, Sunbelt, or Independent. Yes, being in CUSA is much easier from a scheduling standpoint, so of course our administration would not want to leave and have to work on a full schedule each year. Lastly, people making arguments about joining the A10 when they might have teams leave - it's the exact same way with the AAC. You are trading off different teams. If we join the AAC you can be sure that Cinci and Houston will not be there. Probably not Wichita either. It's not going to be this magical place that we keep putting on a pedestal. I highly doubt we are even in the top 4 schools to be considered to join the AAC anyway.

We need to make a name for ourselves in CUSA. Until we start winning CUSA championships not one conference will come calling. People are so clouded in their judgement if they think the A10 or AAC even are thinking about ODU.

(03-27-2018 06:03 AM)odu09 Wrote:  I just think with ODU as an independent we could do better than UMass. Nothing against UMass at all, but a couple of things we have that they don't: a recruiting hotbed, and a full stadium. I don't think it would be all that difficult to make an attractive home schedule when there are several teams who want to recruit the area. I also don't think being in CUSA is the reason we are able to schedule VT at home. It's because we count as an FBS win for them and we are in the 757. We would get VT if we were in the MAC, Sunbelt, or Independent. Yes, being in CUSA is much easier from a scheduling standpoint, so of course our administration would not want to leave and have to work on a full schedule each year. Lastly, people making arguments about joining the A10 when they might have teams leave - it's the exact same way with the AAC. You are trading off different teams. If we join the AAC you can be sure that Cinci and Houston will not be there. Probably not Wichita either. It's not going to be this magical place that we keep putting on a pedestal. I highly doubt we are even in the top 4 schools to be considered to join the AAC anyway.

Agree, the Mountain West is full of 1st and 2nd tier schools in their states (Nevada/UNLV, Colorado State, Boise State, Wyoming). If I am the AAC, I look to expand that way to get real market share to leverage for media deals. I believe our market share is pretty strong in our metro compared to other CUSA, MAC, and SB schools, but it isn't like the above schools that have enough presence that their entire states, albeit small states, will demand TV coverage. It also lags behind UVA, VT and frankly UNC and maybe even ECU in Norfolk. We really don't add much other than improved travel for 3 of the schools.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Yeah but how much media opportunity is there by expanding to America's least populated states? Of course Nevada-Reno is 2nd tier (it's actually the land grant, but whatever), there is no population in that state outside of Clark and Washoe Counties. Same with Idaho and Wyoming.

And I think you underestimate ODU's potential in its own state. We add a lot. And it's more than 20k on Saturdays. We just need a major venue or event to demonstrate that volume.

(03-27-2018 11:53 AM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Yeah but how much media opportunity is there by expanding to America's least populated states? Of course Nevada-Reno is 2nd tier (it's actually the land grant, but whatever), there is no population in that state outside of Clark and Washoe Counties. Same with Idaho and Wyoming.

And I think you underestimate ODU's potential in its own state. We add a lot. And it's more than 20k on Saturdays. We just need a major venue or event to demonstrate that volume.

I don't know the answer to your question. I don't have anything to back it up so I guess it is misinformed opinion, but I am guessing there are more people demanding to watch a Wyoming game than an ODU game. Yes, it is a very small state, but it is their flagship school and the vast majority of the state is likely a fan.

(03-27-2018 12:02 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(03-27-2018 11:53 AM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Yeah but how much media opportunity is there by expanding to America's least populated states? Of course Nevada-Reno is 2nd tier (it's actually the land grant, but whatever), there is no population in that state outside of Clark and Washoe Counties. Same with Idaho and Wyoming.

And I think you underestimate ODU's potential in its own state. We add a lot. And it's more than 20k on Saturdays. We just need a major venue or event to demonstrate that volume.

I don't know the answer to your question. I don't have anything to back it up so I guess it is misinformed opinion, but I am guessing there are more people demanding to watch a Wyoming game than an ODU game. Yes, it is a very small state, but it is their flagship school and the vast majority of the state is likely a fan.

Population of Wyoming - 597,110
Population of Hampton Roads - 1,724,876

Unless Bison start tuning in

Now, the AAC would love to get BYU, Boise, SDSU, Airforce but I don't know if that's reciprocal

(03-27-2018 12:49 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-27-2018 12:02 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(03-27-2018 11:53 AM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Yeah but how much media opportunity is there by expanding to America's least populated states? Of course Nevada-Reno is 2nd tier (it's actually the land grant, but whatever), there is no population in that state outside of Clark and Washoe Counties. Same with Idaho and Wyoming.

And I think you underestimate ODU's potential in its own state. We add a lot. And it's more than 20k on Saturdays. We just need a major venue or event to demonstrate that volume.

I don't know the answer to your question. I don't have anything to back it up so I guess it is misinformed opinion, but I am guessing there are more people demanding to watch a Wyoming game than an ODU game. Yes, it is a very small state, but it is their flagship school and the vast majority of the state is likely a fan.

Population of Wyoming - 597,110
Population of Hampton Roads - 1,724,876

Unless Bison start tuning in

But aren't we lucky to have 20k tune into our games? Can't seem to find ratings, but this is what I am remembering.

(03-27-2018 01:00 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(03-27-2018 12:49 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-27-2018 12:02 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(03-27-2018 11:53 AM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Yeah but how much media opportunity is there by expanding to America's least populated states? Of course Nevada-Reno is 2nd tier (it's actually the land grant, but whatever), there is no population in that state outside of Clark and Washoe Counties. Same with Idaho and Wyoming.

And I think you underestimate ODU's potential in its own state. We add a lot. And it's more than 20k on Saturdays. We just need a major venue or event to demonstrate that volume.

I don't know the answer to your question. I don't have anything to back it up so I guess it is misinformed opinion, but I am guessing there are more people demanding to watch a Wyoming game than an ODU game. Yes, it is a very small state, but it is their flagship school and the vast majority of the state is likely a fan.

Population of Wyoming - 597,110
Population of Hampton Roads - 1,724,876

Unless Bison start tuning in

But aren't we lucky to have 20k tune into our games? Can't seem to find ratings, but this is what I am remembering.

Because they don't rate the platforms that we're on. How many do you expect to tune into Stadium Facebook or BeIn? Even CBS Sports aren't picking up a bunch of casual viewers. Here are Wyoming's ratings that I could find from last year:

NM vs. Wyoming - 82K (ESPNU)
Wyoming vs Boise St - 414K (ESPN2)
Hawaii vs Wyoming - 455K (ESPN2)
Wyoming vs Air Force - 159K (ESPNU)

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/college-...v-ratings/

I think we could do at least that well if we were on a better platform.

edit: Our Bowl Game at 1:00 on a Friday got 1.371M viewers

Don't get me wrong, those schools have nice situations. And I think most of those would have more viewers than ODU does today but I'm not so sure that we wouldn't catch them over time if we build something nice, recruit higher and begin winning some games vs the P5. That is exactly where I think ODU is headed if it stays its course.

I simply wanted to chime in that ODU adds a lot. But most of that thought is future-yielding.

(03-27-2018 01:51 PM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Don't get me wrong, those schools have nice situations. And I think most of those would have more viewers than ODU does today but I'm not so sure that we wouldn't catch them over time if we build something nice, recruit higher and begin winning some games vs the P5. That is exactly where I think ODU is headed if it stays its course.

I simply wanted to chime in that ODU adds a lot. But most of that thought is future-yielding.

Agree that if we get to a high level of play, year in and year out, we will get and blow through our demand. I hope I am wrong, but I just don't think we are on that track. Maybe we'll luck out, catch a flash in the pan, and get us another Heinicke, but at the FBS level.