Topic: Let's check in on our friends at ODU football...

[CoachMaclid]

Let's check in on our friends at ODU football over the last three days...

https://twitter.com/247SportsPortal/status/1300468939588276230
https://twitter.com/247SportsPortal/status/1300536955541827587
https://twitter.com/247SportsPortal/status/1300903291996581888
https://twitter.com/247SportsPortal/status/1301212900309307394

...Oh. Will the last one out please turn off the lights?

[Scottyo614]

For a program struggling at this level this could be the move that crushes them in football.

[herd2win]

Just shows how things can change quickly.  They went from sold out stadium with a waiting list for season tickets prior to joining CUSA to this. 

[svherd]

But they have potential.  :D

[goherd24]

They have the TV market! Going to increase our revenue!

[MUonium]

i guess the jury is still out on UAB, but so far...
who knows what the future holds for OD-  another wicked good strategy, lemons to lemonade or and O.D.  ;D 

[Rockin Herd Fan]

It would be surprising if ODU plays another down of football in C-USA.  If an eastern based all sports D1 conference cannot be put together, then I could see them dropping back down to the FCS level.

[elginherd]

It would be surprising if ODU plays another down of football in C-USA.  If an eastern based all sports D1 conference cannot be put together, then I could see them dropping back down to the FCS level.

Honestly, most of the current CUSA should be playing FCS FB.

[marshallmark]

It would be surprising if ODU plays another down of football in C-USA.  If an eastern based all sports D1 conference cannot be put together, then I could see them dropping back down to the FCS level.

They're in the middle of building a $65+ million stadium.  They aren't going anywhere. 

[svherd]

They're in the middle of building a $65+ million stadium.  They aren't going anywhere.

What I find funny about that is they only increased the seating to 22K, about 1K more than they had previously. Obviously, the suites and such are nice but for such a highly populated area and a school with reportedly so much potential, that seems a total waste of all those funds to only increase by 1K seats. You would think the demand would be much greater; obviously not.

[HaveUherd]

They didn’t understand the disaster this conference was when they came. Probably just went by name recognition and now they’ve surely realized that they really screwed up.

[wasbarryb]

Just shows how things can change quickly.  They went from sold out stadium with a waiting list for season tickets prior to joining CUSA to this.

C-USA is becoming the make or break conference.

Either make it to a better conference quickly or fall down.

I'm not too happy about how things look for us in that respect.

[puma]

They didn’t understand the disaster this conference was when they came. Probably just went by name recognition and now they’ve surely realized that they really screwed up.

I'd love to read a post-mortem on that decision by the all of the C-USA newcomers, especially the Sunbelt refugees. Did they think the TV money or brand would be worth anything when everybody jumped ship to the AAC and were in-filled with new programs, FCS schools, and Sunbelt transfers?

[Scottyo614]

What I find funny about that is they only increased the seating to 22K, about 1K more than they had previously. Obviously, the suites and such are nice but for such a highly populated area and a school with reportedly so much potential, that seems a total waste of all those funds to only increase by 1K seats. You would think the demand would be much greater; obviously not.

Demand was great when they were the new toy, but they never built a consistent brand of winning. They’ve had moments (Va Tech) but overall you have to win to bring fans.

[elginherd]

They're in the middle of building a $65+ million stadium.  They aren't going anywhere.

Some FCS programs have built nice facilities. I don't really think that the 65 million spent will be any major deciding factor on decisions about their FB program.

[Herdmeister]

What I find funny about that is they only increased the seating to 22K, about 1K more than they had previously. Obviously, the suites and such are nice but for such a highly populated area and a school with reportedly so much potential, that seems a total waste of all those funds to only increase by 1K seats. You would think the demand would be much greater; obviously not.

Although they added on 1000 seats the revised edition is far better than the stadium they had.
One thing I have liked down there is that they have so much room inside the gates that theu have food trucks on the property virtually 30 feet from the stadium concessions. It makes for some very good food choices

[whf]

Went down the first year they were in the league, didn't find the stadium at all attendee friendly, seemed like seats were 16 inch seats, a 15,000 capacity stadium with a seating chart of 20,000.  Bathrooms were limited, and unlike Herdmeister, couldn't find food that could be got without 20 to 30 minutes in line; left at half time when MU was up by (if I remember correctly) 28 to 0.

