[Ed Dantes]

ODU, which is based in Norfolk, is starting up its football program in 2009, and they're looking for someone to play in its first game. They've narrowed its list down to 50:


1. Albany Northeast Conference
2. Appalachian State Southern Conference
3. Apprentice School Atlantic Central Football Conference
4. Brown Ivy League
5. Bucknell Patriot League
6. Campbell Independent
7. Central Connecticut State Northeast Conference
8. Charleston Southern Big South
9. Chowan University Independent
10. Coastal Carolina Big South
11. Colgate Patriot League
12. Columbia Ivy League
13. Cornell Ivy League
14. Dartmouth Ivy League
15. Davidson Pioneer League
16. Dayton Pioneer League
17. Duquesne MAAC
18. Elon Southern Conference
19. Fordham Patriot League
20. Frostburg State Atlantic Central Football Conference
21. Gardner-Webb Big South
22. Georgetown Patriot League
23. Hampton MEAC
24. Harvard Ivy League
25. Hofstra CAA
26. Holy Cross Patriot League
27. Iona MAAC
28. Jacksonville Pioneer League
29. La Salle MAAC
30. Lafayette Patriot League
31. Lehigh Patriot League
32. Liberty Big South
33. Marist MAAC
34. Monmouth Northeast Conference
35. Morehead State Pioneer League
36. Norfolk State MEAC
37. North Carolina Central Independent
38. Penn Ivy League
39. Presbyterian College Will be in the Big South
40. Princeton Ivy League
41. Robert Morris Northeast Conference
42. Sacred Heart Northeast Conference
43. St. Francis (Pa.) Northeast Conference
44. Salisbury State Atlantic Central Football Conference
45. Savannah State Independent
46. Stony Brook Independent
47. VMI Big South
48. Wagner Northeast Conference
49. Wesley Atlantic Central Football Conference
50. Yale Ivy League

[LUconn]

They've "narrowed" it down? Last I heard nobody wants to play them because they're not giving return games.

[bigsmooth]

they should play us because we would travel well.

[SuperJon]

We shouldn't play them unless they give us a return trip.

[thepostman]

and a lot of money

[SuperJon]

Why a lot of money? I think a home and home with them would be good. It gives us exposure in that area, and they'd probably travel well when they came back here.

[thepostman]

i meant to say or a lot of money...you're right, a home and home would be good too

[FlamingChick]

Why a lot of money? I think a home and home with them would be good. It gives us exposure in that area, and they'd probably travel well when they came back here.

I agree with SJ. As far as recruiting, Tidewater is a hot area for talent, and ODU has been, and will continue to get, a lot of press as they are starting up their football team, so that would also bring visibility to those teams that come into town. I believe that the games would be packed, both in Norfolk and Lynchburg for the return trip. There is a lot of excitement among ODU students/staff/alumni,etc. about the start of the football program. I'm sure that the students are even more excited that they wont have to go to Norfolk State or William & Mary to get the college football game-day experience (like I did when I was there )

[ATrain]

ODU is going to have a hard time scheduling if they don't do home-and-homes. Their other programs have gotten away with it, but I don't see how they'll do it with football.

[prototype]

Just play them with no home and home contract. You know they will want to schedule us in the future. Really doesn't help us to bring them here anyway - will people from ODU travel - they don't in all other sports. It's a winnable game and it will give us some really good press.

We went to Savannah State - I think we can go to ODU and after all it would make for a good trip.

[01LUGrad]

PLAY ODU!!!!

It's about 7 miles down the street from my house.

Oh, and all of you are right about the recruiting bit. Check VT's and UVA's rosters. You will see a lot of guys from this area on there. Shoot. Michael Vick is from here! wait.... what... oh....nevermind.

[TallyW]

The William and Mary game is a glimpse of what could happen if we had regular games down in the Tidewater region. My understanding is that this is LU's largest alumni base.

Between W&M, NSU and/or ODU we could have a game a year in Basketball and/or Football every year here.

The organization of alumni needs to improve here but there are supposedly a lot of us.

[MacGeek]

why not play them? its a four hour trip and their just starting out, easily a winnable game. plus its 20 mins from my house.

[prototype]

Let athletic administration know that you want to see this game. The more people pushing it will make them push it. It's a good game for us and would set up a good relationship with them, being one of the few teams that wouldn't tie them to a home and home.

Josh

[ATrain]

The William and Mary game is a glimpse of what could happen if we had regular games down in the Tidewater region. My understanding is that this is LU's largest alumni base.

Between W&M, NSU and/or ODU we could have a game a year in Basketball and/or Football every year here.

The organization of alumni needs to improve here but there are supposedly a lot of us.

You left out Hampton U.