Norfolk, Virginia – Let me state what is obvious to all Old Dominion football fans. Saturday’s home game against Appalachian State is a big game, the biggest ODU played in 2023, and probably the biggest game all season.
And considering ODU’s 3-3 record and App State’s football prowess, this game should be a sellout.
Fortunately, we are now approaching that threshold. He has fewer than 1,000 tickets left for the game, which is also a port day and the annual Oyster Bowl game. Some student tickets also remain unreceived.
There is a high possibility that this game will be sold out. And frankly, if ODU is to become a Group 5 staple, this is the kind of game the Monarchs will have to sell out.
The Mountaineers drew a sellout crowd the last time Up State played last Tuesday. ODU’s game at James Madison next weekend is also sold out.
ODU fans need to understand that we must do the same if we are to compete in the nation’s best college football conference outside of the Power Five.
Honestly, at 3-3, the Monarchs are where the most optimistic ODU fans expected them to be heading into the second half of the season. The Monarchs lost three games in which they were decisively underdogs, against Virginia Tech and Marshall, and at home against Wake Forest.
Yes, it hurt that the Monarchs had big leads against Wake and Marshall, but many tipsters picked ODU to finish with 2 wins and 10 losses. Obviously, this team is better than that.
The Monarchs won one game they should have against Texas A&M University-Commerce, defeated Louisiana at home and Southern Miss on the road.
On Saturday night, the Monarchs will host App State at 7 p.m., a game that could go a long way toward elevating the ODU football brand.
The game will be broadcast nationally on NFL Network, reaching approximately half of the nation’s 123.8 million households. It will also be found in many parts of Europe and South America, including the UK, Germany, and Brazil.
If you’re a fan who sometimes gets frustrated by the mistakes the Monarchs make, remember that ODU is one of the most inexperienced teams in the country.
Of the 116 players on ODU’s roster, exactly half were new. ODU did not have a quarterback who had thrown a pass in an FBS game or started a college game.
Considering the lack of experience, it is understandable why ODU was chosen 14th Member of 14 Sun Belt teams.
error? Of course there were mistakes. They are college students who had never played a game together until seven weeks ago.
head coach Ricky Rahn He said the Monarchs are learning from their mistakes and getting better with each game.
“We fixed some mistakes, but other mistakes surfaced and we fixed them,” Rahne said. “That doesn’t mean we can’t do it. Each player has shown what they can do.
“The exciting part for me is that we can still compete for a championship, we can still compete for postseason play, and I don’t think we’re playing anywhere close to our best football yet. ”
It takes a lot of effort to win App State.Apps have 3 wins and 3 losses, but defensive coordinator says, “Still a very good football team.” blake saylor Said.
no kidding. App State lost in double overtime to North Carolina, ranked No. 10 in the nation, and suffered a heartbreaking loss to Coastal Carolina on a last-second field goal.
And the Mountaineers have arguably the best football resume in the Sun Belt.
They played in what is now known as the Football Championship Subdivision, won three national championships, and finished fifth in 2007 in what many considered the biggest upset in college football history. They upset Michigan.
Since moving to the FBS, he has played in seven bowl games in eight years of eligibility and has a 6-1 record in bowl games. They have won the Sun Belt title four times.
App State has a fierce rivalry with North Carolina State and ODU defensive tackles. Jalil Taylora transfer from UNC, appeared in a pair of two-point games against the Mountaineers, where the team was split.
“They’ve been very successful,” Taylor said. “They have always been consistent and have a great tradition.
“It gives us all a certain respect for them. But it also gives us a hunger to do the right thing against a team that has a brand like that.”
And like Rahne, he said, the best is yet to come from the monarch.
“I don’t think I’ve played my best game yet. I’ve been working hard to get there. I’m getting better every week, but I’m not there yet.”
run back Keshawn Wicks He played at ODU in 2021, helping the Monarchs win their final five games and earn their first bowl win in five seasons.
“That team was very tough and fought back consistently,” he said. “That’s what I’ve seen with this team.
“We are now at a point where we can do it again and still have a chance at the championship.”
A win would put ODU well in contention for the Sun Belt East title and would be a big step towards another bowl win.
In 2021, ODU fans stood tall. The Monarchs brought his 5,000 very vocal and very supportive fans to his bowl in Myrtle Beach.
Let’s hope they stand tall again on Saturday.
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Contact Minium at hminium@odu.edu or follow him. twitterFacebook or Instagram