[jcmanson]

JMU
Richmond
William & Mary

Hard to dispute those as the top 3 in the state's FCS landscape. Who's #4? For a while it seemed LU, but has ODU passed us in only their 3rd year of existence? If so, does it matter?

[BJWilliams]

Depends on what you define that by...quantity of wins Id say its about a push (if both win out ODU will have 26 wins over the last three years, LU 24). If you look at the quality of wins, Id give an edge to ODU mostly because of the CAA results this year. Its close, I'll say that for sure.

[prototype]

It's all about the conference. If we were in the CAA it wouldn't even be a discussion. We might win the Sasser Cup every year, but the Big South is holding us back to becoming a big time program in most sports.

[Sly Fox]

It's all about the conference. If we were in the CAA it wouldn't even be a discussion. We might win the Sasser Cup every year, but the Big South is holding us back to becoming a big time program in most sports.

Word

[LUconn]

How is this determined? 3 years is not a very long sample. I mean heck, if you took a 2 year sample of Richmond, they would be fighting with VMI for last.

[BJWilliams]

I dont think its that clear cut BYD...I mean Foreman Field is nice but it is still an aging facility that they had to modernize. The fan support is very good in Norfolk. The only real competition they have in the Tidewater area is Norfolk State and Hampton but those are really what I would call "niche" fanbases at those schools. You dont have schools coming to ODU to take notes on facilities. If ODU wasnt in the CAA then this wouldnt even be a discussion either

[jcmanson]

How is this determined? 3 years is not a very long sample. I mean heck, if you took a 2 year sample of Richmond, they would be fighting with VMI for last.

Current level of program and program tradition are both considered.

[Cider Jim]

Anyone (BJ) know what ODU's stadium seats and what their average attendance is?

[jcmanson]

Anyone (BJ) know what ODU's stadium seats and what their average attendance is?

Without looking it up, their stadium seats 19,000 something. They've had a sellout for every single game for the past 3 seasons. Season ticket numbers are around 12,000 or so last I heard.

And it didn't matter who they were playing - Campbell, Jacksonville, Gardner Webb, Presby, or William & Mary, JMU - still a sellout.

[rogers3]

JMU
Richmond
William & Mary

Hard to dispute those as the top 3 in the state's FCS landscape. Who's #4? For a while it seemed LU, but has ODU passed us in only their 3rd year of existence? If so, does it matter?

After three years of play, ODU has beaten JMU along with Towson, UMass, & Villanova; I'd say that they have surely surpassed LU. Right now, I'd say that ODU is at the top of the FCS teams in VA, followed by JMU, then LU or W&M, and Richmond might even be behind Norfolk ST.

[jcmanson]

JMU
Richmond
William & Mary

Hard to dispute those as the top 3 in the state's FCS landscape. Who's #4? For a while it seemed LU, but has ODU passed us in only their 3rd year of existence? If so, does it matter?

After three years of play, ODU has beaten JMU along with Towson, UMass, & Villanova; I'd say that they have surely surpassed LU. Right now, I'd say that ODU is at the top of the FCS teams in VA, followed by JMU, then LU or W&M, and Richmond might even be behind Norfolk ST.

That’s looking at this year only. We’re talking about as a program.

[BJWilliams]

Anyone (BJ) know what ODU's stadium seats and what their average attendance is?

Without looking it up, their stadium seats 19,000 something. They've had a sellout for every single game for the past 3 seasons. Season ticket numbers are around 12,000 or so last I heard.

And it didn't matter who they were playing - Campbell, Jacksonville, Gardner Webb, Presby, or William & Mary, JMU - still a sellout.

ODU has a larger population base to work from. you have 6 other cities within 45 minutes of Norfolk. (Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News and Hampton). LU has Roanoke and Danville pretty much...plus has to deal with UVa and Virginia Tech within two hours as well.