Campus was great, tailgating in the interior of the campus reminded me of SMU.

[Herdmeister]

Went down the first year they were in the league, didn't find the stadium at all attendee friendly, seemed like seats were 16 inch seats, a 15,000 capacity stadium with a seating chart of 20,000.  Bathrooms were limited, and unlike Herdmeister, couldn't find food that could be got without 20 to 30 minutes in line; left at half time when MU was up by (if I remember correctly) 28 to 0.

Campus was great, tailgating in the interior of the campus reminded me of SMU.

I was aat that game. Things got much better the 2nd and 3rd time we were there.
I was there the last game played in the old stadium. No comparison to our first visit there as far as food choices were concerned.
In basketball they have by far the nicest arena in the league

[whf]

I think they have a new attempt at a good FCS league on their minds.  We all need to remember that MANY schools are doing just fine, just like we did for years, at the FCS football level. Fans come to see their schools play whomever is on the schedule, rivalries are great in many of those leagues, an the best teams far surpass the bottom feeders of FBS (particularly C-USA, MAC and SunBelt bottom feeders).  Basketball is better in many cases that several FBS football, mid-major basketball, conferences, including ours.

If G5 separated from P5, included FCS, college football wouldn't see a bit of difference.  Media outlets still need the games, and the playing for national championship in football could easily expand by another four teams.  Conferences could realign, costs would drop considerably, play on the field would be just as good as P5 can only take so many players anyway; the kids have to go somewhere.

Say what you will, but ODU has good leadership in their Athletic Department and they'll come out fine for the alumni overall, IMHO.

[billybob]

they're not going anywhere. If anything I think you will be surprised in a couple years to see where they are. I live in the area and have friends who with ties to the program. It is my understanding that they were more than okay with delaying the season. They have a new coach and a young team. They apparently wanted to give the new coach more time to bring a winner to the field. They are viewing this as a reset for the program.

[whf]

they're not going anywhere. If anything I think you will be surprised in a couple years to see where they are. I live in the area and have friends who with ties to the program. It is my understanding that they were more than okay with delaying the season. They have a new coach and a young team. They apparently wanted to give the new coach more time to bring a winner to the field. They are viewing this as a reset for the program.

So, are you saying they used a pandemic to further their own well-being as a football program?  Now that is really sad, if true.  They decided so early that it sounds plausible and probable.

[elginherd]

So, are you saying they used a pandemic to further their own well-being as a football program?  Now that is really sad, if true.  They decided so early that it sounds plausible and probable.

WFH,
Discrepant events do give the opportunity for people & organizations to rethink & redefine their stategies & goals. The composition of CUSA is not a natural fit for many if not all of its membership. If the pandemic allows ODU the opportunity, excuse, whatever to realistically access their standing in the pecking order of CFB, that is not sad; but in fact smart.

Gotta remember, they unilaterally made the decision to cancel fall sports. That demostrates the amount of regard they afford their membership in the CUSA. And to be honest in this collection of Misfit Toys (forever grateful for that piece Thundering In Md!!!), that is the POV that every member of this crappy conference needs to adapt.

[coalherd]

They have the TV market! Going to increase our revenue!

Ummm, yes, just the same way that FIU and FAU were going to deliver the huge greater South Florida/Greater Miami TV Market and all of its attendant Revenue $$$$$$$ to CUSA!!!

[billybob]

I have business ties in the construction industry in hampton roads. A number of these contacts are donors within the program. As it was explained to me - they cancelled the seasons for the reasons mentioned above. The other justification was that they would save considerable money not having a season for non-revenue sports. The thought is that when they do resume sports the conference would look very different than it does now. That difference would be a more geographical bases league. So, in a lot of ways it makes a ton of sense what they have done. It is short term pain for long term gain.

[MUsince96]

I have business ties in the construction industry in hampton roads. A number of these contacts are donors within the program. As it was explained to me - they cancelled the seasons for the reasons mentioned above. The other justification was that they would save considerable money not having a season for non-revenue sports. The thought is that when they do resume sports the conference would look very different than it does now. That difference would be a more geographical bases league. So, in a lot of ways it makes a ton of sense what they have done. It is short term pain for long term gain.

You have my attention.  :)