ODU and the some bits about the FCS

[∞∞∞]

A major report about ODU's athletics (done by a firm hired by the university) was completed and our paper published a bunch of interesting pieces of information. Nothing major, but intriguing nontheless:

"We cannot be managing for today and tomorrow," ODU president John R. Broderick said. "We must be managing for three to five years out."

Among the report's recommendations: ODU should consider expanding Foreman Field and should embrace the success of the fledgling football program as a fund-raising tool.

In expanding Foreman Field, consider adopting a horseshoe design in the north end zone.

Student fees provide 72 percent of revenues – consistent for an FCS school. But those fees are not expected to grow substantially in the next few years.

...the football...head coaches are in the bottom half of the CAA pay scale, though they rank in the top 25 percent nationally.

ODU should develop a strategy for playing guarantee games in football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Couched in the report was an expectation that ODU recognize where it stands in the grand scope of NCAA athletics and to be comfortable with that. It also hinted that ODU should no longer continue its long-standing philosophy of "Selective Excellence."

"Universities with large revenues from the Bowl Championship Series dominate today's intensely competitive environment in all Division I sports," the study stated. "Those revenue streams are not available to (FCS) schools like (ODU)."

And the most interesting part:

While the report indicated that the Colonial Athletic Association is now the best fit for ODU, it also warns school officials to prepare for a "changing landscape." Just recently, two CAA schools dropped football, shaking up the division alignment for 2010 and beyond.

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/02/report- ... d-tomorrow

Btw, what's a horseshoe endzone? Just a wrap-around endzone I assume?

[TribeFanInNC]

Btw, what's a horseshoe endzone? Just a wrap-around endzone I assume?

Yes. The Ohio State stadium, known as The Horseshoe, is an example.

[bobbythekidd]

[BlackFalkin]

If your selling out multiple games/season you need to expand & FAST.

[danefan]

If your selling out multiple games/season you need to expand & FAST.

They sold out on season tickets alone. They definitely need to expand.

[bobbythekidd]

If your selling out multiple games/season you need to expand & FAST.

They sold out on season tickets alone. They definitely need to expand.

I'm curious to see if that was first year hype or actual demand.

[Monarch Nation]

They sold out on season tickets alone. They definitely need to expand.

I'm curious to see if that was first year hype or actual demand.

We'll begin to find out in March when the 2010 season tickets go on sale.

[clenz]

They sold out on season tickets alone. They definitely need to expand.

I'm curious to see if that was first year hype or actual demand.

This...give it about 5 years to see if they still sell out on just season tickets.

[JMUpurplehazed]

JMU and ODU are in FCS no mans land, between costs containment and revenue containment football. IMO, both programs could explode (in a good way) and force University Presidents & ADs to consider 1A exposure & 1A revenue, assumes the right 1A conference i.e. Big East.

IMO, JMU/ODU stay together whether that be in the CAA or other...

[mainejeff]

JMU and ODU are in FCS no mans land, between costs containment and revenue containment football. IMO, both programs could explode (in a good way) and force University Presidents & ADs to consider 1A exposure & 1A revenue, assumes the right 1A conference i.e. Big East.

IMO, JMU/ODU stay together whether that be in the CAA or other...

Agreed.......although I think that ODU is more attractive to the Big East/Conference USA than JMU is......mostly because of their location/market.

[JMUpurplehazed]

True, Harrisonburg is not as populous as Hampton Roads. However, JMU has a ton of alum in DC/NOVA, Richmond and Hampton Roads/Va Beach. JMU has numbers in PA, MD and NJ. I don't know stats but I expect a high percentage of ODU alum live in the Hampton Roads area...for this reason, IMO, JMU would be at least as attractive to the Big East as ODU...this arguement has not yet used academics as a variable.

[∞∞∞]

I was actually having this exact discussion about ODU/JMU on the way to VCU for the basketball game. We were just talkin' "what if ODU went FBS" and we thought the only way we would is if JMU went with us (or JMU went first and we soon followed). I think if we did go I-A, like VT has UVA, we'd need to have our own rival in the state and that would be JMU. Honestly, from the CAA schools in VA, ODU and JMU are the ONLY schools that have any real future vision for their athletic departments as a whole. GMU and VCU have pretty much put all their marbles in basketball (plus VCU doesn't have the financial support from alumni), and W&M puts way more interest in academics...which is fine. I think behind the scenes, ODU and JMU are working closely together to put themselves in a better position once better opportunities arise. That said, FCS is ABSOLUTELY where we should be right now and for the next decade or so...unless our football demand rises to ridiculous levels that it must be considered sooner.

[DaBigBlue]

This spin is a little different, but a lot of the main points are the same.

http://www.recruit757blog.com/

[MrTitleist]

How many does ODU's stadium hold? And isn't it shaped kind of funny so that expanding the sideline seats would be difficult?

[DaBigBlue]

We hold just under 20K. The Clam Shells make expansion very hard to do on the sides, unless you do a tear-down and rebuild (like JMU). I would really like to catch a game at Harvard's Horseshoe or the Yale Bowl, the granddaddies of them all. How do I sell the wife on going to New Haven for a vacation in the fall.

[UAalum72]

We hold just under 20K. The Clam Shells make expansion very hard to do on the sides, unless you do a tear-down and rebuild (like JMU). I would really like to catch a game at Harvard's Horseshoe or the Yale Bowl, the granddaddies of them all. How do I sell the wife on going to New Haven for a vacation in the fall.

I heard a rumor the Albany game at Yale next October 2 is not yet completely sold out. Maybe you could couple it with a trip to Vermont for leaf-watching (should be near peak color at that time) or if you prefer, it's black bear season and turkey and deer bow season.

Technically neither of those stadiums is the 'granddaddy'; Penn's Franklin Field is older than either, though rebuilt in 1922.

[CAA Flagship]

True, Harrisonburg is not as populous as Hampton Roads. However, JMU has a ton of alum in DC/NOVA, Richmond and Hampton Roads/Va Beach. JMU has numbers in PA, MD and NJ. I don't know stats but I expect a high percentage of ODU alum live in the Hampton Roads area...for this reason, IMO, JMU would be at least as attractive to the Big East as ODU...this arguement has not yet used academics as a variable.

There are a total of 110,000 living Old Dominion alumni.
68,000 Old Dominion alumni live in Virginia. 47,000 of which are in the 757 area code.

[danefan]

We hold just under 20K. The Clam Shells make expansion very hard to do on the sides, unless you do a tear-down and rebuild (like JMU). I would really like to catch a game at Harvard's Horseshoe or the Yale Bowl, the granddaddies of them all. How do I sell the wife on going to New Haven for a vacation in the fall.

I heard a rumor the Albany game at Yale next October 2 is not yet completely sold out. Maybe you could couple it with a trip to Vermont for leaf-watching (should be near peak color at that time) or if you prefer, it's black bear season and turkey and deer bow season.

Technically neither of those stadiums is the 'granddaddy'; Penn's Franklin Field is older than either, though rebuilt in 1922.

Did you hear that on the Voy forum?
After all we know they're so excited for the game.