If ODU was around for 5 -10 years and had this level of success then maybe itd be an easier thought. What Id like to know is will they maintain these levels perpetually? What happens if they hit adversity (a down season or two) as well.

[Purple Haize]

Anyone (BJ) know what ODU's stadium seats and what their average attendance is?

Without looking it up, their stadium seats 19,000 something. They've had a sellout for every single game for the past 3 seasons. Season ticket numbers are around 12,000 or so last I heard.

And it didn't matter who they were playing - Campbell, Jacksonville, Gardner Webb, Presby, or William & Mary, JMU - still a sellout.

They only sell out because they play relevant teams, like Campbell, Savannah State, NC Central and VMI.

[Chippy]

Anyone (BJ) know what ODU's stadium seats and what their average attendance is?

Without looking it up, their stadium seats 19,000 something. They've had a sellout for every single game for the past 3 seasons. Season ticket numbers are around 12,000 or so last I heard.

And it didn't matter who they were playing - Campbell, Jacksonville, Gardner Webb, Presby, or William & Mary, JMU - still a sellout.

They only sell out because they play relevant teams, like Campbell, Savannah State, NC Central and VMI.

They also have 24,000 students on campus!!

[TH Spangler]

Grew up in VB ... a long time ago ..... They have been the largest market without a major league sports franchise for a l-o-n-g time (NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA).

The area has an AHL hockey team and a Triple-A baseball team ...... ODU is the only football in town in a market large enough to support a pro team, ODU fills the void. (Norfolk State doesn't count). ODU will kill A LOT of in state recruiting done by UVA, VA Tech. I look for ODU to pass both before it's over with.

Today Liberty is ranked ahead of two of the team you mentioned, Richmond, & William & Mary. And I look for it to stay that way

Someday as the largest 1-A Christian University in the country we will appeal to top Christian athletes from across the country. We will not depend as much on in state talent as others. Where's your vision JM?

[bigsmooth]

LOL haize.....Sure ODU has passed us right now. They built their program the right way, the school and the 757 are supporting them like crazy and they have had some big wins within the CAA. ODU will always be a nice draw just because of where it is and if the kids who cant get into UVA/ VT or W&M want to stay local they will go there. I am a huge propoent of getting in state kids, but LU will need to recruit more nationally which Sly has said for years. Of course if we start going to the playoffs consistently that will help our cause. Playing in front of a packed house all the time no matter who the opponent is important.

[Purple Haize]

SMOOTH glad to see you got the humor. Too many people must have 'foe'd' the original poster to get it. I would say if ODU is ahead of us, it is not by much. However, I feel (fear) they may be tracking better then LU.

[NotAJerry]

Foreman Field holds 19,782, and yes they have sold out every game so far. Enrollment there is 24,466. My niece went there on a swimming scholarship and stayed in the area. She loves it and loved the school. ODU is becoming as much a destination school for kids here in northern VA as VT was during my high school days.

They had the ridiculous UFL put a team in that are this year and it sold out its games, around 12k with temporary seating thrown into the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, and ended up being the first team in that league to turn a profit for a season.

That metro area is a goldmine waiting to happen and it has a great college tradition already built into it. All they had to do was come out winning, which they have, and the program should sell itself for the foreseeable future. They're that good, that soon, and the only seniors (5) they have are transfers from JUCO (4) and Hofstra (1). They're not even through a full recruiting cycle yet and they're 7-2 (4-2) in the CAA. Yes, they've passed LU, and that's not a knock on LU at all.

[ProudPapa73]

Well said.
Go Flames!

Foreman Field holds 19,782, and yes they have sold out every game so far. Enrollment there is 24,466. My niece went there on a swimming scholarship and stayed in the area. She loves it and loved the school. ODU is becoming as much a destination school for kids here in northern VA as VT was during my high school days.

They had the ridiculous UFL put a team in that are this year and it sold out its games, around 12k with temporary seating thrown into the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, and ended up being the first team in that league to turn a profit for a season.

That metro area is a goldmine waiting to happen and it has a great college tradition already built into it. All they had to do was come out winning, which they have, and the program should sell itself for the foreseeable future. They're that good, that soon, and the only seniors (5) they have are transfers from JUCO (4) and Hofstra (1). They're not even through a full recruiting cycle yet and they're 7-2 (4-2) in the CAA. Yes, they've passed LU, and that's not a knock on LU at all.

[TH Spangler]

Foreman Field holds 19,782, and yes they have sold out every game so far.

As a kid I use to watch the Norfolk Neptunes play there, with my Father. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continenta ... all_League) The Neptunes lead the Continental Football League in attendance in the 60's. We also watched the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers play pre-season games there. That's back when Sonny Jurgensen, Chris Hanburger, Pat Fisher, Bobby Mitchell and Charlie Taylor played ! I haven't seen it since they finished the upgrades. The field has a rich history.

History

The stadium was once the home of the Norfolk Division of William & Mary (now Old Dominion University) football program from 1936 until its 1941 demise, and has undergone remodeling for Old Dominion's new Monarchs college football team for its start in 2009.

Foreman Field hosted the annual Oyster Bowl game from 1946 to 1995, featuring major college football teams. Syracuse defeated Navy there in 1959 on its way to winning the national championship. Future NFL stars Fran Tarkenton, Roger Staubach, and Don Meredith played in Oyster Bowl games. It was also the home of the semi-pro Norfolk Neptunes in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Washington Redskins played several pre-season games there in the 1960s. A drawing of Foreman Field is featured in the John Grisham novel Bleachers.

[truthorconsequences]

At 14 million a year we must have the #1budget in VA FCS?

[Chris Lang]

Where the heck did you get that number from?

[jcmanson]

I believe he greatly misunderstands the numbers the NCAA puts out.

He just likes to "skew" the numbers to support his agenda.

[rogers3]

JMU
Richmond
William & Mary

Hard to dispute those as the top 3 in the state's FCS landscape. Who's #4? For a while it seemed LU, but has ODU passed us in only their 3rd year of existence? If so, does it matter?

After three years of play, ODU has beaten JMU along with Towson, UMass, & Villanova; I'd say that they have surely surpassed LU. Right now, I'd say that ODU is at the top of the FCS teams in VA, followed by JMU, then LU or W&M, and Richmond might even be behind Norfolk ST.

That’s looking at this year only. We’re talking about as a program.

JC- ODU is not Coastal. They aren't doing this well because they are a fluke. They will be at the same level or higher next year. They started their program with facilities that equal ours. In my opinion as well as others, they are ahead of us at this time. Don't forget, their athletic program was already more robust than ours to begin with. I'd guess that we have rarely defeated them in any sport and until we move to a bigger stage, we will most likely continue to be behind.

[jcmanson]

After three years of play, ODU has beaten JMU along with Towson, UMass, & Villanova; I'd say that they have surely surpassed LU. Right now, I'd say that ODU is at the top of the FCS teams in VA, followed by JMU, then LU or W&M, and Richmond might even be behind Norfolk ST.

That’s looking at this year only. We’re talking about as a program.

JC- ODU is not Coastal. They aren't doing this well because they are a fluke. They will be at the same level or higher next year. They started their program with facilities that equal ours. In my opinion as well as others, they are ahead of us at this time. Don't forget, their athletic program was already more robust than ours to begin with. I'd guess that we have rarely defeated them in any sport and until we move to a bigger stage, we will most likely continue to be behind.

I completely agree with you. ODU has definitely passed us, IMO. I was disagreeing with your statement “that ODU is at the top of the FCS teams in VA, followed by JMU, then LU or W&M, and Richmond might even be behind Norfolk St.” ODU is not at the top until they can win conference championships, playoff games, a national title. All of which JMU and Richmond has done. And W&M (save the national title). Those 3 are still ahead of ODU for now. Also no way you can put Richmond behind Norfolk State.